Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Actor-turned-politician <keyword id="20008310" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suresh-Gopi" source="keywords">Suresh Gopi</keyword> who is poised for a <keyword id="21145935" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="historic-win" source="keywords">historic win</keyword> in the parliamentary seat of <keyword id="19977207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrissur" source="keywords">Thrissur</keyword> said he is "ecstatic" about the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword> breaching the bastion in <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala" source="keywords">Kerala</keyword> according to trends announced by the Election Commission on Tuesday in the counting of votes in the 2024 <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections. "What was very impossible became gloriously possible," said the actor who contested from the seat for the second time after losing in the last general elections in 2019. Gopi said he "bowed down to" the "truly <keyword id="21934911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="secular-voters" source="keywords">secular voters</keyword>" of Thrissur, adding that there were attempts to "corrupt" the voters' mind away from the BJP but the Gods "led them in the correct path". "Attempts were made to mislead the voters but God led them on the correct path to accept my party through me ...even if some of you feel that this is a miracle, this miracle was imminent...The victory is due to people's blessings. I bow down to the truly secular voters of Thrissur who made this victory possible," the actor said. He further said that "...Narendra Modi is my political God. ..I am not believing in just a manifesto...I will work for the whole Kerala...I will work as Kerala MP..." The 65-year-old actor said, " I am in totally an ecstatic mood. What was very impossible became gloriously possible...it was not a 62-day campaign process, it was an emotional carriage for the past 7 years...I work for Kerala as a whole. My first pick will be to have AIIMS..." Gopi also credited his victory to the BJP workers who worked in his election campaign. "I also credit my party workers who worked in more than a thousand booths in the constituency. A lot of mothers and sisters from other districts and states also worked for me. Many of them came from Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Their effort made a positive impact," he said. Suresh Gopi was leading with 400706 votes in the Thrissur constituency with a margin of 73091 votes over <keyword id="21934912" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="v-s-sunil" source="keywords">V S Sunil</keyword> Kumar of the CPI and <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword>' Muraleedharan of the Congress who polled 319560 votes as per data on the poll body's website at 2 pm. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was leading by 3,28,460 votes in Wayanad constituency over his nearest rival CPI's Annie Raja, as per Election Commission data. Congress sitting MP Shashi Tharoor took a lead over BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvananthapuram with 325896 votes and CPI's Pannian Raveendran in third spot, data by EC said. Congress' KC Venugopal was leading with 364811 votes against nearest rival AM Ariff of the CPI (M) while BJP's <keyword id="21418632" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sobha-surendran" source="keywords">Sobha Surendran</keyword> trailed in the third place. The polling in Kerala was held in single phase on April 26. The voter turnout was recorded at 71.27 per cent. Out of the total 2,77,49,158 voters in Kerala, a total of 1,97,77,478 exercised their franchise. In the 2019 General Elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP failed to open its account in the southern state. In its attempt to garner votes in Kerala, the BJP focussed on the Christian community in the state which accounts for 18.38 per cent of the total population. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP crossed the majority mark in early leads and the INDIA bloc above 200, defying all exit poll predictions. The BJP is currently leading on 240 seats, as per the latest trends by the ECI. The Lok Sabha elections were held across the country in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. (ANI)

"Miracle was imminent", says Suresh Gopi after BJP's historic Lok Sabha victory in Kerala

