Madhuri Dixit appointed as poll ambassador in Maharashtra
Actor Madhuri Dixit has been chosen as “goodwill ambassador” by the Chief Electoral Office in Maharashtra to create awareness among people about the importance of voting. Maharashtra State Assembly polls are scheduled for October 21 and results will be declared on October 24.
Madhuri Dixit will be seen in a video titled ‘Let’s Vote,' speaking about the democratic process and role of voters in the development of the country. - PTI
Mayawati dissolves Rajasthan BSP executive
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has dissolved the party’s executive in Rajasthan, days after its all six legislators joined the Congress and the brawl among activists at its office.
National convener Ramji Gautam and former Rajya Sabha member Munkad Ali have been given the responsibility of the BSP in Rajasthan, said Bhagwan Singh, the party’s Rajasthan incharge.
The entire executive of the BSP has been dissolved in the state, Mr. Singh said, adding that the decision had been taken on the instructions of Mayawati. - PTI
Tripura Congress chief Pradyot Debbarman resigns from party posts
President of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman, has resigned from all party posts over his plea for implementation of NRC in the state and refusing to “compromise” with other Congress leaders.
Mr. Debbarman said the central leadership had requested him not to make his resignation public before the by-elections to Badharghat constituency, which was held on Monday.
“I have resigned from all posts of the Congress a few days ago. The party high command had asked me to compromise with a section of state leaders but I told them it was not possible.
“Then they asked me to withdraw the litigation that I have filed for the introduction of NRC (National Register of Citizens) in Tripura, but I did not agree to it, too,” Mr. Debbarman said. - PTI
DMK fields Pugazhendhi in Vikravandi
The DMK on Tuesday announced Na. Pugazhendhi as the candidate for the Vikravandi Assembly constituency where by-poll is due next month. Mr Pugazhendhi is in-charge-of the party's Villupuram district unit.
Maharashtra
VBA releases first list of candidates for Maharashtra election
Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) on Tuesday released its first list of 22 candidates for the October 21 Maharashtra Assembly polls. Notably, the list mentioned each candidate’s caste or community. The Aghadi on Tuesday declared candidates for 13 Seats in Western Maharashtra, six in Vidarbha, two in Marathwada and one in North Maharashtra.
The Party has announced that it will contest all the 288 Seats in the State. It is not yet clear whether the VBA and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) will renew their alliance for the Maharashtra polls. - PTI
Bypoll to Satara LS seat on Oct 21
The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the bypoll to the Satara Lok Sabha seat will be held on October 21 along with the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The decision to hold the bypoll was taken after the Bombay High Court decided on an election petition on Satara Lok Sabha elections. The order reached the Commission on Monday.
Satara MP from Nationalist Congress Party Udayanraje Bhosale had recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after resigning from Lok Sabha.
The counting will take place on October 24 when assembly election votes will be counted.
-- PTI
Govt had benefit of low international oil prices since 2014, yet taxes on petrol, diesel raised: Yechury
Hitting out at the government over rising fuel prices, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said that despite the benefit of low oil prices internationally since 2014, taxes on petrol and diesel were raised.
Petrol price was hiked by 18 paise a litre on October 6 and 14 paise on Sunday, according to daily price notification issued by state-owned oil firms.
“This govt has had the benefit of low international oil prices since 2014, yet taxes on petrol and diesel were unprecedented and raised. Relief to rich corporates now has cost govt Rs 1.45 lakh crore: it is making it up by taxing the common Indian,” he said in a tweet.
“Tax on rich corporates reduced, while petrol and diesel prices are hiked continuously! Increasing the common Indian’s misery is the only way this govt can raise revenues?” he tweeted.
-- PTI
CM should quit over graft allegations: Congress
Nana Patole, who is heading the Congress campaign committee in the State, on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over reports that the State government had allegedly transferred the State police’s salary accounts from nationalised banks to Axis Bank.
Mr. Fadnavis’s wife Amruta is the vice-president of the bank and Mr. Patole said Mr. Fadnavis has to step down from his post to ensure that an effective probe is carried out into the accusations.
According to a petition filed in the Bombay High Court, Mr. Fadnavis misused his powers for the benefit of his wife. It said, “The State government, through a Government Resolution (GR), effected the transfer of the bank accounts to Axis Bank in 2017.” Issuing a clarification on Saturday, Mr. Fadnavis had said, “The GR was passed in 2005 and the accounts were transferred in March 2005, while I married Amruta in November 2005.”
Uttarakhand BJP expels Ajay Sonkar from party
The BJP on Monday expelled Ajay Sonkar from the party after his name cropped up as the main accused in connection with the illicit liquor tragedy in Pathariya Peer area in Dehradun, which claimed six lives.
Mr. Sonkar was expelled from the party by BJP Mahaanagar president Vinay Goyal on the direction of Pradesh party president Ajay Bhatt, Pradesh BJP media in-charge Devendra Bhasin said.
Six people died and three others took ill after consuming illicit liquor in Pathariya peer slum locality near the Nashville Road in the heart of the city on September 19 and 20.
Mr. Sonkar, a former councillor from the Congress, had joined the BJP after the 2017 assembly polls.
-- PTI
