News for 'Independent Electoral Commission'

Indian-origin minister at centre of sexism row in UK

Indian-origin minister at centre of sexism row in UK

Rediff.com7 Jun 2016

The UK's employment minister and British Prime Minister David Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion has been a very vocal supporter of Brexit in the June 23 referendum, leading to a disparaging remark about her name by a trade union chief in favour of remaining within the economic bloc.

Stalin's Latest Headache

Stalin's Latest Headache

Rediff.com22 Dec 2023

CM Stalin has a procedural problem. Nominating new ministers would entail his having to seek formal permission from governor R N Ravi. Stalin does not want to interact with the person of this governor, as far as possible, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Scotland says 'NO' to independence in historic referendum

Scotland says 'NO' to independence in historic referendum

Rediff.com19 Sep 2014

Scots on Friday rejected independence in a historic referendum and decided to remain in a 307-year-old union with the United Kingdom, in a relief to Prime Minister David Cameron.

Ballot is more potent than most powerful gun: SC

Ballot is more potent than most powerful gun: SC

Rediff.com2 Mar 2023

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph said the concepts of liberty, equality and fraternity must not be "strange bedfellows" to the ruling class.

Will EPS Now Take On The BJP?

Will EPS Now Take On The BJP?

Rediff.com29 Mar 2023

The EPS camp believes that the BJP was already arm-twisting the AIADMK into conceding more seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections 'than they deserve' observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

RS win in Maharashtra, Haryana shows BJP's superior poll management

RS win in Maharashtra, Haryana shows BJP's superior poll management

Rediff.com11 Jun 2022

Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, Randeep Surjewala and Jairam Ramesh of the Congress and Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut were among the 16 candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha from four states where polling was held on Friday after tussle over cross voting and alleged breach of election rules delayed the counting by around eight hours in Maharashtra and Haryana.

State bypolls: Cong wins 3, BJP and ally 2; TMC loses

State bypolls: Cong wins 3, BJP and ally 2; TMC loses

Rediff.com2 Mar 2023

The Congress on Thursday secured a seat in the present Bengal assembly as its candidate Bayron Biswas won the Sagardighi bypoll, defeating the nearest rival of the Trinamool Congress by 22,980 votes.

PM 'pressuring' Himachal BJP rebel, says Cong citing viral video

PM 'pressuring' Himachal BJP rebel, says Cong citing viral video

Rediff.com6 Nov 2022

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi cited a viral video on social media platforms, claiming that in it Modi's voice is heard in a call with BJP rebel Kripal Parmar.

Droupadi Murmu elected India's 15th President with 64% votes

Droupadi Murmu elected India's 15th President with 64% votes

Rediff.com21 Jul 2022

Droupadi Murmu scripted history on Thursday by becoming India's first tribal President in the one-sided contest, defeating Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.

Who will be PM Modi's choice for President?

Who will be PM Modi's choice for President?

Rediff.com9 Jun 2022

Political observers are keen to see if the BJP will now be guided by its more firmly entrenched ideological dominance in picking a face solidly identified with its core planks, or if it will choose a person tilted more to its electoral calculations. Or, whether its pick will be an ode to its core supporters or a outreach to relatively new groups of votaries.

'The sooner we junk the rhetoric of freebies, the better'

'The sooner we junk the rhetoric of freebies, the better'

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

'Welfare schemes are not a necessary evil, they are a necessary good.'

Parties keep watchful eye in high-octane RS contest

Parties keep watchful eye in high-octane RS contest

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

All 41 candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Telangana were elected unopposed on Friday after the biennial elections to 57 Rajya Sabha seats were announced recently.

Bypolls: BJP wins 4 of 7 seats; RJD, Uddhav's Sena, TRS 1 each

Bypolls: BJP wins 4 of 7 seats; RJD, Uddhav's Sena, TRS 1 each

Rediff.com6 Nov 2022

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday won four seats in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal retained the Mokama assembly seat in the bypolls to seven assembly constituencies in six states.

Gujarat records 60% voter turnout in Phase 1

Gujarat records 60% voter turnout in Phase 1

Rediff.com1 Dec 2022

An average 59.24 per cent voter turnout was recorded as of 5 pm on Thursday across 89 assembly seats in the first phase of Gujarat elections, officials said.

