Assembly Election 2022 LIVE Updates: Shots fired at Asaduddin Owaisi's convoy near Ghaziabad

Meghalaya's ruling National People's Party (NPP), newly-formed Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and Maharashtra's ruling Shiv Sena and NCP announced candidates for the Manipur assembly polls on Thursday. Conrad Sangma-led NPP released its third list of nine candidates for the elections. Among those fielded by the NPP are Sapam Kangleipal Meitei in Lamlai, Yumkhaibam Erabot in Wangkhei and M Rameshwar Singh in Kakching. NCP named candidates in five seats -- George T Haokip in Saikot, Poonam Rani Wangkhem in Khetrigao, Khuraijam Ratankumar Singh in Khurai, Oinam Haridas Singh in Wangkhem and Md Islamuddin Khan in Keirao.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two digital rallies on February 4 in poll-bound Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP said on Thursday.
In rally for Uttar Pradesh, Modi will digitally address assembly segments from the districts of Meerut, Noida, Ghaziabad, Aligarh and Hapur, the party said.
Similarly in the rally for Uttarakhand, he will address assembly segments from Almora, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Champawat.
It will be Modi's second set of digital rallies, with the first one having been held on January 31.
Modi may also address political rallies digitally in Punjab later, party sources said.
The first phase of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh is on February 10, and the second and third phases are on February 14 and 20.

BJP candidate for Kotdwar Ritu Bhushan Khanduri on Thursday said Kotdwar will be made a district if she is elected from the seat. Kotdwar is a part of Pauri district at present. Addressing a press conference here, Khanduri said converting Kotdwar into a smart city, taking flood control measures and opening coaching centres for people aspiring to join the armed forces will be among her priorities if she is elected. She also said that she will open a women's police station in Kotdwar to rein in crime against women. Daughter of former chief minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and the sitting MLA from Yamkeshwar, Ritu Khanduri has been fielded by the BJP this time from Kotdwar instead. 

The Samajwadi Party on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission and urged it to take action against two senior Gautam Buddh Nagar police officers, alleging electoral malpractice in support of the BJP. The Samajwadi Party alleged that Police Commissioner Alok Singh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Ranvijay Singh are directing police personnel to vote for the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls. There was no immediate comment from police.
“They are directing police officers and personnel to vote for the BJP and pressure being built on them for creating a pro-BJP atmosphere. This is impacting the election and is a breach of model code of conduct,” SP's state president Naresh Uttam Patel alleged in the letter.

BJP leader Amit Shah on Thursday cautioned Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary over his party's tie-up with Samajwadi Party, saying Akhilesh Yadav does not even listen to his father and uncle then how would he listen to him.

Addressing a poll event in Anupshahr assembly constituency in Bulandshahr district of western UP, the Union Home Minister also claimed that the SP will not be able to form government in Uttar Pradesh.

Lauding the Yogi Adityanath-led government in UP since 2017, Shah hit out at Yadav, a former chief minister, and asked if the Samajwadi Party chief can keep law and order in check in the state. READ MORE

District Magistrate, North Goa orders that serving or selling of liquor in all liquor bars, pubs, shops, clubs, shacks or any establishment should be closed every day by 11 pm with immediate effect till the election Model Code of Conduct is in force.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released a list of 19 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022.

Our fight is not with him (Bikram Singh Majithia) but against the big bull (Sukhbir Singh Badal). Some thieves have gathered and are afraid that if Sidhu will come then they will be exposed, said Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar.

It's up to Sunil Jakhar whatever he says, but it's not in his hand nor in mine. People will elect MLAs and then CM will be elected. We've to give people agenda, model, said Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunil Jakhar's remark of announcing Channi as CM candidate.

Among those in the fray for the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the richest candidate holds assets worth over Rs 148 crore, while two nominees who have declared zero assets, according to poll reforms advocacy group ADR.

Of the financially bottom-three candidates excluding those with zero assets, two have declared having around Rs 1,000, while one has Rs 10,000, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) stated.

The average of assets per candidate contesting in the first phase of the polls is Rs 3.72 crores, it said in a report in which it analysed self-sworn affidavits of the nominees.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday sought the support of the people of Bulandshahar for her party nominees in the coming assembly elections and stressed that elections should be fought on the issue of development and not caste or religion.

Priyanka Gandhi also met the family members of a woman who was shot dead in a village. Her family alleged that she was also raped before being killed and they were forced to cremate her in a hurry.

A Congress spokesperson in Lucknow said Priyanka Gandhi has assured the family of all possible help in their fight for justice.

Taking veiled swipes at the BJP leadership, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Mahatma Gandhi was an "ascetic" whose ways should be emulated rather than worshipping him.

