Assembly Election 2022: Four universities are being constructed in Gorakhpur, says Adityanath

Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "two Indias" remark, BJP MP Kirit Solanki on Friday said he should talk about uniting India not dividing it. Solanki also took on Gandhi over his remark that the "idea of king" has come back, saying that in kingship, a king is born to a queen but in a democracy, people's representatives are elected through ballot. Speaking during the debate in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Solanki attacked Gandhi for his remarks that there are now two distinct Indias, one for the extremely rich people and one for the poor, and the gap between them is widening.

Two days after quitting the BJP, Bara MLA Ajay Kumar on Friday joined the BSP. Kumar had resigned from the primary membership of the BJP on Wednesday in protest against allegedly being kept in dark about the party's intention to leave the seat for a coalition partner candidate. Addressing a press conference here after inducting Kumar into the BSP, party’s mandal coordinator Ashok Gautam said the former BJP leader would fight from the reserved Bara assembly constituency in Prayagraj on a BSP ticket.

We've built schools, hospitals, highways for everyone. They (Congress) is saying they will build a Muslim university if voted to power. We don't do this type of vote politics. We believe in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas': Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in Khatima

The Hapur Police on Friday said it has arrested the second suspect involved in firing on the car of AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi.
The police have lodged an FIR for attempt to murder in the case and the accused duo has been remanded in judicial custody, it said. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday for his recent statement in Parliament, blaming the BJP-led government's foreign policy to bring China and Pakistan together, and also accused him of trying to distort history. Addressing a rally in Punjab's Dasuya ahead of the February 20 state Assembly polls, Singh urged people to bring the BJP-PLC-SAD (Sanyukt) alliance to power, assuring them that the state will see fast development under the new regime. In an apparent reference to Gandhi, he said there are some forces that speak whatever comes to their mind. "Whatever Rahul Gandhiji said in Parliament, it hurt a lot. Rahulji tried to distort history in Parliament and alleged that because of our wrong foreign policies, Pakistan and China became friends," Singh said.

The BJP is not worried about small businesses and the poor but working for its "big corporate friends", Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Friday as she went from door to door campaigning for her party here. The Congress general secretary and its Uttar Pradesh in-charge also expressed the hope that the crowds turning up at the party's poll events would turn into a "wave of change" in the state's politics. While she held road shows here in this western Uttar Pradesh area abutting the national capital, on Thursday she was in Bulandshahr, another district in the poll-bound region. "Wherever we are campaigning, we see that the people are excited. I am hopeful that this excitement will turn into a wave of change in UP's politics,” she told reporters. Attacking the BJP, she said people engaged in small businesses were facing a host of problems.' “There has been demonetisation... lockdown, but the government failed to provide relief to the people. This government works only for its big corporate friends. There is no place for small traders, the poor and others.” Targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath without naming him, she said the language during poll campaigns has to be “civilised”, suggesting that it is a tactic to divert political discourse.

Indian women of this generation will be the biggest victims of a private member bill that seeks to regulate population by promoting two-child per couple policy, opposition members said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Taking part in a discussion over the Population Regulation Bill, 2019 moved by BJP's Rakesh Sinha, opposition members Fauzia Khan (NCP) and L Hanumanthaiah (Congress) also expressed apprehension that the move is targeted at a particular community and if passed, it will further marginalise the marginalised. "The biggest victims of the bill will be Indian women in general of this generation, irrespective of any community," Khan asserted.

Security deployed as a large number of people including AIMIM supporters staged a protest at Charminar condemning the attack on Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi ’s vehicle was fired upon in Uttar Pradesh yesterday.

A case filed against SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, SP's Dadri candidate Rajkumar Bhati, SP's Gautam Buddh Nagar chief Indra Pradhan& 300-400 others, for violating COVID19 & ECI's guidelines during a campaign in Dadri on Feb 3: Gautam Buddh Nagar Police

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said that he does not want a 'Z' category security that was provided to him, but he wanted to live with freedom, as an 'A' category citizen. The Hyderabad MP was awarded 'Z' category security after shots were fired at his car near Delhi. It said that the Centre reviewed the security of the AIMIM leader and decided to accord 'Z' category security of the CRPF with immediate effect, according to sources. | Read more 

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi offered prayers at Mata Baglamukhi temple in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district on Thursday night. Temple's priest Acharya Dinesh said the chief minister performed 'havan' which started around midnight on Thursday and ended at 1:30 am. It was CM Channi's third visit after taking charge as chief minister to seek the blessings of Mata Baglamukhi. Channi's visit comes ahead of Punjab polls. Acharya Dinesh said Channi often visits the Baglamukhi temple.

