The contours of Election Commision’s new plan for elections in the “new normal” are being adopted even as political parties have offered varied suggestions to the constitutional body, from deferring polls altogether to holding them in one phase.
The contours of Election Commision’s new plan for elections in the “new normal” are being adopted even as political parties have offered varied suggestions to the constitutional body, from deferring polls altogether to holding them in one phase, from reverting to ballot papers to allowing physical and not just virtual rallies, and from increasing the limits on poll expenditure by candidates to exempting those expenses incurred while enhancing Covid-19 precautions.
While elections have taken place in other countries since the pandemic, including in Sri Lanka recently, elections in India have only been confined to polls to the Rajya Sabha and legislative council seats, which involve a limited set of voters. Experts believe that the election paradigm adopted for Bihar will have significant implications for political contests, and have a medium-term impact since other state elections are due in the middle of 2021.
Election Commission, which reviewed suggestions received from political parties for conducting elections to the 243-member Bihar assembly, is likely to issue the guidelines over the next three days. The guidelines will broadly centre around three primary subjects — polling stations, counting halls and public meetings.
A key area of concern for political parties is rallies, which have traditionally served as a key political tool for mobilising voters and communicating messages by leaders. With the pandemic and the push towards digital campaigning, parties have expressed concern that the direct interface with voters, especially those who lack digital access, will get affected if physical rallies are not allowed.
The BJP, which is part of the ruling dispensation in Bihar, has asked the poll panel to allow physical meetings and rallies in rural and semi-urban areas since voters may not have access to mobile devices and the internet. In its submission to EC, the party has said that all party workers, campaigners and leaders must have the Aarogya Setu app downloaded on their phones at all times, and adequate social distancing has to be maintained during roadshows and processions. Other parties such as the RJD and a BJP ally, the LJP, have said that till physical rallies are not allowed, elections must not take place.
Arguing that digital campaigning and virtual rallies allow the ruling party an upper hand because these cost more money, the CPI and CPI-M have also demanded public meetings. The Congress has sought permission for house-to-house campaigns. In its submission to EC, the party said, “We are in favour of an election based on face-to-face campaign where the candidate and party workers can meet the voters.”
Amit Shah accuses Congress of preserving Article 370 for 70 years
Shah was addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh where he said the Congress and the Samajwadi Party preserved Article 370 for 70 years, due to which terrorism in the country increased.
Published
7 months ago
on
May 19, 2024
By
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday attacked Congress on Sunday for preserving Article 370 of the Constitution, due to which terrorism increased in the country. He further added that BJP will never let another division of the country happen. Shah was addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh where he said the Congress and the Samajwadi Party preserved Article 370 for 70 years, due to which terrorism in the country increased.
Addressing the people Shah said they had made Modiji the prime minister for the 2nd time and he abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019. He compared the situation to earlier times in the valley, when the Army had to be taken along for hoisting the tricolour, at that same Lal Chowk (Jammu and Kashmir) to the situation now when the shobhayatra of Lord Krishna is being taken out. The rally was organised to garner support for B P Saroj, the BJP candidate from the Machhlishahr Lok Sabha constituency in Jaunpur.
Shah further added that the divisive policies of the Congress want to divide the country again but BJP will never let that happen again. The Union Home Minister accused the grand old party of spreading lies that if PM Modi comes to power for a 3rd time at the centre then he will abolish reservation.
Shah Pointed out that the prime minister has been in majority for the last 10 years and he did not use it to abolish reservation. Shah said, he wanted to ask (SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav and (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi that when their government was in power for 10 years, what did Uttar Pradesh get in that period? The UPA government gave Rs 4.9 lakh crore to Uttar Pradesh in 10 years as compared to the NDA government which gave Rs 19.11 lakh crore.
Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Neil Nitin Mukesh urge people to vote in Lok Sabha elections Phase 5 in Mumbai
The Bollywood superstar took to X and posted that as responsible Indian citizens they must exercise their right to vote this Monday in Maharashtra. He urged his fans to carry out their duty as Indians and vote keeping India’s best interests in mind.
Published
7 months ago
on
May 19, 2024
By
As Maharashtra prepares for the 5th phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan urged his fans to vote and to carry out their duty as Indians. The actor further highlighted the significance of each vote and encouraged people to seize this chance to make their voices heard. The Bollywood superstar took to X and posted that as responsible Indian citizens they must exercise their right to vote this Monday in Maharashtra. He urged his fans to carry out their duty as Indians and vote keeping India’s best interests in mind.
Superstar Salman Khan also urged people to vote in his post on X and wrote that he exercises 365 days a year no matter what and now he is going to exercise his right to vote on the 20th of May no matter what. He asked his fans to take out time from their daily routines and go and cast their vote. He said they should not trouble our Bharat Mata and wrote Bharat Mata ki Jai.
Bollywood star Neil Nitin Mukesh also urged people to come out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Urging his fans to vote, he shared a video in which he said that his daughter told him about a holiday on Monday. However, he asserted that it was his duty to make her and others understand that it is a voting day. He wrote in the caption, Yaad rakhiye MONDAY chutthi nahi hai VOTING Day hai. Please cast your votes for the Lok Sabha Election 2024 Election Date: 20th May 2024Voting Time: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
In Maharashtra, 13 constituencies— Dindori, Dhule, Palghar, Nashik, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Mumbai North, Thane, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North-Central, and Mumbai South—will go to the elections tomorrow.
Arvind Kejriwal says BJP started Operation Jhaadu to crush AAP
The Delhi chief minister alleged BJP has started Operation Jhaadu so that they do not grow big and become a challenge to them
Published
7 months ago
on
May 19, 2024
By
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged BJP has started Operation Jhaadu to crush the Aam Aadmi Party since its popularity among the people is rising too fast. Kejriwal was addressing Aam Aadmi Party workers at the party office in New Delhi where he claimed the AAP’s bank accounts would be frozen after elections and they will be brought on the roads and left without an office.
The Delhi chief minister alleged BJP has started Operation Jhaadu so that they do not grow big and become a challenge to them. He further added that through Operation Jhaadu, AAP’s big leaders will be arrested; they are being arrested, and in the coming days, Aam Aadmi Party’s bank accounts will be frozen.
Kejriwal pointed out that ED’s lawyer has already given this statement in court that soon after the election, AAP’s bank accounts will be frozen. He said that if they freeze their accounts now, then AAP will get sympathy. As a result after the election, ED will freeze AAP’s bank accounts. He said AAP’s party office will be cleared out, and the party will be brought to the streets. Kejriwal said these are the 3 plans made by the BJP.
The Delhi chief minister claimed that no gold or money has been recovered from him, and the BJP, by creating false cases has got AAP leaders arrested. Kejriwal recalled that since the time he came to power in 2015, many allegations had been against him by the BJP. He said after the liquor policy scam has happened people are asking them if the scam happened then where is the money. He pointed out that in other places, when raids happen, notes and gold are recovered, but here nothing was found. Kejriwal asked the people that where is all the money? He said BJP had made fake cases and arrested AAP leaders.
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