Assembly Polls 2022 Highlights: Voters will reject politics of hate, says Kejriwal as state election dates announced

The country was put on election mode on Saturday, one of the crucial sets before the next Lok Sabha polls, with the Election Commission on Saturday announcing the voting schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa between February 10 and March 7. Uttar Pradesh will have seven-phase polls – February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7, while Manipur will have two phases – February 27 and March 3. Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will have a single-phase poll on February 14.

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Channi uses Sardar Patel’s quote to target PM Modi

Insisting that there was no threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life during his recent Ferozepur visit, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday sought to target him with a remark of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Don't indulge in hate speeches: EC to political parties

The Election Commission on Saturday cautioned political parties over hate speeches and said it is closely monitoring social media posts to ensure clean assembly polls in five states.

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Ensure social distancing, limit number of people in rallies: Healthcare experts to poll-bound states

As the Election Commission announced assembly poll schedule for five states on Saturday, healthcare experts have advised these states to ensure social distancing norms are followed and set a limit on the number of people attending rallies, saying violations of Covid guidelines can have severe repercussions at this critical stage of the pandemic.

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Punjab has suffered hugely due to misguided policies and rampant corruption by the Congress government. The last five years have pushed the state back by decades: State BJP chief Ashwani Sharma

(ANI)

Tough road ahead for BJP in poll-bound states as demands yet to be met: Farmer leaders

With the Election Commission announcing poll dates for five states, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, farmer leaders on Saturday said it is a tough road ahead for the BJP as the Centre is yet to meet their demands of crop MSP and expulsion of Ajay Mishra 'Teni' from the Union Cabinet.

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EC mandates parties to publish why candidates with criminal record selected for polls

Political parties fielding candidates with criminal cases will have to mandatorily upload on their website details of such persons as also reasons for selecting them to contest the polls, the Election Commission said on Saturday.

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With announcement of polling schedule, Model Code of Conduct has come into force & our teams have started removing political hoardings. 80 polling stations are added in Goa. A campaign to verify content on social media has also been launched: Goa Chief Electoral Officer, Kunal

(ANI)

Goa all set to go to polls on Valentine's Day

Major political parties namely the BJP and the Congress are ready to to battle on Valentine's Day, February 14, when the state's 11,56,464 eligible voters will cast their franchise for the state assembly polls.

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EC would not like to interfere in Union Budget presentation: CEC Chandra

The EC would not like to interfere in the presentation of the Union Budget, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said on Saturday, asserting the annual exercise would not disturb the level-playing field for parties during elections to five states.

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How technology is facilitating upcoming Assembly elections

From an App to file complaints on election law violations to filling in nominations and depositing security money, the Election Commission will be using Information Technology in the upcoming elections to five states.

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Voting for Congress means forming BJP govt, claims Manish Sisodia

Give a chance to Arvind Kejriwal's work-oriented politics by removing the politics which has betrayed you...We have full confidence that the people of these states will believe in Arvind Kejriwal's politics by removing the governments who cheat and loot their money and will elect AAP," said Manish Sisodia.

Voters will reject politics of hate, says Kejriwal as state poll dates announced

AAP is fully prepared to enter the polls now that elections dates have been announced...Voters of these five states were eagerly waiting for the announcement of elections; they have made up their mind to give a chance to honest politics...People will vote on basic issues this time and reject politics of hate based on caste-religion divides," said Arvind Kejriwal.

UP Polls to decide stature of Yogi, future of Akhilesh, Mayawati, Priyanka

The forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will decide the political stature of the incumbent Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath within his party besides deciding the future of Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and BSP supremo Mayawati.

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Assembly Elections 2022: What is the Model Code of Conduct?

Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the dates for the Legislative Assembly elections for the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur

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EC bans political rallies, roadshows, processions till January 15

With the Covid-19 third wave at a critical juncture, the Election Commission on Saturday banned physical rallies, roadshows, padayatra, cycle-bike-vehicle rallies and processions by parties or probable candidates till January 15 as it announced the schedule for elections to five states.

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Assembly Election 2022: 5 states to go to vote from February 10 to March 7; counting on March 10

The country was put on election mode on Saturday, one of the crucial sets before the next Lok Sabha polls, with the Election Commission on Saturday announcing the voting schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa between February 10 and March 7.

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Will retain Punjab, capture Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur, play decisive role in UP: Congress

As the five states are all set for Assembly polls, Congress on Saturday expressed confidence that it will retain Punjab and capture power in BJP-ruled Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand while expecting to play a decisive role in government formation in Uttar Pradesh.

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Budget Session will be 'out of focus', says TMC after EC announces schedule of polls in 5 states

The Budget Session will be "out of focus" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "gameplan is to make Parliament irrelevant", alleged the Trinamool Congress on Saturday after the announcement of dates for the Assembly elections to five states.

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Check violation of poll code by ruling party: Mayawati to EC

BSP chief Mayawati on Saturday welcomed the announcement of dates for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and four other states but urged the Election Commission to check the "tendency" in the ruling BJP of "violating" the model code of conduct.

The Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa will be held between February 10 and March 7 in seven phases, the schedule for which was announced by the Election Commission on Saturday.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, the BSP president welcomed the announcement and expressed faith that the poll panel will ensure smooth, free and fair elections.

What to do with Cong 'charge sheet' against state govt on eve of poll notification, asks Goa Guv

Goa Governor P S Sridharan Pillai on Saturday mocked the opposition Congress for trying to a present a "charge sheet" against the BJP government in the coastal state and asked if he was a judge to be given such a document or whether it had any validity in law.

The state Congress, whose leaders were accompanied by former Union minister P Chidambaram and new entrant and former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, had on Friday marched to Raj Bhavan to present their "charge sheet" but were stopped by the police, and party leaders also said the governor was not present there.

'Big day' will decide future of Punjab: Amarinder

Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday hailed the announcement of polls in Punjab on February 14, saying the 'big day' will decide the future of the state, while Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the people would heave a big sigh of relief with the end of 'misgovernance'.

Appealing to the people to participate in the carnival of democracy with full spirit while at the same time observing all Covid related protocols, the two-time Chief Minister said, "Sooner the better. We are all set for the big day that will decide the future of Punjab."

Punjab with 117 seats will vote in a single phase on February 14 and the counting of ballots will be on March 10 along with four other states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

Uttarakhand: Ravindra Jugran quits AAP, rejoins BJP

AAP leader Ravindra Jugran on Saturday quit the party and rejoined the ruling BJP, saying it was like homecoming for him.

Welcoming Jugran back into the party fold, state BJP president Madan Kaushik said the party will benefit from his experience and capabilities in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Jugran said he had served the BJP for 25 years in the past and returning to the party was like homecoming for him.

The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the schedule for the Assembly polls, which will be held on February 14 in the state.

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Chief election commissioner arrives at Vigyan Bhawan

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with ECI officials arrives at Vigyan Bhawan, to announce poll schedule for five states.

(ANI)

Unemployment decreased in BJP tenure, says Yogi Adityanath at DD Conclave

Speaking about the achievements of his government, Yogi Adityanath says that the unemployment rate before his government was 16 per cent, which is now less than 4 per cent.

UP polls: Minority votes for a majority

2019 LS polls showed even a consolidated Muslim vote for SP-BSP-RLD alliance couldn't surpass BJP's counter mobilisation.

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Schedule for state Assembly elections to be announced today

The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule for Assembly elections to Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh at 3.30 pm today.

(ANI)

Poll-bound Uttarakhand bans political rallies till Jan 16

Political rallies, dharnas and demonstrations have been banned in poll-bound Uttarakhand till January 16 in view of the rising coronavirus cases, according to an official order.

IGP to assist with securing records pertaining to Modi's Punjab visit

NIA nominated IGP Santosh Rastogi to assist Registrar General of Punjab & Haryana HC to secure and seize records related to PM's visit to Punjab on January 5 from state and central agencies. NIA DG issued an order in this regard on Friday.

(ANI)

Security breach during PM's Punjab visit not good: RSS

The RSS said the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Punjab visit two days ago is a serious issue and that it is not good if a person holding a Constitutional high office remains stranded.

CPI(M)'s three-day Central Committee meeting begins in Hyderabad

The upcoming elections in various states and the draft of the political report to be presented at the party's All India Conference in April are on the agenda of the CPI(M)'s three-day Central Committee meeting that began in Hyderabad on Friday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar, politburo member Prakash Karat and other leaders attended the meeting, a CPI(M) release said.

Successive governments in Uttar Pradesh neglected Muslims: Owaisi

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi alleged on Friday that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh had been neglected by successive governments and accused political parties of making false promises to the community to garner votes.