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.
In his first Independence Day speech of his third term, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed both ideological and political issues, calling for a "secular civil code" and advocating for simultaneous elections at both the national and state levels. By framing the BJP's call for a common civil code as a push for a "secular civil code", Modi aimed to rebut opposition claims that the party's goal is to replace Muslim personal law. Despite falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha, Modi emphasized the need for continuity and unity through simultaneous elections.
During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Modi addressed the recent protests over violence against women and stressed the need for swift action and strict punishment for perpetrators. He also announced plans to add 75,000 new seats in the medical sector in the next five years. He further spoke about the 'Visit Bharat' campaign for a healthier nation and called for a transformation of the agricultural sector. He also made a pitch for 'one nation, one election' and urged political parties to work towards the progress of the nation.
The former US President and Republican nominee for the upcoming elections, Donald Trump, was the target of a shooting at his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The gunman was killed by the Secret Service and one attendee was fatally shot. Thankfully, Trump is unharmed and is currently being checked at a nearby medical facility. The incident has sparked an active Secret Service investigation and happened just days before the Republican National Convention, adding to the already tense political climate.
In a heated first presidential debate, incumbent US President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden attacked one another personally and traded barbs on topics such as the economy, border security, abortion, national security, and age. Biden criticized Trump for his controversial visit to a World War I cemetery and for allegedly calling fallen soldiers "losers" and "suckers," while Trump denied these claims and fired back at Biden for calling him a "criminal." The fiery debate set the tone for what promises to be a contentious presidential election in November.
Surat police made a major breakthrough in a drug case when they intercepted two youths riding a bike and seized mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 10.06 lakh. Following their arrests, the police also apprehended their agent and seized more drugs worth Rs 17,250. The incident brought to light the prevalence of drug trafficking in the area and sparked discussions on the "one nation, one election" proposal in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.
The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency, which now comprises 18 assembly segments, is witnessing brisk polling with 23% of the electorate casting their votes till 11 AM. The highest voter turnout of 34.93% has been recorded in the Rajouri assembly segment. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is one of the 20 candidates in the fray, facing competition from National Conference leader Mian Altaf Ahmad and Apni Party's Zafar Iqbal Manhas. With the inclusion of areas from Poonch and Rajouri, the turnout is expected to be higher than previous elections.
The state of Chhattisgarh witnessed a neck-to-neck battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in the 2023 Assembly elections. In a surprising turn of events, the BJP secured a majority with 54 seats, while the Congress won 35 seats and other parties won one seat. Following their victory, the BJP is set to form the government for the third consecutive term in Chhattisgarh. The Congress party, led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, managed to retain their power in Patan, Kharsia, and Konta, with other ministers also securing their respective seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the BJP on their triumph and addressed the nation from Chhattisgarh.
As the city grapples with one of its worst drinking water crises in recent years, it seems to have received little attention in the campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While it is a small part of the rhetoric used by the national parties, the local issue has not generated much interest from the electorate. Both the BJP and Congress have addressed the issue in different ways, with the former blaming the state government and the latter pointing fingers at the central government. However, politicians from across party lines agree that the crisis has been defused by ensuring water supply and depoliticizing the issue.
In an interview with a local news outlet, outgoing Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan expressed his views on the BJP's manifesto promises leading up to the upcoming elections. He specifically addressed the issues of One Nation One Election and the Uniform Civil Code, stating that these are not feasible or applicable to India's diverse political landscape, especially for the Muslim community. He also stressed that Muslims should be allowed to follow their own religious laws, as per the Shariat, without causing any inconvenience to others.