Followers of Hindutva worship ascetics but mock their teachings, he said.

The Congress leader was speaking at a seminar on Gandhi's thoughts, 'Gandhi Vichar Sangosthi- Nava Raipur Sevagram: Swarup and Sambhavnaye', at the Science College ground.

His statements also came in the backdrop of the recent derogatory statements made by some right-wing religious leaders about the Father of the Nation.

“To me, he (Mahatma Gandhi) was a tapasvi (ascetic) who devoted his whole life to `tapasya' (penance/mission). Many people do tapasya but he also added truth to it,” he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a financial assistance scheme of the Chhattisgarh government for landless labourers of rural areas with around 3.55 lakh beneficiaries instantly receiving Rs 2,000 each in their bank accounts as the first installment under the plan.

Gandhi, during his day-long visit to the state, launched 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana' at a function organised in Science College Ground in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur.

The Lok Sabha MP also launched 'Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club' scheme' at the function and distributed financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to its beneficiaries.

I think Arvind Kejriwal has no work nowadays in Delhi. He should pay attention to the people of Delhi. They are not going to get anything by making allegations and counter-allegations in Goa Elections 2022. He (Arvind Kejriwal) is just replacing Congress, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says that 3-4 rounds of bullets were fired upon his vehicle near Chhajarsi toll plaza while he was heading to Delhi after an election-related event in Kithaur, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

"I was leaving for Delhi after a poll event in Kithaur, Meerut (UP). 3-4 rounds of bullets were fired upon my vehicle by 2 people near Chhajarsi toll plaza; they were a total of 3-4 people. The tyres of my vehicle punctured, I left on another vehicle," Owaisi said.

Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his first virtual rally in the state on February 4. The Prime Minister will address voters of 14 Assemblies virtually in four districts of Uttarakhand including Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, and Pithoragarh, said Ravi Rautela, District President of Almora.

BJP leader Amit Shah on Thursday cautioned Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary over his party's tie-up with Samajwadi Party, saying Akhilesh Yadav does not even listen to his father and uncle then how would he listen to him. Addressing a poll event in Anupshahr assembly constituency in Bulandshahr district of western UP, the Union Home Minister also claimed that the SP will not be able to form government in Uttar Pradesh. Lauding the Yogi Adityanath-led government in UP since 2017, Shah hit out at Yadav, a former chief minister, and asked if the Samajwadi Party chief can keep law and order in check in the state. “He does not meet people, does only press conferences and has our Jayant ji by his side. Sarkar warkar to banni nahi hai ye samajh kar chalna… but Jayant Chaudhary thinks if the government is formed, Akhilesh babu would listen to him. Jayant babu, it's a fallacy. Someone who does not listen to his own father and uncle, how would he listen to you,” Shah said.

There is a superstition (that whichever CM visits to Noida, loses the poll). But there is another belief that whoever goes to Noida also wins the polls. I started my cycle yatra in 2011 from Noida & won. I'm there again because we've to form the government, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said.

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday described Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal as “Chhota Modi” and said he has come to Goa to give “covering fire” to the ruling BJP which is "losing" ground in the coastal state going to polls on February 14. Addressing a press conference here, Surjewala also termed the Delhi CM, whose party is contesting the Goa assembly polls, as an “imposter”. “Kejriwal is the person who swore by Lokayukta and Lokpal (anti-corruption bodies). He is the person who came to power opposing the Congress party. Where is Lokpal? Where has it gone? Why Arvind Kejriwal no longer speaks about Lokpal?” Surjewala said, attacking the AAP leader.

BJP leader Arun Singh on Thursday claimed that the party will get the advantage of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s clean image in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls as no allegation of corruption has been made against him like leaders of opposition parties. The BJP's national general secretary claimed that the welfare of the poor has been given a priority by his party’s government, which has ensured free ration to the needy, direct transfer of money in bank accounts of women, better law and order and the elimination of riots. People have realised the difference, the BJP leader told reporters here, alleging that in the past, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati have been accused of corruption during their term as the state chief minister.

