The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with 72 names including prominent leaders like Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Pralhad Joshi, and Piyush Goyal. The list also includes names like former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and former AAP leader Ashok Tanwar. With these big names, the BJP is confident in their chances for the elections.
Piyush Goyal: BJP Stalwart and Indian Minister with a Multi-Faceted Career
Piyush Goyal, a prominent figure in Indian politics, is the current Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry in the Government of India. He has held several ministerial positions and played a pivotal role in shaping various sectors of the economy.
Background and Early Career:
Born on June 13, 1964, in Mumbai, Goyal holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Mumbai. He began his career as a Chartered Accountant and later worked as a financial analyst.
Political Journey:
Goyal's political journey began in 2004 when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, in 2010 and has served as a member for several terms.
Ministerial Positions:
In 2014, Goyal was appointed Minister of State with Independent Charge of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy in the first term of the Narendra Modi government. He later also held the portfolios of Finance and Railways. In 2019, he was reappointed as Minister of Railways and additionally given the charge of Commerce & Industry.
Key Achievements:
Recent Developments:
In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Goyal was included in the BJP's second list of candidates. He is set to contest from the Jodhpur constituency in Rajasthan, a seat currently held by the Congress party.
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Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, currently serving a life sentence for rape and murder, has been granted parole for the fifth time before an election. With his followers claiming to have received instructions to vote en bloc, the dera chief's influence on voters in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan cannot be ignored. This move comes after the dera dissolved its political wing last year and the Election Commission has banned the dera chief from indulging in any political activity. However, allegations of his influence on voters have been raised in the past as well, making this parole decision a contentious one.
In an inaugural address at the Hindu Spiritual and Seva Mela in Jaipur, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar spoke out against the dangerous rise of religious conversions in India. He criticized a "sugar-coated philosophy" used to target vulnerable sections of society, and pointed to a larger conspiracy behind the organized conversions. Without naming anyone, Dhankhar expressed concern over certain individuals aligning with forces detrimental to the nation's interests. He urged for vigilance and swift action against those attempting to fragment India.
Former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expresses confidence in the BJP's prospects in the Haryana Assembly elections, citing the significant voter turnout as a strong indicator of public support. He urges voters to exercise their right to vote and dismisses claims of opposition parties, emphasizing the importance of trusting the democratic process. Khattar also clarifies that Nayab Singh Saini would take over as Chief Minister if the BJP wins, continuing the party's leadership transition.
A traditional garba event in Indore, organized for the past 35 years, has been cancelled due to objections from right-wing groups who accused the organizer of promoting "love jihad". The controversy arose when a poster of one of the organizers, Firoz Khan, was put up in the city ahead of Navratri celebrations. The organizer has offered to leave the city for 10 days, while requesting permission for the Devi Pujan ceremonies to continue for nine days. This incident highlights the growing tensions and issues surrounding the concept of "love jihad" in India.
Royce White, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, is facing backlash after a resurfaced 2022 post on social media in which he referred to the Allied forces as "bad guys" in World War II. He has been criticized for his remarks and is currently trailing behind Democratic incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar in polls. White defended his statement, claiming that he was referring to post-war reconstruction and globalist interests benefiting from the democratic order established after the war.
The highly anticipated assembly elections in Haryana are underway, with voters heading to the polls to determine the fate of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other key candidates including Vinesh Phogat. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking a third consecutive term, while the Congress is hoping to make a comeback after a decade. The state is also seeing intense competition from other parties such as AAP, INLD, BSP, JJP and Azad Samaj Party. Stay tuned to NDTV for live updates on the election results and follow the latest news from India and across the world.
In a bold move, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and three legislators, belonging to the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, jumped off the third floor of the state secretariat building in Mumbai to oppose the demand for the Dhangar community's inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category. Fortunately, they landed safely on a net installed in the building to prevent suicide attempts. Officials confirmed that none of them sustained any injuries. The incident was a part of a larger protest by tribal MLAs in the Mantralaya complex during a cabinet meeting, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis were present.
Amidst ongoing protests against the ST reservation demanded by the Dhangar community, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal reportedly attempted to jump from the third floor of the state secretariat building. The NCP MLA landed safely on a safety net, along with two other tribal legislators who also jumped in protest. The Ajit Pawar faction leader and other tribal MLAs were demanding that Dhangars not be given ST reservation and instead be given services under the PESA Act. The situation remains tense as discussions on the issue continue.
A division bench of the Telangana High Court has formed a committee to review disqualification petitions filed against three Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders who defected to the Congress. The High Court has also declined to stay a single-judge order warning the State assembly speaker of further court proceedings if he does not decide on the petitions. The case raises the question of whether the High Court can order a speaker to decide on disqualification petitions within a fixed time frame.
With the Haryana state legislative assembly elections around the corner, the Chief Electoral Officer urges voters to ensure their names are included in the voter list. While a voter ID card is the most commonly used identity document, the ECI has prescribed 12 alternative options, including Aadhaar card and Indian passport, for those without one. The voter list is available online and through a helpline number, with registration being mandatory in order to cast a vote. The upcoming elections will see a competition between the BJP, who secured 40 seats in the 2019 elections, and Congress, who won 30 seats.