Laapata Ladies, Bridgerton and Heeramandi might have dominated the OTT cycle last month, but none of these dramas can hold a candle to the absolute thriller that unfolded during the Lok Sabha election cycle this year. While the parties scramble to decide their allegiances, most people are already convinced about a result familiar to the previous two general elections: <keyword id="20509939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-3-0" source="keywords">Modi 3.0</keyword>. However, the road to the end has proven anything but a bed of lotuses for the Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword>). Despite staunch optimism of winning 400 out of 543 seats, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (<keyword id="19938590" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NDA" source="keywords">NDA</keyword>) managed to capture only 293 — a margin barely above the 272 seats majority, and dozens below their 2014 and 2019 standings. Then came the fact that the BJP, with only 240 seats won, would have to be supported by two major partner parties: the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), if they wished to finalise a majority and form the next Lok Sabha. This meant that the ball currently remains in the courts of these two quintessential “Kingmakers”; will they keep their pre-poll promises to ensure the continuity of Mr Modi, or usurp him by joining the opposition <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA" source="keywords">INDIA</keyword> bloc? This mystery may linger not just this week, but throughout the term of the next government given the fickle nature of the Indian political system. As we move into the final few legs of this political marathon, the story has only taken a turn for the juicier. According to media reports, INDIA has now offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister to JD(U) Nitish Kumar and a special status to Andhra Pradesh (with TDP majority) if the parties align with the alliance and forsake their NDA partnership. If they agree, the INDIA-TDP-JD(U) coalition could overthrow BJP-NDA to form the government, making for the biggest <keyword id="21945335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-plot-twist" source="keywords">political plot twist</keyword> in decades. While we wait for the historical gavel to drop, let’s take a look back at the other bombshells to have come out of the tallying process so far. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP falls short of majority" comment="subhead" text="BJP falls short of majority">BJP falls short of majority</cmsannotation> Despite battle cries of ‘Abki baar 400 par’, the Modi-led party has failed to cross the required 272 seats necessary for a clear majority and stands far below their performances in 2014 and 2019. They are no longer self-sufficient enough to make a third term without the support from allies. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland" comment="subhead" text="BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland">BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland</cmsannotation> The northern states, which constitute a large section of the Hindi-speaking population, have been considered BJP’s biggest loyalists. Despite this, the party has faced unexpected stiff competition in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Haryana. These are crucial states for the BJP, as they hold a large number of seats and losing a majority of these seats has weakened their moral position. While some blame the loss on the anger of dominant castes in the region, others say that the party ignored these stronghold regions in pursuit of expansion to the east and south. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions" comment="subhead" text="NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions">NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions</cmsannotation> Not only has BJP itself been unable to capture the required majority, their NDA coalition hasn’t even touched 300 Lok Sabha seats. This indicates a significant loss of public support compared to predictions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP loses Ram Temple Constituency" comment="subhead" text="BJP loses Ram Temple Constituency">BJP loses <keyword id="41267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram-temple" source="Orion">Ram Temple</keyword> Constituency</cmsannotation> Construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been one of BJP’s most prominent election promises in the past two elections. Despite delivering on this front, the party has lost the Faizabad seat to Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lotus blooms down south" comment="subhead" text="Lotus blooms down south">Lotus blooms down south</cmsannotation> BJP opened its account for the first time in Kerala with a win for actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi at the Thrissur seat. In Telangana, both BJP and Congress put up a strong performance by winning eight seats each and sidelining the regional parties. However, for the BJP, Tamil Nadu was a disappointment as it failed to win even one seat despite immense push from all quarters. The party did manage to increase the vote share to double digits despite a lack of support from the regional parties. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP wins all Delhi seats" comment="subhead" text="BJP wins all Delhi seats">BJP wins all Delhi seats</cmsannotation> Making a hat-trick, the BJP won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi for the third time, beating the Congress-AAP alliance. <h3>Individual/Regional Politics</h3><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Rahul Gandhi wins two seats" comment="subhead" text="Rahul Gandhi wins two seats">Rahul Gandhi wins two seats</cmsannotation> After a risky contest for two seats in Kerala’s Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli, the Congress leader has won both by a massive margin. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kangana Ranaut wins Himachal seat" comment="subhead" text="Kangana Ranaut wins Himachal seat"><keyword id="10343350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kangana-ranaut-wins" source="Orion">Kangana Ranaut wins</keyword> Himachal seat</cmsannotation> The celebrity candidate’s debut resulted in a strong win for the Mandi seat for BJP. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Smriti Irani loses" comment="subhead" text="Smriti Irani loses">Smriti Irani loses</cmsannotation> Despite high expectations, Smriti Irani loses the Amethi seat by a large margin to Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma. This is a high-profile defeat for a key BJP figure. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup" comment="subhead" text="Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup">Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup</cmsannotation> Earlier trends had briefly indicated trouble for the recurrent Thiruvananthapuram MP. However, the tides turned quickly, handing Tharoor the win over Rajeev Chandrasekhar. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins" comment="subhead" text="Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins">Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins</cmsannotation> Stepping up to politics for the first time, cricketer turned politician Yusuf Pathan won West Bengal’s Baharampur seat for the Trinamool Congress. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab" comment="subhead" text="Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab">Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab</cmsannotation> Amritpal Singh, a notable Khalistan supporter and independent candidate clinched the Khadoor Sahib seat from jail in Punjab. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share" comment="subhead" text="Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share">Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share</cmsannotation> Despite a final win by Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel in Karnataka’s Hassan constituency, JD(U)’s Prajwal Revanna garnered 46.5% of the total votes. This has occurred despite being in police custody and having a massive sexual assault case lodged against the candidate. <h3>Other notable events</h3><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters" comment="subhead" text="Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters">Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters</cmsannotation> Controversy had earlier erupted in Indore after Congress candidate Akshya Kanti Bam deferred to BJP shortly before the voting process had begun. In response, over 2 lakh voters placed their bets on ‘None of the Above’, expressing dissatisfaction with the choices presented to them. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels" comment="subhead" text="Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels">Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels</cmsannotation> Anticipating an easy win and stable third term for Modi, the Indian stock surged right before the election. However, government uncertainty later on spurred the Nifty and BSE Sensex indices to crash by as much as 8.5%.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Biggest shockers to come out of the thrilling election results

