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

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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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India News

Man attempting to cross India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan shot dead by BSF personnel

“We are investigating the case under these acts,” he added.

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Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot and killed an individual attempting to cross the India-Pakistan border in the Ganganagar district of Rajasthan late on Tuesday, according to police.

Jitendra Kumar, the station house officer at Kesrisinghpur police station, stated that the man was trying to breach the barbed wire fence when he was spotted by BSF personnel. “They advised him to leave the area, but when he continued to advance, the BSF personnel shot him,” said the SHO.

Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that the suspect was allegedly trying to enter Indian territory around midnight on December 24, 2024. Despite warnings from the BSF soldiers, he did not heed their calls, which resulted in the shooting.

The incident occurred near a village in the Kesarisinghpur area. Items recovered from the intruder included Pakistani currency notes, a cigarette packet, an identity card, and other belongings. Authorities are currently gathering more information about him.

Ongoing discussions are taking place between the armed forces and police officers regarding the incident. An FIR has been filed that includes charges of trespassing and violations of the Passports Act and the Foreigners Act, according to Kumar. “We are investigating the case under these acts,” he added.

This incident is one of several similar occurrences along the border. In August, the BSF apprehended an intruder named Jagsi Kohli, who had entered about 15 kilometers into Indian territory in Barmer after locals alerted authorities that he was asking for directions to Tharparkar, a district in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

In March of this year, another person attempting to cross the border in Ganganagar was shot by BSF personnel. There have been additional incidents reported in October 2022 and twice in March 2021, all resulting in fatalities among the intruders.

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India News

Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Chandrababu Naidu among leaders at NDA meet in Delhi amid Ambedkar row

The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu among leaders of the NDA met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss different issues including Shah’s comment on BR Ambedkar days ago in Rajya Sabha.

In attendance, apart from Shah, Nadda and Naidu, JD-U leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy were present.

Also present were Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Bihar’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) and a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.

While the specific agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, sources indicated that discussions revolved around good governance and various political issues—principles that were central to Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister. The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.

Following the meeting, Nadda shared on X, “Attended the NDA leaders’ meeting in New Delhi today. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is achieving unprecedented milestones and has positioned itself as a global superpower. The NDA government remains committed to realizing the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”

Sanjay Nishad, chief of the NISHAD Party in Uttar Pradesh, described the meeting as “informal” and focused on Vajpayee’s legacy. He emphasised the importance of unity among all alliance members heading into future elections, mentioning that they congratulated the BJP leaders for their electoral victories in Haryana and Maharashtra.

Nishad further outlined that the meeting addressed coalition strategies to ensure that Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives effectively reach the populace and that electoral promises are fulfilled. He raised the topic of providing reservations for the fishing community, stating, “I presented evidence on this issue, as it was a poll promise. They will follow up with us next week to discuss it.”

Responding to inquiries about whether Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Ambedkar were discussed, Nishad said, “We are here for the welfare of the people. Our energy should focus on achieving success in that area, rather than engaging with negativity from opposition parties.”

The NDA meeting underscores the alliance’s commitment to the proposed simultaneous elections, with all members backing the initiative. A Joint Committee of Parliament, established to review two bills related to simultaneous polls, is set to convene on January 8.

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Manipur CM Biren Singh says state needs immediate peace, understanding between two communities

He claimed that the administration is responding quickly to the displaced people’s needs in areas such as education and agriculture.

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Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday emphasised the urgent need for peace in the state, which has faced ethnic violence since May of last year, and called on two communities to reach a mutual understanding.

Speaking at the Good Governance Day event held at the state BJP headquarters, Singh expressed confidence that the BJP could restore stability to the northeastern state, highlighting the party’s commitment to coexisting harmoniously.

“What is happening in Manipur today has multiple causes. Those who seek to divide the state are now questioning the government’s actions… they are driven by a desire for power,” Singh remarked.

He mentioned several initiatives, such as ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ (People’s Day), designed to foster closer relationships between officials and the public. “We do not oppose any specific community. The BJP’s position is clear: we advocate for the idea of living together and have initiated efforts to strengthen ties between the police and the community,” he stated.

Singh added that the state government is diligently addressing the needs of internally displaced persons by establishing committees throughout the administrative framework. He claimed that the administration is responding quickly to the displaced people’s needs in areas such as education and agriculture.

“We have not made any mistakes. Our goal is to ensure the well-being of future generations. It is essential for both communities to remain calm. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should concentrate on the upcoming NRC process, capturing biometrics, and using 1961 as the foundation year for the Inner Line Permit,” Singh said.

He also highlighted the government’s commitment to acting within a democratic and constitutional framework, noting that achieving these goals will take time. “What we require now is immediate peace and a resolution of misunderstandings between the two communities,” he concluded.

The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of over 250 individuals and left thousands homeless due to clashes between the Meitei community and Kuki-Zo groups since last May.

“Only the BJP can save Manipur. BJP leaders possess strong values of nationalism and social justice, practicing reality-based politics in the nation’s interest. If I am not nominated for a ticket by the BJP, I will remain loyal to the party,” Mr. Singh added.

He also highlighted several unity-focused projects initiated by the BJP government, mentioning that a Unity Mall featuring stalls from all ethnic groups in the state will be constructed with an investment exceeding ₹140 crores.

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