Amidst the announcement of election schedule for Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, the Election Commission of India did not declare dates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. This delay has been attributed to logistical challenges faced due to heavy rainfall and upcoming festivals in the state. The CEC also cited the need for proper security arrangements for J&K as a factor in postponing the announcement.
As the Assembly polls approach, Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena UBT has urged his alliance partners to name a CM candidate and has promised to support their choice. IMD predicts light rain and thunderstorms in Mumbai with temperatures ranging between 33°C and 26°C. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announces that Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections will be held together, while NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar criticizes the Centre for not respecting the post of Leader of Opposition. Additionally, two people have been killed and three others injured in a truck collision on a highway in Madhya Pradesh.
In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, Finance Secretary T V Somanathan has been named as the new Cabinet Secretary for a tenure of two years, succeeding Rajiv Gauba. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Somanathan's appointment, along with his concurrent role as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat. Meanwhile, a new Union Home Secretary is also expected to be appointed soon, as incumbent Ajay Kumar Bhalla completes his five-year tenure. Somanathan, a 1987 batch IAS officer, previously served in the Prime Minister's Office and as the Expenditure Secretary before his current appointment.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announces the success of India's Parliamentary elections in 2024, with a world record of 642 million voters. This is 1.5 times the voters of all G7 countries and 2.5 times the voters of 27 countries in EU. Stay updated on the latest news and live updates by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, check out our article for more information.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s allegations of Union Home Minister Amit Shah making phone calls to 150 District Magistrates to influence election outcomes as part of a larger "fake narrative". Kumar stated that such accusations are a common occurrence during parliamentary elections and urged for caution in peddling such claims. He also stated that the Election Commission is committed to conducting free and fair elections and any tampering of polls will not be tolerated.
Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul won the toss and opted to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first match of the season at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Super Giants will rely on the partnership of Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran to post a competitive total, while the Sunrisers will look for early wickets with Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the bowling attack. Fans are eager to see who will come out on top in this exciting season opener.
In a nail-biting encounter, Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off an unlikely one-run win against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished with figures of 41-3, was the star performer as he removed key players Jos Butler and Sanju Samson for ducks in the first over of Rajasthan's chase. Despite a counter-attacking partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rayan Parag, Rajasthan suffered a collapse in the end, leading to a tense finale where only seven runs were needed off the last over. However, Kumar maintained his composure and trapped Rovman Powell in front to seal the victory for his team.
Amid doubts and apprehensions raised about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asserts that the machines are 100% safe due to a number of safeguards in place. As the first phase of Lok Sabha elections commence, Kumar appeals to citizens to participate in the festival of democracy and exercise their right to vote without any hesitation. He also highlights the Commission's use of technology to reach out to traditionally less-voting segments of the population and reports of enthusiastic voter turnout across constituencies on the first day of polling.
As the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 begin with the first phase of voting, the opposition INDIA bloc has raised questions about the performance of the ruling BJP government. They have accused the government of neglecting border security, orchestrating scams, and failing to address issues like unemployment and inflation. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has reassured voters about the safety and integrity of Electronic Voting Machines as voters turn out in large numbers to participate in the "festival of democracy". Congress leader Sachin Pilot has also predicted that the INDIA alliance will surpass the majority mark of 272 seats, with the Congress winning more seats than the BJP in Rajasthan.
As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, the Central government has extended 'Z' category CRPF security cover for Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar all over India. The Ministry of Home Affairs took this decision in light of recent threat assessments by the Intelligence Bureau. This move comes amidst the model code of conduct in place and Kumar's need to travel across the country to ensure free and fair elections. The extended security cover, consisting of over three dozen armed CRPF commandos, will provide round the clock protection for him.