With latest trends showing the BJP falling below the majority mark, the Congress on Tuesday said it has become clear that it will be a staggering political and decisively <keyword id="21932463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moral-defeat" source="keywords">moral defeat</keyword> for <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>. Counting of votes are underway for the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha elections</keyword>, with BJP emerging as the single largest party but not getting a majority. <keyword id="21129157" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="exit-polls" source="keywords">Exit polls</keyword> on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls. Congress general secretary <keyword id="20035989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jairam-Ramesh" source="keywords">Jairam Ramesh</keyword> in a post on X said the exit polls have been completely exposed for what they were -- "a <keyword id="21932465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="total-sham" source="Orion">total sham</keyword>." "Trends for all 543 seats are now available. The following have become clear: It will be a staggering political and decisively moral defeat for Mr. Narendra Modi," Ramesh said. He said it has also become clear that "the exit polls that he orchestrated have been completely exposed for what they were--a total sham." Early trends from counting of votes on Tuesday threw up disappointing results for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha elections, which appears to be losing heavily in its strongholds of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan although it is expected to form the government with about 290 seats. On its own, the BJP appeared to be falling below the majority mark with leads in 240 seats despite significant gains in Odisha, Telangana and Kerala, giving some solace to the party after the unexpected losses in the Hindi belt.

Election trends show moral defeat for Narendra Modi, expose exit polls as a "total sham": Congress general secretary

New Delhi, The number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that are operating in the country has gone up to 12,146 as of February 2 this year, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, <keyword id="20219727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="krishan-pal-gurjar" source="keywords">Krishan Pal Gurjar</keyword>, said in a written reply in the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> on Tuesday. The data provided by the minister shows that Maharashtra leads with 3,079 EV charging stations followed by Delhi with 1,886, while Karnataka is at the third spot with 1,041 charging stations. The top three states are followed by: <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kerala" source="keywords">Kerala</keyword> (852), <keyword id="19896558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="keywords">Tamil Nadu</keyword> (643), Uttar Pradesh (582), <keyword id="19898913" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajasthan" source="keywords">Rajasthan</keyword> (500), Telangana (481), Gujarat (476) and Madhya Pradesh (341), making up the top 10 list. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has been making consistent efforts for facilitating the promotion of EVs in India. The FAME-II scheme inter-alia included financial support in the form of subsidy for setting up of public charging infrastructure to instill confidence among the EV users, the minister said. Further, the Ministry of Power has taken several initiatives to accelerate the deployment of public EV charging infrastructure in the country. The government has issued guidelines and standards for charging infrastructure, which enable the owners of EVs to charge their vehicles at their residence/office using their existing electricity connections. A revenue sharing model for provision of land at promotional rates for public charging stations has also been introduced and provision has been made for providing electricity connection to Public Charging Station (PCS) within stipulated timelines. The government has also prescribed the single part EV tariff for public charging stations, This amount cannot exceed Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) till 31.03.2025. The guidelines specify a ceiling of Rs 2.50 per unit and Rs 3.50 per unit of electricity used for slow AC charging of EVs at PCS during the solar and non-solar hours, respectively. Additionally, a ceiling limit of Rs 10 per unit and Rs 12 per unit of electricity used for DC fast charging of EVs at PCS during the solar and non-solar hours, respectively, has also been specified. Average cost of supply (ACoS) by DISCOMs to PCSs during solar hours shall have a rebate of 20 per cent and a surcharge of 20 per cent during all other times. The Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022, has been notified with the objective of further accelerating renewable energy adoption, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and green energy for all, the minister added.

