Assembly Polls 2022 highlights: Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance announces its first list of 29 candidates for UP assembly polls

In yet another setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Uttar Pradesh minister Dharam Singh Saini resigned from the ruling party on Thursday. Earlier today. Congress announced the first list of 125 candidates for UP polls. Meanwhile, in a 14-hour long meeting, the BJP's Central Election Committee finalised candidates for a large number of seats, including in those going to the polls in the first two phases on February 10 and 14. Thank you for following DH.

Chaudhary Amar Singh, MLA Apna Dal, Uttar Pradesh to join Samajwadi Party

Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance announces its first list of 29 candidates for UP assembly polls with 10 from SP and 19 from RLD

EC changing rules to register new party at BJP's behest ahead of polls in Punjab, claims AAP

The AAP on Thursday claimed that theElectionCommission is going to register a new political party by bringing changes in its rules at the behest of the BJP.

Addressing a press conference here, party spokesperson Raghav Chadha alleged that the move has been set in motion by the BJP to stop the AAP from winning assemblyelectionsin Punjab and forming its government in the state.

There was no immediate reaction either from the EC or the BJP on the AAP's accusation.

Cong should realise its leaders not emperors of India, says TMC; calls for anti-BJP alliance in Goa

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra on Thursday hit out at the Congress, saying it should realise that its leaders are not "emperors of India" and added that had the grand old party discharged its duty well in Goa, there was no need for the TMC to enter the coastal state's poll fray to defeat the ruling BJP.

She said the TMC is ready for an alliance in Goa as defeating the BJP is the "need of the hour", but added that the Congress should get off its "high horse" and wake up to its depleted strength.

UP resignation spree: Is undercurrent in favour of the SP?

The resignation of three ministers in three days and the subsequent photos being uploaded with Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav has changed the dynamics of UP politics.

Till a few days back the BJP was confident of winning back the state but the resignations have sent jitters down the spines in the BJP camp.

The question is, whether there is an undercurrent in favour of the Samajwadi Party which is perceived to be the biggest gainer from these exits from the saffron party.

Koo adopts 'voluntary code of ethics' for fair, ethical use of social media during polls

Microblogging platform Koo app on Thursday said it has adopted a 'Voluntary Code of Ethics', with a view to safeguard conversations on social media related to the upcoming Assemblyelections.

Created by the Internet and Mobile Association ofIndia(IAMAI), the code was first presented ahead of the 2019 generalelections, by the industry body to theElectionCommission ofIndia, Koo said in a statement.

The code prioritises fair and ethical use of social media duringelections.

I am not running for any post: Navjot Sidhu

Amid the heated debate over who will lead the Congress in poll-bound Punjab, the partys state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Thursday that he is not running for any post.

"A system which could not give justice to our Guru and could not punish the big fish involved in Drug trade needs to be demolished. I categorically state that I'm not running for any post and it's either this system will stay or Navjot Singh Sidhu," he tweeted.

BJP faces uphill task of repeating its 2017 performance in western UP in 1st phase poll

The BJP faces an uphill task of repeating its performance of the last assemblyelectionof winning 53 out of 58 constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh where polling will be held in the first phase on February 10.

Western Uttar Pradesh which has seen widespread protests over the Centre's now-repealed farm laws will be very crucial for the BJP for achieving the target of winning more than 300 seats out of total 403 again, political analysts say.

Those who struggled for justice should be part of electoral politics: Priyanka

The Congress has turned over a new leaf by bringing into electoral politics those who have struggled for justice, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Thursday after releasing the party's first list of 125 candidates, including 50 women, for the assemblyelectionsin Uttar Pradesh.

Third Uttar Pradesh minister quits cabinet, likely to join SP

OBC leader Dharam Singh Saini on Thursday became the third minister to quit the Uttar Pradesh cabinet ahead of the upcoming state assemblyelections, according to his resignation letter circulating on social media.

Saini, who was the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, appeared headed to the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. Yadav posted on Twitter a picture of himself with Saini, as he had done after OBC leaders Swami Prasad Maurya and Dara Singh Chauhan resigned from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Punjab polls: Arvind Kejriwal says public should decide Chief Minister's name

The Aam Aadmi Party has proved that the government can be run honestly and has given hope to the country, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday as he asked his party workers to immediately start canvassing in poll-bound states.

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BJP finalises candidates for 172 seats in Uttar Pradesh; CM Adityanath and his deputies likely to contest

The BJP on Thursday finalised its candidates for 172 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh and is likely to field both Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who are currently members of the Legislative Council, party leaders said.

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Of the 300 names finalised by BSP so far for UP Assembly polls, 90 are Dalits and their number will rise as candidates for rest of the seats are decided: Party general secretary Satish Chandra Misra

NCP forms alliance with Samajwadi Party for Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections

RLD chief Jayant Singh welcomes senior leader and four-time Congress MLA from Hapur Gajraj Singh into his party

From Asha worker to rape victim's mother: Congress bets on women power in Uttar Pradesh

Unnao rape victim's mother Asha Singh, anti-CAA activist Sadaf Zafar, Tribal leader Ramraj Gond and Asha worker Poonam Pandey figured in Congress's first list of 125 candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh which was released on Thursday by party general secretary and state in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

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UP Minister Dharam Singh Saini resigns

Lucknow BJP MLA Vinay Shakya quits party

Strong 'anti-BJP, anti-incumbency wind' blowing in Goa; will appeal to an electorate that 'Goa should be ruled by Goans': P Chidambaram

TMC, AAP attempted to build their parties through defections in Goa, says P Chidambaram

TMC, AAP do not have cadre base in constituencies in Goa, attempted to build their parties through defections: P Chidambaram

Cong, BJP main contestants in Goa: Chidambaram

Cong, BJP main contestants in Goa; if AAP, TMC secure some votes, they will be splitting non-BJP vote: Cong leader P Chidambaram to PTI

Alwar rape exposes hypocrisy of Priyanka Gandhi, Cong: BJP

Taking on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over the alleged rape of a mentally challenged minor girl in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, the BJP on Thursday said the incident exposes the hypocrisy of the opposition party which talks about women empowerment in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.A ghastly crime of the rape of a differently abled minor girl has been reported from Alwar but perpetrators of the crime have not been arrested by the state government, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said.

Have fielded candidates who have struggled for justice in UP: Priyanka

We have tried to field such candidates who have struggled for seeking justice in Uttar Pradesh and have the power to fight: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

BJP CEC to meet today to finalise candidates for Uttar Pradesh elections

The BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) will meet on Thursday to finalise candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

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Congress releases first list of 125 candidates for UP polls

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra releases party's first list of 125 candidates for Uttar Pradesh polls"Out of the total 125 candidates, 40% are women & 40% are the youth. With this historic initiative, we hope to bring in a new kind of politics in the state," she says

Among the women, Congress has fielded Asha Singh, mother of Unnao rape victim: Priyanka

The first list of Congress has 40 per cent women and 40 per cent youth, says Priyanka Gandhi

Another BJP MLA resigns from party ahead of Assembly polls

Mukesh Verma, UP BJP MLA from Shikohabad (Firozabad), resigns from the primary membership of the party"Swami Prasad Maurya is our leader. We will support whatever decision he takes. Many other leaders will join us in the coming days," he says.

Postal ballots in UP for Covid patients, elderly voters

The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission has said that voters above the age of 80 years, physically challenged persons and those recovering from Covid-19 would be given the facility of casting their ballots from home during the upcoming Assembly polls.According to Election Commission of India (ECI), there are a total of 24.42 lakh registered voters above 80 years of age in Uttar Pradesh.To facilitate such voters, in October 2019, the Ministry of Law and Justice brought an amendment in conduct of election rules and included senior citizens above 80 years of age and physically disabled people under absentee voters.

BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting will start at the party headquarters in Delhi shortly to finalise the party candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. PM Narendra Modi will also join the meeting.

Onus on EC & police for free, fair Manipur polls: Himanta

Following killing of two persons in poll-bound Manipur three days back, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the onus to ensure free and fair elections is on the Election Commission and the police.

Speaking to reporters here, Sarma said, “Earlier Assam Rifles jawans were killed. Targeted killings are happening (in Manipur). It is clear we need to be more vigilant.”

AAP gets ECI notice for 'breaching' model code during door-to-door campaigning

The Election Commission of India Wednesday issued a notice to the AAP for allegedly violating the model code of conduct as its leaders and workers approached people in groups of more than five for door-to-door campaigning.

The poll panel issued the notice shortly after the Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal launched the door-to-door campaigning from the Kharar assembly segment. Kejriwal met residents, urging them to vote for his party on the February 14 state assembly polls.

Bengal BJP refugee cell says people apprehensive about future of CAA

With Union Home Ministry seeking more time for framing rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the West Bengal BJP refugee cell on Wednesday claimed that the delay is fuelling apprehensions among the community about the future of the law.

Under the CAA, The Centre wants to grant Indian nationality to non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The CAA was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, and the Presidential nod was received the next day. Subsequently, it was notified by the home ministry. However, the law is yet to be implemented as rules under the CAA are yet to be framed.

BJP considering fielding Adityanath from Ayodhya, central election committee to take final call

The BJP is considering fielding Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Ayodhya as its senior leaders meet to finalise candidates for the assembly polls starting from February 10.

Adityanath, currently a member of the legislative council, had recently said that he is willing to contest the assembly polls from wherever the party's top brass decides.

Sources said the Ayodhya seat has been discussed within the party as the constituency from where he may be fielded but added that a final decision will be taken by the party's top brass.