The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing for February 25 in relation to the 1988 road rage case against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

This 2022 election is no ordinary one. This would decide the next 25 yrs of UP. I'd like to tell the youth that you gave opportunity to SP-BSP for 15 yrs, those govts left UP a very backward state: Union Home Minister & BJP leader Amit Shah in Bulandshahr

Akhilesh babu used to say in every election that BJP raises the slogan of 'Mandir wahin banaenge.' He used to say 'mandir wahin banaenge, tithi nahi bataenge.' Akhilesh babu, now Modi ji has laid foundation of grand Ram temple&started its construction: HM Amit Shah in Bulandshahr

Mafia rule is the USP of Samajwadi Party & Bahujan Samaj Party. But there is 'Sabka saath, Sabka Vishwaas' under Bharatiya Janata Party. Akhilesh Yadav as CM had withdrawn cases against terrorists but court didn't allow it: BJP President JP Nadda in Sirathu, Uttar Pradesh

Samajwadi Party leaders are contesting elections either from jail or on bail. Will you (public) bring such people to power in the Uttar Pradesh?: BJP President JP Nadda in Sirathu

Congress's Assembly poll candidates in Goa will take a pledge of loyalty to the party in the presence of its senior leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, when he will be on a day-long visit to the state, a party functionary said. During the visit, Gandhi will also address a public meeting in Sankhalim Assembly constituency, which is currently represented by state Chief Minister and BJP leader Pramod Sawant, he said. Elections to all 40 Assembly seats in Goa will be held on February 14 and the results will be declared on March 10. The Congress has tied up with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) for the polls. While the grand old party has fielded 37 candidates, the GFP is contesting on three seats.

On being asked if there is any impact of BSP on poll prospects of SP-RLD alliance, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "I've always said that Ambedkarwadis should join Samajwadis, because we've to save the Constitution & democracy. I appeal again to Ambedkarwadis to join us."

We are the true patriots. How can the people spreading hatred & creating communal divide be patriots?: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Bulandshahr

After BJP came to power 'Vikas Yoga Aasan' is prevalent in UP...Jab Hoga Kanoon ka Shaasan Tab Karega Vikas Yoga Asana...Law & order so better that 83/84 of Yoga Aasans being done by development...We left 'Sirsasana' for Opposition:Defence Minitser Rajnath Singh in Amroha

There is a superstition (that whichever CM visits to Noida, loses the poll). But there is another belief that whoever goes to Noida also wins the polls. I started my cycle yatra in 2011 from Noida & won. I'm there again because we have to form the Govt: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

There is nothing for farmers, middle-class & the poor in this budget. MGNREGA's fund has been cut down by 34% in this budget. It seems Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget is written by PMO: RLD president Jayant Chaudhary

Youths, farmers, & labourers are in supporting SP-RLD alliance, which seems to be adding to the BJP's frustration... The language he uses doesn't suit to the CM post. He is threatening us. He probably couldn't understand the mood of this region: RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary

Polls should be fought on the issues of public relevance, development, not on communalism or caste. People want to know what has been done for them be it about roads or health infrastructure: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a door-to-door campaign in Sikandarabad, UP

The issues of this election are very clear: unemployment, health, education and other public issues. Farmers & the youth have to decide. This is the Govt that put iron nail on roads (during farmers' protest): RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary in Bulandshahr

BJP national president JP Nadda accompanied UP Dy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya when he filed his nomination from Sirathu in Kaushambi, for the upcoming Assembly polls. "Keshavji has worked efficiently in last 5 years, has always lived up to expectations. I wish him the best," says Nadda.

Uttar Pradesh | Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party & Congress opposed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir and had said that there would be violence there, but not even a single stone was pelted at that time: HM Amit Shah during a public meeting in Anupshahar

Samajwadi Party's development was only limited to the boundary walls of 'Kabristan' (burial ground): UP CM Yogi Adityanath

He's the youngest and crowd-puller candidate in the Punjab electoral arena as he understands the pulse and instantly strikes a "musical" chord with voters. Leaving behind his celebrated tag of a top Punjabi rap singer with fans across the globe, singer-turned-actor-politician Sidhu Moosewala, who was booked for allegedly promoting gun culture and violence, takes pride in crediting his mother Charan Kaur, sarpanch of his native Moosa village, for making his electoral debut as a Congress candidate from Mansa for the February 20 Assembly polls. During his campaigning, he does not hesitate to fold his hands and bow his head before the commoners to seek votes for the party. Also the 27-year-old singer, who is often caught on the wrong side of the law but broke several records, does not mind in singing couplets of his songs and posing for countless selfies with the electorate, largely first-timers. "I have not joined politics for fame. I want to serve my people by generating employment and developing infrastructure," Shubhdeep Singh, now famous as Sidhu Moosewala, who have lent his voice in messages about how to stay safe amidst Covid-19, told IANS.