India has 12,146 EV charging stations, Maharashtra leads, Delhi second

The Rupee tumbled 45 paise to close at 83.59 (provisional) against the <keyword id="19949640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-dollar" source="keywords">US dollar</keyword> on Tuesday as the ruling <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword> is unlikely to muster an absolute majority in the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha elections</keyword>. Besides, a massive sell-off in domestic <keyword id="19925781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equities" source="keywords">equities</keyword> and a strong <keyword id="20226143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="greenback" source="keywords">greenback</keyword> against major currencies overseas added to the gloom, <keyword id="20024982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="forex-traders" source="keywords">forex traders</keyword> said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened weak at 83.25 and oscillated between a high of 83.23 and a low of 83.59 against the greenback during the session. The domestic currency finally closed at 83.59 (provisional) against the dollar, registering a fall of 45 paise from its previous close. On Monday, the Rupee closed at 83.14 against the US dollar. Counting of votes on Tuesday indicated disappointing results for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha elections, which appears to be losing heavily in its strongholds of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan although it is expected to form the government with about 290 seats. On its own, the Bharatiya Janata Party appeared to be falling below the majority mark with leads in 236 seats despite significant gains in Odisha, Telangana and Kerala, giving some solace to the party after the unexpected losses in the Hindi belt. Its rival INDIA alliance was leading in about 230 seats. In the last elections, the BJP had 303 seats on its own, while the NDA had over 350. "The rupee depreciated...today as domestic markets fell sharply amid uncertainty over election results outcome. This may have also led to some sell-off by <keyword id="19900795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-investors" source="keywords">foreign investors</keyword>. The US dollar recovered from yesterday's losses on the weak Euro, which fell on disappointing employment data. The US dollar fell on Monday on weaker than expected ISM manufacturing PMI and construction spending," Anuj Choudhary - Research Analyst at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas, said. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.17 per cent higher at 104.25. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, dropped 1.88 per cent to USD 76.89 per barrel. On the domestic equity market, the 30-share <keyword id="19950208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSE-Sensex" source="keywords">BSE Sensex</keyword> crashed 4,389.73 points, or 5.74 per cent, to close at 72,079.05. The broader NSE <keyword id="19896381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nifty" source="keywords">Nifty</keyword> tumbled 1,379.40 points or 5.93 per cent to 21,884.50. Foreign investors were net buyers of Indian equities on Monday as they purchased shares worth Rs 6,850.76 crore on a net basis. FIIs bought shares worth Rs 23,451.26 crore and sold equities worth Rs 16,600.50 crore in the cash segment.

