In the wake of the Congress party's recent victories in three by-elections in Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R Ashok, has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the ruling Congress party. Ashok accused the Congress of winning through the politics of favouritism, reported the ANI. "The Congress in Karnataka is under delusion. It has won the by-elections by winning the votes of one community through the flow of money and the politics of favouritism," R Ashok, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Karnataka legislative Assembly said. He further challenged Siddaramaiah’s integrity, questioning the legitimacy of his claims regarding the governance and financial dealings of his administration. In a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), CM Siddaramaiah said that the by-elections were critical for his administration, especially in light of the false allegations propagated by both the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS). He stressed that the electorate did not fall for the "lies" intended to tarnish his reputation. ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮಿಗಿಲಾಗಿ ಈ ಉಪಚುನಾವಣಾ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ಬೇರೆ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನನಗೆ ಮಹತ್ವದ್ದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಈ ಬಾರಿ ನಾನು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯಾದ ನಂತರ ನನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸುಳ್ಳು ಆರೋಪಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ನನ್ನ ಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಹನನ ಮಾಡುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವನ್ನು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಮತ್ತು ಜೆಡಿಎಸ್ ನಾಯಕರು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.ಈ ಎರಡೂ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳು… — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 23, 2024 "Above all, this by-election result was important to me for another reason. This time after I became the Chief Minister, BJP and JDS leaders have been making false allegations against me and our government and trying to malign my image. Both these parties have colluded and used everything from the Raj Bhavan to the Central Bureau of Investigation to create a scandal and try to frame me and my family," Siddaramaiah wrote on X in Kannada. Reacting to this, Ashok cited several allegations pointing to Siddaramaiah's admission of financial mismanagement within the Valmiki Corporation, questioning whether it was a lie. "Didn't he admit himself in the House that crores and crores of money were embezzled in the Valmiki Corporation, is that a lie?" Ashok noted the Chief Minister's decision to return 14 sites linked to his wife in the Muda scam as an indirect admission of guilt. "By returning 14 sites in the name of his wife in the Muda scam, he indirectly admitted his guilt. Is it a lie that the Honourable High Court has shouted that there is a need for an investigation against them in the Muda scam?' LoP Ashok said. He raised concerns about a purported bribery scheme involving the 'Monthly Money'. "Is it false that in the letter written by the Liquor Vendors' Association to the Excise Department, in the name of 'Monthly Money', there has been a bribery transaction of Rs 700 crores in transfer business, licence renewal?" Ashok alleged. Ashok accused the government of altering documents and mishandling properties linked to the Waqf board, "Is it a lie?" the LoP asked. "Are the incidents of four honest government officials, staff and contractors committing suicide due to the corruption and harassment of their government false? This scheming, conspiracy and drama of yours will not last long," he added. The LoP highlighted the tragic instances of government officials and contractors allegedly committing suicide due to systemic corruption and harassment. (With inputs from ANI)
24 November,2024 12:45 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentBJP leader Ashok Chavan has termed the Mahayuti's landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly election "a huge change". Chavan, who switched from Congress and joined the BJP earlier this year, slammed his former party, stating that it has no leadership in Maharashtra. "A huge change has come in Maharashtra. Mahayuti has got a huge mandate. Congress has no leadership and it does not have any leader left. People have understood that if we stay together, there is benefit," Ashok Chavan told ANI. The ruling Mahayuti alliance won the Maharashtra assembly polls. While the BJP has won 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has won 57 seats, and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar won 41 seats. The state has 288 assembly seats. The constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rude jolt with Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray winning 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP (SCP) led by Sharad Pawar only 10 seats. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora said that the implementation of good schemes and the negative campaigning by the opposition leaders benefited the Mahayuti alliance. "This is a huge victory and I congratulate all the leaders of the Mahayuti. We implemented very good schemes and the negative campaigning by the opposition benefited us," said Milind Deora while speaking to ANI. Milind Deora lost the Worli seat to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Aditya Uddhav Thackeray by 8801 votes.On Saturday, Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora said that the results confirm the "real gaddari (betrayal)," was in 2019. He also said the trending results show Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's leadership and vision. Celebrating the results being in favour of the Mahayuti alliance, Deora posted on X, "Key takeaways from #Mumbai so far: 1- CM @mieknathshinde (Eknath Shinde) has proven his leadership & vision for #Maharashtra; 2 -Voters chose 'progress without speed limits' over 'speed breaker' politics; 3- The real *gaddari* was in 2019, not 2022; 4 Hope always triumphs over fear!". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 11:56 AM IST | Nanded | PTIAn earthquake of magnitude 3.8 jolted Assam's Dima Hasao on Saturday, as reported by the National Center for Seismology. According to the National Center for Seismology, the tremor was recorded at around 11 PM on Saturday and was centred around the Dima Hasao region at a depth of 10 km. No casualties have been reported in the area due to the seismic activity. EQ of M: 3.8, On: 23/11/2024 23:05:02 IST, Lat: 25.18 N, Long: 92.80 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Dima Hasao, Assam. For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/q0VkiHQwMI — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) November 23, 2024 "EQ of M: 3.8, On 23/11/2024 23:05:02 IST, Lat: 25.18 N, Long: 92.80 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Dima Hasao, Assam," said the National Center for Seismology in a post on X. Further details are awaited. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 11:54 AM IST | Assam | ANIThree persons were killed, and eight others injured when an SUV rammed into a tractor-trolley parked on the road near a village on Saturday evening, police said. Police reached the spot in Sultanpur village and took the injured to a community health centre where they were given first-aid. Those with serious injuries were taken to the district hospital and later to a trauma centre in Lucknow, SHO of Bachhrawan police station Om Prakash Tiwari said. Dhunnilal (40), Nirmala (40) and Ramesh (48), all residents of Rae Bareli district, died in the accident. All the deceased and the injured were in the car. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 11:33 AM IST | Uttar Pradesh | PTIBJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Sunday responded to allegations from the Opposition regarding the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) following the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Bhandari emphasised that the same EVMs were used in Jharkhand, where the results favoured the INDIA bloc, challenging the credibility of the Opposition's claims, reported the ANI. Bhandari criticised the Congress and termed it as an "anti-democracy" party. "Those who are blaming the EVM, I want to tell them that same EVMs were used in Jharkhand where the result came in your favour...They are not able to digest the fact that their 'Jhooth ki Dukaan' has been exposed from Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh...If you (INDIA alliance) are blaming EVMs for your defeat then you should resign from the states where you have formed the government...Congress means anti-democracy," he told ANI. In the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP secured a significant victory, winning 132 seats. Its allies, the Shiv Sena (led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde) and the NCP (led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar), won 57 and 41 seats, respectively, out of a total of 288 seats. In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP(SP), faced disappointing results, with only 20, 16, and 10 seats, respectively. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the election results, as to how the BJP could achieve such a high "strike rate" in a short period after losing in the Lok Sabha elections. He highlighted ongoing transparency concerns regarding the electoral process and criticised the Election Commission for not addressing their complaints effectively. Khera underscored the need for electoral integrity, especially in a context where trust in technology is increasingly scrutinised. "The Lok Sabha election was fought in the name of Modi ji in Maharashtra, BJP lost it. The same state gives the same BJP 132 out of 148 seats within 4-5 months. What kind of strike rate is this? ...Is this strike rate possible? Democracy is our concern. Electoral transparency is our concern. Can the BJP reverse anti-incumbency?" he said. "We complained continuously. Jairam Ramesh had complained about the name being deleted from the Election Commission's website from the house of a woman BJP leader. All the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi had complained. No answer was given...Whether we win or lose, we will continue to question the election process. In a country where exam papers are leaked, can we blindly trust the machines? You cannot shut us up by showing the results of Jharkhand. To date, apart from the poetry, we have not received any concrete answer from the Election Commission," Khera said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut echoed Khera's sentiments, questioning the legitimacy of the number of seats NCP and Shiv Sena had got and suggesting that public sentiment does not align with the election outcomes. (With inputs from ANI)
24 November,2024 11:25 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA total of 48 Assembly seats went to the bypolls across 14 states on Saturday, with the NDA winning 28. In what political observers called the first face-off between the ruling BJP at the Centre and the Opposition INDIA bloc after the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, the following states saw a tight electoral race—Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, MP, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, UP and West Bengal. In the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal won in seven bypoll constituencies, while Akhilesh Yadav’s SP won only Karhal and Sishamau. While the Congress was seen in choppy electoral waters once again after the Maharashtra debacle, Karnataka gave the Grand Old Party a reason to rejoice. Buoyed by ruling party's victory in all three Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he won in the “people’s court”. Congress’s Pathan Yasir Ahmed Khan won the Shiggaon seat by a margin of 13,448 votes, defeating BJP’s Bharat Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai. In Channapatna, Congress candidate CP Yogeeswara defeated Janata Dal (Secular)’s Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister and former CM, HD Kumaraswamy, by a margin of 25,413 votes. In the neighbouring state of Gujarat, BJP leader Swarupji Thakor defeated his nearest Congress rival, Gulabsinh Rajput, by 2,442 votes in the bypoll to the Vav Assembly constituency. Meanwhile, in Kerala’s Lok Sabha bypolls in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra secured over six lakh votes, defeating CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri with a margin of over 4.1 lakh votes. In West Bengal, TMC swept the Assembly bypolls. The party managed to wrest the Madarihat constituency in Alipurduar district, which had gone to the BJP in the 2021 and 2016 elections. TMC also won Sitai, Haroa, Naihati, Taldangra, and Medinipur constituencies. Both The BJP and the Opposition parties have accused each other of poll malpractices. 