22:21 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee asks “Marxist friends” not to vote for CPI-M, Congress
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee campaigning in tribal Paschim Medinipur district on Thursday for the coming state election asked “Marxist friends” not to vote for either the CPI-M or Congress, who are “cohorts of the communal BJP”.
She asked people not to give a single vote to those “who have links with the killers of Gandhiji.”
CPI-M, she said, is a “rotten” party whose leader was accused in the unearthing of skeletons in Paschim Medinipur. “Now the CPI-M is helping the BJP,” she alleged.
“I request my Marxist friends not to vote for either the Congress or the CPI-M as they have become cohorts of the communal BJP,” the TMC supremo said. The CPI-M, Congress and the fledgling ISF have formed an alliance in West Bengal.
-PTI
21:53 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi to interact with students in poll-bound Assam
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will interact with college students and meet tea estate workers as part of his poll campaign in Assam on Friday, the party said, reports PTI. Gandhi will be on a day-long tour to the poll-bound state where the Congress is seeking to wrest back power from the BJP.
The former Congress chief will be interacting with college students in Lahoal in Dibrugarh on Friday morning and then attend the tea estate workers rally in Dinjoy in Panitola block of Dibrugarh later, the party said.
He will also address a public meeting in Town Field in Doom Dooma in Tinsukia district of Assam, it said. This is the second time Gandhi would be campaigning in Assam.
Earlier, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also campaigned for the party in the state and met tea estate workers.
21:46 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
725 CAPF companies to be deployed for West Bengal polls: CRPF DG
As many as 725 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be deployed in West Bengal for the conduct of forthcoming assembly elections, CRPF chief Kuldeep Singh said on Thursday, reports PTI.
Addressing a press conference on the eve of the 82nd anniversary of the country’s largest paramilitary force, Singh said that 495 out of the 725 companies have already reached the state while the rest are on their way.
“One CAPF company has an operational strength of about 72 personnel,” he told the reporters. West Bengal will have eight-phased polling for its 294-member assembly beginning March 27.
21:25 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP scared that TMC will bring ‘pariborton’ in Delhi, says Mamata
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would bring `parivartan’ (change) to Delhi after winning the upcoming assembly polls in her home state. The chief minister said that the BJP is targeting West Bengal with all its might as it knows that she will go for the Centre soon after securing victory in her state.
Political analysts have long speculated that Banerjee, who has served as a central minister earlier, harboured ambitions of playing a key role in national politics.
“The BJP is afraid that if we win in West Bengal, then we will bring an alternative in Delhi and that is why they are targeting the state with all force,” she said while addressing a public meeting in Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur district, famous for its air force base from which Indian jets played a key role in the 1971 war.
21:10 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Pinarayi Vijayan seeks to put Sabarimala issue on back-burner, says issue pending in SC
Seeking to put the Sabarimala issue on the back-burner in poll-bound Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said there was nothing to be discussed or debated now as the review pleas against allowing women in 10-50 age group into the hill shrine are before the Supreme Court.
“Whenever the court pronounces the final verdict,and if it concerns the devotees in any manner, then at that time the government will hold discussion with all the sections of the society and take necessary steps”, he told reporters in response to a question.
His remarks came amid demands by the Opposition Congress, BJP and others that he clarify his position in the wake of contradictory views expressed by a minister and the CPM top leadership over the issue.
20:53 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP’s Rajib Banerjee declares net worth of over Rs 18 lakh
20:48 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Full list of BJP candidates for phases 5, 6, 7, 8 of Bengal polls
List of BJP candidates for phase 5,6, 7 and 8 West Bengal polls by Natasha T. on Scribd
20:20 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Stalin slams AIADMK for ‘not fulfilling’ previous poll promises
20:09 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP announced my candidacy without my consent, says Sikha Mitra
Shortly after her she was nominated as the BJP candidate from the Chowringhee Assembly seat in Kolkata, Sikha Mitra, wife of late Congress leader Somen Mitra, on Thursday said her name was announced without consent and she will not enter the poll fray. Mitra also downplayed speculations of her joining the BJP, which were doing the rounds following her meeting with saffron party leader and family friend Suvendu Adhikari.
