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 surprising turn of events, Ashok Tanwar, a prominent political figure in Haryana, has left the BJP and returned to the Congress. Tanwar made his decision public at a rally in Mahendergarh district, where he was welcomed back by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This move, just two days before the state elections, has left many political analysts puzzled and could have a significant impact on the results. The Congress has highlighted the importance of Tanwar's return, especially in their fight for the rights of Dalits in the state, while also criticizing BJP's efforts to undermine the Constitution.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has highlighted the plight of Haryana's youth forced to migrate abroad for employment opportunities due to the BJP-led government's failure in providing jobs. Using the term "Dunki," Gandhi's tweet and accompanying video emphasize the struggles faced by youth in search of work and the resulting consequences for their families. He pledges to address this issue if the Congress forms a government in Haryana, putting a spotlight on employment ahead of the state's upcoming elections.
The Congress has released its first list of 31 candidates for the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls, with wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat nominated from the Julana constituency and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi. The party has also revealed its picks for other key constituencies in Haryana, resulting in heightened anticipation for the upcoming elections. Stay tuned for more updates on the Congress' candidates and their chances at the polls.
In a move to solidify their position in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the BJP has announced its first list of candidates with 10 Muslim candidates and only one woman candidate. The list also includes candidates from the Parihar community, both of whom are former MLAs. The elections, to be held in three phases, will see a fierce battle between the BJP, PDP, and the National Conference-Congress alliance. The results will be declared on 4 October, along with Haryana, increasing the stakes for the BJP in both states.
A closer look at Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's frequent paroles and furloughs show a pattern of coinciding with elections in Haryana and other states. Despite objections from SGPC, political support from leaders such as Haryana Jail Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala has resulted in the Dera chief being out of prison for more than eight months of his 20-year sentence. Prison officials claim that Ram Rahim is not receiving preferential treatment, as temporary release is available to all convicts.
The Election Commission of India is set to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Haryana and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The schedule will include dates for filing nominations, polling, and declaration of results. This announcement comes after the Supreme Court's directive to conclude the election process in J&K by September 30, 2024, and the recent review of poll preparations by the poll body in the region. In addition, the schedule for the assembly elections in Maharashtra is also expected to be announced by the election commission soon.
Apna Dal (Sonelal) has announced its candidate list for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, choosing Anupriya Patel as the party's candidate for Mirzapur constituency, where she is seeking a hat-trick of victories. The party also named Rinki Kol as their candidate for the Robertsganj seat, who is the sitting MLA from Chhanbey Assembly constituency. The Lok Sabha seats in Mirzapur and Robertsganj will go to polls in the seventh phase on June 1, and the results will be crucial for the BJP-led government in Haryana, which is in trouble after three independent MLAs withdrew their support.
The Supreme Court has summoned the returning officer Anil Masih to explain his conduct in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, where he is accused of defacing ballots. The court has ordered for the election records to be sequestered and handed over to the Punjab and Haryana High Court for safekeeping. The court has also deferred the ensuing meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, pending further orders. A plea was filed against the High Court's refusal to stay the poll results, where the candidate accused the presiding officer of fraud and forgery in the counting process.