News for 'election-commission'

BJP dominates Maha municipal polls, tops five of six divisions

BJP dominates Maha municipal polls, tops five of six divisions

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

The BJP has emerged as the most dominant force in the recently-held municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in Maharashtra, securing the highest number of seats in five out of the state's six administrative divisions.

Bihar Polls: Phase 1: Touch And Go Seats

Bihar Polls: Phase 1: Touch And Go Seats

Rediff.com6 Nov 2025

According to data available from the Election Commission of India, 17 seats in the 2020 Assembly elections had a victory margin of less than 1.5%

Is MVA staring at another setback in civic body elections?

Is MVA staring at another setback in civic body elections?

Rediff.com23 Dec 2025

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) faces a crucial test in the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra after being defeated by the BJP-led Mahayuti in recent local polls. Political observers are calling the upcoming contest for 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, a mini assembly election.

About 50% turnout in Maha civic polls; 41% polling in BMC

About 50% turnout in Maha civic polls; 41% polling in BMC

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

A BMC spokesperson said the average voter turnout stood at 29.96 per cent till 1.30 pm in the metropolis, which has more than 1 crore eligible electors.

Bangladesh uprising 'guru' rejects alliance with Jamaat

Bangladesh uprising 'guru' rejects alliance with Jamaat

Rediff.com29 Dec 2025

A key leader of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party (NCP), Mahfuz Alam, has distanced himself from the party's alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, citing ideological differences and concerns over Jamaat's controversial history.

Bangladesh to hold general elections on February 12

Bangladesh to hold general elections on February 12

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

Bangladesh will hold general elections on February 12, 2026, the first since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. A referendum on reform proposals will be held simultaneously.

Bihar: VVPAT slips found on roadside, official suspended

Bihar: VVPAT slips found on roadside, official suspended

Rediff.com8 Nov 2025

An assistant returning officer in Samastipur, Bihar, was suspended and a case registered against him after VVPAT slips were found on the roadside. The Election Commission initiated an inquiry after a video of the incident went viral.

Congress led propaganda spend, BJP led results in Delhi polls: ADR

Congress led propaganda spend, BJP led results in Delhi polls: ADR

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

Analysis of election expenditure reports reveals Congress spent more on propaganda and social media, while BJP's overall expenses were higher in the Delhi assembly elections.

EC dismisses Trinamool charge of SIR-related deaths

EC dismisses Trinamool charge of SIR-related deaths

Rediff.com28 Nov 2025

A Trinamool Congress delegation on Friday alleged before the Election Commission top brass that around 40 SIR-related deaths had occurred in West Bengal so far, a charge junked by the poll authority.

Maharashtra municipal elections to be held on Dec 2

Maharashtra municipal elections to be held on Dec 2

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

Elections for municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra are scheduled for December 2, according to the State Election Commissioner. The schedule for other local bodies will be announced later.

Bengal SIR redraws voter map with over 58 lakh deletions

Bengal SIR redraws voter map with over 58 lakh deletions

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

The Election Commission released the names of deleted voters in West Bengal ahead of the publication of the draft electoral rolls for the upcoming assembly elections.

Goa voter list revision reveals 90,000 discrepancies

Goa voter list revision reveals 90,000 discrepancies

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

As many as 90,000 electors in Goa have either been found absent, shifted, deceased or possessing duplicate voter cards in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, a senior official said on Sunday.

Despite sweep, 12 BJP candidates fall in close contests

Despite sweep, 12 BJP candidates fall in close contests

Rediff.com15 Nov 2025

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party made a spectacular show in the Bihar assembly elections with almost all of its 101 candidates registering massive wins, 12 of the nominees missed the bus.

EC likely to hold special SIR camps for sex workers in Kolkata

EC likely to hold special SIR camps for sex workers in Kolkata

Rediff.com30 Nov 2025

The decision came amid rising concerns in the city's red-light districts over difficulties in completing SIR enumeration forms.

