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UP civic body polls: 1st phase underway amid reports of faulty EVMs, political clashes

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8 years ago

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UP civic body polls: 1st phase underway amid reports of faulty EVMs, political clashes

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath declares BJP will win all 230 civic bodies that will go to polls in three phases, Samajwadi Party alleges EVM tampering

Amid rumours of large scale EVM tampering, reports of faulty voting machines and political clashes largely between supporters of the BJP and Samajwadi Party, the first phase of Uttar Pradesh’s 230 civic bodies began on Wednesday.

While polling for civic bodies in 24 districts of the country’s most populous state took place on Wednesday, votes will be cast for local bodies in 25 districts on November 26 and for the remaining 26 districts on November 29. Results for the civic body elections will be declared on December 1.

The civic polls across Uttar Pradesh are being viewed as the first pan-state popularity test of the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP since it stormed to power in the state with an absolute majority earlier this year. That the stakes are high for Adityanath and the saffron combine can be gauged from the fact that the chief minister has been personally campaigning for his party’s local body candidates across the state even though the result of the election will have no bearing on the stability of his government.

On Wednesday, districts that went to polls were Shamli, Meerut, Hapur, Bijnore, Badaun, Hathras, Kasganj, Agra, Kanpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Hardoi, Amethi, Faizabad, Gonda, Basti, Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Sonebhadra and Adityanath’s home district and political bastion of Gorakhpur.

After casting his vote in Gorakhpur soon after polling commenced, Adityanath declared: “BJP will get massive victory in these elections… The BJP candidates will win on all seats.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]While Adityanath then left for Varanasi and Allahabad to campaign for the remaining phases of the elections, reports soon began to emerge from across the districts that witnessed polling on Wednesdayof faulty electronic voting machines being used in the poll-process. At polling booths in districts like Agra, Kanpur, Unnao. Shahjahanpur, etc. several voters complained that the votes being cast by them were being polled in favour of the BJP irrespective of whichever party’s candidate they were voting for.

Large scale incidents of the voting process being delayed on account of EVMs not functioning were also reported from across Uttar Pradesh.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Interestingly, controversial BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj – known best for his hate-speeches against Muslims – was left fuming in Unnao after he found that his name was missing from the voter list at the polling booth in Gadankheda block of the district, forcing him to return without exercising his franchise.

Alleging that the absence of his name from the voter list was a “conspiracy”, Sakshi Maharaj told reporters in Unnao: “The district magistrate (DM) is new but the additional district magistrate (ADM), who is also looking after the election process, was posted under the previous (Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party) government…  it is not a mere lapse that the name of the sitting member of parliament is missing from the list… it indicates some conspiracy.”

But Sakshi Maharaj wasn’t the only high-profile politician who found his name missing from the voter rolls. His predecessor, former Unnao MP Annu Tandon too faced the same fate and was forced to lodge a complaint with the district administration.

Meanwhile, in Meerut district three people were detained for trying to forcibly enter a polling booth. There was also a ruckus at ward number 89 in Meerut after voters alleged that EVMs were registering votes only in favour of the BJP. However, additional State Election Commissioner Ved Prakash Verma refuted these allegations.