“No, I am not contesting from anywhere. My name has been announced without my consent. Also, I am not joining the BJP,” she told reporters. The BJP on Thursday announced the names of 148 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal, including Sikha Mitra, the party’s vice-president Mukul Roy and its former state unit head Rahul Sinha.
19:51 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam BJP expels 15 members for filing nomination as Independent candidates
The Assam BJP on Thursday expelled 15 leaders, including former deputy speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, from the party for six years for joining the Assembly poll fray as Independents after being denied tickets. BJP state general secretary Rajdeep Roy said the party’s Assam chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass has approved the disciplinary action with immediate effect.
The list of 15 members include Paul, who resigned from the BJP after he was denied a ticket and is contesting as an Independent from Silchar constituency. Out of 126 seats in Assam Assembly, BJP is contesting in 92 and has left the remaining to its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
19:42 (IST)
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Puducherry BJP candidate appeals for votes so that UT can receive more Centre’s benefits
BJP candidate John Kumar, who shifted his allegiance from the Congress to the saffron party last month and is seeking to retain Kamaraj Nagar constituency, on Thursday appealed to voters to ensure that the NDA formed the government in Puducherry in the April 6 polls.
Kumar and his son Vivilian Richards joined the BJP in February. Visiting voters door-to-door in Kamaraj Nagar, John Kumar said “there is every need for Puducherry to have the NDA in power so that the grants from the Centre will be available copiously.Puducherry should have a government by the party that is holding reins of administration in the Centre now.”
He expressed concern that Puducherry had been backward in development and said the situation could be rectified if the NDA comprising BJP, AIADMK and AINRC is installed in power.
19:27 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Big announcements from Narendra Modi for Assam translated to ‘zero’, claims Congress
Launching a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress on Thursday questioned the ruling BJP about its developmental announcements in Assam, and alleged that big announcements made by the prime minister for the poll-bound state have translated to a “big zero”.
Addressing a press conference, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said Assam is known for its culture, tolerance, moderation, goodwill and harmony in the entire country.
“… But in the past five years, to quench BJP’s thirst for power in Assam, not only have they sown seeds of division, but also they have attacked the language and land of Assam through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA),” he said. “From PM Narendra Modi to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, they are serving mendacity to the people of Assam in the name of development. Big announcements were made but the outcome is a big zero,” Surjewala said.
19:17 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP announces candidates for 4th phase of Bengal election
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases a list of candidates for 4th phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls. Sarvanti Chatterjee and Baishali Dalmiya to contest from Behala Paschim and Bally constituencies, respectively.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases a list of candidates for 4th phase of #WestBengalElection2021.
Sarvanti Chatterjee and Baishali Dalmiya to contest from Behala Paschim and Bally constituencies, respectively pic.twitter.com/ut9YX1T6n9
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021
18:55 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC lodges complaint with EC over ‘attack’ on party cadres in Nandigram
The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging “two premeditated and mandated attacks by the BJP on instructions and/or in the presence of Suvendu Adhikari “in Nandigram in the last 24 hours, reported the Economic Times. Earlier in the day, clashes had broken out between the TMC and BJP workers in Nandigram after Suvendu Adhikari was shown black flags while visiting the constituency. According to NDTV, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said a BJP youth worker was “attacked” and is in a serious condition after clashes with TMC workers. “I appeal to the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary forces here,” he had said. According to India Today, the saffron party will also approach the poll panel.
18:54 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP raking up Congress-AUIDF alliance as it has nothing to show on development front: Surjewala
The Congress on Thursday said that the BJP was prominently raking up its alliance with the AIUDF to communalise Assam polls as they have nothing to show on the development front,and likened this with a student not studying the whole year and giving excuse that question was tough during examination. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, All India Congress Committee General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said the BJP government in Assam was engaged only in spreading hatred, dividing society and breaking brotherhood during its five years tenure and “did nothing” on the development front. “In Assam, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal did nothing in five years and so the BJP leaders are raising Congress- AIUDF alliance. They are trying to communalise it and make it an election issue,” he added.