'Congress Party Has Not Lost Hope'

'Congress Party Has Not Lost Hope'

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

'Jan Suraaj Party was the BJP's 'B' team. It is proven now.' 'You have seen their performance and it proves that they only worked to dent Opposition votes by working for the BJP.'

Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir floats new political party

Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir floats new political party

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

Humayun Kabir, recently suspended from the TMC, has launched a new political party, Janata Unnayan Party, and announced candidates for the 2026 assembly elections.

Delhi MCD bypolls: BJP wins 7 wards, AAP 3, Cong opens account

Delhi MCD bypolls: BJP wins 7 wards, AAP 3, Cong opens account

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

These civic body bypolls were a litmus test for the BJP, as they were its first big electoral battle after coming to power in Delhi in February this year.

Facing serious health issues, says BJP-baiter Sanjay Raut

Facing serious health issues, says BJP-baiter Sanjay Raut

Rediff.com31 Oct 2025

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says he is undergoing treatment for serious health issues and has been advised to avoid public interaction.

Parliament's winter session from Dec 1, Oppn questions duration

Parliament's winter session from Dec 1, Oppn questions duration

Rediff.com8 Nov 2025

The Winter session of Parliament will be held from December 1 to 19, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Saturday, in what the opposition has described as an 'unusually delayed' and truncated session.

SC to hear Shiv Sena symbol dispute pleas on Jan 21

SC to hear Shiv Sena symbol dispute pleas on Jan 21

Rediff.com12 Nov 2025

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for January 21 on pleas challenging the Election Commission's decision to allot the 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. The court will also hear arguments on a similar dispute concerning the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on January 22.

Maha local body poll results depend on final quota verdict: SC

Maha local body poll results depend on final quota verdict: SC

Rediff.com28 Nov 2025

The Supreme Court has directed the Maharashtra government and its state election commission to conduct local body elections, clarifying that the results will be subject to the court's final verdict, especially concerning the 50% quota limit. The court will hear pleas regarding OBC reservation in local bodies in January 2026.

Bihar: Cong alleges targeted removal of Dalit, Muslim voters

Bihar: Cong alleges targeted removal of Dalit, Muslim voters

Rediff.com5 Oct 2025

The Congress party has alleged that approximately 23 lakh women's names have been removed from the voter list in Bihar, particularly in constituencies with close contests in the 2020 elections. They claim this is a deliberate act of 'vote theft' orchestrated by the ruling party through the Election Commission.

SC refuses plea for SIT probe into Rahul's Bengaluru 'vote chori' charge

SC refuses plea for SIT probe into Rahul's Bengaluru 'vote chori' charge

Rediff.com13 Oct 2025

The Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea seeking a special investigation team (SIT) probe into alleged electoral roll manipulation in Bengaluru Central and other constituencies, advising the petitioner to approach the Election Commission of India.

Congress targeting India through overseas social media accounts: BJP

Congress targeting India through overseas social media accounts: BJP

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

The BJP has accused the Congress party, particularly Rahul Gandhi, of using social media accounts based in foreign countries to create an anti-India narrative. The BJP alleges that accounts originating from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and the US are being used to target the BJP, RSS, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Systematic 'vote chori' evolved by Modi: Rahul

Systematic 'vote chori' evolved by Modi: Rahul

Rediff.com6 Nov 2025

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that a 'systematic vote chori' method, evolved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission to 'kill Indian democracy', will be deployed in the Bihar assembly polls as well.

'Fadnavis Encouraged Thackerays To Unite'

'Fadnavis Encouraged Thackerays To Unite'

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

'This will split the Marathi and Shiv Sena vote.' 'The BJP has conducted 3 surveys indicating they shall secure 109 seats in the BMC.' 'They do not wish for the Shinde Sena to demonstrate excessive strength in the BMC.' 'If the Thackerays secure 60-70 seats, that will affect Shinde's seats.'

'Vote chori' in Bihar polls, alleges Rahul; says EC main culprits

'Vote chori' in Bihar polls, alleges Rahul; says EC main culprits

Rediff.com7 Nov 2025

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accuses the Election Commission of being complicit in 'vote theft' in Bihar, alleging manipulation of voter lists and preventing people from voting. He claims the EC officials are committing 'treachery against the Constitution'.

