Lok Sabha elections updates | Congress delegation meets Election Commission, complains against PM Modi

Leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE on Monday declared a trading holiday on May 20 on account of voting for general elections in Mumbai.

There will be no trading on that day in equity, equity derivatives and SLB (Securities Lending and Borrowing) segments.

In view of the general elections (Lok Sabha) for constituencies in Mumbai on Monday May 20, 2024, the exchange will remain closed on May 20,2024, the two exchanges said in separate circulars. 

PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the opposition INDIA bloc had no durability and attacked the mega alliance over issues including Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Shakti’ remark and the DMK’s “anti-woman mindset.” Targeting DMK over its leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s alleged anti-Sanatana Dharma remarks and INDIA bloc over Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Shakti’ comments, the senior BJP leader alleged the opposition alliance was targeting the Hindu faith and women while trying to criticise BJP.

He also trained his guns at the Congress over the ceding of Katchatheevu islet to Sri Lanka, saying India was “paying a heavy price” for many past ‘blunders’ of the opposition party.

The senior leader attended roadshows in Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal and Tenkasi in support of NDA candidates for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls and addressed a public meeting in Tiruvarur where he launched a scathing attack on the opposition.

“The INDI alliance is not durable, and won’t stand for long. Even before elections, there is a struggle among them (the constituents). For them, coming together has only one reason and that is not ideological. They intend to see how to grab power,” he said. 

PTI

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that the NDA will win the Lok Sabha polls comprehensively while lashing out at former ally RJD for claiming credit for job creation in the State.

Mr. Kumar, who is also the national president of the JD(U), was briefly interacting with journalists during a routine visit to the party office here.

Asked about NDA’s campaign, Kumar, who recently shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a couple of rallies and is likely to hold roadshows in the next few days, said, “Everything is going fine. We will win all seats in Bihar. We do not engage in self-publicity, but people know what we have done for them”. 

PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Chennai on April 9 evening and will participate in a roadshow organised to canvas votes for Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) candidates in the heart of city. The Greater Chennai City Police has made elaborate security arrangements in view of the high-profile visit and campaign. 

Police said the Prime Minister will fly in a special aircraft from Maharashtra and arrive at 6.05 p.m. in the Chennai Airport. Later, he will travel by a car to T. Nagar. His roadshow will begin at 6.30 p.m. from Panagal Park — which was once a prominent place for public meetings. From there, the roadshow will cross the busiest road — Thiyagaraya road (Pondy Bazaar) — and is expected to conclude around 7.35 p.m. After wrapping up the campaign, his convoy will reach the Raj Bhavan, where he will be staying for the night. Many political leaders, party people and the general public are expected to witness the roadshow. 

Read the whole story here.

Twenty-three candidates are in the fray for the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra after the last day of withdrawal of nomination on Monday, an official said.

Voting will take place in Nanded in the second phase on April 26. Results will be declared on June 4.

“Till April 4, a total of 66 candidates had filed nominations. Of these, 43 have withdrawn their nominations, leaving 23 candidates in the fray in Nanded,” the official said.

The key candidates are sitting BJP MP Pratap Patil Chikhlikar, the Congress’ Vasantrao Chavan and Avinash Bhosikar of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). 

PTI

Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani Monday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has taken the support of the banned Popular Front of India to contest the Lok Sabha election from Kerala’s Wayanad seat.

Referring to Mr. Gandhi, who represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha earlier, the BJP leader said the people of the constituency tolerated an MP for 15 years who did nothing for them. Ms. Irani is seeking a re-election from the seat.

“We have received information that Rahul Gandhi took the support of the terrorist organisation PFI to contest the elections in Wayanad,” she said.

The Congress and the National Conference on Monday announced contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh in alliance, with each fielding candidates in three seats.

At a joint press conference here, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the Congress would contest in Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh Lok Sabha seats while the National Conference would field candidates in Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla.

“I want to formally announce that the National Conference and Congress will jointly contest the elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with three candidates for each of the two parties,” Abdullah said, “The National Conference will support Congress candidates in Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh seats. The INDIA bloc with contest the polls to help fulfil the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh and truly represent them in Parliament,” he said. 

PTI

The Bahujan Samaj Party on Monday named the father of the Punjab AAP MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy as its candidate from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat.

The Jalalabad MLA’s father Surinder Kamboj joined the Mayawati-led party on Saturday. The BSP cut ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal in February and announced to go it alone in the parliamentary polls.

The announcement of fielding Kamboj from Ferozepur was made by the BSP’s in-charge for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Randhir Singh Beniwal. 

PTI

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP on April 8 launched a “Jail ka Jawab Vote Se” campaign to seek public support for the party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail. 

Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MPSandeep Pathak said, “Mr. Kejriwal was arrested as part of a big conspiracy. It is the first time that a sitting Chief Minister has been arrested during the Lok Sabha polls. We are launching the campaign ‘Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se’ and we want you to empower Mr. Kejriwal.” As part of the campaign, Mr. Pathak said, AAP leaders and workers will visit the four Lok Sabha constituencies from where it has fielded candidates. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 8 claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of taking action against the corrupt after June 4 meant that Opposition leaders would be imprisoned post Lok Sabha elections. 

Addressing a rally at Bankura, the TMC chief alleged that the National Investigation Agency had gone to Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district without informing the local police. 

“The Prime Minister is coming to West Bengal to address election rallies. I have no issues with that. But the way he is saying that stern action will be taken against the opposition over corruption after the Lok Sabha poll results is unacceptable,” she said. 

Read more here.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) named its candidates for three more Lok Sabha seats in Punjab in its second list for the election, fielding slain gangster Jaipal Bhullar’s father from Ferozepur. 

The Simranjit Singh Mann-led party fielded his son Emaan Singh Mann from the Amritsar seat and Harpal Singh Baler from Khadoor Sahib. 

Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, whom the SAD (Amritsar) fielded from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat, is a retired inspector of the Punjab Police. 

His son Jaipal Bhullar, along with another gangster, was gunned down in an encounter with police in Kolkata in 2021. Jaipal Bhullar had more than 40 criminal cases against him in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Simranjit Singh Mann is the sitting MP from Sangrur. - PTI

Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “We raised many issues, we lodged a strong objection to the way the Prime Minister gave the status of Muslim League to our manifesto. We also expressed our views on the Prime Minister’s hoardings in universities...Since elections have just been declared, the Election Commission of India should recommend whoever it wants to remove or not, the Ministry is currently a caretaker government, and they do not have the right to impose restrictions on freedom of speech like this.” - ANI

“We are deeply saddened by what the Prime Minister says in his speeches, what he has said about our manifesto is a bundle of lies, we are deeply saddened by this. You can disagree with any other party, you can argue it, you can dissect it, but to say that a national level party which has been involved in our national movement would write such a bundle of lies in its manifesto, whereas a very good manifesto has been written. He also said that this seems to be the manifesto of the parties which were opposing the independence of our secular society...We are extremely saddened by this matter and we understand that the Prime Minister has no right to say such a thing. We have put this matter before the Election Commission and have made a special request to them to take it seriously and take action on it...” - Salman Khurshid

Chaudhary Birender Singh, former Union Steel Minister in Modi Government (2016-19), and his wife Prem Lata resigned from the BJP on April 8. 

The couple would join Congress on April 9. His son and Hisar MP Brijendra Singh had already resigned from the BJP on March 10 due to “compelling political reasons” and joined the Congress. - PTI

The ECI has, for the first time in the history of the Lok Sabha elections, extended its ‘vote-from-home’ facility to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and senior citizens aged 85 and above. This move would allow more than 85 lakh senior citizens and 88.4 lakh persons with disabilities to cast their votes through postal ballots. 

Raipur/Bastar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition Congress, saying it overlooked the needs of the poor for decades since independence and never understood their pain. 

Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, which will go to polls on April 19, he also said that the Congress’ manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections has the Muslim League imprint. - PTI

Kochi: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may not even cross the double-digit mark in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from South India. 

“In South India, there will be a big change. The BJP may not even cross double digits in South India,” he told mediapersons at Angamaly in Ernakulam district of Kerala on April 8 (Monday) after addressing Congress party workers and leaders at the Central election committee office of Benny Behanan, the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency.

The Congress was left red-faced after a video surfaced on social media, showing a picture of Union Minister and BJP candidate Faggan Singh Kulaste on a banner at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla Lok Sabha seat on April 8.

While the Congress termed the goof-up a “human error”, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the Opposition party had accepted defeat even before the elections.

The purported video showed a picture of Mr. Kulaste on a banner serving as a backdrop of the stage at the rally scheduled later in the day at Dhanora, some 80 km from Seoni district headquarters under the Mandla Lok Sabha seat. - PTI

I have come to thank people for supporting my government in last 10 years: PM Narendra Modi at rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar. “Congress never understood the problems faced by the poor,” PM Modi said.