Rupee plunges 45 paise to close at 83.59 against US dollar

In the vibrant arena of Indian democracy, the stage is set for the spectacle of the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-Elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha elections</keyword> in 2024. From ideological showdowns to historic rivalries, the upcoming polls promise to be a captivating saga of power, passion and pulsating drama. Adding flavour to this fire would be some members of the same family vying for political supremacy, making the Indian political landscape resemble a modern-day game of thrones. Here are some anticipated family clashes set to unfold in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Battle of the Sisters-in-Law" comment="subhead" text="Battle of the Sisters-in-Law">Battle of the Sisters-in-Law</cmsannotation> In the intense battleground of the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra’s Pune, two formidable contenders will lock horns: <keyword id="2104553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunetra-Pawar" source="Orion">Sunetra Pawar</keyword>, spouse of NCP chief Ajit Pawar, and <keyword id="20083020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supriya-sule" source="keywords">Supriya Sule</keyword>, daughter of NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar. In this Pawar vs Pawar power struggle, Ajit Pawar sought support for his wife Sunetra just earlier this week, urging the voters to stick to the candidate with ‘Pawar’ in her name (referring to Sunetra Pawar). While Baramati’s sympathy and emotive appeal seems to be with Supriya, Ajit Pawar’s electoral skill might just tilt the scales in Sunetra’s favour. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Cousin vs Cousin" comment="subhead" text="Cousin vs Cousin">Cousin vs Cousin</cmsannotation> In Andhra's Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, a fierce showdown is on the horizon. State Congress chief <keyword id="20035798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ys-sharmila" source="keywords">YS Sharmila</keyword>, sister of Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is set to go head-to-head with her cousin <keyword id="6296385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="YS-Avinash-Reddy" source="Orion">YS Avinash Reddy</keyword>, the current YSRCP MP. This sibling rivalry has seen it all over the past decade — from Avinash's expulsion of Sharmila from the YSRCP and their disputes over familial assets to Sharmila's assertion linking a former minister's murder to Avinash's quest for a ticket and her refusal to consider Avinash as his father YSR’s true successor. Now, as they engage in their latest political bout, the exchanges threaten to fracture the political legacy left behind by the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), the former chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Extended Family Feud" comment="subhead" text="Extended Family Feud">Extended Family Feud</cmsannotation> Another gripping family feud is anticipated in the Osmanabad Lok Sabha constituency of the Marathwada region, adding to the already charged political atmosphere in Maharashtra. <keyword id="21277952" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Omprakash-Raje-Nimbalkar" source="Orion">Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar</keyword>, representing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), will face off against <keyword id="2724753" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Archana-Patil" source="Orion">Archana Patil</keyword> from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Notably, both contenders hail from the expansive Pawar clan. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Father vs Son" comment="subhead" text="Father vs Son">Father vs Son</cmsannotation> Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader <keyword id="515515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Simranjit-Singh-Mann" source="Orion">Simranjit Singh Mann</keyword>, currently a sitting MP from Sangrur, has nominated his son <keyword id="21277953" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Emaan-Singh-Mann" source="Orion">Emaan Singh Mann</keyword> for the party ticket. While husband-wife and sibling duos tend to be common during polls, this historic move signals the first time ever that a father-son duo will vie for seats in the Lok Sabha in Punjab during the same election. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bonus: Brother vs Sister that nearly happened" comment="subhead" text="Bonus: Brother vs Sister that nearly happened">Bonus: Brother vs Sister that nearly happened</cmsannotation> In a tale of political divergence within the family, BJP's B Sriramulu and YSRCP's J Shantha have strategically chosen separate constituencies to avoid a clash in the upcoming elections. While Sriramulu has maintained his stronghold in Karnataka's Bellary, Shantha has shifted her focus to Andhra’s Hindupur. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bonus: Son vs… Political Party?" comment="subhead" text="Bonus: Son vs… Political Party?">Bonus: Son vs… Political Party?</cmsannotation> In a display of unwavering loyalty to his party over his kin, Congress stalwart AK Antony voiced his firm stance on his son, Anil Antony, running for the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat under the BJP banner in the upcoming elections. Speaking at a press briefing, Antony emphasised his preference for his son's political party to face defeat in the electoral race, instead hoping for the triumph of the rival Congress candidate in the southern Kerala constituency. He also criticised the trend of offspring of Congress leaders aligning themselves with the BJP as "wrong".

