Assembly Polls 2022 Highlights: Shah slams Congress over Punjab incident, says repeated rejections drove party to insanity

The Election Commission will hold a virtual meeting with top officials and representatives of political parties from Manipur on Wednesday. Meanwhile PM Modi has cancelled his rally in Ferozepur, Punjab. Stay tuned for updates!

In meeting with EC, political parties in Manipur express concern over pre-poll violence

Political parties from Manipur on Wednesday expressed concerns over pre-poll violence and urged the Election Commission to deploy adequate security forces during the poll process.

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Repeated rejections have taken Congress to insanity: Shah slams party over security Punjab breach incident

Security breach incident proves there is no law and order in Punjab: Tomar

Sukhbir Singh Badal calls Punjab CM 'incompetent' over PM's security breach

Coming indirectly in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the breach of his security during his visit to Punjab on Wednesday, former Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Sukhbir Singh Badal, said that there is complete collapse of law and order situation in Punjab and the Chief Minister is 'incompetent to run it.

"There is complete collapse of law and order in Punjab. We have been saying this for long. The CM is incompetent to run the state," Sukhbir Badal, who is the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), said in a tweet.

I express regret that PM Modi had to return during his visit to Ferozepur district today. We respect our PM: Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on security breach during PM's visit to the state

UP Polls: Congress, BJP cancel rallies amid spike in Covid cases

As the cases of coronavirus infections registered a sharp spike in Uttar Pradesh, political parties have started cancelling their scheduled public meetings and other events in the poll-bound state.

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Tejasvi Surya attacks Congress over breach of security in Punjab

Randeep Surjewala responds to JP Nadda over security lapse in Punjab

'Vote for Akhilesh, New Uttar Pradesh': Samajwadi Party student wing begins poll campaign in varsities

The Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha -- the student wing of the Samajwadi Party (SP) -- has launched a 'Vote for Akhilesh, New Uttar Pradesh' campaign.

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Akhilesh Yadav objects to 'farq saaf hai' campaign

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has raised objection to Uttar Pradesh government advertisements that show 'anti-social elements' wearing red caps and holding them responsible for all problems before 2017.

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'Say thanks to Channi for I could return to Bhatinda airport alive': Modi to officials after security lapse in Punjab

Following a "serious security lapse" that left Prime Minister Narendra Modi stuck on a flyover in Punjab for around 20 minutes, the PM reportedly told Bhatinda airport officials to say "thanks" to Punjab CM Channi for he could reach the airport "alive".

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PM Modi cancels Ferozepur rally: All you need to know

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, PM Modi landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. However, due to rain and poor visibility, PM waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out. "When the weather didn’t improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Marytrs Memorial via road, which would take more than two hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police," the MHA added.

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Akhilesh asks Yogi to form 'Mafia BJP League' as video of absconding murder-accused playing cricket surfaces

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday sought to pick holes in Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's oft-repeated claims of cracking down on criminals and mafias in the state.

He shared a video purportedly showing former MP Dhananjay Singh, an accused in a murder case and a declared absconder, playing cricket after inaugurating a cricket tournament in Jaunpur district.

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MHA takes cognisance in 'security lapse' on PM Modi's visit

The PM’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to Punjab Government. As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also in view of the contingency plan Punjab Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed.

After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport.

The Ministry of Home Affairs taking cognisance of this serious security lapse has sought a detailed report from the state government. State Government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action.

PM Modi cancels Ferozepur rally

When the weather didn’t improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Marytrs Memorial via road, which would take more than 2 hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police. Around 30 kms away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of PM: MHA

PM Narendra Modi cancels his scheduled visit to Punjab's Ferozepur to address a rally "due to some reasons", Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announces

Today morning PM landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. Due to rain and poor visibility, PM waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out: MHA

PM Punjab poll rally likely to be suspended: Media Reports

Goa BJP conducting regular survey to find out popularity of ticket seekers

In an attempt to select the right candidate for upcoming assembly polls to form government in Goa for the third consecutive term, the BJP is regularly conducting internal surveys to find out the popularity of its ticket aspirants among masses. It is learnt that the BJP is conducting a survey every fortnight to know the popularity of ticket seekers.

A senior party functionary said that a survey is conducted every fortnight to know ticket aspirants' popularity among voters. "Along with regular fortnightly surveys, the party is also conducting special surveys," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP will slug it out in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation mayoral elections slated for January 8.

The Congress, which had ended up winning eight of the 35 seats, has opted out of the race.

On Tuesday, nominations were filed by AAP and BJP candidates for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

According to AAP senior leader Pradeep Chhabra, his party has fielded Anju Katyal for the post of mayor.

On the other hand, the BJP has put up Sarabjit Kaur. Both candidates for the mayor's post are first-timers.

The post is reserved for a woman councillor in the new MC House's first year.

AAP has fielded Prem Lata for the post of senior deputy mayor and Ram Chander Yadav for the post of deputy mayor while for the same posts the BJP has put up Dalip Sharma and Anup Gupta, respectively.

Notably, AAP councillors, who were in Delhi on Monday, returned to the city on Tuesday.