PTI
18:08 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AIADMK lodges complaint with EC against DMK’s Senthil Bajaj
The ruling AIADMK on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer against main Opposition DMK’s Senthil Balaji for allegedly threatening government officials during his campaign days ago. Balaji, DMK’s Karur constituency candidate, while addressing a gathering on 17 March made the intimidating comment, the ruling party alleged in its complaint filed with Tamil Nadu CEO Satyabrata Sahoo. He told people no official would prevent them from loading sand onto their bullock carts from river banks after party chief MK Stalin assumed office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK alleged. Balaji said in case of them being prevented, they may call him over phone and the officer would not continue in his position, the AIADMK said in its complaint. Producing Tamil extracts of Balaji’s address which was also aired by television channels, the ruling party sought of a criminal case against him. As per an order of the Madras High Court, barring permitted areas, no one had a right to transport and sell river sand without permission from authorities, the AIADMK said.
Hence, Balaji’s speech was a ‘contempt’ of court, violated poll rules, misled the general public, disrespected government servants and ‘threatening’ government officials, the AIADMK alleged and urged registration of a case against him.
PTI
17:57 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Former AIADMK Minister files nomination as Independent in Perundurai constituency
denial of ticket by the party for the 6 April Assembly elections. Venkatachalam was elected from Perundurai constituency in 2011 and became the Revenue and Pollution Control Minister in J Jayalalithaa’s government in 2011. Again in 2016, he was elected MLA from the same constituency. The former minister was a ticket aspirant for Perundurai segment, from where the party high command has decided to field Jayakumar. Upset over being denied the seat this time, he met his supporters and decided to enter the fray as an Independent candidate. Venkatachalam filed his nomination papers before the Perundurai Returning Officer on Thursday noon.
17:43 (IST)
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Puducherry gets four special observers
The Election Commission has appointed four special observers for Puducherry in connection with the 6 April Assembly polls. Manjeet Singh, a retired IAS officer, has been apppointed as special general observer, Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry Shurbir Singh said in a release Two retired IRS officers, Madhu Mahajan and BR Balakrishnan, have been appointed as special expenditure observers, while retired IPS officer Dharmendra Kumar chosen as the special police observer for Puducherry.
PTI
17:21 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP’s list for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal elections
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases a list of candidates for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth phases of #WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/rY19q3Drb8
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021
17:18 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP announces 148 candidates for polls
BJP announces 148 candidates for West Bengal polls. including party’s vice president Mukul Roy, Samik Bhattacherjee and Rahul Sinha. The list also includes 19 women, said Arun Singh. Mukul Roy will contest from Krishnanangar Uttar constituency.
17:12 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Actor Arun Govil joins BJP
Actor Arun Govil, best known for playing lord Ram in Ramayan TV series, joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/ddEfyQGFS2
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021
16:59 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress’ K Sudhakaran says won’t contest from Dharmadom
Sudhakaran told reporters. If preparations had begun much earlier, the party could have made significant progress in campaigning and achieved a thumping victory in Dharmadom, he claimed. The DCC wanted to field its secretary C Reghunath from Dharmadom, the leader added.
16:33 (IST)
Congress kept Assam divided in every way, alleges Modi
“Congress kept Assam divided in every way, BJP tried to connect Assam in every way. “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Biswas” — is the BJP’s development mantra,: ANI quotes Modi as saying.
16:28 (IST)
Congress neither has leaders, nor ideology, alleges Modi
On the one is hand are BJP’s policies, leadership on the other hand is the Congress which has neither leader, policies or ideology. “They have become so weak that they can join hands with anyone,” he alleges. “They are doing ‘lal salaam’ to the Leftists in West Bengal and fighting against the same party in Kerala. There is only Congress’ confusion Can such a party provide stability in Assam?” Modi asks. Deceiving people for votes is part of their behaviour, he alleges.