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is not just a battle between political parties, it's also a family feud for these contestants

New Delhi, From appealing people not to vote for them to flaunting the unsuccessful tag, changing name in each election to losing huge sums of money in security deposits -- some tenacious <keyword id="20022603" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="independent" source="keywords">Independent</keyword> candidates have tried these all but losing elections became a habit for them. Tamil Nadu's K Padmarajan, who proudly calls himself the "Election King", might be the only candidate in the election fray who urges people not to vote for him, so he can retain his tag of being "most unsuccessful candidate", a feat also registered in the Limca Book of records. The 65-year-old tyre repair shop owner also finds pride in his entry in the <keyword id="19981515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="guinness-book-of-world-records" source="keywords">Guinness Book of World Records</keyword> for candidate with most contested elections. He claims to have lost Rs 80 lakh so far in security deposits which gets forfeited every time he loses an election besides expenses for filing nomination amid fanfare. Gearing up for his 239th attempt, Padmarajan has filed his nomination for the 18th <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections from Thrissur in Kerala and Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu. "I began fighting elections in 1988 from my home town of Mettur, located in Tamil Nadu. I have contested 238 elections so far including against former prime ministers <keyword id="20374221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atal-bihar-vajpayee" source="keywords">Atal Bihar Vajpayee</keyword>, P V Narsimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. This will be my 239th attempt. I pick a unique battle every time," he told PTI. Asked about his campaign plans, Padmarajan said, "I ask people not vote for me, I don't want the votes but I want to continue to hold the tag of most unsuccessful candidate. I don't campaign but when I go for filing nomination, I do that in a grand way." From former chief ministers like Jayalalitha, M Karunanidhi, YSR Reddy and AK Antony to filmstars Hema Malini and Vijayakanth -- the list of bigwigs against whom Padmarajan has contested is long. Indore's Parmanand <keyword id="21190647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tolani" source="keywords">Tolani</keyword> is taking forward his father's legacy who fought elections as independent candidate for three decades. "My father passed away in 1988 and I am taking forward his legacy. I have contested 18 elections so far including eight Lok Sabha and eight Vidhan Sabha. I will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls too," 65-year-old Tolani told PTI. "My father's wish was that we do not have to stop the trend till someone from the family gets elected. If I am not able to do it in my lifetime, my two daughters will carry forward the baton," said Tolani, who is a property broker. <keyword id="21190648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vijay-prakash-kodekar" source="keywords">Vijay Prakash Kodekar</keyword> from <keyword id="19897309" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pune" source="keywords">Pune</keyword>, a retired staffer from state electricity board, has a different agenda behind contesting elections as independent candidate -- advocating zero budget poll campaigns. He can be seen pushing a steel cart on wheels in streets of Latur, where he is planning to contest the Lok Sabha polls. A flex board on the cart says "Main bhi Pradhanmantri". "The message why cannot any poor individual be the Prime Minister of the country. Why this exorbitant expenditure by parties on election campaigns? Polls can be fought on zero budget and the money can be utilised for public welfare," said 78-year-old Kodekar, who campaigns wearing a white dhoti. Having contested 24 elections so far, Kodekar uses a different name for different elections. "Some elections I have contested using the name Vijay, some with 'Rashtrapati' and some with the name 'Znyosho' -- as I am a disciple of Osho. I complete the name change formalities and then I contest the polls using the new name," he said. Hyderabad techie Ravinder Uppula, uses different campaign strategies for each Lok Sabha election he fights. In 2014 -- it was anti-corruption march and in 2019 it was a liquid only fast. "I promise during my campaign that if I get elected, I will get a lie detector test done every 100 days so public who votes for me doesn't feel cheated. That is how our politicians should do as well to weed out corruption," he said. Uppula, however, is disappointed with the poll campaign expenses. "It should not be an expensive deal to canvass in this country, an agenda and the right promise should be enough rather than the poll fray leaving the voters with no choice except voting for a smaller thief or a bigger thief," he added. The strange obsession of the independent candidates has also been featured in the book "The Power of The Ballot: Travail and Triumph in the Elections". Sharing the saga of some of the independent candidates' stint at the elections, the book decodes "why do some people contest every time knowing they will lose?" Kaka Joginder Singh, also known as "Dhartipakad", was a textile-shop owner who contested and lost over 300 elections. He died in 1998. In elections, he always contested independently, and always lost his security deposits. He earned the nickname Dhartipakad after several unsuccessful runs for the post of the President of India. The year with the greatest yield for him was during the tenth presidential elections in 1992 in which he earned fourth place in the polling with 1,135 votes, losing to Shankar Dayal Sharma; it was his best performance. He also contested elections from 14 states of India in the 1990s, mostly for state assemblies. Singh died in 1998. Long before <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> chose Varanasi as an election destination, the city had Narendra Nath Dubey "Adig". Often referred to as Kashi's Dhartipakad, he has been fighting every election as an independent candidate since 1984, losing his security deposit each time. He passed away in 2022.