Police had to resort to lathicharge as result of chaos in Meerut’s Summer Garden ward that was caused by a spat between BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, as Adityanath reached the state’s Balia district to address an election rally, controversy erupted as a woman seated in the audience was asked to unveil her burqa by security personnel present at the rally. Despite video footage clearly showing the incident, local police authorities denied the occurrence of the such incident and claimed that while there were no orders to the police to ask Muslim women to remove their burqa during Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s rally, directives had indeed been given to ensure that no ‘black cloth’ is waved at the chief minister by the public.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRSUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZXQVRDSCUzRnNyYyUzRGhhc2glMjZhbXAlM0JyZWZfc3JjJTNEdHdzcmMlMjU1RXRmdyUyMiUzRSUyM1dBVENIJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQSUyMFdvbWFuJTIwYXNrZWQlMjBieSUyMHBvbGljZSUyMHRvJTIwcmVtb3ZlJTIwQnVycWElMjBkdXJpbmclMjBDTSUyMFlvZ2klMjBBZGl0eWFuYXRoJTI2JTIzMzklM0JzJTIwcmFsbHklMjBpbiUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZVdHRhclByYWRlc2glM0ZzcmMlM0RoYXNoJTI2YW1wJTNCcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0UlMjNVdHRhclByYWRlc2glM0MlMkZhJTNFJTI2JTIzMzklM0JzJTIwQmFsbGlhJTJDJTIweWVzdGVyZGF5LiUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0LmNvJTJGQ2drUVdVblhsQyUyMiUzRXBpYy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRkNna1FXVW5YbEMlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGcCUzRSUyNm1kYXNoJTNCJTIwQU5JJTIwVVAlMjAlMjglNDBBTklOZXdzVVAlMjklMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZBTklOZXdzVVAlMkZzdGF0dXMlMkY5MzMyMTY5MTAwNjk1ODc5NzAlM0ZyZWZfc3JjJTNEdHdzcmMlMjU1RXRmdyUyMiUzRU5vdmVtYmVyJTIwMjIlMkMlMjAyMDE3JTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRmJsb2NrcXVvdGUlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBhc3luYyUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXRzLmpzJTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNFJTBBJTIwJTBBJTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtY29udmVyc2F0aW9uJTNEJTIybm9uZSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRUklMjBoYXZlJTIwbm90JTIwYmVlbiUyMGluZm9ybWVkJTIwb2YlMjBhbnklMjBpbmNpZGVudCUyMHdoZXJlJTIwYSUyMHdvbWFuJTIwd2FzJTIwYXNrZWQlMjB0byUyMHRha2UlMjBvZmYlMjBoZXIlMjBidXJxYS4lMjBIb3dldmVyJTJDJTIwZXZlcnlvbmUlMjBoYWQlMjB0aGUlMjBpbnN0cnVjdGlvbnMlMjB0byUyMHNlZSUyMHRoYXQlMjBubyUyMG9uZSUyMHNob3dzJTIwYmxhY2slMjBjbG90aCUyMHRvJTIwWW9naSUyMGppLiUyMFdoYXRldmVyJTIweW91JTIwYXJlJTIwbWVudGlvbmluZyUyMHdpbGwlMjBiZSUyMHByb2JlZCUyMGFuZCUyMGFjdGlvbiUyMHdpbGwlMjBiZSUyMHRha2VuLiUzQSUyMEFuaWwlMjBLdW1hciUyQyUyMEJhbGlhJTIwU1AlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdC5jbyUyRjdQa2dTT0FRd0YlMjIlM0VwaWMudHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkY3UGtnU09BUXdGJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyMEFOSSUyMFVQJTIwJTI4JTQwQU5JTmV3c1VQJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGQU5JTmV3c1VQJTJGc3RhdHVzJTJGOTMzMjE3MDkwNzAxNDQzMDczJTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0VOb3ZlbWJlciUyMDIyJTJDJTIwMjAxNyUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnBsYXRmb3JtLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGd2lkZ2V0cy5qcyUyMiUyMGNoYXJzZXQlM0QlMjJ1dGYtOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Renaming MGNREGA removes core spirit of rural employment law, says Shashi Tharoor

Published

2 days ago

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December 19, 2025

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Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), saying the move strips the rural employment programme of its core essence. His remarks came after Parliament cleared the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, also referred to as the VB-G RAM G Bill.

Speaking to media, Tharoor said the decision to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme “takes out the heart” of the rural employment programme that has been in place for years. He noted that the identity and philosophy associated with Mahatma Gandhi were central to the original law.

Tharoor also objected to the way the new name was framed, arguing that it unnecessarily combined multiple languages. He pointed out that the Constitution envisages the use of one language in legislation, while the Bill’s title mixes English and Hindi terms such as “Guarantee”, “Rozgar” and “Ajeevika”, along with the conjunction “and”.

‘Disrespect to both names’

The Congress leader said that inserting the word “Ram” while dropping Mahatma Gandhi’s name amounted to disrespecting both. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas, Tharoor said that for Gandhi, the concepts of Gram Swaraj and Ram Rajya were inseparable, and removing his name from a rural employment law went against that vision.

He added that the name of Lord Ram could be used in many contexts, but questioned the rationale behind excluding Mahatma Gandhi from a programme closely linked to his philosophy of village self-rule.

Protests over passage of the Bill

The VB-G RAM G Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 18 and cleared by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of December 19 amid protests from Opposition members. Several MPs opposed the manner in which the legislation was pushed through, with scenes of sloganeering and tearing of papers in the House.

Outside Parliament, members of the Trinamool Congress staged a sit-in protest near Samvidhan Sadan against the passage of the Bill. Congress also announced nationwide protests earlier this week, accusing the government of weakening rights-based welfare schemes.

Despite opposition criticism, the government has maintained that the new law will strengthen rural employment and livelihood security. The Bill raises the guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days per rural household and outlines a 60:40 cost-sharing formula between the Centre and states, with a higher central share for northeastern, Himalayan states and certain Union Territories.

