Lucknow : The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday accused police personnel of deterring dome people from casting votes in Uttar Pradesh where bypolls are underway, while the BJP alleged that the faces of some burqa-clad women voters are not matching with their IDs.

Both the SP and the BJP called for the Election Commission (EC) to intervene.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav urged the Supreme Court and the EC to take immediate cognisance of alleged voter suppression based on video evidence, take punitive action and ensure fair elections. The party requested the EC earlier to issue instructions that on polling day, police officers are not allowed to check the ID of voters, only polling officers are permitted to do so.

He shared a video of party candidate Sumbul Rana from Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar district, accusing police personnel of trying to deter people from voting.

“We are going from village to village, people are being harassed and are not being allowed to vote. Police officers are troubling people, telling them that they cannot vote. They are asking for one ID, and then asking for another ID. They are checking all IDs, but still, people are not being allowed to cast their votes,” she told reporters.

Rana claimed that such complaints were coming from Nayagaon, Nagla Buzuk, Sambalheda, and other areas in the constituency. “We are raising complaints but officers are not checking it,” she alleged.

Countering the opposition party’s claims, BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav are scared of losing in the ongoing bypolls in Uttar Pradesh.

“The Samajwadi Party has lost trust in the voters. That is why they have gathered external disruptive elements in the bypoll areas. According to several media reports, the faces of women wearing burqas are not matching with their identity cards,” Shukla said.

“The BJP appeals to the EC and the administration to ensure that voting is not allowed without matching the identity cards and that the EC’s instructions are strictly followed,” he added.

On social media platform X, SP’s media cell also highlighted alleged poll code violations at some locations, including the Kundarki seat in Moradabad. It said that the party’s agents were not being allowed near the polling stations.

Moradabad DM Anuj Singh said there were reports from a party alleging “bogus voting” in Bikanpur and claims that the administration has not allowed their agents.

“We got these claims verified, I myself spoke to the polling officer in Bikanpur and found that voting is underway smoothly and no voter is facing any problem. There is adequate security presence also,” Singh added.

In Kanpur, SP candidate Naseem Solanki alleged her party voters were complaining of foul play by the administration, and alleging “biased behaviour” by the administration.

Voting for bypolls is underway in Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki assembly seats. Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 5 pm. Votes will be counted on November 23.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday alleged that the NITI Aayog’s blueprint to develop the metropolitan region was a ploy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra by undermining the BMC’s importance.

If voted to power, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will scrap the MoU signed between the World Economic Forum (WEF) and MMRDA as it is aimed at diminishing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s importance, he said.

Addressing a rally at the BKC ground in Mumbai on the penultimate day before the campaigning for the assembly elections concluded, Thackeray said he wouldn’t hesitate to disband the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) if it encroaches on the BMC’s jurisdiction.

“A conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra is not just a loose talk but an impending serious crisis. The ploy is real but we will never allow this to happen,” he said.

Thackeray said the MMRDA and WEF signed an agreement in September to develop MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) as a global economic hub which was signed after Niti Aayog’s report on MMR development.

“The Niti Aayog’s blueprint diminishes the importance of the Mumbai civic body which is a ploy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra,” he alleged.

Thackeray said the first decision of the MVA government will be to scrap policies of the (Mahayuti) government which handed over Mumbai’s land to the Adani group.

The former chief minister said he was “not anti-development but is anti-destruction”.

Thackeray claimed the MVA government headed by him was toppled (in June 2022) and Shiv Sena split because he had not allowed the looting of Maharashtra.

In an apparent reference to the Shiv Sena MLAs’ disqualification case in the Supreme Court, saying, “The courts haven’t given me justice. I seek justice from you for the sake of Maharashtra”.

Thackeray said the BJP had to construct the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who had banned RSS, in Gujarat and seek votes in Maharashtra in Balasaheb Thackeray’s name, which he said was “revenge of time”.

Attacking PM Narendra Modi over the “Ek hai to Safe Hai” slogan, Thackeray said if people feel unsafe while Modi is at the helm then he should resign.

“Only corrupt and traitors feel safe when Modi is around,” he alleged.

Thackeray said Maharashtra was facing a grave crisis as “airports, ports, electricity, mines, and schools are being handed over to Adani”.

Urging people to support the MVA, Thackeray said Maharashtra will be destroyed if the Mahayuti returns to power.

Thackeray recalled Shiv Sena’s support for the abrogation of Article 370 and Bal Thackeray sheltering Kashmiri pandits fleeing persecution.

“Amit Shah and Narendra Modi weren’t known to the world at that time,” he said.

Targeting the BJP over its poll campaign, he said the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir doesn’t impact Minimum Support Price, unemployment, and women’s security in Maharashtra.

He said people of Gujarat should realise that Modi and Amit Shah have created a barrier between the western state and the rest of the country.