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Goa, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress workers to vote for the AAP for the sake of the future of the state. FULL STORY 

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is leading a survey by the Congress party, to choose the chief ministerial candidate for Punjab. Sources have revealed opinions of candidates, workers, and party MPs are being recorded to select the CM face in Punjab, ahead of Assembly elections in the state. "Opinions of candidates, workers, and party MPs are being recorded so that any feud over the CM face between Channi and Navjot Singh Siddhu can be avoided," said sources. FULL STORY

One man was arrested by police in Prayagraj when he tried to attack BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Siddharth Nath Singh with a blade. Siddharth Nath Singh is contesting polls from the Allahabad West seat. 

Congress fields Indal Kumar Rawat in place of Ram Karan Pasi as its candidate for Uttar Pradesh elections from Malihabad SC Assembly constituency

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami campaigns in Laldhang, Haridwar district, ahead of Assembly polls in the state

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya files nomination from Sirathu in Kaushambi district, for the upcoming Assembly polls.

In the 2nd wave we set up over 551 oxygen plants in view of oxygen crisis. We have also managed to successfully contain the third wave. Active cases in the state have reduced by about 60,000 in the last 15 days. Over a lakh cases reported on 17 Jan, today it's about 41,000: UP CM

UP's economy from 1947-2017 was at 6th, 7th spot (in the country). No work done in 70 years...But in merely 5 years, we have successfully helped UP economy reach the 2nd spot: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

People of Punjab are tired of giving chances to the Congress and the SAD for the last 44 years and now want the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to be in the saddle, says the party's chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann. The 48-year-old Mann, who is contesting from the Dhuri Assembly segment, also says that mafia raj, unemployment, inflation, drug menace and farm distress are some of the major issues facing the state and his party will work to solve them.

UP is the first state to deploy women police personnel at all gram  panchayats...to initiate joint patrolling. It's also the first state that saw no riots, terror activities in the last 5 years and first state to use new technology to promote e-Prosecution: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Samajwadi Party writes to the Election Commission of India, requesting it to issue instructions to CM Yogi Adityanath to use the "language in accordance of the Model Code of Conduct."

Adityanath said that under the double engine government many colleges and highways were established, development works have taken place under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh which was once known as BIMARU state, today the same UP has emerged as number 1 in development in the country.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the BJP government worked to crack down on goondaraj, corrupt, mafia in the last 5 years. The government made UP a riot-free state.

The Nishad Party has released its second list of six candidates for UP assembly elections 2022. On Sunday, the party had declared four candidates. The candidates declared on Wednesday were Sarvan Nishad from Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur), Prashant Singh `Rahul’ from Handia (Prayagraj), Piyush Ranjan Nishad from Karchhana (Prayagraj), Subhash Pasi from Saidpur (Ghazipur), Anil Kumar Tripathi from Menhdawal (Santkabir Nagar), and Raj Prasad Upadhyay `Rajbabu’ from Sultanpur Sadar (Jaisinghpur). Sarvan Nishad is the son of Sanjay Nishad, national president of the party.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is now addressing a press conference in Lucknow. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched Bharatiya Janata Party's theme song for Assembly elections in the state

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday hit out at BJP, SP and Congress for not doing enough for Dalits and asserted that her party has a track record of working for all sections of society as she launched her party's campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Terming the rival parties "anti-Dalit", she said though they make various promises in their manifestos ahead of polls, they forget about them after coming to power. Mayawati, who has been conspicuous by her absence from the high-octane campaigning in the state, also said she has been living in Lucknow for a year and working to rebuild the BSP. She said some "casteist media groups" are trying to demoralise BSP supporters by saying that their party leaders are missing on the ground. The BSP is contesting all 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. The party has declared names of candidates for the majority of the seats.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will hold a press conference in Lucknow today afternoon. 

Aditi Singh's husband, Angad Singh Saini, current Congress MLA from Punjab's Nawanshahr assembly, has fielded nomination as an independent candidate after he was denied ticket by the grand old party.

Aditi Singh has slammed Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for denying a party ticket to her husband in the upcoming Punjab assembly elections. She accused her of harassment. Aditi Singh had won Assembly elections on a Congress ticket from Raebareli. She, however, switched over to the BJP recently. The saffron party has fielded her from Raebareli.

BSP chief Mayawati will address an election meeting in Ghaziabad today. Earlier on Wednesday, she hit out at BJP, SP and Congress for not doing enough for Dalits and asserted that her party has a track record of working for all sections of society as she launched her party's campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual rally in five districts of Uttar Pradesh on February 4 in the afternoon to campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. PM Modi's rally in the districts of Aligarh, Noida, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Harpur, will cover 23 assembly constituencies in the state. A total of 122 locations have been identified by BJP where arrangements have been made for people to listen to the virtual address of the prime minister.

