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Ex-CEC Krishnamurthy questions EC on Gujarat poll schedule delay

Published

9 years ago

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TS Krishnamurthy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TS Krishnamurthy joins Opposition chorus questioning why poll panel announced schedule for Himachal Pradesh elections but not for Gujarat

Former chief election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy has said that the ongoing row over the Election Commission’s decision to announce the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh while deferring the same for Gujarat, despite the term of the two assemblies ending within weeks of each other was “an avoidable controversy”.

Krishnamurthy, who headed the Election Commission (EC) between February 2004 and May 2005, is the second former chief election commissioner after SY Quraishi to raise questions on the poll panel’s decision of deferring the announcement on Gujarat assembly elections – an issue that has also been red flagged by the Congress and other Opposition parties.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Krishnamurthy – who like SY Quraishi has often taken a stern stand against actions taken by the poll panel or the government with regard to conduct of elections – claimed that had he been the CEC now, he would have “found a solution” to conduct the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assembly polls simultaneously.

“All this controversy could have been avoided with better management,” Krishnamurthy was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. “I suppose they (the EC) could have announced both (Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls) together, either one week before or one week after. I am not looking at whether the decision was influenced or not. I am concerned with whether, administratively, a solution could have been found. I think I would have found a solution,” the former CEC added.

Earlier, ex-CEC SY Quraishi had taken a similar line on the controversy, claiming that the move to break from the EC’s convention of announcing elections together in states where incumbent governments are completing their terms within six months of each other had raised “serious questions”.

The Congress, which is the principal political rival of the BJP in both Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, has claimed that incumbent CEC, AK Joti has possibly delayed announcing the poll schedule for Gujarat under pressure” from the Centre, to enable the ruling BJP governments at the Centre and in the western state to announce sops for voters that will help its electoral prospects. While the Congress is in government in Himachal Pradesh and feels that it is in a position to retain power in the hill state, it hopes to end the 22-year-long BJP rule in Gujarat in the upcoming polls – riding on a reported anti-incumbency wave and major agitations against the state’s BJP regime by Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim and Patel communities (which together account for over 50 per cent of the state’s electorate).

The Gujarat assembly’s term ends on January 22, 2018 while the term of the Himachal Pradesh assembly ends on January 7. It was expected that the EC would announce the poll schedules for both the states together but last week, chief election commissioner AK Joti announced the election date only for Himachal Pradesh.

Joti cited relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected in Gujarat as one of the factors that influenced the decision to delay poll announcement in the state.

However, Krishnamurthy countered Joti’s argument by saying: “Emergency flood relief work is to be done by bureaucrats, not politicians. The Model Code of Conduct (for elections) does not stand in the way of any emergency relief work. It does not prevent existing projects from continuing. Only new projects should not be announced during the MCC period.”

While Krishnamurthy and Quraishi have both raised questions over the possible administrative lapse of the EC in delaying the announcement of the Gujarat poll schedule, the Congress has maintained that the poll panel’s move was aimed at “helping the BJP”.

The Congress has argued that several pro-people schemes that the Vijay Rupani-led Gujarat government had planned to announce right before the announcement of the elections in order to woo voters would have been stalled due to the MCC had the poll schedule been announced last week, along with that of Himachal. What adds some weight to this argument is the fact that the BJP government in the state seems in a hurry of announcing sops and schemes.

On Monday, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani had announced farm loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at zero per cent interest – a move that is likely to benefit around 2.5 million farmers mostly concentrated in rural Gujarat where the BJP seems to be losing ground. Sources say a few more such announcements are expected before October 22 – the tentative date by when the EC is expected to announce the schedule for the state’s election.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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3 dead, several trapped after six-storey building collapses in Delhi, rescue operations continue

Three people died and two were critically injured after a six-storey PG building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan. Several others are feared trapped.

Published

3 hours ago

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September 6, 2026

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Three people have died and two others are critically injured after a six-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon. Several more people are feared trapped under the debris as rescue operations continue at the site.

Nine people have been rescued so far, while authorities are searching for others who may still be trapped. The building, which was being used as a 75-bed paying guest accommodation, collapsed at around 1:30 pm, according to officials.

Building was being used as a PG accommodation

According to police, the building was around 40 to 50 years old and consisted of a basement and five upper floors. It was being used as a paying guest accommodation, with repair work reportedly underway in the basement when the collapse occurred.

The building was located in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, an area with a large student population.

An eyewitness said at least 50 students were believed to have been inside the building when it collapsed. A student at the scene also reported hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble.

Rescue operation underway

Teams from the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Disaster Management Authority have been deployed for the rescue operation.

At least 12 fire tenders have been sent to the spot. An excavator has also been deployed, while additional machinery is being brought in to remove concrete slabs and girders from the debris.

Locals were also seen helping with the initial search before rescue teams and machinery reached the site.

The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said. She added that rescue work was being carried out on a war footing and that authorities were coordinating efforts to assist those affected.

Government agencies coordinate rescue efforts

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said concerned agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and DDMA, had been directed to work together to ensure swift rescue operations.

Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who was at the site, said some students were still believed to be trapped and that some were reportedly making calls from inside the collapsed structure.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj blamed alleged corruption for the incident and raised questions about building safety and inspections. His comments were political allegations and no official cause for the collapse has been established in the report.

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PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

12 hours ago

on

September 6, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

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India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

Manohar Lal Khattar

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.

India’s metro rail network: Key figures

  • India currently has 1,170 km of operational metro rail network.
  • Metro services are operational across 26 cities.
  • The US has around 1,386 km of metro rail network.
  • India is currently 216 km behind the US.
  • China has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines.
  • India’s operational network stood at 245 km across five cities in 2014.

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