“How can they move projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat? You should stop them,” he added.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday targeted BJP and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis over his “vote jihad-Dharmayuddha” remarks and alleged PM Modi’s “Ek Hai to Safe Hai” slogan goes against diversity ethos.

In a veiled attack on Hindutva ideologues revered by the BJP, Owaisi said Fadnavis’ (ideological) ancestors wrote “love letters” to Britishers instead of fighting against them.

A day earlier Fadnavis claimed “vote jihad” had begun in the poll-bound Maharashtra which should be countered by “Dharmayuddha” of the vote. He had mentioned the BJP’s narrow loss in Dhule Lok Sabha constituency.

Owaisi addressed a public meeting in Jinsi area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in support of AIMIM candidates Imtiaz Jaleel (Aurangabad East) and Naser Siddiqui (Aurangabad Central) for the November 20 assembly elections.

“Our ancestors did jihad against Britishers and Fadnavis is now teaching us about jihad. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Devendra Fadnavis together cannot defeat me in a debate,” he said.

Owaisi suggested that the “dharmayuddha-jihad” remarks amounted to a poll code violation.

“From where did ‘vote jihad and dharmayuddha’ come in democracy? You purchased MLAs; should we call you a thief?” the Hyderabad MP questioned.

While Fadnavis talks about (vote) jihad, his hero was writing love letters to Britishers whereas our freedom fighters did not negotiate with the foreign rulers.

“We gave the method of fighting against the British. He (Fadnavis) said ‘vote jihad’ after they (BJP) didn’t get votes in Malegaon (during Lok Sabha election). When they fail to get votes, they call it jihad. They lost in Ayodhya. How did that happen”? Owaisi questioned.

“Our ancestors did jihad against Britishers, not yours. Fadnavis, whose ancestors were writing love letters to the British, will teach us jihad?” Owaisi added.

Modi says ‘Ek Hai to Safe Hai’ because they (BJP) want to end the diversity of this country, the AIMIM leader said, adding that the Maratha community was betrayed by rulers who failed to give them the reservation.

Owaisi alleged that many industrial projects went to Gujarat but Fadnavis showed no courage to stop these industries. “Was he afraid of Narendra Modi?” he asked.

Owaisi referenced a controversy over Hindutva seer Ramgiri Maharaj’s statements, saying the remarks against the Prophet won’t be tolerated.

He appealed to people to come out to vote on November 20. “Our victory in Aurangabad will be saluted by the people of India”.

New Delhi : The Congress on Monday accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra of deliberately infusing “hate and poison” into its poll campaign and attempting to “disturb communal harmony in the state.”

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the campaign revealed the “sick mindset” of the BJP.

“The Mahayuti, led by the BJP, has only one agenda in its campaign. It is simply and only to polarize society on the basis of religion and to disturb communal harmony in the state. Such an awful campaign reveals its sick mindset,” Ramesh wrote in a post on X.

“The campaign is full of hate and poison deliberately being injected. But the people of Maharashtra will reject this type of campaign decisively on Nov 20th,” the Congress leader added.

Ramesh said that the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is campaigning in Maharashtra on basic issues of daily concern to the people, such as the acute distress of farmers and women, the increase in the prices of essential commodities, and insecurity among workers.

Lack of jobs for youth, the water crisis, inadequate social justice for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs, and discrimination against Maharashtra in large investment projects are also at the top of the alliance’s agenda, he said.

Maharashtra will go to the polls on November 20, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance — comprising Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP — contesting against the MVA, which consists of the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).

The counting of votes will take place on November 23.

Baba Siddique and son Zeeshan Siddique

Mumbai: The Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Friday released its second list, comprising seven candidates including MLA Zeeshan Siddique and two former BJP MPs, for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Zeeshan Siddique, whose father and NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead earlier this month, will contest from Bandra East, which he had won in 2019 on a Congress ticket. He also joined the NCP.

The legislator on Thursday criticised the decision of the Shiv Sena (UBT), a partner of Congress in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), to field Varun Sardesai in his constituency for the November 20 polls, saying staying together was never in their nature.

Zeeshan had been suspended from Congress for cross-voting in the recent legislative council elections. His father and Congress veteran Baba Siddique had crossed over to the NCP, a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, earlier this year.

Former BJP MP Pratap Chikhalikar, who lost the Lok Sabha polls from Nanded, has been nominated from Loha.

BJP ex-MP Sanjay Kaka Patil, who unsuccessfully contested from Sangli in the general elections, has been given an NCP ticket. He also joined the party on Friday.

Sanjay Kaka Patil will face off with NCP (SP) candidate Rohit Patil, son of late NCP leader R R Patil, in Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal constituency in Sangli district.

Nishikant Patil will take on NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil in Islampur, while Sana Malik, daughter of former minister Nawab Malik, has been nominated from Anushakti Nagar in Mumbai.

NCP has given the ticket to Sunil Tingre from Wadgaon Sheri in Pune.

It has picked Dnyaneshwar Katke from Shrirur. Until recently, Katke was the Pune district chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led NCP (SP).