28No of seats NDA won out of 48 Assembly constituencies This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:44 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesJharkhand CM Hemant Soren's brother Basant Soren won the Dumka Assembly seat by 14,588 votes on Saturday. BJP candidate Sunil Soren was in second place in the seat, securing 81,097 votes. The JMM candidate got 95,685 votes. Basant Soren won the Dumka seat in a bypoll in 2020, defeating BJP's Lois Marandi by 6,842 votes. Meanwhile, another JMM candidate Umakant Rajak won the Chandankiyari seat in Jharkhand's Bokaro district by a margin of 33,733 votes. Arjun Rajwar of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha was runner-up in the seat, while Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of the BJP came third. Rajak bagged 90,027 votes, while Rajwar secured 56,294 votes. Bauri managed 56,091 votes. In the 2019 Assembly polls, Bauri defeated Rajak, who contested the seat on an AJSU Party ticket. Rajak switched to JMM ahead of this election after the Chandankiyari seat went to the BJP as per the seat-sharing arrangement within the NDA. 14,588Margin by which Basant Soren won Maoist-affected Dumka This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:42 AM IST | Ranchi | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reached the BJP headquarters in Delhi after the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 result and said that the message of development was endorsed and the politics of lies was defeated. Addressing a gathering at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, PM Modi said divisive forces, negative politics and dynasticism have been defeated in the Maharashtra election and bypolls in various states, reported the PTI. He said the people of Maharashtra have voted for stability and taught a lesson to those who tried to create instability. LIVE: Victory celebrations at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/WWIm8lqhhU — BJP (@BJP4India) November 23, 2024 The prime minister asserted that the message from the Maharashtra election is that of unity and it is also an endorsement of the "ek hai toh safe hai" slogan. PM Modi also said he bows down before the people of Jharkhand and that the BJP will work more zealously for the development of the state. 'Ek hai toh safe hai' has become the 'maha-mantra' for the entire nation and it has punished those who wanted to divide the country on caste and religious lines," he said, adding that all sections of the society have voted for the BJP, reported the PTI. "The Congress and its ecosystem had thought that by spreading lies in the name of the Constitution, they could divide the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in small groups. This is a solid slap on their faces," he said, according to the PTI. "People have made divisive forces bite the dust. The Congress and its allies have failed to grasp the changed realities of the country's mood," the prime minister added. Maharashtra Election 2024 results Live He asserted that voters do not want instability and they believe in nation first and do not like those dreaming about "chair first". The voters in Maharashtra also evaluated Congress on the basis of the false promises made in other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, he added. "Neither their false promises nor their dangerous agenda worked in Maharashtra," PM Modi said. The prime minister said the Maharashtra election also shows that only one Constitution will work in India and that was given to the people of the country by B R Ambedkar. The Congress and its allies were again trying to create a wall of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. "I want to say this to the Congress and its allies that no force in the world can bring back Article 370 and insult our Constitution," PM Modi said. He said the Congress and its allies were double-faced on various issues, including the Wafq Board, the news agency reported on Saturday. (with PTI inputs)
23 November,2024 10:30 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe police used 'mild' force outside the counting centre in Sillod assembly constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district of Maharashtra on Saturday after a large number of supporters of two rival Shiv Sena candidates came face to face during the Maharashtra Assembly election results 2024, an official said, reported the PTI. The incident took place around 5.45 pm as police tried to control the ensuing chaos, the official said. In Sillod, the nominee of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and state minister Abdul Sattar was leading by a margin of 2,420 against Suresh Bankar of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) after 20 rounds as per the Election Commission. According to the PTI, as counting was underway, a disorderly crowd of supporters of both candidates gathered outside the centre, the official said. "To prevent any untoward incident, police used 'mild' lathi charge to disperse the supporters of the two Shiv Senas. The situation is peaceful and under control," a senior official from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar rural police told PTI. Family feuds see candidates of NCP and Shiv Sena win in Maharashtra Meanwhile, the Maharashtra assembly election contest saw intense rivalries among several political families including the Sharad Pawar clan in the Baramati constituency. NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar trounced his nephew and debutant politician Yugendra Pawar by over 1 lakh votes, winning the eighth term from the bastion. The resounding victory marks Ajit Pawar settling political scores with his uncle Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule in the first assembly contest after the NCP split in July 2023. Six months back, Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar was defeated by Sule in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 from Baramati. Another dramatic family contest played out in the Kannad constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district of the Marathwada region, where Sanjana Danve, daughter of ex-Union minister and BJP leader Raosaheb Danve, successfully contested her debut election on the Shiv Sena ticket. Sanjana faced a personal and political challenge from her estranged husband, Harshvardhan Jadhav who contested as an Independent. Despite the complicated circumstances, she emerged victorious, marking a successful debut in the political arena. Sanjana polled 84,492 votes, defeating Harashvardhan by a margin of 18,201 votes. Her victory added to the growing presence of Shiv Sena in the region, with her brother Santosh Raosaheb Danve, the incumbent BJP MLA, holding on to his Bhokardan seat in Jalna district of Maharashtra. (with PTI inputs)
23 November,2024 10:17 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA alliance is set to retain power in Jharkhand, achieving a significant victory against the BJP-led coalition, as per trends available on Election Commission's website. This outcome reflects the effectiveness of local narratives and regional leadership, particularly the appeal of welfare schemes such as cash transfer programs targeted at women. The coalition, which includes JMM, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, has secured 50 seats and is leading in 6 others, indicating a commanding performance in the elections. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has already won his seat in Barhait, defeating BJP candidate Gamliyel Hembrom by a substantial margin of 39,791 votes. Political analysts note that the JMM's success is a strong endorsement of Hemant Soren's leadership, with the Congress playing a supportive role. In a heartfelt message, Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, leading from the Gandey seat, said "I want to thank the people of Gandhey, Giridih, and the people of the state for showering love on me and blessing me like their daughter." While the BJP maintained a share of nearly 33% of the vote, slightly up from the 31% it garnered in 2014, opposition votes have consolidated against them. BJP sources have acknowledged the need to reassess their strategy, particularly regarding the effectiveness of local leadership and the failure to disrupt Soren's social coalition. Unlike the BJP's strategy in Maharashtra, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a central figure in the campaign, his influence did not yield the desired results in Jharkhand. The JMM-led coalition has managed to secure or lead in 56 out of 81 seats, marking an unprecedented second consecutive term for them. As per the latest updates, the JMM is leading in 5 seats, while its alliance partners, Congress is leading in one seat. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA coalition with its partners AJSU and JD (U) is leading in two seat. The electoral results underscore the significance of regional dynamics in Jharkhand, as the JMM-led alliance moves forward, continuing its governance with a strong mandate from the electorate. (With inputs from PTI, ANI)
23 November,2024 07:27 PM IST | Ranchi | mid-day online correspondentAs the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance is poised to retain power in Maharashtra with a record majority, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Saturday said the "historic victory" in the assembly elections is a win of development and good governance. Mahayuti has won or is ahead in 230 out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly polls while its opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has won or is leading in 50 seats. In a post on X, PM Modi assured the people of the state that their alliance will keep working for Maharashtra's progress. "Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtra's progress. Jai Maharashtra!" PM Modi posted on X. He further thanked people across various states for blessing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates in the various by-polls held, news agency ANI. "NDA's pro-people efforts resonate all over! I thank people across various states for blessing NDA candidates in the various by-polls held. We will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling their dreams and aspirations," he added. PM Modi said that he is proud of every NDA karyakarta for their efforts on the ground, adding that "they worked hard, went among people and elaborated on our good governance agenda." The by-polls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. Out of the nine seats in UP, BJP has won five seats, is leading on two seats, its alliance partner RLD is leading on one seat. Samajwadi Party has won 2 seats. NDA swept 4 Bihar seats, Congress bags its lone Rajasthan bypoll seat of Dausa. Earlier today, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that people of Maharashtra have given Mahayuti an "unprecedented victory" and there "will be no dispute on CM face". "The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented victory. This shows that people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In line with the slogan he gave 'ek hain toh safe hain', people from all sections and communities voted for us unitedly...," Fadnavis told reporters here. Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, as the Mahayuti is on course to a landslide victory in the assembly elections. (With ANI inputs)
23 November,2024 06:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
