Assembly Elections 2022 highlights: Adityanath shaken by SP-RLD alliance, isolated in his own party, says Akhilesh

SP announced 3 seats, shifts Swami Prasad Maurya to Fazilnagar in Kushinagar from his Padrauna seat, which he had won thrice. In a move that could have far-reaching consequences, the Congress has withdrawn its candidates against Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav.

Everyone feels safe in BJP's UP: Yogi

"Earlier governmentsdidn't make law and order as part of their agenda and due to that, the image of UP was spoiled and no one wanted to come here. Today, no riots happen. There is peace and everyone including women feel safe,"UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow

UP election results will be 'surprising', says Mayawati

BSP supremo Mayawati on Wednesday expects results of the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh to be "surprising" and claimed that her party was getting the support of every section of the society.

'The media does not show the true picture of the prevailing situation in the state,'' Mayawati said while addressing an election meeting in Agra, adding that BSP was fighting the polls to form a majority government in the state.

Mayawati attacked rivals BJP and Congress for ignoring Dalit ideologue Dr B R Ambedkar and never bothering for the interests of the scheduled castes and other weaker sections of the population.

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UP polls: BJP candidate accuses Priyanka of harassment, denying ticket to her husband in Punjab

BJP candidate from the Rae Bareli Sadar seat Aditi Singh on Wednesday targeted Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over denial of ticket to her MLA husband, Angad Saini, in Punjab and alleged there was pressure on him to speak out against her.

Describing herself as a "bina baap ki beti", the BJP nominee, who has recently switched over from the Congress, also alleged that she had faced harassment for fighting for justice.

Although Aditi Singh had won the seat as a Congress candidate in the 2017 assembly elections, she has been openly speaking in favour of the BJP government in the state. Recently, she switched sides and was fielded by the BJP from the same seat. She filed her nomination on Wednesday.

Singh has also dared Priyanka Gandhi to contest the assembly polls from Rae Bareli.

Adityanath shaken by SP-RLD alliance, isolated in his own party: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday taunted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, claiming that his own party had “isolated” him and accused him of playing the politics of negativity.

Addressing a joint press in Shamli’s Kairana with Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant Chaudhary, Yadav also attacked the CM over his “language” in the run-up to the assembly polls, which he said would be a “Bhaichara banaam Bharatiya Janata Party” (brotherhood versus the BJP) contest.

He referred to Adityanath’s reported remarks on the “hot-blooded” SP-RLD alliance leaders. The CM had said their “khoon ki garmi” would cool down once the assembly election results come in.

Yadav said Jayant Chaudhary has been a partner of the SP since a long time and will continue to get respect from his party.

AAP's Bhagwant Mann tries to woo voters in high-stakes Dhuri battle

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab chief minister candidate Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday conducted a door-to-door campaign for the Dhuri assembly seat from where he is in the fray and which falls in his home turf of Sangrur.

Wooing the voters, Mann said, "Till February 20 our responsibility is yours and after that all your responsibilities will be ours."

"The fight is not to save some political families but to save Punjab, the farmers, the agriculture, the industry and the youth. Owing to lack of employment and better education infrastructure, our youth is moving abroad. We will stop our talent from migrating by providing them adequate employment opportunities," the second-time Lok Sabha member from Sangrur said in his folksy style.

Uttarakhand Polls: Congress manifesto promises 40% women in police force

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra released the Congress' manifesto for Uttarakhand on Wednesday promising to reserve 40 per cent jobs for women in the police department, jobs to four lakh people, and creation of a 'tourism police’ force.

The manifesto titled 'Uttarakhand Swabhiman Pratigya Patra' also promised to give priority to women in 40 per cent government jobs and capping the LPG prices at Rs 500 with government contributing its share and shouldering the burden with people. Gandhi released the manifesto at a virtual rally here, streamed live in all 70 assembly constituencies in the state.

Accusing the BJP government in Uttarakhand of doing nothing over the past five years, she asked people to take their vote seriously because it was their “most powerful weapon” to bring change.

Akhilesh said rivers of blood will flow over Article 370 revocation, but not a stone was thrown: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday targeted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for his alleged remarks that “rivers of blood” would flow over the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir but no one had the courage to “throw even a stone” over the decision.