Union Home minister Amit Shah on Friday credited Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath with freeing the state from criminals, who he said can now only be found in jails or Samajwadi Party’s candidate lists for the Assembly polls. The BJP leader made the remark at an election rally here, after which he accompanied Adityanath to the collectorate, where the chief minister filed his papers for the Assembly polls from the Gorakhpur Urban Assembly segment. The Assembly seat is part of the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency, which Adityanath represented in Parliament five times. Besides top BJP leaders, chiefs of allies Apna Dal and NISHAD Party were present on the occasion. "I can say with pride that Yogiji has freed UP from mafias. He has established the rule of law in true sense after 25 years in the state," Shah said praising the CM at the rally.

Hit hard by defections in the last five years, the Congress in Goa on Friday made its candidates sign affidavits and take an oath of loyalty to the party in the presence of its senior leader Rahul Gandhi, days ahead of the state Assembly polls. In the last five years, the Congress was hit the hardest by defections in the BJP-ruled coastal state as most of its legislators quit the party. In 2019, as many as 10 Congress legislators had joined the BJP. The ruling party's current strength in the Assembly stands at 27. The grand old party, which had emerged as the single largest force by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House after the 2017 Assembly elections, now has only two MLAs in the House.

Congress has released its election song for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on Friday. 

Have you heard mention of any development work in the speeches of SP-BSP? They only say that we have captured someone's land, house. Have you heard them say that we built hospitals? They can only get jails built as most of their friends live there: BJP chief JP Nadda in Orai, UP

We are fighting with all our might. It's the first time in 30 years that our party has fought on all 403 seats. We are raising issues that pertain to the public & issues that are actually hurting the public: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a roadshow in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad. Sangeeta Tyagi, wife of late Congress leader Rajiv Tyagi, who died in August 2020 following a cardiac arrest, is Congress candidate from here.

Many development works including construction of a stadium, new colleges & schools is underway in Khatima. They (opposition) never intended to do any development work for the region: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami during campaigning for elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Samajwadi Party, saying 'fake Samajwadi means 100% parivarvadi'. PM Modi cited the homes for poor, policies for backward classes, medical colleges, better connectivity through roads and expressways and more as the achievements of the BJP government. READ FULL STORY

PM Narendra Modi also talked about the expressways and roads constructed under the BJP rule. He said that the previous governments looted the people in the name of expressways.

PM Modi lauded Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying he has freed Uttar Pradesh of mafias. He said that the BJP government has established rule of law in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the BJP government delivers what it promises to the public. He said that Uttar Pradesh is on a highway to success as he urged the people to bring back BJP to power in the state. 

5 yrs ago our daughters were scared of stepping out of house after 7 pm. Life of people had become difficult. Today, int'l airport is coming up here, new saga of development is being written, projects are being done one after the other:  BJP chief in Konch

The BJP has expelled six rebels from the party in Uttarakhand, who had entered the fray as independents against its official nominees, for six years. Those expelled include Rudrapur MLA Rajkumar Thukral, Tika Prasad Maikhuri,  Mahaveer Singh Rangad, Jitendra Negi, Dhirendra Chauhan and Manoj Shah, Pradesh BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said. Their expulsion follows the failure of the BJP leadership to persuade them to withdraw from the fray in favour of the party's official nominees. Thukral is contesting as an independent from Rudrapur, Maikhuri from Karnaprayag, Rangad from Dhanolti, Negi from Doiwala, Chauhan from Kotdwar and Manoj Shah from Bhimtal after being denied a party ticket. Uttarakhand goes to polls on February 14.

Former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Anand Sharma are among Congress' star campaigners for Punjab Assembly election 2022.

BJP chief JP Nadda in Konch of UP's Jalaun district said that political parties come during polls, seek votes and say things to charm people. They forget things they said in the past and go ahead with fresh promises. But it's BJP & PM Modi alone who changed culture of India's politics.

The current state government has always disrespected those who raised their voice for employment opportunities. The youth of the state will make sure that the BJP is defeated in the upcoming Assembly elections: Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, in Agra

I assure the farmers and youth of Uttar Pradesh that the SP-RLD government will be dedicated to them: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Jayant Chaudhary at a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, in Agra

Ahead of the Goa Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday announced an eight-point action plan for the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the state, seeking to "end the injustice meted out to the community by the previous governments". Talking to reporters, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said if his party comes to power in Goa after the February 14 polls, it would provide free education and free medical treatment to the members of the ST community, and they will also get priority in jobs. He alleged that the governments in Goa have violated the Constitution and the law of the land to deprive members of the ST community of their rights. "But AAP will focus on eradicating the injustice meted out to this community in the state by all the past governments," he said. On the eight-point action plan, he said if AAP occupies power in Goa, 12.5 per cent of the total state budget would be dedicated for the welfare of the ST community under the Tribal Sub Plan. He said 12.5 per cent of the total budget comes to around Rs 2,400 crore annually, although in reality hardly Rs 200-300 crore are earmarked in the the Tribal Sub Plan and out of that barely any amount is spent.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lauded Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying he has freed Uttar Pradesh of mafias by establishing rule of law in the true sense after 25 years. The opposition alliance, he said, had lost to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh previously and would be defeated again. Shah was addressing an election meeting ahead of nomination filing by Adityanath from the Gorakhpur Urban assembly seat. The union minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking special care of development particularly of the Purvanchal region. Besides Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, chiefs of  BJP allies -- Apna Dal and NISHAD party -- were present on the occasion. Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases beginning February 10.

Accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath files nomination papers as a BJP candidate from Gorakhpur Urban Assembly constituency. READ FULL STORY 

Amit Shah also attacked the Opposition leaders, saying mafia is seen at only 3 places in UP now - they are either in jail or outside UP or they appear in the candidate list of SP for Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022. Mafia used to rule UP, Police was scared of them. Today, mafia walks up to the Police station to surrender.

When I was made the BJP in charge (of UP) in 2013, then journalists used to say that I am being sent to a place where the party would perhaps not touch even double digits in elections. However, it was the opposition that did not touch double digits: Union HM Amit Shah in Gorakhpur

BJP is going to repeat the history in UP. In 2014, 2017 and 2019 polls, people of UP chose the development under the leadership of PM Modi & gave absolute majority. Today with CM Yogi filing nomination, BJP is marching ahead with resolve of '300 paar': HM Amit Shah, in Gorakhpur

Union Home Minister & BJP leader Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath show victory sign at the public rally venue in Gorakhpur

Amid intense campaigning for the upcoming assembly elections, the Congress seems to be looking for a balm for its headache of deciding on a CM face for Punjab polls. While state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has made it apparent on several occasions that he wants the party to declare him as the official CM candidate, incumbent Charanjit Singh Channi is keeping cards close to his heart. FULL STORY 

With the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, having fielded Maulana Umair Madani from the Deoband Assembly seat in Saharanpur district, the fight for Muslim votes in western Uttar Pradesh is bound to intensify. Maulana Umair Madani comes from a prominent Madani family of Deoband. His father Maulana Masood Madani was a former minister in the Uttarakhand government, his uncle Maulana Mahmood Madani is president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and his grandfather Arshad Madani is principal of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband. The family wields considerable influence over Muslims in the region.

The Congress on Thursday likened Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Asaduddin Owaisi, both of whom, the opposition party leader Randeep Surjewala said, were being sent to states by the BJP in order to split the anti-BJP votes. "There are two people, which the BJP sends wherever it is losing. One is AIMIM and second is Kejriwal and AAP. They will wear separate hats, they will seem to be opposing the BJP. But let no Goan be mistaken. At the end of the day, AAP runs its government with the assistance and help of BJP," Surjewala told a press conference in Panaji.

UP Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said that his security personnel had nabbed a man who attempted to attack him in Allahabad. It is police's job to probe that. I hope they will do their job because UP Police is capable. Truth recorded in the FIR, everything is mentioned. It's clearly mentioned that the person had opened a pouch of poison & had a small surgical knife in his hand. It is recorded in the video & live telecast on some channels.

Rainfall affecting 'Jan sampark' but we're holding indoor meetings. Workers are in full vigour & confident that with people's blessings, we'll meet our slogan of 'Abki paar 60 paar'. BJP govt will be formed with absolute majority: Uttarakhand CM PS Dhami

Senior BJP leader Amit Shah has reached Gorakhpur. He was received by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the airport here. Shah will accompany the Chief Minister for filing nomination from the Gorakhpur Sadar seat. 

