Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's planned visit to Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh faced hurdles from authorities as barricades were placed at the Ghazipur border to prevent their entry. This visit was seen as an attempt to uncover the conspiracy behind the November violence in the district. The Samajwadi Party criticised the visit and called it a mere formality, highlighting the lack of parliamentary discussion on the issue.
The results of the by-elections for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh held on November 20 this week have been declared, with the NDA-BJP alliance securing a majority of seats. The ruling party’s dominance in the state has been reaffirmed with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributing the victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and their commitment to security, good governance, and public welfare. The Samajwadi Party’s win in the Sisamau seat has been the only exception to the BJP-RLD alliance’s success.
Tension has been brewing in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal region over a court-ordered survey of a mosque that has reportedly killed five people. Police have filed a case against Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Warq and MLA Nawab Iqbal's son Sohail Iqbal for allegedly inciting violence during the survey. The administration has imposed a ban on outsiders entering Sambhal till November 30, following the clashes between the survey team and a mob who pelted stones and torched vehicles, injuring thirty-six police officers.
Police have filed seven FIRs in connection with the violent protests against the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, naming prominent Samajwadi Party leaders as accused. Three people were killed on Sunday, and one more person succumbed to their injuries on Monday as protesters clashed with security personnel. The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and declared a holiday in all schools as a precautionary measure. A press conference by officials has confirmed the arrest of 25 people and efforts to identify others involved in the violence.
Tensions have risen in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district as a team arrived to survey a disputed site, where a Harihar temple was claimed to stand on the grounds of the historic Shahi Jama Masjid. Videos of cars being set on fire and stone-pelting have emerged on social media, showing the chaos that ensued. Police have used tear gas to control the situation, and a local court had ordered a second survey to be conducted after a previous one was conducted last week. Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq has spoken out in defense of the mosque, citing a Supreme Court order from 1991.
A heated debate has arisen between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP over the issue of voter identity verification for Muslim women wearing burqas, hijabs, niqabs, and ghunghats in the upcoming UP by-election. The Samajwadi Party has approached the Election Commission demanding that Muslim women should not have to remove their burqas for checks, while the BJP argues that every voter must be identified. The Election Commission has confirmed that only the polling officer is authorised to verify voter ID cards, and police or security personnel are not permitted to check ID cards or request a woman to remove her burqa. As polling continues, the outcome of this controversy remains to be seen.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is pulling out all the stops to ensure victory in the upcoming by-elections. This decision comes after criticism from Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who accused Adityanath of campaigning out of fear of losing his position. Adityanath has already campaigned in nine constituencies and will now shift his focus to Majhawan and Khair, in a bid to secure his party's place in the state's political landscape.
Akhilesh Yadav, leader of Samajwadi Party and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, defied barricades set up by the BJP government and paid tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. Yadav also called on Bihar's chief minister to withdraw support from the NDA and criticized the BJP for trying to block their celebrations at the JP International Centre. Despite the obstacles, Yadav and hundreds of party workers stood on the road to honor the socialist leader known as the "Jan Nayak," highlighting the ongoing political tension.
According to the Election Commission of India data, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lost to TMC candidate Yusuf Pathan in Baharampur constituency by around 85,022 votes. The result highlights a shift in political power in West Bengal, with the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance securing 43 out of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats compared to the NDA's 36. Prime Minister Modi's visit to the ancient Nalanda University ruins also signifies the growing importance of Bihar, which holds significant political weight in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In the midst of heightened investigations into a fake currency case in Uttar Pradesh, a notice may soon be issued to the former president of the state's Indian National Congress unit, Ajay Kumar Lallu. This follows the recent arrest of a Samajwadi Party leader in the same case in Kushinagar. With the local authorities stepping up their efforts to uncover the network behind the counterfeit notes and a team being dispatched to Nepal for further inquiries, the seriousness with which law enforcement is tackling the issue is becoming apparent. The situation remains dynamic as authorities continue their efforts.