Shah warned the voters in Uttar Pradesh that if “mafia rule” -- apparently referring to the Samajwadi Party -- again comes in the state, people will hesitate to invest in the defence corridor in Aligarh, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

"He (Akhilesh) stood in front of me and said due to the decision (revoking Article 370) 'khoon ki nadiya bahengi' (rivers of blood will flow) but Akhilesh Babu leave that river of blood no one had the courage to throw even a 'kankad' (stone). Narendra Modi has secured the nation now," Shah said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual rally in five districts of Uttar Pradesh on February 4.

Priyanka Gandhi slams Sitharaman for 'UP-type' remark

A row has erupted over Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 'UP-type' remark, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra saying on Wednesday that people of Uttar Pradesh are proud of their dialect and culture and that there was no need to "insult" the people of the state

Sitharaman's remarks had come after Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, who is also an MP from Uttar Pradesh, said on Tuesday that Rahul Gandhi did not understand the budget.

After the former Congress President said that the government had delivered a zero sum budget, Chaudhary had said, "Probably, Rahul Gandhi did not understand the budget, which is futuristic".

"Whenever the Congress government came, there were always allegations of corruption against them. Even some of their ministers have gone to jail for corruption but in our government, no one can dare to accuse any of our ministers of corruption," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during a rally in Pilibhit.

BJP indulging in politics of negativity: Akhilesh Yadav

Those talking of the Kairana exodus will have to migrate out of Uttar Pradesh after the assembly polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday as he accused the BJP of indulging in politics of negativity.

Addressing a press conference with alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary in Shamli's Kairana, Yadav hit out at the BJP-led governments both in the state as well as at the Centre.

UP polls: Union minister Anupriya Patel's sister in SP's fresh list of candidates

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday announced another list of three candidates, including Union Minister Anupriya Patel's sister Pallavi Patel, for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Patel has been fielded from Sirathu seat of Kaushambi

Besides Patel, who will be challenging Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, the party has given ticket to BJP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently joined the Samajwadi Party from Fazilnagar seat of Kushinagar.

You saw Budget. What did it have for middle class, for poor? Nothing: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Somebody told me this morning that the price of diamonds has gone down & that of medicines has gone up. I'd like to ask you-when will you open your eyes?: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Dehradun

You'll have to decide that development should be an issue in polls. Ask political parties, that come to talk about religion & caste, what are they saying for your development? Ask them what did they do for you in 5 years: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Dehradun

Akhilesh Yadav (SP chief) will play a game of red light-green light. He'll show a red light to development & green light to mafias: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Sahaswan Assembly constituency, Uttar Pradesh

Stopped by bad weather, Rajnath Singh addresses public meeting in Lakhimpur Kheri over phone

Don't want to be Hema Malini: Jayant on BJP's bid to engineer defections in RLD

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Wednesday accused the BJP of trying to engineer defections in his party ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking at a public meeting in Mathura, Jayant claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had tried to get a senior RLD leader to defect but the latter declined the offer. ''Shah told my colleague that he (Shah) would make him (RLD leader) Hema Malini,'' he said.

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BJP candidate Aditi Singh alleges that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has been attacking her by pressurising her family to speak against her.

BJP's Aditi Singh files nomination from Rae Bareilly

TMC chief Mamata also says that her party will fight from UP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

Mamata says she will go to UP to support Akhilesh in Assembly Polls.

By taking the vaccine, people have given a tight slap to those who questioned the vaccines, called them 'Modi Vaccine', 'BJP vaccine'. Likewise, even in the UP Polls you need to give such people a 'sharp dose': UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Bulandshahr

CM Yogi is feeling the 'heat' because he's had to do barefoot campaigns with the BJP promising him the seat of his choice, but unfortunately, he didn't: Akhilesh at press briefing

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says EC must take note CM Yogi's language and serve him notice for disruptive campaigns

Dr Kafeel khan has challenged his illegal termination order by Uttar Pradesh Government dated 09/11/2022 after BRD Oxygen tragedy in Lucknow High court

In a jibe at a community, Shah says earlier people from the 'alia, malviya' communities used to strike our youth and spill their blood. All this changed with PM Modi's government, he says

Only the BJP has carried out surgical strikes and struck terror in the hearts and minds of those who tried to attack our young soldiers: Shah

Article 370 was withdrawn only under the leadership of PM Modi, Congress, SP, others would have never done that because that is their vote-bank politics: Shah

Mafias are found only in 3 places: In jails, outside of UP and in the candidate list of Samajwadi Party: Home Minister Amit Shah

Samajwadi Party's topis are coloured with the blood of Hindus killed in Muzaffarnagar riots: CM Yogi

Yogi Adityanath campaigns in Bulandshahr

Amit Shah campaigns for BJP in Atrauli, Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has said that the 'cycle' (poll symbol) of the Samajwadi Party stands punctured and the 'hand pump' (poll symbol) of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has become redundant.

