The schedule for Gujarat will be announced separately.
A notice was on Thursday slapped on the Aam Aadmi Party by election authorities for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct over Tuesday's violent protest by Arvind Kejriwal party supporters outside the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in the national capital.
Taking strong exception to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar describing RJD chief Lalu Prasad as "king of terror", the party on Wednesday said it would move the Election Commission seeking action against the JD-U leader for breaching model code of conduct in place for Bihar Assembly polls.
Elections have become a "big budget affair" and holding simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies would result in huge saving to the exchequer, the government said on Thursday.
'I wonder how people who come to power through democratic means turn out this way.' 'But people of India are strong, and those who think they can hoodwink people, are mistaken.' 'You can fool some people for some time, but not all people, all the time.'
A case has been lodged against cricketer-turned politician Mohammed Azharuddin and Union Minister RPN Singh in Kushinagar district for alleged violation of the election model code of conduct, a senior official said.
Over 100 ex-servicemen have signed the petition asking for early implementation of OROP without any dilution.
the Congress too petitioned the Election Commission for action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing an event organised by an industry body on the eve of the final phase of the Gujarat polls where he attacked the main opposition party.
The Election Commission on Wednesday slapped show-cause notices on Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for their offensive remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kangana Ranaut respectively.
Four times more liquor has been seized in the 2024 election than during the 2019 polls.
"The NIA categorically refuted allegations of mala fide in its Bhupatinagar blast case," an agency spokesperson said.
The CEC said the commission would not allow any kind of violation that puts a particular political party at an advantage over another.
The poll panel on Friday took note of alleged breach of 'ethical and dignified behaviour' and revoked the 'star campaigner' status of the Congress leader. While the political party pays for the expenditure of a star campaigner, the candidate pays for the expenditure of other campaigners.
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of "inciting riotous behaviour" through his speeches at poll rallies, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission seeking action against him and Congress for violating the model code.
An official source said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has desired for the resumption of printing of the prime minister's photo on the Covid vaccination certificates in these states on top priority.
Former MLA Ram Dayal Uikey, the BJP nominee from Pali-Tanakhar seat in Korba district, was present in the vehicle when the cash was seized from there, the police official said.
India's cement demand has consistently shown double-digit growth over the past few quarters, primarily driven by infrastructure spending. However, dealers and industry executives note that state elections, festival season, and, in some markets, weddings and pollution may temporarily disrupt this demand story. While the festival season typically sees a slowdown in construction activity, some dealers anticipate this lull extending throughout the entire month as multiple states enter election mode.
Acting on a Congress complaint, the Election Commission on Wednesday slapped a notice on Narendra Modi for prima facie violating the model code of conduct over his "khooni panja" (bloodied hand) remark on the Congress poll symbol.
Dismissing the complaint of Congress, the Election Commission on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's October 3 radio broadcast did not constitute violation of the model code of conduct.
Fadnavis has assured full support to work out a solution with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and civil aviation ministry after the last round of polling is completed and model code of conduct is withdrawn.
Passenger vehicle sales in India kicked off on a flat note in new fiscal 2024-25 with 3.38 lakh units sold in April, impacted by high base effect and muted demand due to the ongoing general elections. Dispatches of passenger vehicles from manufacturers to dealers were at 338,341 units in April 2024 as compared to 332,468 units in the same month last year, a growth of 1.77 per cent with major players Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai and Tata Motors reporting marginal growth in their domestic wholesales.
Coming under the Election Commission scanner for his remarks on minorities sub-quota, Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Monday replied to the poll body notice pleading not guilty to violation of model code of conduct.
The polling body said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not violate the model code or its advisory on armed forces in his speech in Varanasi. It also found nothing wrong in his comments made in Nanded, Maharashtra where he reportedly dubbed the Congress as a 'sinking Titanic'.
The half-page advertisements in Hindi and Gujarati in almost all English and language dailies had accused the UPA government of trying to rub salt into the wounds of the people affected in the 2002 Sabarmati Express train burning case.
Kamal Nath had expressed regret over it and asserted that he did not say anything disrespectful.
A majority of over 50,000 internally displaced people are currently staying at relief centres across five valley districts and three hill districts.
Launching a strong campaign over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against its manifesto, the Congress said on Monday that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has sought an appointment with Narendra Modi to "educate him" about its poll promise document.
On a day Ashok Lavasa's decision to recuse from model code of conduct complaints became public, the EC said the 'full commission' would meet on May 21 to discuss the issue of dissent and 'related matters'.
Recommending statutory backup to the model code of conduct, a parliamentary committee has sought to take away certain powers vested with the Election Commission like de-recognising a political party.
The Election Commission on Friday gave the go-ahead to the airing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat programme on Sunday.
'In case of multi-phase elections, manifesto shall not be released during the prohibitory periods, as prescribed under Section 126 of the RP Act of all the phases of those elections'
'If a poor voter sees Modi's picture on ration bags, it is natural he will vote for Modi and the BJP.'
The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Saturday accused the Election Commission of being indifferent to the violation of the model code of conduct by the Trinamool Congress and said it might seek legal recourse.
Taking note of the "revenge" remark made by Narendra Modi's close aide Amit Shah while campaigning in riot-affected areas of Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission on Monday issued notice to him for prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Giving a clean chit to Gandhi, EC officials said the "complaint was examined in detail and after examination of the complete transcript of speech sent by the district electoral officer of Jabalpur, the Commission is of the considered view that no violation of the model code of conduct is made out."
Governor Buta Singh has come under fire for making three appointments on the day that poll schedules were announced in Bihar and the model code of conduct came into effect.
Kangana later apologised saying she didn't mean to hurt anyone, and it was a harmless joke about Biden being friends with the Dalai Lama.
The poll body said said if he continues to violate the model code, stern action would be taken against him and his party, including suspension or withdrawal of recognition to the Aam Aadmi Party.
For the first time in his political career, he failed to carry his party to even a working majority -- and again, for the first time in his career, he finds himself in a situation where he cannot rule by dictatorial fiat, points out Prem Panicker.