16:21 (IST)
Cultural connectivity improved in last five years, says Modi at Karimganj
Not only physical connectivity but also cultural connectivity has been improved in the last five years, says Modi and lists temples and memorials built in the Barak Valley. “Today, even the poorest of the poor, be it from whichever religion or background, is able to avail of govt schemes. Poor were provided ration during the lockdown. Over 1.5 lakh in the state have received free treatment under Ayushman Bharat,” he claims.
16:16 (IST)
BJP govt has worked for connecting Assam to India, says Modi
Congress’s policies have harmed Assam on the social, geographic, cultural and political fronts, he alleges. “In 2016, when I came here, I was shocked to know that Congress govts ran Divisional Commissioner for Barak Valley from Guwahati. NDA govt has overcome this injustice ,” MOdi says. “Today, new bridges, flyovers are being made in Assam. Who got the work on the BHupen Hazarika bridge completed. BJP govt did. Who gave Assam the country’s longest river ropeway? the BJP govt did ,” he claims. Be it rail, road we have done the work of connecting Assam to the rest of India, he said.
16:10 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Narendra Modi addresses rally in Karimganj
Addressing a rally in Assam’s Karimganj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invokes leaders from the state.”It is a happy incidence that Im starting off campaigns from Barak Valley , it is not only the gate to Assam but was also the gate for the double engine BJP government,” he says.
There is a wave of development and trust in Assam, there is an assurance of peace and prosperity. The only issue in Assam in development- fast ad inclusive, he says. Congress’s corruption and vote bank politics has made Assam one of the most dicsonnected states, alleges Modi.
16:01 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Poribortan is my slogan, claims Mamata Banerjee
‘Poribortan'(change) is Mamata Banerjee’s slogan; why are you copying Mamata Banerjee?… After winning Bengal, we will jump to Delhi and shake up the BJP,” news agency ANI quotes the West Bengal chief minister as saying in Kharagpur. According to te news agency, Banerjee also told the voters to not bow their heads in front of money, if BJP distributes money during the polls. “Remember, this is public’s money,” she states.
‘Poribortan'(change) is Mamata Banerjee’s slogan; why are you copying Mamata Banerjee?… After winning Bengal, we will jump to Delhi & shake BJP: West Bengal CM & TMC leader Mamata Banerjee in Kharagpur pic.twitter.com/BlaUmCLGP9
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021
15:44 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah to campaign for BJP
The BJP has named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, eight of their Cabinet colleagues and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath among its 30 top campaigners for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, said reports. The party has submitted a list of key campaigners for the April 6 Assembly polls and the bypoll to the Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency to the Election Commission of India.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouahn, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Smriti Irani, G Kishan Reddy, VK Singh, CT Ravi, Tejasvi Surya are among the other campaigners.
15:28 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Plea filed in Delhi HC to direct Centre, EC to debar candidates canvassing without masks
15:14 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Not afraid of any conspiracy hatched by the BJP, says Baghel
15:04 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Like British rulers, BJP trying to create divisions in Assam, says Bhupesh Baghel
14:58 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
ISF fields candidates from across religions, castes
Soren is contesting from Haripal, while the party has fielded Milan Mandi, Bikram Chatterjee, Gauranga Das, Sanchay Sarkar and Anup Mandal among the Hindu and Adivasi candidates. Sirajuddin Gaji, Sheikh Sabbir, Faisal Khan Abbasuddin Khan, Pirzada B Amin and Md Mostaquim are among the 11 ISF candidates from the Muslim community. The party has fielded Siddiqui’s younger brother Naushad Siddiqui from Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas district.
PTI
14:53 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC appoints three special observers
14:49 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP’s Suresh Gopi files nomination from Thrissur
Kerala: Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi files his nomination as BJP candidate from Thrissur.#KeralaElections2021 pic.twitter.com/Bd4eXnRrpd
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021
14:44 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Women’s Manifesto demands increased reservation, in elected bodies, better health facilities for women
14:22 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC will never allow NPR exercise in West Bengal, asserts Mamata Banerjee
Asserting that the TMC will never allow the NPR exercise in West Bengal, Banerjee alleged, “The BJP will omit names of voters if they are not found at home during the visit of enumerators. They will just evict you (people). But we would not allow them to update the register here. “Not a single member of any family, no citizen of the country can be evicted from Bengal,” she stated. National Population Register (NPR) is a document containing names of the country’s “usual residents”.
Branding the BJP as “a party of rioters”, she said “We don’t want violence, we don’t want bloodshed, and we don’t want the politics of retaliation to enter Bengal.”
14:19 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP leaders always absent during times of crisis, alleges Mamata Banerjee
14:15 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
I’m like a tiger, won’t bow my head, says Mamata
“I’m like a tiger and I won’t bow my head. I only bow my head before the public. But a party like BJP tortures women, Dalits,” ANI West Bengal chief minister quotes Mamata Banerjee as saying in Amlasuli.
I’m like a tiger and I won’t bow my head. I only bow my head before the public. But a party like BJP tortures women, Dalits – I don’t support them: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in Amlasuli#WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/tVeQ6XX69e
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021
13:49 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Infiltration in Bengal due to Mamata Banerjee’s vote bank politics: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for pursuing “appeasement and vote bank politics” which were responsible for infiltration.
Addressing an election rally here in the tribal Jangalmahal region of the state, he alleged the ruling TMC never considered Dalits, backwards and adivasis its own, and these sections were the worst victims of cut money culture and ‘Tolabaji’ (extortion) by the state’s ruling party.
He also accused the TMC government of patronising underground Maoist rebels.
“The single-most important reason for infiltration is appeasement and vote bank politics being pursued by didi’s government,” he said.
13:42 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP only distributes money for horsetrading: Mamata
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP for not giving relief fund to the state during cyclone Amphan. “We gave thousands of crores after Amphan. BJP where were you at that time? They only distribute money for horsetrading,” said Mamata in Amlasuli.
13:21 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC will be punished for 10 years of misrule: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in West Bengal to vote for BJP and said the Trinamool Congress will be punished for ten years of misrule and politics of appeasement.
12:55 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
‘Lok Sabha mein TMC half aur iss baar poori saaf,’ says PM at Purulia rally
Narendra Modi took a swipe at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s ‘khela hobe’ slogan. “Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole chaakri hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole vikas hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole shiksha hobe. Khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh hobe,” said the prime minister.
“Bengal made up its mind long back. It’s been saying ‘Lok Sabha mein TMC half aur iss baar poori saaf’. Seeing this determination, didi is taking out her frustration on me. But for us, she’s a daughter like crores of daughters of India. Respect for them is part of our culture,” he said.
12:19 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Modi slams Mamata Banerjee over water crisis in Purulia
Raising the issue of water crisis in Purulia, Narendra Modi questioned why the water supply project has not been completed yet and demanded an answer from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“This land is a witness to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita’s exile. This land has Sitakund. It is also said that when goddess Sita was thirsty, Lord Ram got water from the ground by hitting it with an arrow…It is an irony that Purulia faces water crisis today,” he said
12:17 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Left, TMC govts never allowed industry to flourish in Bengal, says PM
The farmers here do not get enough water for irrigation. Women of the region have to walk long-distances just to get drinking water. Both Left and TMC governments have never allowed industry to flourish in the region, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday during a public rally in Purulia.
12:04 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata releases TMC manifesto, promises income for all
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday unveiled the party’s manifesto for the Assembly polls promising a monthly Universal Basic Income for all families, a credit card scheme for students to pursue higher studies and formation of a task force to examine the inclusion of several backward communities under the OBC category.
Amid the allegation by the BJP that the TMC is engaged in the politics of appeasement, the manifesto, unlike previous years, did not have any special scheme or project for the minority community, which has been a major support base of the party till the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
The manifesto also vowed to build a “model Nandigram” with the supply of electricity 24X7, piped water and well connected roads. Banerjee, who had announced this recently, is contesting the poll from the Nandigram seat where she has been pitted against her protg-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari.
11:40 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Sisir Adhikari joining BJP a matter of time, says Suvendu
Trinamool Congress MP and senior leader of Purba Medinipur Sisir Adhikari is all set to join the BJP. At a public meeting in the district, the veteran TMC leader’s son and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari made it clear that his father joining the BJP is just a matter of time.
“You all know Sisir babu. He will be present at Narendra Modi rally at Kanthi on 24 March. I am suggesting he should go before that to Amit Shah’s rally on 21 March,” Suvendu said at Chandipur.
11:22 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh won’t contest polls
BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of contesting the forthcoming Assembly polls in Bengal, while sources in the saffron camp said Trinamul turncoat Mukul Roy had been asked to fight from a seat in Nadia district.
“My name will not be there in the list of candidates contesting polls. Being state chief, the party has decided that poll campaigns in the state will be done under my supervision,” Ghosh was quoted as saying by ANI.
11:05 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP names candidates for four seats for phase 3
The BJP on Wednesday released the names of four candidates for the third phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, with actor Paapia Adhikari finding a place in the list.
The central election committee of the BJP named former Congress leader Anupam Ghosh, who joined the saffron party a couple of years ago, as its candidate for the Jagatballavpur constituency in Howrah.
While Adhikari will contest from the Uluberia Dakshin seat in Howrah district, Chandan Mandal and Bidhan Parui are the saffron party’s choice for Baruipur Purba and Falta respectively in South 24 Parganas district, the BJP said.
10:42 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Vote for TMC to defeat BJP: Mamata urges Left supporters
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday appealed to Left Front supporters to vote for TMC candidates in order to defeat the divisive BJP in West Bengal.
She thanked the Left minded people in the state for coming out with the “no vote to BJP” campaign.
The TMC supremo is facing one of the most difficult political challenges of her life. She is facing a stiff challenge from BJP in the coming state poll after helming West Bengal for a decade.
“It is imperative for the sake of the state to stop BJP from coming to power in Bengal. I would like to thank my Left minded friends for coming out with the ‘no vote to BJP’ campaign,” she said.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will interact with college students and meet tea estate workers as part of his poll campaign in Assam on Friday, the party said, reports PTI. Gandhi will be on a day-long tour to the poll-bound state where the Congress is seeking to wrest back power from the BJP.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would bring ‘parivartan’ (change) to Delhi after winning the upcoming assembly polls in her home state. The chief minister said that the BJP is targeting West Bengal with all its might as it knows that she will go for the Centre soon after securing victory in her state.
Political analysts have long speculated that Banerjee, who has served as a central minister earlier, harboured ambitions of playing a key role in national politics.
“The BJP is afraid that if we win in West Bengal, then we will bring an alternative in Delhi and that is why they are targeting the state with all force,” she said while addressing a public meeting in Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur district, famous for its air force base from which Indian jets played a key role in the 1971 war.
DMK president MK Stalin alleged the AIADMK did not fulfill its promises made during previous elections. “A manifesto has been released on ruling party’s behalf which is a copy of DMK’s manifesto,” he said and added that promises made during previous elections, including providing mobile phones, building 10 lakh houses and bringing down cable television tariff to Rs 70, were not implemented.
The Assam BJP on Thursday expelled 15 leaders, including former deputy speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, from the party for six years for joining the Assembly poll fray as Independents after being denied tickets. BJP state general secretary Rajdeep Roy said the party’s Assam chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass has approved the disciplinary action with immediate effect.
The list of 15 members include Paul, who resigned from the BJP after he was denied a ticket and is contesting as an Independent from Silchar constituency. Out of 126 seats in Assam Assembly, BJP is contesting in 92 and has left the remaining to its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging ‘attack’ on its workers in Nandigram, said reports. Earlier in the day, clashes had broken out between the TMC and BJP workers in the constituency.
The ruling AIADMK on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer against main Opposition DMK’s Senthil Balaji for allegedly threatening government officials during his campaign days ago. Balaji, DMK’s Karur constituency candidate, while addressing a gathering on 17 March made the intimidating comment, the ruling party alleged in its complaint filed with Tamil Nadu CEO Satyabrata Sahoo.