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said followers of Dalit icon Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar should join the party’s effort to oust the BJP from power so that democracy could be saved and people’s right protected. Yadav said this during a joint press conference with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary when asked about BSP leader Mayawati, whose party had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP). "Ambedkarwadi (followers of Ambdekar) should come with 'samajwadis' (socialists) as we have to save the Constitution and democracy. If these are not saved, just think what will happen to our rights," Yadav said. Yadav said his outfit has support of different parties representing varied sections of society. "We are multi-coloured people. We have red, green, white and blue--all with us," he said seeking the support of followers of the Dalit icon when asked about the BSP going solo this time.

BSP Supremo Mayawati on Thursday accused Bharatiya Janata Party of indulging in politics of caste and spreading “communal hate”. The Dalit leader alleged that the BJP’s failure in keeping prices of edible oil, petrol and diesel has aggrieved people in the state. She attacked the Congress and accused it of overlooking BR Ambedkar, the Dalit icon, for Bharat Ratna when it was in power. She also accused the party of ignoring Kanshi Ram, another Dalit leader, by never announcing a national day in his memory. She urged the masses to not cast their votes in favour of BJP, SP or Congress, saying only BSP can bring the “Achchey Din”. The BSP leader ridiculed Congress for “staging drama” for the sake of votes of SC/ST class. She likened the regime of the Samajwadi Party with “gundas, mafias and anti-social elements”. She alleged that the SP only changed the names of the district, parks, and colleges which were instituted by BSP after Saints and respected ancestors. The leader also claimed that the SP terminated the reservation of SC/ST class in the allotment of government land and amended the law.

BSP president Mayawati on Thursday lashed out at political opponents over migration of people in search of livelihood saying it was only during her government that those who had left the state returned home. "Congress had been at the helm for the longest time after Independence and people migrated because the means of livelihood were not available here. After that, whether it was the SP or BJP government which ruled the state, unemployed people migrated in search of livelihood as the governments here did not make arrangements them," she said at an election meeting in Ghaziabad. She said people have been “very unhappy” under these governments.

Congress's Assembly poll candidates in Goa will take a pledge of loyalty to the party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi today. In the last five years, the Congress was hit the hardest by defections in the BJP-ruled Goa as most of its legislators quit the party. In 2019, as many as 10 Congress legislators had joined the ruling BJP, whose current strength in the Assembly stands at 27. The grand old party, which had emerged as the single largest force by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House after the 2017 Assembly elections, now has only two MLAs in the House. Recently, the Congress had taken its Goa poll candidates to a temple, a church, a gurdwara and a dargah in the state, where they were made to take a pledge that they would not defect if they get elected.

Senior leader Rahul Gandhi will be on a day-long visit to Goa today. 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.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will address a press conference in Goa today at 11 am.

"If a New Punjab has to be made, it is in the hands of the CM... You have to choose the CM this time. People at the top want a weak CM who can dance to their tunes. Do you want such a CM," said State Congress chief Navjot S Sidhu amid sloganeering by supporters. (03.02)

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.

Yogi Adityanath is running for MLA for the first time. Gorakhpur Sadar is considered to be his stronghold. Adityanath won parliamentary elections for a record five terms since 1998 from Gorakhpur. He had to resign in 2017 after he was made the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was then elected to the Legislative Council.

Bhim Army's Chandra Shekhar will contest the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Adityanath is in the fray 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. Gorakhpur Sadar will go to the polls on March 3 during the sixth phase of elections in the state. The results will be declared on March 10.

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) from Jalandhar on Thursday evening following day-long questioning in an illegal sand mining case: Sources - ANI FULL STORY 

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar said "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. 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.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) releases a list of 19 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Elections.

Yogi Adityanath offers prayers at Gorakhnath temple, ahead of filing nomination.

Bharatiya Janata Party (leader) Amit Shah on Thursday made a second attempt to woo Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary as he sought to remind how Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav had sidelined his father Mulayam Singh Yadav ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls. READ FULL STORY 

BJP said arrangements have been made for people to listen to the virtual address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the relaxation of the election commission norms, BJP is hoping to see the in-person participation of over one lakh people across these locations. BJP will also be telecasting this address of the Prime Minister through all the digital platforms and is hoping for at least a footprint of over 20 lakhs.

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.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will file his nomination papers for the Gorakhpur Sadar seat today. He is contesting MLA election for the first time.