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Amid EVM malfunctioning reports, over 70 per cent voter turnout in Phase I of Gujarat polls

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8 years ago

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Gujarat Polls

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Congress leaders claim EVMs were getting connected via Bluetooth at some booths, EC and BJP reject charge even as EVM snags reported from many booths

The political fortunes of the BJP and the Congress party were sealed in 89 of 182 assembly constituencies as polling ended for these seats on Saturday evening as part of the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections. According to the Election Commission, about 70 per cent voter turnout had been registered till 5 pm though the figure is expected to go up marginally as people who had already joined the queue at polling booths to cast their votes will be allowed to do so.

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The Election Commission claimed that malfunctioning EVMs had been replaced. The BJP, however, went on the offensive saying the allegations had become a habit of the Congress party and were an indication of its nervousness about facing yet another defeat in the state that has voted the saffron party to power for 22 consecutive years.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The Congress also alleged that EVMs at certain booths in the Porbandar constituency were connected to Bluetooth devices. Senior Gujarat Congress leader and the party’s candidate from Porbandar, Arjun Modhvadia submitted screen shots from his mobile device to the EC which he claimed showed that the EVMs were connected to bluetooth devices. A team of EC officials who visited some of the polling booths following Modhvadia’s complaint, however, rubbished the charge.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Amid recurring reports of EVM tampering – the most recent ones coming from Uttar Pradesh which witnessed civic polls few weeks back – the Election Commission has also deployed Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines at every polling booth in the state to enable voters to check whether the vote cast by them was registered to the candidate of their choice. The VVPAT, EC officials believe, will help curb frequent complaints by voters of their votes being cast in favour of the BJP irrespective of the candidate that they vote for.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]

The 19 districts that went to polls on Saturday were concentrated in the Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions of the state. A total of 977 candidates are contesting the polls in the first phase of Gujarat elections. Some of the high profile candidates in this phase include Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, his rival from the Congress Indranil Rajyaguru, Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani, Congress leaders Shaktisinh Gohil, Arjun Modhvadia and Paresh Dhanani.

The Congress, whose campaign in the state is being led by party vice president Rahul Gandhi, is hoping to end its 22-year-long exile from power in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. The Grand Old Party has been riding of the popularity and mass following of a trio of youth leaders – Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti chief Hardik Patel, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor (who has is contesting the polls on a Congress ticket) – and hopes that this triumvirate will help the Congress regain its lost political ground in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who before assuming the office of the country’s top executive in May 2014 served as the Gujarat chief minister for 12 years, is leading his party’s campaign in the state at a time when the BJP is perceived to be facing its toughest electoral battle in Gujarat in the face of massive protests by nearly all sections of the electorate – Patidars, Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, traders. The BJP has however claimed that these protests will not affect its continuing victory march and that the party will win at least 150 seats in the state.

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Rahul Gandhi, Centre clash over Ladakh deepens as eight Congress MPs suspended

The Lok Sabha saw repeated disruptions after Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to speak on the Ladakh issue, leading to protests and the suspension of eight Congress MPs.

Published

8 hours ago

on

February 3, 2026

By

Chaos engulfed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as tensions between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party intensified over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to raise the issue of the India-China military standoff in Ladakh. The disruption eventually led to the suspension of eight Congress MPs for the remainder of the parliamentary session.

The confrontation unfolded after the Leader of the Opposition tried, for the second consecutive day, to read out excerpts from an unpublished book by former Army chief General M.M. Naravane that refer to the 2020 Ladakh crisis. The Speaker denied permission, citing procedural rules, triggering protests from opposition members.

Several MPs protested by refusing to speak when called upon, expressing solidarity with Gandhi. The uproar forced repeated adjournments of the House and, according to reports, involved members throwing pieces of paper towards the Chair.

Following the disorder, eight Congress MPs — including Hibi Eden, Amarinder Raja Warring and Manickam Tagor — were suspended. Warring later questioned the action, saying the protests were in response to Gandhi being denied the opportunity to speak despite having authenticated the document and submitted it to the House.

The BJP strongly criticised the Congress leadership. Party MP Anurag Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi of undermining Parliament and insulting the armed forces, alleging that the opposition was attempting to distract from recent government actions, including the presentation of the Union Budget. He also said the BJP would move a formal complaint seeking strict action against the suspended MPs.

Outside Parliament, Gandhi accused the ruling party of trying to silence him, saying he was prevented from speaking on the sensitive issue of the India-China border. He argued that he had followed procedure by authenticating the content he wished to quote but was still denied permission.

What happened a day earlier

On Monday, the Speaker had also disallowed Gandhi from reading the excerpts, with senior ministers countering his remarks during the debate. Government sources later maintained that the Congress leader violated House rules by attempting to introduce unpublished material into the official record without prior approval.