It's BJP vs regional parties in Thursday's bypolls in 6 states

It's BJP vs regional parties in Thursday's bypolls in 6 states

Rediff.com2 Nov 2022

Voting will be held on Thursday in bypolls to seven assembly seats in six states -- a contest symbolic of the fierce turf war between the Bharatiya Janata Party and regional parties.

CBI registers 9 cases related to Bengal post-poll violence

CBI registers 9 cases related to Bengal post-poll violence

Rediff.com26 Aug 2021

All the four special units of the investigating agency tasked to probe the cases of violence have moved their units from Kolkata to crime scenes across the state, sources said.

63.31% voting percentage in Gujarat elections first phase, down 3% from 2017

63.31% voting percentage in Gujarat elections first phase, down 3% from 2017

Rediff.com2 Dec 2022

In the 2017 assembly election, the voter turnout in the first phase covering the same 89 constituencies stood at 66.75 per cent.

Campaigning ends for first phase of Gujarat elections, Morbi 'hero' among candidates

Campaigning ends for first phase of Gujarat elections, Morbi 'hero' among candidates

Rediff.com29 Nov 2022

Campaigning for the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections to be held on December 1 ended at 5 pm on Tuesday.

After Patnaik's support, Murmu certain to be elected President

After Patnaik's support, Murmu certain to be elected President

Rediff.com22 Jun 2022

With the Biju Janata Dal backing the National Democratic Alliance's presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, the vote share of the ruling dispensation has now crossed 50 percent, virtually paving the way for her election as the first tribal President and the youngest too.

Horse-trading, cross-voting fears as 4 states head to RS polls

Horse-trading, cross-voting fears as 4 states head to RS polls

Rediff.com9 Jun 2022

Polling for 16 Rajya Sabha seats in four states will be held on Friday amid allegations of attempts at horse-trading by rival parties which have corralled their MLAs in hotels and scenic resorts, prompting the Election Commission to appoint special observers and order videography of the entire exercise.

'Independence Day': Britain parts ways with EU

'Independence Day': Britain parts ways with EU

Rediff.com24 Jun 2016

The United Kingdom has voted by 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent to leave the European Union after 43 years in an historic referendum.

Over 70% voter turnout in 3 state assembly bypolls

Over 70% voter turnout in 3 state assembly bypolls

Rediff.com27 Feb 2023

Bypolls in three assembly constituencies in as many states passed off peacefully on Monday with around over 70 per cent voter turnout, though some technical glitches in electronic voting machine were reported in Tamil Nadu and the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal alleged that the Central Reserve Police Force was "influencing" voters.

Return Of 'Committed Judiciary' Or Judicial Over-Reach?

Return Of 'Committed Judiciary' Or Judicial Over-Reach?

Rediff.com23 Jan 2023

Vice President Dhankar's and Law Minister Rijuju's recent interventions have the danger of destabilising the Constitutional equilibrium, cautions N Sathiya Moorthy.

Gujarat to see three-way contest; all eyes on AAP

Gujarat to see three-way contest; all eyes on AAP

Rediff.com3 Nov 2022

Long caught between two polarities, Gujarat's electoral field has expanded to include a third party with the Aam Aadmi Party challenging the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the opposition Congress that has lost ground but still has significant presence.

'Riwaaz' continues as Cong wrests Himachal from BJP

'Riwaaz' continues as Cong wrests Himachal from BJP

Rediff.com8 Dec 2022

The Congress won 40 seats in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly while the BJP got 25 seats.

India's Approaching Democratic Crisis

India's Approaching Democratic Crisis

Rediff.com22 Nov 2021

India will either have to create a system in which certain geographical areas will wind up being permanent political outsiders at the Union level or it will have to create a system in which certain votes are weighted more heavily than others, observes Mihir S Sharma.

MVA leaders hold meeting to showcase strength before RS poll

MVA leaders hold meeting to showcase strength before RS poll

Rediff.com8 Jun 2022

MLAs of smaller parties like the Bachhu Kadu-led Prahar and Independent legislators also attended the meeting, Prabhu added.

Hectic parleys in Maha ahead of council polls; cross-voting woes loom large

Hectic parleys in Maha ahead of council polls; cross-voting woes loom large

Rediff.com19 Jun 2022

The MLAs of the three ruling parties and the BJP have reached Mumbai ahead of the elections.

