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

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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]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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At Congress meet, Kharge blames internal bickering, statements against own party leaders for election losses

Kharge noted that the atmosphere was in the Congress’ favour during the elections but pointed out that just the atmosphere being in its favour does not guarantee victory.

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday asserted that the internal bickering in the party and statements against own party leaders were among the reasons for the loss of the grand old party in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.

Noting that statements against own party leaders harm the party a lot, Kharge said that tough decisions will have to be taken, accountability be fixed and shortcomings removed by learning lessons from the election results.

In his address during the Congress Working Committee meeting at the AICC headquarters, Kharge highlighted the EVMs issue and said that the EVMs have made the electoral process suspect, stressing it is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

“Unless we fight elections unitedly and stop making statements against each other, how will we be able to defeat our opponents politically?” the Congress president said.

“Therefore, it is important that we strictly follow discipline. We have to remain united under all circumstances. The party also has the weapon of disciplining. But we do not want to put our comrades in any bondage,” he said.

“Therefore, everyone needs to think that a victory of the Congress party is our victory and a defeat is our defeat. Our strength lies in the strength of the party,” the Congress president said.

He also noted that the Congress made a comeback with new enthusiasm riding on its performance in the Lok Sabha polls and said the election results of three states were not as per the party’s expectations.

“INDIA parties formed the government in 2 out of 4 states. But our performance was below expectation. This is a challenge for us in terms of the future,” he said.

“We need to immediately learn from the election results and correct all our weaknesses and shortcomings at the organisational level. These results are a message for us,” he said.

Kharge noted that the atmosphere was in the Congress’ favour during the elections but pointed out that just the atmosphere being in its favour does not guarantee victory.

“We will have to learn to convert the atmosphere into results. What is the reason that we are not able to take advantage of the atmosphere?” he said.

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BJP says it stands for credibility of promises under PM Modi, Congress for crisis

Trivedi mockingly questioned whether Kharge was truthful in his statements made the previous day, implying that his critiques of the BJP were a reaction driven by pressure to reconcile his earlier remarks.

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The BJP said on Saturday that it stood for the credibility of promises made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, while labeling the Congress party as one suffering from a crisis of credibility, intensifying their ongoing rhetorical conflict over unfulfilled electoral pledges.

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the ruling party has expanded its welfare initiatives, including health insurance, free food grains, and cash transfers to farmers, emphasising a strategy focused on wealth creation followed by equitable distribution as the Indian economy has grown over the last decade.

“We believe in the creation of wealth and its distribution. The Congress fosters corruption and depletes wealth,” he stated, referencing numerous unfulfilled promises made by Congress-led governments across various states.

Following Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark labeling “Modi ki guarantee” as a cruel joke after Modi seized Kharge’s guidance on budgetary constraints in state poll announcements, the BJP launched new accusations.

Trivedi mockingly questioned whether Kharge was truthful in his statements made the previous day, implying that his critiques of the BJP were a reaction driven by pressure to reconcile his earlier remarks.

Trivedi highlighted several accomplishments of the Modi government, including the construction of the Ram temple, the abrogation of Article 370, the building of over 14 crore homes for the impoverished, the establishment of more than 51 crore Jan Dhan accounts, and a firm stance against terrorism from Pakistan, to demonstrate the government’s fulfillment of its commitments.

He noted that Kharge, having witnessed notable leaders like PV Narasimha Rao and Pranab Mukherjee manage economic challenges effectively, is now observing the Congress party struggling under the influence of urban Naxals due to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing Kharge’s criticisms on various issues, Trivedi pointed to data from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) indicating a rise in account holders from 11 crore to 25 crore over the past decade.

He also referenced significant infrastructure projects, such as the construction of homes for the poor, 74 new airports, and an impressive pace of 37 kilometers of road built per day, claiming that these initiatives have created substantial employment opportunities.

“India is now ranked third in auto manufacturing and second in mobile phone manufacturing; if anyone is unable to recognize the country’s progress, there is a profound deficiency in their perspective,” asserted the BJP spokesperson.

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Maharashtra elections: Congress says Mahayuti understands its exit is certain

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, also an observer of the Congress party for the Maharashtra elections, said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is aware that its exit is imminent.      

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The Congress on Wednesday asserted the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has understood that its exit is certain as the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is strong and that all its candidates are in a strong position for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, also an observer of the Congress party for the Maharashtra elections, said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is aware that its exit is imminent.      

The Congress leader stated that the party is fully prepared and that its ally parties in Maharashtra are strong. He mentioned that the seat-sharing negotiations occurred in a positive atmosphere and that the ruling party has recognized that their exit is inevitable.

“All the candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are in a strong position. The people here have decided to support Congress and its allies in the upcoming Assembly elections,” he said.

He also noted that the alliance’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections was impressive. “Wherever Congress contested, our candidates won 80 percent of the seats. We expect this trend to continue,” he added.

Pilot acknowledged that there have been some differences among party members regarding specific seats but assured that those issues would be resolved in the next 2-3 days, ensuring there would be only one candidate from the MVA for each seat.

Earlier in the day, Ramesh Chennithala, Congress in charge of Maharashtra, slammed the BJP, claiming that the party is undermining its alliances in the state.

“The BJP is dismantling its alliances. They are forcefully converting alliance partner candidates into their own party candidates. The people will respond to this,” he stated while speaking to reporters.

Earlier on October 26, Chennithala alleged that crores of rupees have been reportedly offered to two of its MLAs to join Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, ahead of state Assembly elections.

Chennithala made those allegations while speaking to reporters in the national capital. He also questioned the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Voting for all 288 constituencies for the Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20 and counting on November 23. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.

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