The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday asserted that there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections.

The EC made this statement while responding to Congress, which alleged arbitrary deletion of voters and addition of more than 10,000 voters in each constituency from the final voter lists. The Congress also claimed an inexplicable increase in voting percentages from 5 pm to the final voter percentage declared by the EC at 11:30 pm on the day of polling.

Speaking on voter turnout data, the election panel said it would not be correct to compare the 5 pm data with final figures. It also explained how the increase in voter turnout from 5 pm to 11:45 PM was normal, being part of the process of aggregation of voter turnout and how there can be bona fide but inconsequential differences in votes polled and votes counted.

The election body also stated that it is impossible to change actual voter turnout as statutory Form 17C giving details of voter turnout is available with authorised agents of candidates at the time of close of voting at the polling station itself. It added that the rule-based process was followed with transparency in Maharashtra electoral roll preparation and there were no irregular patterns in voter deletions in the state.

The EC also told the Congress that due process was followed, including the participation of Congress representatives in the preparation of electoral rolls. The ECI informed the Congress that all data, as demanded by the party, relating to electors for each Constituency in Maharashtra and Form 20 is available on CEO Maharashtra’s website and can be downloaded.

In its response, the EC assured collaboration on its meticulous, participative, and transparent processes. The Election Commission also underscored the importance of collaboration with all political parties and welcomed constructive suggestions.

A massive chaos broke out at the general meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation as the Congress and the BJP councillors clashed over the legacy of DR BR Ambedkar. Reportedly, Anil Masih, the election officer who tampered with the ballot papers of the Chandigarh mayoral polls, targeted the Congress and accused Rahul Gandhi of being out on bail, citing the National Herald Case. 

This led to a heated exchange among Congress, AAP, and BJP members, culminating in a brawl.Subsequently, the Congress and AAP councillors passed a motion against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for his resignation. The BJP councillors countered by accusing the Congress of historically disrespecting Dr BR Ambedkar, especially during the tenure of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Furthermore, the BJP also alleged that the Congress was attempting to tarnish Amit Shah’s image by selectively quoting his recent speech in the Rajya Sabha. The saffron party also launched an attack on Congress, accusing it of orchestrating a smear campaign against Amit Shah. 

Reports said that senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad led the charge, stating that the Congress was engaging in drama and hypocrisy by invoking Dr BR Ambedkar’s legacy for political gain. Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarter, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Congress, which always insulted BR Ambedkar during his lifetime, is now pretending to honour him. He added that the hypocrisy must stop. The BJP also demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress for its alleged historical mistreatment of Dr BR Ambedkar.

Responding, the Congress launched a weeklong nationwide initiative titled, Ambedkar Samman Saptah to commemorate Dr Ambedkar’s contributions. The party leaders and workers are holding marches and press conferences to highlight his legacy and demand accountability for Amit Shah’s recent remarks.

Meanwhile, Mayawati, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress were two sides of the same coin, alleging that both of the parties have been engaged in politics in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Ken-Betwa river linking project on Wednesday, marking the first initiative under the national river interlinking policy. The event will take place in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

According to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the project is expected to provide drinking water to nearly 44 lakh people in 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh individuals in Uttar Pradesh.

The estimated cost of the initiative is Rs 44,605 crore. CM Yadav also noted that around 7.18 lakh farming families in 2,000 villages will benefit from the project, which aims to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy.

Yadav mentioned that Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Khajuraho will mark a significant step towards transforming the image and future of Bundelkhand in both Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

He emphasised that the Ken-Betwa Link Project exemplifies effective collaboration between the central government and the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The CM highlighted that this project is a realization of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision for a river linking campaign, as initiated by Prime Minister Modi. It will provide farmers with ample irrigation water while also catering to drinking and industrial water needs.

Additionally, the project is anticipated to promote economic and social development, enhance tourism, and create new employment opportunities in the region. The water crisis affecting the drought-prone Bundelkhand area will also be addressed.

The Ken-Betwa project is set to be the largest irrigation initiative in the country, utilizing an underground pressurized pipe irrigation system. Key components include the construction of a 77-meter high and 2.13-kilometer long Daudhan dam, along with two tunnels (1.9 km upper level and 1.1 km lower level) on the Ken River within the Panna Tiger Reserve. The dam is designed to hold 2,853 million cubic meters of water.

Surplus water from the Ken River will be transferred to the Betwa River via a 221-km-long canal, facilitating irrigation and drinking water supplies in both states.

The project aims to irrigate 8.11 lakh hectares across 2,000 villages in 10 districts, including Panna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Sagar, Raisen, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Datia, benefiting approximately seven lakh farming families.

In Uttar Pradesh, the project will provide annual irrigation to a 59,000-hectare area and stabilize existing irrigation across 1.92 lakh hectares, impacting the districts of Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur, and Banda. It also includes efforts to preserve historic Chandela-era ponds in the Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, and Niwari districts, which will store rainwater.

The Daudhan reservoir will ensure a year-round water supply for wildlife in the Panna Tiger Reserve, enhance the forest ecosystem, and alleviate flooding in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh. CM Yadav confirmed that the project will mitigate the water crisis in Bundelkhand and help curb employment-based migration.

On March 22, 2021, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and the Union Jal Shakti Minister in the presence of Prime Minister Modi to implement this significant project.