Earlier, NCP had released its first list featuring 38 candidates. NCP, BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are the constituents of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP Flag

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to use the “clock” symbol in its publicity material in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections with a disclaimer that the matter was sub-judice before it.

Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order on a plea filed by the rival Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction as it issued a notice to the Ajit Pawar-led faction.

The top court on March 19 and April 4 had directed the Ajit Pawar-led faction to issue a public notice in the newspapers in English, Hindi and Marathi editions notifying that the allocation of “clock” symbol was sub-judice. The apex court had further said the Ajit faction was permitted to use the symbol subject to the case’s final outcome.

During the proceedings on Thursday, the bench took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Sharad Pawar faction. Singhvi submitted the opponent group should be restrained from using the “clock” symbol as it didn’t use the disclaimer in their campaign materials and “misled” voters.

“They have been blatantly not using the disclaimer. They want to piggyback on me. Nobody should enjoy the goodwill of the symbol which is sub-judice,” submitted Singhvi.

The top court directed Ajit Pawar to file a fresh undertaking over its March 19 and April 4 directions to issue a public notice — “NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol is sub-judice” — was being meticulously complied with even during the process of the state assembly elections.

“File a fresh undertaking as well that you have not violated our directions in the past and till the end of elections. If there is any violation, we will take note of it. We expect both sides to comply with our directions. Please don’t create an embarrassing situation,” the bench said.

Singhvi said the Ajit Pawar group should be allocated a new symbol for the assembly elections.

Senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ajit Pawar, opposed Singhvi’s submissions and said all pamphlets and campaign materials contained the disclaimers as directed by the apex court.

“They are showing false documents. We have given disclaimers in our publicity material. They came up with the same allegations during the Lok Sabha polls which was rejected. I am willing to file all documents and pamphlets,” Singh said.

The matter has been posted for hearing on November 6.

Sharad Pawar moved the apex court against a February 6 order of the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognising Ajit Pawar-led group as the real NCP.

The ECI had allotted the NCP’s “clock” symbol to the group led by Ajit Pawar. The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar, had the “clock” as its election symbol before its split.

On March 19, the top court allowed the Sharad Pawar faction to use “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar” as its name along with the symbol of a man blowing “turha” ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the country.

It had passed the order on a plea by the Sharad Pawar group seeking to restrain the Ajit Pawar faction from using the “clock” symbol for the polls, as allotted by the ECI, on the ground that it was disrupting the level playing field.

The top court had observed the name and photographs of Sharad Pawar could not be used by the Ajit Pawar faction for political gains.

On February 19, the top court directed for the continuation of the ECI order allotting “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar” as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar had on February 15 held the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar to be the real NCP and said the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution couldn’t be used to stifle internal dissent.

Sharad Pawar had founded the NCP with former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar in 1999 after their expulsion from the Congress.

Ajit Pawar had walked away with a majority of the NCP MLAs in July, 2023, and supported the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Eknath Shinde. 

New Delhi (PTI): AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will campaign for INDIA bloc parties in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, party sources said on Thursday.

Kejriwal will particularly campaign for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners — the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP — in Maharashtra, the sources said.

AAP is a constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which was formed before the Lok Sabha polls.

Sources in AAP claimed that the party was contacted by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP-SP for campaigning by Kejriwal in Maharashtra.

In Jharkhand, the former Delhi chief minister will campaign for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The campaign schedule will be announced later, they said.

AAP entered into an alliance with the Congress — the largest constituent of the INDIA bloc — in Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls. However, it went without an alliance in Punjab.

It also contested the recent assembly elections in Haryana independently.

The Congress is also a constituent of the MVA in Maharashtra and a part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand. Assembly elections in the two states are due in November.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday indicated the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies could swap some seats among themselves, a day after the opposition bloc in Maharashtra announced a formula of 85 seats to each of the three major parties.

Raut also said there could be “some corrections” in the list of candidates announced by his party on Wednesday.

After days of stalemate, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), on Wednesday announced contesting 85 seats each for polls to the 288-member state assembly even as deliberations to seal a final pact were still underway.

The three allies were discussing the sharing of the remaining 33 seats among themselves and smaller parties.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday released its first list of 65 candidates for the state assembly polls.

“There can be an exchange of seats,” Raut on Thursday said, stressing merit and winnability will be the key factors in selecting a candidate.

“There can be switching of seats in one or two places. In some places, candidates have to be changed at the last minute. I don’t think anything drastic can happen beyond this,” Raut said.

But the three parties have agreed to 85-85-85 (formula), he said, adding the decision on rest of the seats will be taken by Thursday evening.

The Rajya Sabha member also indicated his party could contest 100 seats.

“We have come close to scoring a century. We will hit two-three sixers. We scored 85 and the match is still on. We will score the remaining runs,” Raut said drawing a parallel with a cricket match.

The state assembly elections are scheduled on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.