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Rahul Gandhi attacks G RAM G bill, says move against villages and states

Rahul Gandhi has criticised the G RAM G bill cleared by Parliament, alleging it dilutes the rights-based structure of MGNREGA and centralises control over rural employment.

Published

2 days ago

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December 19, 2025

By

Rahul Gandhi

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp attack on the Modi government after Parliament cleared the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, commonly referred to as the ‘G RAM G’ bill. He described the proposed law as “anti-state” and “anti-village”, arguing that it weakens the core spirit of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The new legislation, which is positioned as an updated version of MGNREGA, was passed amid protests by opposition parties and is expected to replace the existing scheme once it receives presidential assent.

‘Bulldozed without scrutiny’, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi criticised the manner in which the bill was cleared, saying it was pushed through Parliament without adequate debate or examination. He pointed out that the opposition’s demand to refer the bill to a standing committee was rejected.

According to him, any law that fundamentally alters the rural employment framework and affects crores of workers should undergo detailed scrutiny, expert consultation and public hearings before approval.

Claim of dilution of rights-based guarantee

Targeting the central government, the Congress leader said the proposed law dismantles the rights-based and demand-driven nature of MGNREGA and replaces it with a rationed system controlled from Delhi. He argued that this shift undermines the autonomy of states and villages.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the intent behind the move is to centralise power and weaken labour, particularly impacting rural communities such as Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis.

Defence of MGNREGA’s impact

Highlighting the role of MGNREGA, Gandhi said the scheme provided rural workers with bargaining power, reduced distress migration and improved wages and working conditions, while also contributing to rural infrastructure development.

He also recalled the role of MGNREGA during the Covid period, stating that it prevented crores of people from slipping into hunger and debt. According to him, any rationing of a jobs programme first affects women, landless workers and the poorest communities.

Opposition to name change and provisions

The Congress has also objected to the renaming of the scheme, accusing the government of attempting to erase the legacy associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Opposition MPs staged a dharna within the Parliament complex, questioning provisions of the bill that they claim dilute the “soul and spirit” of the original law enacted in 2005.

Under MGNREGA, the government guaranteed 100 days of work in rural areas along with an unemployment allowance if work was not provided. The ‘G RAM G’ bill proposes to raise the guaranteed workdays to 125, while retaining other provisions. However, critics have flagged concerns over employment being linked to pre-approved plans.

The bill was cleared after a midnight voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, following its passage in the Lok Sabha amid protests and walkouts. It will become law once approved by the President.

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AAP dominates Punjab zila parishad polls, leads in most panchayat samiti zones

AAP has won 201 out of 317 declared zila parishad zones in Punjab so far and is leading in a majority of panchayat samiti seats, with counting still underway.

Published

2 days ago

on

December 18, 2025

By

Punjab Zila Parishad Polls

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has recorded a strong performance in the Punjab zila parishad elections and is leading in the majority of panchayat samiti zones, as per results declared so far on Thursday. The counting process is still underway and complete results are awaited, officials said.

Polling for the rural local bodies was held on December 14 to elect representatives across 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis in the state.

AAP secures clear edge in zila parishads

According to the available results, outcomes have been declared for 317 zila parishad zones so far. Of these, the AAP has won 201 zones, placing it well ahead of other parties.

The Congress emerged second with victories in 60 zones, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 39 zones. The BJP won four zones, the BSP secured three, while independents claimed 10 zones.

District-wise data shows that the AAP won 22 zones in Hoshiarpur, 19 each in Amritsar and Patiala, 17 each in Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur, and 15 zones in Sangrur. The Congress registered its best performances in Gurdaspur and Ludhiana with eight zones each, followed by Jalandhar with seven zones. The SAD performed strongly in Bathinda with 13 zones, while the BJP managed to win four zones in Pathankot.

AAP leads in panchayat samiti results

In the panchayat samiti elections, trends declared so far indicate that the AAP is leading in a majority of zones. However, officials clarified that counting is ongoing and the final picture will be clear only after all ballot papers are tallied.

Kejriwal, Mann reject opposition allegations

Reacting to the trends, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said the party’s performance reflected strong rural support for the Bhagwant Mann government’s work. Addressing the media in Mohali along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal dismissed allegations of irregularities raised by opposition parties.

He said the elections were conducted in a fair and free manner and claimed that the results so far showed a clear wave in favour of the AAP in rural Punjab. Kejriwal stated that nearly 70 per cent of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti seats had gone in favour of the party.

Congress, SAD question poll conduct

The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, however, accused the ruling party of misusing official machinery. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP had “stolen” the rural mandate and claimed that the results did not reflect genuine public support.

Opposition parties had earlier also accused the AAP government of high-handedness during the polling process, allegations that the ruling party has strongly denied.

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