EC de-lists 474 more political parties for flouting norms

EC de-lists 474 more political parties for flouting norms

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

The Election Commission (EC) has de-listed 474 more registered unrecognised political parties for flouting norms, including not contesting elections in the last six years. This follows a previous de-listing of 334 parties in August.

Cong announces farm laws-style stir against MGNREGA repeal

Cong announces farm laws-style stir against MGNREGA repeal

Rediff.com27 Dec 2025

The Congress will launch a nationwide campaign against the repeal of the United Progressive Alliance-era rural employment legislation Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on January 5, similar to the pushback against the three farm laws which eventually forced the Narendra Modi government to rollback its decision, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Bihar Dy CM alleges RJD attack on convoy; EC directs DGP to act

Bihar Dy CM alleges RJD attack on convoy; EC directs DGP to act

Rediff.com6 Nov 2025

Reacting to the alleged incident, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directed the DGP to take "immediate action".

Can India Solve The Air Pollution Problem?

Can India Solve The Air Pollution Problem?

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

Mundane as it may seem, this is in some ways a metaphor for the challenges facing the nation, argue Arvind Subramanian and Devesh Kapur in their new book, A Sixth Of Humanity.

Why Freebies May Not Save Stalin's DMK

Why Freebies May Not Save Stalin's DMK

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

While the DMK depends on a 'silver sieve' of welfare schemes to stay in power, its support is slowly draining away under the weight of poor governance, corruption, and voters who are no longer satisfied with benefits alone and now want basic administration to work, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Fresh unrest grips Bangladesh, govt orders security clampdown

Fresh unrest grips Bangladesh, govt orders security clampdown

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Bangladesh's interim government has ordered a nationwide security clampdown following the shooting of a youth leader and election candidate, leading to renewed unrest.

'Rahul Can't Play Victim All The Time'

'Rahul Can't Play Victim All The Time'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

'Rahul Gandhi's problem is that he doesn't think big.' 'He looks more like an activist, while politics is like a game of chess. You attack and then defend and have a game-plan.'

HC defers counting of votes in Maha local polls to Dec 21

HC defers counting of votes in Maha local polls to Dec 21

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule blames the State Election Commission (SEC) for the Bombay High Court's decision to defer the counting of votes for local bodies polls, citing 'misinterpretation of laws'.

CJI considers virtual hearings due to Delhi's air pollution

CJI considers virtual hearings due to Delhi's air pollution

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

Chief Justice of India considers shifting Supreme Court hearings to virtual mode due to severe air pollution in Delhi after experiencing its effects firsthand.

Elect BJP-backed candidates, get Rs 10 lakh fund: Union minister

Elect BJP-backed candidates, get Rs 10 lakh fund: Union minister

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar has offered Rs 10 lakh fund for villages in his Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency if they elect a BJP-backed candidate in the Gram Panchayat polls to be held in Telangana next month.

BJP, ally JD-U register vote share gains, RJD sees slight dip

BJP, ally JD-U register vote share gains, RJD sees slight dip

Rediff.com15 Nov 2025

Its ally JD-U recorded one of the most notable gains in this election, with its vote share jumping to 19.26 percent from 15.39 percent in 2020. The party also contested 101 seats this time, as against the 115 seats in the last elections, the EC said.

Poll panel to 'verify' Bengal voters with AI help

Poll panel to 'verify' Bengal voters with AI help

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

The Election Commission is set to introduce artificial intelligence-based verification systems during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal to prevent the inclusion of fake or deceased voters, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Bihar: Phase 1 voting today; Tejashwi, Samrat in fray

Bihar: Phase 1 voting today; Tejashwi, Samrat in fray

Rediff.com6 Nov 2025

The stage is set for the crucial first phase of the assembly elections in Bihar on Thursday, as 3.75 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of 1,314 candidates, including top leaders such as Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance's (INDIA's) chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary of the Bharatiya Janata Party.