“Crores of my countrymen, my mothers and sisters have become my raksha kavach,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, adding that during the Congress regime, corruption had become the country’s identity.

“Due to my government’s efforts, 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line,” Mr. Modi said. “People said what will happen to the poor during Covid pandemic, but I said I will give free vaccine and ration to them,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also said that the Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls has Muslim League imprint. - PTI

Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha advocated for the re-election of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising their crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country. Addressing a public rally in Gabardi, West District, on April 7, CM Saha highlighted the transformative policies and developmental strides made under PM Modi’s leadership while also sharply criticising the CPIM and the Congress for their alleged exploitation of the indigenous people of Tripura. 

He also criticised the Opposition parties for their historical approach towards the indigenous population of Tripura, accusing them of engaging in vote-bank politics. CM Saha pointed out the BJP-led government’s recognition of seven eminent indigenous figures with the Padma Shri Award and the joining of Tipra Motha to their cause as a testament to their commitment to the development of indigenous communities. - ANI

Agartala: BJP MP and party candidate from West Tripura constituency Biplab Kumar Deb participated in a bike rally in Banamlipur as part of his election campaign. Hundreds of young party workers, including girls and boys, participated in the bike rally that was organised in the 9-Banamlipur constituency despite the rainy weather.

The event which saw major participation from the members of the Yuva Morcha, and the youth wing of the BJP, witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with participants navigating their bikes through the showers, symbolising their unwavering commitment and support. - ANI

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party’s candidate from Gorakhpur in the Lok Sabha, Kajal Nishad, was urgently referred to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow. This occurred after her health deteriorated on April 7. Her husband, Sanjay Nishad confirmed that she was taken to the hospital and has been kept under medical observation.

Her husband, Sanjay Nishad said, “She is being examined by the doctors. Her medical reports will come after some time.”The actor-turned-politician Kajal Nishad is in the fray against actor and sitting BJP MP Ravi Kishan Shukla from the high-profile Gorakhpur seat. - ANI

Namakkal: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that no Indian, irrespective of their faith, will lose citizenship with the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

He charged the Opposition Congress and the DMK with “creating confusion” over the issue. Mr. Singh was speaking after taking out a roadshow, in Namakkal, in support of the party’s Namakkal candidate for the April 19 Lok Sabha elections, K. P Ramalingam.

“The BJP always implemented what it promised and the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 and the CAA were such assurances,” he said.

“We promised a citizenship act, and we did it. I want to clarify that any citizen of India – whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew – nobody’s citizenship will go away,” he said. “The DMK and the Congress are creating confusion on the matter,” he alleged.

On the abolition of triple Talaq, he said “mothers and sisters” from any faith are “our mothers and sisters.” “Any atrocity against our mothers and sisters of any religion, we stand with them and we proved this by ending triple talaq,” he said. - PTI

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge hit back at the BJP leadership, alleging that their “ideological ancestors” supported the British and the Muslim League against Indians in the freedom struggle.

Mr. Kharge’s reaction came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress, charging that its poll manifesto bore the imprint of the Muslim League and utterances of its leaders showed hostility towards national integrity and Sanatana Dharma.

PTI

The Congress was left red-faced after a video surfaced on social media, showing a picture of Union Minister and BJP candidate Faggan Singh Kulaste on a banner at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla Lok Sabha seat.

While the Congress termed the goof-up a “human error”, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the Opposition party had accepted defeat even before the elections.

The purported video showed a picture of Mr. Kulaste on a banner serving as a backdrop of the stage at the rally scheduled later in the day at Dhanora, some 80 km from Seoni district headquarters under the Mandla Lok Sabha seat.

PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of taking action against the corrupt after June 4 meant that Opposition leaders would be imprisoned post Lok Sabha elections.

Results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections from April 19 to June 1 will be announced on June 4.

PTI

Amidst accusations connecting the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] to the Panoor bomb blast incident in Kannur district, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has defended the party leaders who had visited the residence of Sherin, a victim of the blast.

Read here

India has over 2.18 lakh registered centenarian voters and Haryana is home to 10,947. In a bid to uncover their vast experience with India’s evolving democracy, Ashok Kumar visits three such women, who recount past elections and reveal polling plans for the upcoming one.

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100 years old and still voting

Of the country’s over 2.18 lakh registered centenarian voters, Haryana is home to 10,947. In a bid to uncover their vast experience with India’s evolving democracy, Ashok Kumar visits three such women, who recount past elections and reveal polling plans for the upcoming one

Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam called on voters to vote out Amol Kirtikar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from North-West Mumbai. He said, “Today is April 8 and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from North-West Mumbai (Amol Kirtikar), ‘Khichdi Chor’ has been called by the ED. What ED does after the interrogation, I don’t know, but action must be taken against him. The entire people from the North-West district should know, how dishonest their possible candidate is. People should teach him the lesson by voting him out this election.” 

Jitin Prasada’s campaign, the BJP candidate from Pilibhit, is focused on the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the last 10 years and his vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). “I have come here as a ‘doot’ (messenger) of Modi ji. All of us are working to fulfil his dream of ‘Viksit Bharat’,” he said. 

The constituency has been represented by BJP’s Varun Gandhi or his mother Maneka Gandhi since 1996.Read the story here.

The Congress has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “failed” to protect the rights of tribal communities in Chhattisgarh and asked whether he will ever meaningfully commit himself to tribal welfare. 

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Modi ahead of his rally in Bastar. “We hope that the PM can shed some light on why he has failed to protect the rights of tribal communities in the state,” Mr. Ramesh said.

He claimed that the dense, biodiversity-rich Hasdeo Aranya forest is under threat from the BJP and their “favourite crony”, Adani Enterprises.

“When the Congress Party was in power, we had 40 coal blocks in this forest cancelled by the Union Coal Ministry to protect the sacred forest. Since the BJP has returned, they have reversed this decision and restarted mining in the Adani-owned Parsa coal block, despite fierce protests from Adivasi groups and activists,” he said. Leaders of the protest point out that the destruction of the forest would cause irreparable damage to the Adivasi communities’ livelihood, and cause severe damage to the environment and to wildlife, he said. “How can the PM and the BJP so callously jeopardise the well-being of the Adivasi communities of Chhattisgarh,” he asked.​Read the story here​

Kerala will have its elections on April 26, in the second phase of polling. Braving a scorching summer, candidates and party workers from all the battling fronts in Kerala are busy meeting the public and seeking votes. Here’s a look at the key issues, constituencies, and the candidates.

Lok Sabha polls 2024 in Kerala | On the campaign trail

As candidates go on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections campaign trail in Kerala, The Hindu zooms in on the poll frenzy that has gripped the Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said he rebelled because Uddhav Thackeray abandoned the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. 

Addressing a meeting of his party workers in Nagpur on April 7, Mr. Shinde said he had to rebel after seeing Bal Thackeray’s ideology being compromised. “Balasaheb Thackeray used to consider us (party functionaries) as friends but he thinks of us as house-helps,” the CM said in another jibe at the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief. He also said a party grows when leaders reach out to the workers rather than sitting at home. Mr. Shinde broke away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit in June 2022 and formed the government with the backing of the BJP. - PTI

Ahead of his rallies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought the public’s blessings. Mr. Modi is set to campaign in Bastar today at 1:30 p.m. and he will campaign in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur at 5 p.m.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, the BJP’s candidate, will take on the Congress’ Lal Singh Choudhary in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur Lok Sabha seat. Mr. Singh won in the previous two Lok Sabha elections decisively. The seat, which is one of the largest parliamentary constituencies in the country, will go to vote on April 19. It comprises Doda, Ramban, Kathua, Kishtwar and Udhampur districts, and has a 60% Hindu and 40% Muslim population.

A political contest emerges in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur, geographically one of the largest parliamentary constituencies

In one of the largest constituencies in the country, the so far one-sided contest has turned interesting with the entry of Lal Singh Choudhary, standing against BJP’s Jitendra Singh

A 10-member Trinamool Congress delegation will meet Election Commission officials in New Delhi on April 8 to complain about “misuse” of central investigating agencies against TMC leaders and party candidates. TMC’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien will lead the delegation and MP Dola Sen is also likely to meet the full bench of the Election Commission. “The BJP is misusing central agencies against us. The way NIA, ED and CBI are working and targeting TMC leaders is shameful. We would request the EC to ensure a level playing field for all political parties,” Ms. Sen told reporters at the airport before leaving for New Delhi.

Only 45 women candidates contested the Lok Sabha election in 1957 and this number had risen to 726 by 2019, Election Commission data shows. The percentage of women in Parliament has increased from 4.5% in 1957 to 14.4% in 2019. 