When proceedings resumed on Tuesday, Gandhi again raised the matter, insisting that the information had been authenticated. As the Speaker moved on to other members, two opposition MPs from the Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress declined to speak, signalling their support for him.

Rahul Gandhi targets India-US trade deal

Separately, Gandhi also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the India-US trade deal. He questioned how negotiations that had reportedly remained unresolved for months were concluded overnight and alleged that the agreement compromised the interests of Indian farmers, particularly in agriculture and dairy.

Government sources, however, rejected these claims, stating that sensitive sectors would remain protected and that the deal does not undermine farmers’ interests. They said contentious issues, including market access, had been carefully handled.

The opposition has demanded full disclosure of the terms of the agreement, even as both sides continue to trade sharp political accusations inside and outside Parliament.

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India News

Mamata Banerjee alleges mass voter deletions in Bengal, targets Election Commission

Mamata Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of deleting thousands of voter names without due process, raising questions over the timing of the exercise ahead of elections.

Published

8 hours ago

on

February 3, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday intensified her attack on the Election Commission over voter roll revisions, alleging that a large number of names have been deleted without due process as the state heads towards elections.

Addressing party workers, Banerjee claimed that 40,000 voters’ names were removed from her constituency alone, alleging that the deletions were carried out unilaterally and without giving voters a chance to be heard.

“In my constituency they have deleted 40,000 voters’ names unilaterally… Even a murderer gets a chance to defend himself,” she said.

Allegations against election officials

The chief minister directly accused an election official, alleging political bias and irregular conduct in the revision process. She claimed that voter names were being removed while officials sat in Election Commission offices, calling the process illegal.

“They cannot do it, it is illegal. 58 lakh names have been unilaterally deleted,” she said, echoing claims earlier made by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee.

Banerjee also alleged that individuals described as “micro-observers” had been appointed illegally, claiming they had no role under the Representation of the People Act and were linked to the BJP.

‘Alive but marked dead’

In a dramatic moment during her address, the chief minister asked those present who had been marked as deceased in the voter lists to raise their hands.

“See, they are alive but as per the Election Commission they are dead,” she said.

She further alleged that names were being deleted under the category of “logical discrepancy,” adding that even noted economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen had earlier been questioned regarding the age of his mother.

Questions over timing of voter roll exercise

While stating that she did not oppose the Special Intensive Revision process in principle, Banerjee questioned the timing of the exercise.

“I have no problem with SIR, but why do it on the eve of elections? Why not after elections?” she asked.

Reiterating confidence in her party’s organisational strength, the chief minister said she was prepared to fight the issue politically and democratically.

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Supreme Court raps Meta over WhatsApp privacy policy

The Supreme Court warned Meta that it would not tolerate any compromise of citizens’ privacy while hearing a case related to WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy and a CCI penalty.

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12 hours ago

on

February 3, 2026

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WhatsApp

The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered strong observations against Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, over the messaging platform’s 2021 privacy policy, warning that it would not tolerate any compromise of citizens’ privacy.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya said the court would not allow the sharing of user data in a manner that exploits Indians, remarking that privacy protections under the Constitution must be followed. “You can’t play with privacy… we will not allow you to share a single digit of our data,” the Chief Justice said during the hearing.

The matter relates to a plea challenging the law tribunal’s decision that upheld a ₹213 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on WhatsApp, while also permitting certain data-sharing practices for advertising purposes.

Court questions accessibility of privacy policy

During the hearing, the court raised concerns about whether WhatsApp’s privacy policy could realistically be understood by large sections of the population, particularly those who are poor or not formally educated.

The bench questioned if users such as roadside vendors, rural residents, or people who do not speak English would be able to comprehend the policy’s terms. It also expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of opt-out clauses, stating that even legally trained individuals find such policies difficult to understand.

Describing the alleged data practices as potentially exploitative, the court said it would not allow private information to be taken without genuine and informed consent from users.

The Chief Justice also cited a personal example, suggesting that users often begin seeing advertisements shortly after exchanging sensitive messages on WhatsApp, such as medical conversations, raising questions about how user data is being utilised.

Arguments from government and Meta

Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta criticised WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices, calling them exploitative and commercially driven. In response, the Chief Justice said that if companies cannot operate in line with constitutional values, they should not do business in India.

Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Akhil Sibal, appearing for Meta and WhatsApp, countered the allegations by asserting that all WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted and that the company cannot read message content.

Background of the case

In November 2024, the CCI ruled against WhatsApp over its 2021 privacy policy, holding that the company had abused its dominant market position by effectively forcing users to accept the updated terms.

The watchdog objected to WhatsApp making continued access to messaging services conditional on permitting data-sharing with other Meta platforms, leading to the imposition of a ₹213 crore fine. Meta has deposited the penalty.

In January 2025, Meta and WhatsApp challenged the CCI order. Later, in November 2025, the law tribunal lifted a five-year restriction on data-sharing while maintaining the financial penalty.

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