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Madhya Pradesh Congress’ EVM plan: 384 candidates in a constituency, but who will fund them?

With 384 candidates contesting in a constituency, the ECI will be forced to hold a paper ballot, say Digvijaya Singh and Bhupesh Baghel

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2 years ago

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Case for 384 candidates

By Neeraj Mishra

Two former Congress chief ministers from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been propagating that at least 384 candidates should file nominations in their respective constituencies. The reason: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can’t accommodate that many names so the Election Commission will be forced to hold elections on ballot paper. Digvijaya Singh and his protégé Bhupesh Baghel—both forced to leave office under controversial circumstances —have come up with this “foolproof” plan to win elections.

The BJP, it seems, is preparing alternative plans to pack as many Baghels and Digvijayas as possible in their respective constituencies to foil their plans and create confusion.

Digvijaya Singh is contesting from Rajgarh after 33 years. He says: “The only way to beat the current EVM system is to have a long candidate list. If 384 people file nomination, then BJP can be defeated.” He has never lost from Rajgarh which is his home turf and is unlikely to lose this time either but he just wants to make doubly sure or at least kick up a controversy about the EVMs and make his constituents aware.

Baghel, on the other hand, has shifted from his home base of Durg to neighbouring Rajnandgaon. He also propagates the same theory. He is of the view that the BJP manages to fix at least 20 per cent of the EVMs in every constituency so the margins of victory have been huge where it is strong and thin where its management goes wrong and it loses.

The idea of dozens of candidates has emanated from Maharashtra where the Kisan Morcha has similar plans. It has announced that dozens of farmers will file nomination papers in the entire sugar belt and win or lose it will at least spoil the BJP plans with the EVM.

The main hurdle in the Digvijaya-Baghel plan is money. Till 1992, the security amount used to be Rs 1,500 so any number of candidates would contest as Independents. Some just for the fun of campaigning. TN Seshan put a stop to this by raising the security deposit to Rs 25,000. Not only has the number of frivolous candidates reduced but an overall number has come down so drastically that all names can be accommodated in one EVM machine. Thus, if 384 nominations are actually filed then it would accrue at least Rs 96 lakh in each constituency for the Election Commission of India (ECI). If Baghel and Digvijaya sponsor these nominations, then they will have to shell out that amount.

The ECI has said nothing so far on the issue but it would be interesting to see what it does in case a large number of nominations are filed.

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Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant among 32 inducted in Bihar cabinet expansion

Nishant Kumar entered the Bihar cabinet for the first time as 32 ministers from NDA allies took oath in a major expansion of the state government.

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3 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Bihar government cabinet

A major cabinet expansion took place in Bihar on Thursday, with 32 leaders from the ruling NDA alliance inducted into the state government. Among the prominent names was Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who entered the cabinet for the first time.

The expansion included representatives from all major NDA allies in the state. According to reports, the BJP secured 15 ministerial berths, while JD(U) got 13 positions. Two ministers were inducted from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha received one berth each.

The oath-taking ceremony was held in Patna in the presence of senior NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Nishant Kumar’s induction comes weeks after he formally entered active politics. His entry into the Bihar cabinet is being viewed as a significant development for JD(U), which had long projected an anti-dynasty image under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

The cabinet reshuffle follows Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year and the formation of the government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

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PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

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9 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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9 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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