"The cycle has been punctured and the people no longer need a hand pump because water is now supplied to every house through pipeline," he told reporters.

Responding to RLD president Jayant Chaudhary's statement that he would not flip like a coin, Maurya said that in 2019, the people had already flipped away the alliance by voting the BJP to power.

Oct 3 incident may dent BJP's prospects in Lakhimpur Kheri

For the BJP, the Nighasan Assembly constituency that houses the Tikonia area is expected to be a mixed bag in the upcoming state elections.

Following the killing of eight people, including four Sikh farmers, in the October 3 incident over the contentious farm laws, the Sikh community has allegedly warned its members to not associate themselves with campaigning for the saffron party while another section of the people said the BJP has gained an upper hand as the incident has boosted Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s sympathizers.

Teni’s son Asish has already been arrested in connection with the case.

Members of the Sikh community who attended 'Amavas' festival at the Kaudiyala Ghat Gurdwara near Tikonia said the October 3 killings have caused them great despair, which will negatively reflect in the election outcome for the BJP.

Swaran Singh, a farmer in Kharetiya village of Nighasan area, said, “Farmers were already upset with Teni as he had openly threatened them for protesting against the new farm laws in Palia’s Sampurnanagar in September. The Tikonia incident had added fuel to the fire. Will the family members of those killed in the incident be able to forget it,” he asked.

There are about 15,000 Sikh voters in the Nighasan Assembly constituency which is dominated by Muslim voters, who number around 80,000. There are 28,000 Mauryas and about 22,000 Kurmis.

SP announces 3 seats, shifts Swami Prasad Maurya to Fazilnagar in Kushinagar from his Padrauna seat, which he had won thrice

The Samajwadi Party has made the contest tough on three seats where it announced candidates on Wednesday.

The SP has shifted Swami Prasad Maurya to Fazilnagar in Kushinagar from his Padrauna seat, which he had won thrice.

In Sirathu, where deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is a candidate, the SP has announced Pallavi Patel as the candidate.

Pallavi Patel is the daughter of Apna Dal (K) president Krishna Patel. Her presence in the fray will make Maurya pay more time to his constituency which has a large number of OBC votes.

In the third constituency where the SP has queered the pitch for the BJP is Sarojini Nagar where it has named former minister Abhishek Mishra as the candidate.

The BJP has fielded former ED joint director Rajeshwar Singh on this seat and the party is facing a silent protest after the ticket was denied to minister Swati Singh.

Battle for UP: This Islamabad will vote in polls

The people of Islamabad are waiting to cast their vote in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. And, yes, this Islamabad is not the capital of Pakistan but is located in the state's Bijnor district.

Located about 40 km from the district headquarters, Islamabad village has a population of around 10,000, of which around 4,700 people are eligible to vote.

Poll Whistle: Caste, communalism and coronavirus in the UP elections

In this first episode of the Poll Whistle series, DH Radio's Rasheed Kappan talks to Deccan Herald's political editor Anand Mishra on the dynamics of caste, communalism and coronavirus in the Uttar Pradesh elections.

Union Budget: Surprise lack of populism in poll year; instead, 'Amrit Kaal'

The Modi government confounded its critics by departing from past practice and shunning overt populism in the Budget ahead of key state elections. Instead, it unveiled an intriguing long-term focus that seems designed to convey its confidence that it is going to be around for a long time.

In fact, a word cloud of FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech showed that words like ‘capital’, ‘infrastructure’ and ‘investment’ figured much more than ‘youth’, ‘women’, ‘poor’ and ‘farmers’, indicating a business-oriented budget rather than one focused on the traditional areas of social outreach. She used the word ‘capital’ 23 times in her speech, while ‘infrastructure’ and ‘investment’ figured 18 times.

This was in sharp contrast to last year, where sops for poll-going states were spelt out clearly.