BJP announces 148 candidates for West Bengal polls, including party’s vice president Mukul Roy, Samik Bhattacherjee and Rahul Sinha. Mukul Roy will contest from Krishnanangar Uttar constituency.
In a setback to the Congress in Kerala, senior party leader K Sudhakaran said he would not contest against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Dharmadom constituency in northern Kannur district.
He said he did not get enough time to make any fundamental preparation at the constituency, which was inevitable ahead of contesting and so he did not want to be a contender at the segment during the 6 April Assembly polls.
Congress’s corruption and vote bank politics has made Assam one of the most disconnected states, alleges Narendra Modi in Karimganj.
The BJP has named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, eight of their Cabinet colleagues and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath among its 30 top campaigners for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, said reports. The party has submitted a list of key campaigners for the April 6 Assembly polls and the bypoll to the Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency to the Election Commission of India.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is in Assam to canvas for Congress candidates, on Thursday likened the BJP regime with the British reign, and said the saffron camp has adopted “divisive and self-serving” policies, as did the colonial rulers. Baghel, in a statement, said the BJP was out to destroy peace and harmony in Assam.
Asserting that the TMC will never allow the NPR exercise in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee alleged, “The BJP will omit names of voters if they are not found at home during the visit of enumerators. They will just evict you (people). But we would not allow them to update the register here. “Not a single member of any family, no citizen of the country can be evicted from Bengal,” she said.
The prime minister alleged the ruling TMC never considered Dalits, backwards and adivasis, and that these sections were the worst victims of cut money culture and ‘Tolabaji’ (extortion) by the state’s ruling party.
Narendra Modi took a swipe at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s ‘khela hobe’ slogan. “Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole chaakri hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole vikas hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole shiksha hobe. Khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh hobe,” said the prime minister.
Raising the issue of water crisis in Purulia, Narendra Modi questioned why the water supply project has not been completed yet and demanded an answer from Mamata Banerjee.
Trinamool Congress MP and senior leader of Purba Medinipur Sisir Adhikari is all set to join the BJP. At a public meeting in the district, the veteran TMC leader’s son and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari made it clear that his father joining the BJP is just a matter of time.
The prime minister said that the BJP’s agenda of good governance was striking a chord among the people of West Bengal and there was a desire for a change in the state.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday appealed to Left Front supporters to vote for TMC candidates in order to defeat the divisive BJP in West Bengal.
She thanked the Left minded people in the state for coming out with the “no vote to BJP” campaign.
The TMC supremo is facing one of the most difficult political challenges of her life. She is facing a stiff challenge from BJP in the coming state poll after helming West Bengal for a decade.
“It is imperative for the sake of the state to stop BJP from coming to power in Bengal. I would like to thank my Left minded friends for coming out with the ‘no vote to BJP’ campaign,” she said.
“At the same time I would like to tell them that since the Left cannot come to power, its supporters should not waste their votes by casting it in favour of LF. Instead the LF supporters should vote for TMC to defeat the BJP,” she told reporters while releasing her party’s election manifesto.
Her comments come in the backdrop of several TMC leaders openly asking the Left parties to come out in support of TMC to stop the saffron party’s march in the state.
The CPM led Left Front has rejected the appeal and blamed the ruling TMC for the rise of the saffron camp in West Bengal.
Unfortunately, Bengal is now witnessing a threat from outsiders who want to foster divisive mentality and disrupt harmony. It is imperative for us to avert this threat. I promise that I will stand by each and every person of Bengal across all communities to protect their fundamental rights, she said.
I will be forever indebted to my motherland. Being a daughter of Bengal I have dedicated my whole life for the state, Mamata added.
She called BJP a “political virus” and slammed the Centre for trying to destroy the federal fabric of the state.
Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is running an elected government in Delhi. Yet the Centre is trying to give more powers to the Lt Governor, who is nominated. We condemn such actions, she added.