English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Campaign for Chhattisgarh elections ends, voters set to choose among jaded candidates

If all MLAs and few losers of the 2018 elections are re-elected, the Assembly will not look very different from what it has been over the last 20 years

Published

on

Priyanka Gandhi during election campaign

By Neeraj Mishra

Priyanka Gandhi closed the campaign in Chhattisgarh with a road show in Raipur with all four Congress candidates on show with her. Of these, only Ramsundar Das, the mahant of the state’s biggest and richest Math, is a new candidate, others are repeat candidates. Pankaj Sharma’s father Satyanarain Sharma opted to make way for his son.

This dearth of ideas and people is not limited to the Congress, which has given tickets to 49 of its 72 MLAs, the BJP has repeated 11 of its 13 MLAs. A farce is playing out in Chhattisgarh where 66 of the 90 current MLAs are seeking re-election, which is about 75% of the assembly strength. And if that was not enough, on the remaining seats, the BJP has put up 15 who had lost last time and the Congress has given tickets to 20 old faces who are either MPs, former MLAs and MPs or have been around in the electoral fray for more than two decades.

Where are the new ideas and energy going to come from? Both parties have concluded that since it’s more or less a bipolar system in the state, it is enough to make empty, enticing promises. It is estimated that if all the MLAs and few losers of the 2018 elections get re-elected, the Assembly will look much the same as it has in the past two decades. There are at least 40 MLAs who have been ministers under Raman Singh and Bhupesh Baghel, who are likely to get re-elected.

Consider the case of Rajim constituency. Amitesh Shukla is contesting his sixth election from the seat and is the only one to get Congress tickets since the state came into being. He has lost twice but that has not stopped Congress from fielding him from his “family seat”. His father Shyamacharan Shukla had contested eight times from the same seat and lost only once. Since the constituency came into being in 1957, the Congress has fielded a non-Shukla only twice and at a time when Shyamacharan was under suspension from the party.

An Association for Democratic Reforms report reveals that of the 66 re-contesting candidates, 60 have declared increase in wealth and assets over their 2018 submission. The average increase is in the region of Rs 1 crore. While the top five MLAs whose wealth has increased by more than Rs 10 crore, includes Bhupesh Baghel and his minister Shiv Deharia. Interestingly, the two ministers in Raman Cabinet who had lost in 2018 have shown a decrease in their wealth and assets.

Education

UGC NET June 2026 admit card released; candidates can download hall tickets online

The National Testing Agency has released UGC NET June 2026 admit cards. Candidates can now download their hall tickets from the official website before the examination begins on June 22.

Published

on

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit cards for the UGC NET June 2026 examination. Registered candidates can now download their hall tickets from the official UGC NET portal by logging in with their application credentials. The examination is scheduled to be conducted between June 22 and June 30, 2026.

The admit card is a mandatory document for entry to the examination centre and contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, examination date, reporting time and allotted test centre. Candidates have been advised to carefully verify all information mentioned on the document after downloading it.

How to download the UGC NET admit card

Candidates can follow these steps to access their hall tickets:

  1. Visit the official UGC NET website.
  2. Click on the admit card download link.
  3. Enter the application number, date of birth or password, and security details.
  4. Submit the information to log in.
  5. Download and save the admit card.
  6. Take a printout for use on the examination day.

Important instructions for candidates

Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo identity proof to the examination centre. The city intimation slip issued earlier is meant only for advance travel planning and cannot be used as a substitute for the admit card.

Applicants are also advised to check reporting timings, examination guidelines and centre details mentioned on the hall ticket well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

Continue Reading

India News

Delhi records coolest day of June as rain brings relief from heat

Heavy rain and cloudy conditions helped Delhi record its coolest day of June, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting further relief from heat in the coming days.

Published

on

delhi-weather

Delhi experienced a significant break from the intense summer heat after rainfall and cloudy skies pushed temperatures down, making it the coolest day of June so far.

The change in weather brought much-needed relief to residents who had been dealing with high temperatures and humid conditions over the past several weeks. Rainfall was reported in several parts of the national capital and adjoining NCR regions, leading to a noticeable drop in daytime temperatures. Similar weather conditions have recently helped keep temperatures below normal across the city.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the combination of rain-bearing systems and cloud cover contributed to the cooler conditions. The weather department has indicated that pleasant weather is likely to continue, with chances of additional rainfall and thunderstorms over the next few days.

The rainfall not only lowered temperatures but also improved outdoor conditions after a prolonged spell of heat. Earlier this month, Delhi had experienced episodes of extreme weather, including heatwave conditions and dust storms, making the recent spell of rain a welcome change for residents.

IMD’s latest forecast suggests that while temperatures may gradually rise later in the week, intermittent rain and thunderstorms could continue to provide temporary relief from the summer heat.

Weather officials have advised people to stay updated on local forecasts as changing weather conditions could bring brief spells of rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms across Delhi-NCR.

Continue Reading

India News

Uddhav Sena MPs unreachable as Delhi meetings fuel fresh split speculation

Fresh uncertainty surrounds Shiv Sena (UBT) after several MPs reportedly became unreachable, with attention now focused on crucial meetings in Delhi.

Published

on

Fresh political uncertainty has gripped the Shiv Sena (UBT) after several of its Lok Sabha MPs reportedly became unreachable, prompting senior leaders to make personal efforts to contact them amid growing speculation of a possible rebellion within the party.

Party chief Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders are understood to be reaching out to MPs as concerns grow over potential defections. The developments come ahead of a parliamentary committee meeting in Delhi, where several MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray camp are expected to gather.

Reports suggest that some MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction could hold discussions in the national capital alongside leaders from the rival Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Sources have indicated that a group of MPs may explore forming a separate faction in Parliament before potentially aligning with the Shinde-led camp, although no official announcement has been made.

Names being discussed in political circles include MPs such as Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Jadhav. However, at least one MP, Sanjay Dina Patil, has publicly rejected reports linking him to any rebel group.

Meanwhile, senior Uddhav camp leaders including Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai are expected to remain actively engaged in efforts to maintain party unity. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has also been in Delhi amid the unfolding developments.

The latest episode has revived memories of previous political upheavals in Maharashtra and intensified speculation over whether the Shiv Sena (UBT) could face another significant organisational challenge in the coming days. As meetings continue in Delhi, political observers will be closely watching for any formal announcements from either camp.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com