BJP leader Amit Shah on Wednesday said that a Samajwadi Party government would spell an end to development and a return to mafia rule, slamming the main opposition party yet again ahead of the assembly election. "Akhilesh Yadav (SP chief) will play a game of red light-green light. He will show red light to development and green light to mafias," he said in Aligarh.

The Samajwadi Party has fielded Union Minister and Apna Dal (Sonelal) leader Anupriya Patel’s elder sister Pallavi Patel from Sirathu in Kaushambi district against Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. The Sirathu seat comes under the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency -- currently held by BJP's Keshari Devi Patel. Pallavi is from Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), which her mother Krishna Patel formed a few years ago following differences with Anupriya. She will contest polls against Maurya on Samajwadi Party's symbol. Anupriya’s Apna Dal (Sonelal) is a constituent of the ruling BJP-led NDA. FULL STORY 

Weeks ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Supreme Court will hear a petition seeking review of its 2018 order letting off Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in an over 32-year-old road rage case.  A special bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul will consider the review petition. READ FULL STORY

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya will file his nomination papers today. He is contesting polls from Sirathu seat in Kaushambi district.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday taunted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, claiming that his own party had “isolated” him and accused him of playing the politics of negativity. Addressing a joint press in Shamli’s Kairana with Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant Chaudhary, Yadav also attacked the CM over his “language” in the run-up to the assembly polls, which he said would be a “Bhaichara banaam Bharatiya Janata Party” (brotherhood versus the BJP) contest.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday mounted his attack on Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Jayant Chaudhary over their pre-poll alliance. Addressing a rally, he referred to 'two boys' (Akhilesh-Jayant) to say "a similar jodi had come up in 2017" -- a reference to Akhilesh and Rahul Gandhi when the SP and Congress had contested UP Assembly polls together. READ FULL STORY

Ahead of Assembly Elections in Goa, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates on Wednesday signed a legal affidavit and took a pledge to remain loyal to the party. The candidates further pledged that they will work honestly if they are elected in the upcoming polls.
Goa chief ministerial candidate Amit Palekar administered the oath to all candidates.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on the occasion said that all of our candidates are honest but this affidavit is needed to assure voters that these candidates are honest.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to file his nomination from Gorakhpur seat tomorrow

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address a press conference in Lucknow today

A Samajwadi Party candidate from the Matera assembly seat in Bahraich district on Wednesday sought to return the party ticket, saying he cannot fight on an entirely new seat instead of the one he had been tending for the last 10 years. Haji Mohammad Ramzan announced his intention to return the SP ticket hours after he was made the official candidate from the constituency.

Talking to reporters, Ramzan said he has been working for the Shravasti assembly segment for the last 10 years and the people there want him to contest from that seat and win it.

"It is not possible to contest an election from a new area like Matera (Bahraich) just before the election," Ramzan said.

Taking a swipe at Aslam Rayani, who has been given the party ticket from Shravasti seat, Ramzan asked him why was he running away from the Bhinga seat from where he is the sitting MLA.

The BJP MLA from reserved Bara assembly constituency in Prayagraj district quit the party on Wednesday in protest against allegedly being kept in dark about the party's intention to leave the seat for a coalition partner candidate. BJP MLA Ajay Kumar told reporters that he has resigned from the primary membership of the party.

Explaining his reason for taking the drastic step, Dr Kumar said he had been hearing of the BJP leadership’s intention to leave the Bara seat for a candidate of alliance partner Apna Dal (S).

“I have no remorse against it but I have been hurt by the fact that none of the top leaders of the party deemed it necessary to take me into confidence and inform me about it,” he said.

We have to work for the youth and generate employment for them. The reason I joined BJP is that it is a nationalist party. Samajwadi Party is nowhere in the fight, BJP will form government in Uttar Pradesh again. I will file my nomination tomorrow, says Rajeshwar Singh, BJP

Congress on Wednesday released its third list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Manipur.

The candidates along with their respective assembly constituencies are: Aribam Pramodini Devi (Keisamthong), Rajkumar Priyobarta Singh (Wangkhei), Birla Haobijam (Thanga), Wairok Morung Makunga (Tengnoupal).

Nishad party has released a list of six candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The candidates and their respective assembly constituencies are: Shravan Nishad (Chauri Chaura), Prashant Singh 'Rahul' (Handia), Piyush Ranjan Nishad (Karchhana), Subhash Pasi (Saidpur), Anil Kumar Tripathi (Menhdawal), Raj Prasad Upadhyay 'Rajbabu' (Sultanpur Sadar).

UP polls: Case registered against Samajwadi Party candidate and Lalu Prasad Yadav's son-in-law Rahul Yadav for taking out roadshow without permission, violating the Model Code of Conduct, says Bulandshahr DM