Gender-wise data is not available for the first general election in 1952.Click here to read the analysis

Officials seized cash worth ₹22 lakh from a bus during checking in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district. Police said the cash was seized from an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation cargo bus arriving in Jangareddygudem from Hyderabad on Sunday.

Jangareddygudem Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravi Chandra said they were conducting checks based on information about cash being transported in APSRTC cargo buses. “The bus was searched while cargo parcels were unloaded at an electronic shop on Buttaigaudem Road. During the search, ₹22 lakh of unauthorised cash was found without any bills or evidence. Following election rules, the cash was confiscated, and the cargo bus was taken to the police station,” he said, adding, “An inquiry will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken.” - ANI

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda exhorted party cadre to keep vigil on EVMs on polling day, and ensure 90% turnout to guarantee his party’s win in the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency on April 7. 

Though the Congress has not announced its candidates for Haryana, Mr. Hooda’s son and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda is likely to contest from Rohtak, the Hooda family’s bastion.

While addressing a ‘Jan Aakrosh’ rally in the Rohtak parliamentary constituency’s Beri Assembly segment, Mr. Hooda said the electorate in the region had voted overwhelmingly for his son, but the turnout should be 90% this time to ensure a lead of at least one lakh votes from the Assembly seat.

The septuagenarian leader said he was pained to see that Haryana, which was number one in per capita income and investment during the Congress’ rule before 2014, now had the highest unemployment rate in the country with deteriorated law and order. He also reiterated the Congress’ promise of ₹6,000 as old age pension, 300 units of free electricity, and cooking gas cylinder for ₹500, besides reintroducing the Old Pension Scheme in the “first Cabinet meeting”. 

The BJP betrays those who help it in times of need, claimed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on April 7. Addressing a rally for his party’s Mumbai North East Lok Sabha candidate Sanjay Dina Patil, Mr. Thackeray said the BJP betrayed the Shiv Sena by contesting the 2014 Assembly polls alone despite the two parties having a several decade-long alliance. “Despite this, we remained the BJP’s ally. It again betrayed us in 2019 and we accepted support from the Congress and NCP. The BJP then broke our party to form the government (in 2022). The BJP deceives those who support it,” Thackeray claimed. - PTI

The battle of the ballot in the predominantly rural Perambalur Lok Sabha constituency has heated up this election with the entry of K.N. Arun Nehru, the son of K.N. Nehru, the Municipal Administration Minister and the DMK’s strongman from Tiruchi.He is contesting against IJK founder T.R. Paarivendhar, who is contesting on the BJP’s symbol, and N.D. Chandramohan, the AIADMK’s candidate.

Lok Sabha polls | Intense battle unfolds in Perambalur as scion seeks to expand father’s political footprint

Perambalur Lok Sabha election heats up with a triangular contest, promises of railway line and economic development.

The Nagina constituency, which was formed in 2008 after the last round of delimitation, has elected SP, BJP and BSP candidates in the general elections held since. The only time a BJP candidate won here was in 2014 — when both the BSP and the SP polled nearly equal amount of votes. In 2019, when the two Uttar Pradesh regional parties joined hands, the BSP, which got the seat, landed an easy victory. The majority of electorate here comprise Muslims and Dalits — who now find their loyalties torn between three candidates — SP’s Manoj Kumar, BSP’s Surender Pal Singh and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram)‘s Chandrashekhar Azad — and this gives the BJP an edge.

Three-way split in Muslim-Dalit vote between SP, BSP and Azad Samaj Party gives BJP the edge in Nagina constituency of U.P.

Chandrashekhar Azad, whose four-year-old Azad Samaj Party is contesting its first Lok Sabha polls, finds it difficult to have a footing in an overcrowded electoral space 

After identifying the reasons for the low voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Greater Chennai Corporation is working to address the issues ahead of the election. An analysis revealed that apart from urban apathy, voters were generally disinterested in the electoral process. Read the story here.

Days after BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai brought back into the limelight the issue of ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka five decades ago, he tells The Hindu that it is unconvincing that then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi “badly surrendered” on the issue.

Lok Sabha polls | A person of Karunanidhi’s stature surrendered on Katchatheevu issue, says Annamalai

BJP Tamil Nadu president discusses Katchatheevu issue with The Hindu, questioning M. Karunanidhi's decision.