For winning the third election in a row in the state, the Goa BJP has started presenting a report card of state government to people. The party workers are visiting every household with the works of the BJP government in the last ten years.

A well placed source said that a campaign has been launched to reach every house in the state with the works of the BJP government in 10 years.

"We have started presenting our report cards to people. Report card contains works of the BJP government in the state since 2012. The campaign started on January 1 and will continue till January 10. In these 10 days, BJP workers will reach out to each and every household in the state and tell the voters what our government has done in the last 10 years," he said.

Goa Assembly polls will be held in February- March next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur. The BJP has been in power in the coastal state since 2012.

SAD (Sanyukt) chief Sukhdev Dhindsa tests positive for Covid-19

SAD (Sanyukt) president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Wednesday tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection and has isolated himself at his house, a party statement said.

The Rajya Sabha member was scheduled to participate in a rally to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ferozepur.

Dhindsa's party Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) and former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's party Punjab Lok Congress have joined hands with the BJP for the 2022 state assembly polls.

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PM Modi arrives in Punjab

Modi landed in Bathinda and then headed for the district located along the Indo-Pak border.

"He has arrived in Punjab and is on his way to Ferozepur," Inspector General of Police (Bathinda Range) Jaskaran Singh told PTI over phone.

Uttar Pradesh Congress has postponed its 'Ladki Hun Lad Sakti Hun' marathon due to rise in Covid cases

7 to 8 marathons were planned in Noida, Varanasi, and various other districts of the states in the coming days

The Congress on Tuesday held the first meeting of its screening committee for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections and is learnt to have finalised around 70 candidates for polls.

Top Congress leaders of the state attended the meeting which was chaired by party general secretary Ajay Maken.

While Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was not present as he had a Cabinet meeting in Chandigarh, the committee members held a telephonic conversation with him.

The panel will again meet on Wednesday and finalise the first list of Congress candidates for the polls.

Sounding poll bugle, PM Modi to lay foundation stone of Rs 42,750 Cr worth projects in Punjab

Sounding the bugle in Punjab's poll season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will lay the foundation stone of development projects of Rs 42,750 crore comprising two mega road corridors to enhance accessibility to prominent religious centres and three health institutions in this town bordering Pakistan.

One of the road corridors will halve the travel time from 12 hours from the national capital to religious sites in Punjab, comprising Amritsar and Sultanpur Lodhi, and to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra.

Just hours ahead of his visit, Modi tweeted, "I look forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Punjab today. At a programme in Ferozepur, the foundation stone of development works worth Rs 42,750 crore would be laid, which will improve the quality of life for the people."

Why UP poll results could influence Rajasthan politics

Amid talk that the country's political skies would get reconfigured after the upcoming Uttar Pradesh (UP) Assembly elections, a theory has gained currency: The UP outcome could determine the continuance or otherwise of Ashok Gehlot as the Chief Minister in Congress-ruled Rajasthan.

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Lord Krishna's recurring reference in the election campaign was in addition to the repeated reference to Lord Rama, Ram Temple and Ayodhya in the speeches of BJP leaders

Lord Krishna must have told them in their dreams that the BJP government had done what they could not do during their regimes," the Chief Minister said addressing a public meeting at Aligarh after dedicating a power plant to the public.

"You could not build Krishna-Baldev Temple in Mathura... they, however, did produce Kans (Krishna's maternal uncle, who, according to the Hindu mythology, had killed six daughters of his sister),'' Adityanath said apparently referring to the violence in June 2016 in which two cops and 24 squatters, who were members of a cult, were killed.

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UP Polls: Yogi, Akhilesh bicker about what Lord Krishna said in dreams

After Lord Rama, Lord Krishna too appears to have become the God of choice for the politicians in the ongoing election campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as well as his party leaders have, of late, been invoking Lord Krishna in their election campaign speeches and claiming that they enjoy his blessings.

While Nadda did not respond, Akhilesh took the cue and said that Lord Krishna came to his dreams every night and told him that he would form the next government in the state and would establish the 'Ram Rajya'.

On Tuesday, the EC took stock of the evolving Covid situation in the five states amid concerns over rising infections caused by the Omicron variant, they said

EC to hold virtual meet with Manipur administration, political parties today

The Election Commission will hold a virtual meeting with top officials and representatives of political parties from Manipur on Wednesday, sources said.

Manipur is one of the five states where assembly elections are due and the virtual meet is part of the poll panel's exercise to take stock of the situation.

The commission has already visited Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand in the last few days to take stock of the poll preparedness there.

Top state administration officials, representatives of political parties and those part of the poll machinery will attend separate meetings on Wednesday evening, sources said.

Akhilesh might visit Ayodhya later this week as part of the Samajwadi 'Vijay Rath Yatra' and address public meetings in different parts of the district.

"He may also visit the makeshift Ram Temple at Ayodhya," a senior SP leader told DH.

Since the groundbreaking ceremony, Akhilesh is yet to visit the makeshift Ram Temple.

PM Modi to visit Ferozepur, Punjab today

PM will lay foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 42,750 cr. These projects include Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, PGI Satellite Centre at Ferozepur &two new medical colleges at Kapurthala &Hoshiarpur