NEET, Vishwakarma Scheme, And Tamil Angst

NEET, Vishwakarma Scheme, And Tamil Angst

Rediff.com28 Sep 2023

Medical seats for under-graduates and post-graduates remaining vacant in the NEET era, together with the Centre 'freezing' the number of medical colleges and seats in (Dravidian) Tamil Nadu and the launch of the PM's 'Vishwakarma Scheme' for the nation's craftsmen, are all seen as a bid to further reverse the state's progressive socio-economic agenda of and its achievements of the past hundred-plus years, argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Bypolls: Voting lowest in Punjab, SP alleges rigging in UP

Bypolls: Voting lowest in Punjab, SP alleges rigging in UP

Rediff.com23 Jun 2022

Polling was by and large peaceful in the bypolls for three Lok Sabha and seven assembly seats spread across five states and Delhi on Thursday barring an incident of stabbing of a policeman in Tripura, where polling was the highest at 76.62 per cent.

Protests erupt in Gilgit Baltistan over 'poll rigging'

Protests erupt in Gilgit Baltistan over 'poll rigging'

Rediff.com20 Nov 2020

Demonstrators took to the streets to protest against what they called the rigged election in which Pakistan ruling party is said to be winning, and erected barricades to block the movement, Dawn reported.

After Bihar, EC preparing for more COVID-safe polls

After Bihar, EC preparing for more COVID-safe polls

Rediff.com28 Dec 2020

The Chief Election Commissioner pointed out that the exercise involved nearly 7.3 crore voters and over 1.06 lakh polling stations.

Third generation of Bhajan Lal family wins Adampur

Third generation of Bhajan Lal family wins Adampur

Rediff.com6 Nov 2022

BJP candidate and former chief minister Bhajan Lal's grandson Bhavya Bishnoi on Sunday defeated his nearest rival and Congress nominee Jai Prakash in the Adampur assembly seat by-election, retaining the family bastion.

Over 65% voter turnout recorded in Uttarakhand

Over 65% voter turnout recorded in Uttarakhand

Rediff.com15 Feb 2022

"Polling was held peacefully at the 11,697 polling booths across the state with 65.1 per cent of the electorate casting their votes till the close of polls," Chief Electoral Officer Saujanya who does not use a surname said.

Voting underway in bypolls across 5 states

Voting underway in bypolls across 5 states

Rediff.com5 Dec 2022

Rampur Sadar and Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh, Padampur in Odisha, Sardarshahar in Rajasthan, Kurhani in Bihar and Bhanupratappur in Chhattisgarh are the assembly seats where the bypolls are being held.

TMC decimates opposition, wins 102 of 108 municipalities in Bengal

TMC decimates opposition, wins 102 of 108 municipalities in Bengal

Rediff.com2 Mar 2022

The BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition party in West Bengal after winning 77 seats in the assembly polls last year, failed to win even a single civic body.

Restrain Rahul from campaigning in TN: BJP to EC

Restrain Rahul from campaigning in TN: BJP to EC

Rediff.com4 Mar 2021

In a memorandum submitted to chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo on Thursday he said Gandhi's political campaign in the educational institution violated provisions of the model code of conduct for which strict action including "prohibitory orders for his poll campaign in Tamil Nadu is required."

This was the best Independence Day address I have seen

This was the best Independence Day address I have seen

Rediff.com18 Aug 2014

'Independence Day has been India's annual general meeting. For the most part, it has been a forgettable experience of ritual observances. Not so this year... Mr Modi instead presented what I call a moral balance sheet of India,' says Shreekant Sambrani.

Nov 3 Poll Huge Test For Uddhav-Shinde-BJP

Nov 3 Poll Huge Test For Uddhav-Shinde-BJP

Rediff.com13 Oct 2022

'The margin of victory or loss would make both camps rethink their strategies for the 2024 assembly election in Maharashtra.'

Oppn to field joint Prez nominee; Pawar declines, Farooq's name proposed

Oppn to field joint Prez nominee; Pawar declines, Farooq's name proposed

Rediff.com15 Jun 2022

As the Opposition held its first meeting on the Presidential polls and names of Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi also cropped up, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party reached out to several parties across the political spectrum to build a consensus choice with senior party leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaking to Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress), Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and Naveen Patnaik (Biju Janata Dal).