Making a strong Hindutva pitch at the hustings in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attacked Trinamool Congress leaders for calling those wearing saffron, sporting tilak and choti as "rakshas", and declared that he does not believe in "seasonal faith".
Expressing "deep concern", the Election Commission on Thursday issued a fresh show cause notice to Uttar Pradesh minister Mohd Azam Khan for reportedly making objectionable remarks against it and circumventing a ban imposed on him from campaigning in the state.
Desperation and desertion appear to be growing in the Congress as the Lok Sabha election nears.
The Sikkim Democratic Front got 15 seats in the hill state, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, which came into being in 2013, bagged 17 seats, one more than required for a majority in the 32-member assembly.
The Election Commission on Wednesday strongly disapproved Oil Minister Veerappa Moily's announcement of raising subsidised LPG quota ahead of Gujarat elections and asked him to be circumspect in future.
Voicing concern over the announcement of direct cash transfer scheme after the Model Code of Conduct had been implemented, the Election Commission has directed the government to keep in abeyance its implementation in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh where the poll process is going on.
'I have decided to postpone the proposed 'Garib Kisan Rally' to end the controversy arising out of the commission's directive against the RJD and filing of a case against me,' he said.
The Election Commission will for the first time keep a watch on the spending on social media by the political parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
It said it won't respond to the averment to prove its image.
The Commission expressed displeasure over the violation by the two leaders and expected that both of them in future would adhere to the salutary provisions of the code in letter and spirit.
The Election Commission on Friday rejected Arvind Kejriwal's contention on distribution of pamphlets appealing to Muslims to vote for Aam Aadmi Party during Delhi polls, holding that it amounted to model code violation and cautioned him to be careful in future poll campaigns.
The game changer could have been cash transfers of the cooking gas subsidy.
Since 1993, when the BJP came to power after a stint of President's rule, the state has alternated between the Congress and the BJP.
The Election Commission on Tuesday cautioned Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar against misuse of official machinery for political purposes in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
India's advertising fraternity is concerned about the overriding powers that the draft Broadcasting Services a Regulation Bill, 2007 has envisaged for regulating content of promotional campaigns.
Gujarat Congress unit on Monday filed a complaint against Chief Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by 'campaigning' on the election day at the polling station where he cast his vote.
The Election Commission decided Monday to issue a notice to Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela for allegedly making hate speeches while campaigning in poll-bound Gujarat.
The government has extended the deadline for filing GST annual return and audit report for the 2018-19 fiscal year by a month, till October 31.
With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the state.
Launched under Bharatiya Janata Party's supervision and carrying Chief Minister Narendra Modi's initials, the new 'NaMo Gujarat' television channel on Thursday got the Election Commission's nod but with some riders in the election-bound state, where the model code of conduct is in force.
During a poll rally in Barmer on April 21, Modi had said India is no more afraid of Pakistan's nuclear threats.
In a poll related advisory, the cops have been asked not to be seen or perceived as favouring a particular political party or candidate through their social media updates.
Singh, in his reply to the EC, said that he had not commented on the model code of conduct, threatened or intimidated election officials during his campaign in Kinnaur. The chief minister said that the allegations were not true. On November 13, the EC had issued a notice to Singh after it received a report that the chief minister had protested the detention of a vehicle with beacon light.
The Chhattisgarh Election Commission has proposed the addition of expenses incurred during Baba Ramdev's recent visit to the state in the election expenditure account of the Bharatiya Janata Party, as his speeches during this period allegedly amounted to a campaign in favour of the ruling party.
Karnataka Assembly election will be held in a single phase on May 5 and counting of votes will be on May 8, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.
The Bench did not agree with the submission that in the past, Centre had postponed presentation of Budget due to assembly polls.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday said Health Minister Suresh Shetty and Women and Child Welfare Minister Varsha Gaikwad were not allowed by the Election Commission to visit Beed district, where many cases of female foeticide have come to light recently.
Stung by Rahul Gandhi linking it with the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Friday filed a complaint with Karnataka electoral authorities for his "malicious remarks", saying it violated the model code of conduct.
Polling will be held in eight phases. The first phase of polling will take place on March 5, while the second phase is scheduled for March 7. The third, fourth and fifth phase of voting will take place on March 9, 12 and 14 respectively. The EC has marked March 16, 18 and 20 for sixth, seventh and eighth phases.
Amitabh Kumar Das, a senior IPS officer of Bihar cadre, who is deployed by the Election Commission of India as an observer in the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls, has accused the National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar for putting pressure on him not to take action against leaders of the ruling BJP in Gujarat for violation of model code of conduct.
Authorities in New Delhi are all geared up for the counting of votes polled in the Delhi municipal elections, with officials saying 42 centres have been set up for the Wednesday exercise which will begin at 8 am amid tight security.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh's son Jayant Chowdhary, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader, was on Monday issued a notice by Election Commission for allegedly violating the model code of conduct after he was caught on camera taking cash from a local leader during a poll meeting in Mathura.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday complained to the Election Commission against Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's remarks on minority sub quota, asking the poll body to book him for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. A BJP delegation comprising Jagat Prakash Nadda, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Shahnawaz Hussain, along with R Ramakrishna, convener of the party's election cell, met Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi and ECs V S Sampath and H S Brahma.
The Election Commission is examining whether Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's remarks on the minorities sub-quota daring the poll body during a rally in Farrukhabad last night were a violation of the model code of conduct.
A satirical play, depicting the extravagant lifestyle of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, has been banned by her government.
Terming as "irresponsible" remarks of political parties criticising its orders, the Election Commission on Wednesday said if they feel heat of its directive, "it is their problem".
Rejecting the contention that the Election Commission's ordering a hold the 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities in 5 poll-bound states was a "setback", Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said the notification will remain operative for appointments and admissions to be made this year.
EC's special teams have also made a huge haul of 98,312 litres of liquor while 1,563 illegal weapons were also seized during the recent drive.
The Election Commission on Saturday said that statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and elephants, the Bahujan Samaj Party's poll symbol, installed at a number of places in Uttar Pradesh would be covered during the state assembly elections. "The commission has decided that statues of the CM and elephants will be draped," Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi told reporters.
The biopic was originally set to release on April 12, but its producers had advanced it by a week, claiming 'public demand'.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances