Guwahati, Apr 11 : Twenty-five per cent voter turnout has been recorded so far in Assam, where polling is being held for five constituencies in the first phase of the three-phase election in the state.

Tezpur constituency has recorded the highest turnout in the first four hours of polling at 28pc, while Kaliabor and Lakhimpur have recorded 22pc each and Jorhat and Dibrugarh 21pc each.

Reports of malfunction of EVMs at places have been received, but polling was progressing peacefully in most places.

ECI officials here said the final figures of malfunctioning or replacement of EVMs will be compiled and made available after the close of voting.

Officials have rushed to polling stations from where problems in EVMs have been received.

Long queues were seen in front of most of the polling stations even before voting started at 0700 hours, with clear weather encouraging voter turnout. Voting will end at 1600 hours in the state.

Among those who have already cast their vote is CM Sarbananda Sonowal, former CM Tarun Gogoi

of Congress, sitting Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi of Congress, sitting Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah of BJP, former union minister and Dibrugarh Congress candidate Paban Singh Ghatowar and state minister and Jorhat BJP candidate Topon Kumar Gogoi.

Altogether 41 candidates, including two women, are in the fray for Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat and Dibrugarh seats, spread in the eastern and northern parts of the state.

Polling is being conducted at 9574 polling stations, which include 201 all-women polling stations and 225 model polling stations.

Altogether 180 companies of security forces have been deployed, and minimum one constable attached to every polling station.

As many as 42126 polling personnel have been engaged for first phase poll and 614 micro observers appointed.

Total of 151 flying squads is keeping vigil, along with 137 static surveillance teams and 118 video surveillance teams.

The total elector strength is 7603458, of which 3737970 are female and 154 are of the third gender.

The BJP had won four of the seats in 2014 General Elections, while one was bagged by Congress.

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Panaji, Apr 11 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday assured people of the state to provide corruption-free government and follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principle of ‘Na khaunga, na khane dunga’.
Addressing an election rally at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium at Taleigao, near the city, the Chief Minister said,”I am committed to provide corruption-free government in the state.”
The Chief Minister, who addressed the rally titled ‘Vijay Sankal Sabha’, remember former Chief Minister Late Manohar Parrikar and called him his ideal.
”Today’s meeting cannot start without remembering former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is my ideal and architect of modern Goa. There was need to fulfill dreams of Bhai,” he said and sought support of the people.
He said unemployment was an important issue in the state and he was of the opinion that every Goan should get employment opportunity be it in government sector or private sector.
Government would make all efforts during the next three years to ensure that youth of the state got employment opportunities, he said.
The Chief Minister said he was also aware that majority of the people in his constituency were dependent on minister and claimed that it was only Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government which could solve mining issue in a legal way.
‘BJP government at the Centre and in the state are committed to find a solution to mining issue in a legal way,” he said.

Agra, Apr 11: As many as eight people died when their car dashed against a truck on Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Fatehabad area on Thursday.

According to the Police sources here, the car was coming from Lucknow when it hit the truck on the highway.

Six people died on the spot while two succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital, they said.

The deceased were yet to be identified, they added.

Patna, Apr 11 : Amid fool proof security arrangements, polling began on peaceful note to decide fate of 44 candidates in four seats for first phase of Lok Sabha elections from 7 AM today which would continue till 6 PM barring some extremism-hit Assembly segments where polling would come to an end at 4 PM due to security reasons.
Sources of office of Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar said here that polling began on peaceful note in four seats for first phase of Lok Sabha elections from 7 AM which would continue till 6 PM while in some extremists hit assembly segments, polling would come to an end at 4 PM. An estimated 70.66 lakhs electorate would exercise their franchise to decide fates of 44 candidates. Polling is also on for by-elections in Nawada assembly constituency along with first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Four seats where polling is in progress for first phase of Lok Sabha elections are–Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui. In Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency, polling in Aurangabad assembly segment would be held till 6 PM while in its rest assembly segments, polling would be held till 4 PM due to security reasons as the areas are extremists affected.
In Gaya Lok Sabha constituency, polling would be held till 6 PM in Gaya Town, Belaganj and Wazirganj assembly segments while in its rest assembly segments, polling would be held till 4 PM. In Nawada Lok Sabha seat, polling would be held till 6 PM in Nawada, Belaganj and Warisaliganj assembly segments while in rest assembly segments, polling would be held till 4 PM. In Jamui Lok Sabha seat, polling would be held till 6 PM in Sheikhpura assembly segment while in rest assembly segments, polling would be held till 4 PM due to security reasons.

Davanagere, Apr 10 : Stating that prime minister Narendra Modi had violated the election code of conduct by invoking the airstrike on Balakot by IAF in his election speech, KPCC President Dinesh Gundurao urged the Election Commission initiate immediate action.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Gundurao said Modi’s speech in Chitradurga in Karnataka on Tuesday, appealing to the new voters to dedicate their votes to ‘brave soldiers’ who made the country proud, was against the EC norms.
Maintaining that the Prime minister conduct of wooing the voters invoking the brevity of Indian Armed forces as a clear violation of election code of conduct, he urged the Election commission to look into the issue immediately.
”We have also planned to register a complaint with the Election Commission over the issue. With the call the prime minister has not spared Constitutional institutions from functioning independently, there is no guarantee to get justice under this BJP rule? he added.
Stating that Congress is the party which can ensure social justice in the country, the KPCC president pointed out that the BJP which claims a national party, had not accommodated not even a single minority candidate to contest in the Lok Sabha elections from Karnataka.
?Not only Minorities, the BJP had even denied ticket to people belonging to Backward Classes? he said.

Kalaburagi, Apr 10 : Senior Congress leader M Mallikarjuna Kharge today asked the people to choose whether they want Democracy or Autocracy in the General Election to Lok Sabha.
“If you chose for Democracy you may have to vote for Congress in this crucial election,” Kharge added while addressing an election rally at Afzalpur, 60 km from here, on Wednesday.
Kharge said that ?the current Lok Sabha elections was not between individual candidates, but it is a decisive battle between democratic and autocratic forces. The RSS-backed BJP and Narendra Modi want to wipe off Country’s Constitution written by Baba Sab Ambedkar. The Constitution aimed at protecting the Democracy in the country and equality in the Society and social justice to one and all. . Without Constitution, India has no future”
He said backed by the RSS, Modi is making serious attempts to replace democracy with dictatorship. ?If he returns to power, People belonging to Dalits, Bbackward classes, Minorities, Ttribals, working class and other oppressed and marginal communities will lose their rights under his tyrannical rule?.
Mr Kharge said that “the BJP and Modi are enjoying the fruits of Democracy which was built by veteran Congress leaders, some of who have sacrificed their lives.”
He said that ?in his public speeches, Modi frequently asks what was Congress contribution in the last 70 years. If Congress had not safeguarded the Constitution and democracy, he wouldn’t have become the Prime Minister. If Congress had not initiated the Green Revolution, people would have died of starvation. If Congress had not initiated the communication revolution, India would have lagged behind other countries in communication technology. Who built all the major Rreservoirs and expanded irrigation? It was because of Congress’ vision and efforts that India became a Space power today. The only thing Modi did was press a button and send the spacecraft to Mars while the entire ground for the mission was completed during the Congress rule,? he added.

If the current trend persists till April 18 when the state goes to the polls, the grand old party could win nine out of the 10 seats it is contesting.

As the multi-dimensional campaign juggernaut criss-crosses Tamil Nadu, one picture that emerges from the din and dust raised in its trail is of the Congress finishing way ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by not just in winning more Lok Sabha seats in the state but also by gaining popularity with Congress President Rahul Gandhi endearing himself to the people of the state as a potential prime ministerial candidate. The states goes to the polls on April 18.

Though the two major national parties are facing the electorate in grand alliances led by the two regional parties — the Congress is in an alliance with the Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the BJP is with the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) — the defining issue this election is of national importance. Should Prime Minister Narendra Modi return to power or not is the dominant question this election has raised in the minds of the people.

With a slew of anti-Modi tropes, circulated in the form of memes or videos or pamphlets or audios or jokes, driving home certain politically- or socially-significant ideas against the central government, even people in rural areas have gained a national perspective, coloured with regional aspirations.

So, it is quite common to hear a comment like “Modi is anti-farmer”, at a farmland in an obscure village such as Sarathapatti near Theni in southern Tamil Nadu. Such comments are supported by informed allegations like “the government has no focus on farm issues” and a reminder about “how the protesting farmers from Tamil Nadu were treated by the Prime Minister who even refused to give them an audience.”

It is commonplace to hear people on the street talk about the unsavoury consequences of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the personal sufferings caused by demonetisation or the need for doing away with NEET — the all-India medical entrance examination that is a bone of contention uniting Tamil Nadu. Perhaps sensing the mood, the Congress in its manifesto addressed many such locally important issues.

However, more than the surge in popularity of the party, what gives the Congress a distinct edge this time is the alliance it has forged with the DMK, the two Communist parties and other regional parties. The DMK is more popular than its rival the AIADMK and the Communist parties have their pockets of influence, mainly through their trade unions. Even the smaller partners have supporters throughout the state, say like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) among the Dalits, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) among the Muslims and the Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) among Gounders.

The cumulative effect of all these factors could work in favour of the Congress candidates in the 10 constituencies, including in Puducherry. Kanyakumari, the southern-most seat in India, is considered to be a stronghold of both the BJP and the Congress. Pon Radhakrishnan, the sitting MP and Union minister, is facing Congress’ H Vasanthakumar. With a strong anti-BJP wave sweeping through the constituency, where minorities form more than half the population, Vasanthakumar may breeze through.

In Virudhunagar, Congress candidate Manickam Tagore is a former MP and is quite influential in the area. He has come out with an innovative idea to seek voters’ suggestions through WhatsApp, which had so far received 20,000 responses. His key opponent from the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Alagarsamy R, is unlikely to put up a tough fight.

In Theni, it is a three-cornered contest, where former Congress state chief EVKS Elangovan might scrap through because the other two candidates have an AIADMK background. One of the candidates is P Raveendranath Kumar, the AIADMK candidate is the son of deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam. The other is Thanga Tamilselvan, a close associate of TTV Dhinakaran, the founder of the AIADMK breakaway group Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).

AMMK candidates, who are likely to split the traditional AIADMK votes, are likely to help the cause of Congress candidates MK Vishnu Prasad at Arani, A Chellakumar in Krishnagiri and K Jayakumar in Thiruvallur. Among these three Congress candidates, Jayakumar might not have it easy because he is facing sitting MP P Venugopal, a doctor who is locally popular.

In Karur, Jothimani Sennimalai, the only women candidate for the Congress in Tamil Nadu, will be facing sitting MP and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambi Durai. Though Sennimalai lost the assembly elections in 2011 and the general elections in 2014 from Theni, this time she is hopeful because she has the support of local DMK strongman Senthil Balaji. Balaji was earlier with the AIADMK and was instrumental Durai’s victory. When the AIADMK split, Balaji moved over to the DMK in December 2018. This time he is determined to prove his local influence by ensuring a Congress victory.

Su Thirunavukkarasar, who has traversed the entire political spectrum in a career spanning 42 years, is now the Congress candidate in Tiruchirappalli and may make it to the Lok Sabha as his main opponent is AMMK’s Sarubala Thondaiman. The NDA candidate is DMDK’s Elangovan is an outsider and relatively new to politics.

Sivagangai, the second constituency that sees a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress after Kanyakumari, is expected to be a cakewalk for Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P Chidambaram. This is mainly because H Raja, BJP’s candidate, is highly unpopular. The BJP is expected to pull out all stops here but it will still be a tough task for Raja.

In Puducherry, Congress candidate V Vaithilingam is more popular than his rival from the breakaway faction of the Congress, All India NR Congress, K Narayanasamy mainly in view to the open fight for supremacy between Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi. The popular perception that Bedi is overstepping her brief could work in favour of the Congress.

So in the state where opinion polls are giving the DMK-led alliance up to 36 of the 39 seats, the Congress’ share could be quite high. For now the stakes are tilted in favour of the Congress in at least nine of the 10 seats it is contesting. This is in sharp contrast to the BJP that will find it extremely difficult in four of the five seats it is contesting in Tamil Nadu.

Agencies

Amethi, Apr 10 : Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s Wednesday ruling on “PM Narendra Modi” biopic, has thrown an ?open book? challenge to Mr Modi inviting him for a debate on corruption.

Taking a jibe at PM Modi saying that he is ?scared?, Gandhi listed three topics for a political debate. “Dear PM, scared of debating me on corruption? I can make it easier for you. Let’s go open book, so you can prepare: 1. RAFALE+Anil Ambani, 2. Nirav Modi, 3. Amit Shah+Demonetisation.?

“I am thankful to the Supreme Court for accepting the Rafale deal case and thus order vindicates our allegation that Chowkidar chori ki hai,” he said.

Mr Gandhi, after filing his nomination papers from Amethi Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday, also made it clear before the public that there was corruption involved in the Rafale deal.

Reiterating and questioning PM Modi why he was afraid of debating with him on Rafale if there was no corruption, the Congress president alleged that a company was benefited Rs 30,000 crores through this deal by the PM.

Later, Mr Gandhi left for campaigning in Bihar and West Bengal and is likely to return back to Rae Bareli in the night for joining the nomination process of his mother Sonia Gandhi on Thursday.

ON his Facebook page, Rahul Gandhi wrote that he was filing his nomination from his home city Amethi.
Earlier on April 4, he had filed his nominations from Wayanad in Kerala.

Srinagar, Apr 10 : Normal life was again affected in the valley on Wednesday, due to suspension of civilian traffic on the Jammu-Kashmir National Highway, to allow free and secure movement of security force convoy, paralysing movement of people, who were undertaking journey on the road.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Union Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and Transport, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government, directing them to respond to pleas, seeking orders to scrap the ban within 10 days.

Meanwhile, reports said that security forces were continuing their convoy movements on the highway on all days of the week. However, the highway from Baramulla to Jammu has been made off limits for civilian traffic on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The highway wore a deserted look, with only security forces, state police and Army personnel deployed in strength, to prevent people from moving towards the highway, though it is said that the security force convoy, which left Jammu, will enter Kashmir only in the afternoon.

However, district authorities have appointed nodal officers to help people to cross the highway at important places.

Scores of NC leaders and activists, led by party Vice-President Omar Abdullah, who is the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday held a sit-in protest at Pantha Chowk on the Srinagar-Jammu national Highway, against the ban.
Mr Abdullah and scores of other leaders blocked the movement of Army convoy on the highway for more than 20 minutes, to register their protest against the ban.

Mr Abdullah also posted a video on micro-blogging site Twitter on Monday, of an Army convoy moving on the highway.
The Vice-President of the NC said that when if it is safe for security force convoys to move on Monday without closing the highway to civilian traffic, why is it not safe on Wednesdays and Sundays.
”Nothing proves the mindlessness of the order, more than Army movement on unsafe days,” Mr Abdullah said.
He said he is simply trying to highlight the point that the architects of the highway closure have made no application of mind.
”Somehow, this convoy on the highway is safe today, but it wouldn’t have been yesterday and won’t be on Wednesday,” he added.

The government, in an order, said that civilian traffic will not be allowed on Kashmir-Jammu national highway for two days — Wednesdays and Sundays — in a week for security reasons, between 0400 hrs to 1700 hrs, attracting severe criticism from political parties and general public. Only security force convoys will be allowed on these two days.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, finding him prima facie guilty of allegedly passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally in Karimnagar last month.

Now, he has been asked to furnish his reply by April 12 evening, failing which the Commission will take a decision “without any further reference to you”.

The Commission said VHP state president M Rama Raju had filed a compliant which claimed that the Telangana Rashtra Samathi chief “tried to secure votes by passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally at Karimnagar on March 17.”

The Commission has produced his remarks in Telugu but did not give English translation of the same. “… the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating existing differences between social and religious communities, and appealing to communal feelings, you have violated the … the Model Code of Conduct,” the notice served Tuesday said.

The poll panel reminded Rao of the provision of the poll code which states that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic; and prohibits appeal to communal feelings for securing votes. The model code came into force on March 10 when the schedule for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections was announced.

Agencies