PM campaign on a cart, most unsuccessful record: Independents who never call it quits

With the state Assembly polls round the corner, the ruling LDF in Kerala on Wednesday got a shot in the arm as Kerala Congress(M) faction led by Jose K Mani decided to severe its decades old ties with the Congress-led UDF and work with the CPI(M)-led front in the state. Party leader Jose K Mani also said he would quit his Rajya Sabha membership, won with the support of the UDF. Announcing his faction's political position at a press conference here, Jose expressed hope that the LDF leadership will take a decision on his party's entry into the ruling front. Jose, son of veteran Kerala Congress (M) leader <keyword id="10105448" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="late-k-m-mani">late K M Mani</keyword>, hailed the CPI(M)-led front's efforts to safeguard the secularism in the country. He also said the LDF government in the state was keen to work towards the welfare of the farming community, which is the core base of his party. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and leadership of the LDF were quick to welcome Jose faction's decision to cooperate with the front. In a statement, Vijayan said the KC(M) has taken a stand that LDF is the politically correct formation, ending its 38- year-old association with the UDF. The matters related to the party's LDF entry will be decided at the front's meeting, he said. Meanwhile, the UDF leadership flayed the move, saying Jose faction "backstabbed" the Congress-led front, which made him Rajya Sabha member. UDF convenor M M Hassan also said the Jose faction should quit all the parliamentary positions including <keyword id="10105447" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kottayam-lok-sabha">Kottayam Lok Sabha</keyword> seat won with the support of the Congress-led front. Justifying his decision to work with the LDF, he said the front has been relentlessly fighting against the growing communal forces in the country. Attacking the UDF leadership and a rival Kerala Congress (M) faction led by P J Joseph, Jose said a section in the Congress-led front "expelled" his faction from the UDF after a dispute arose over a post in a local body. The UDF humiliated the MLAs and leaders who stood by his late father K Mani, who built the UDF 38 years ago, he said. He also alleged that P J Joseph faction engaged in character assassination of the leaders of his faction. "The UDF leadership supported Joseph's bid to hijack the Kerala Congress (M). They (UDF leadership) did injustice to us," Jose alleged. Jose faction's issues with the UDF leadership aggravated in June this year after it was "ousted" from the Congress-led <keyword id="204591" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Democratic-Front">United Democratic Front</keyword> (UDF) in connection with the tussle over the Kottayam district panchayat chief post. The UDF leadership had later rectified it saying the Jose group was not ousted from the front and it was only temporarily barred from the UDF meeting for refusing to honour an agreement made in public with the coalition front over sharing the Kottayam district panchayat president's post. "Technically Jose K Mani group is part of the UDF," UDF chairman and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala had said in <keyword id="6357416" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="thiruvananthapuram">Thiruvananthapuram</keyword> recently. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-wipro-infosys-future-retail-airtel-irctc-srf-and-others/articleshow/78651966.cms">Top stocks to watch — Wipro, Infosys, Future Retail, Airtel, IRCTC, SRF, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-new-iphone-12-series-with-5g-launched-starting-at-rs-69999-along-with-side-homepod-mini-debut/articleshow/78647779.cms">Apple's new iPhone 12 series with 5G launched starting at ₹ 69,999 along with HomePod Mini debut</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/a-spacecraft-flying-by-venus-on-wednesday-night-could-confirm-recently-found-signs-of-alien-life/articleshow/78646790.cms">A spacecraft flying by Venus on Wednesday night could confirm recently found signs of alien life</a>

Jose K Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) faction parts ways with UDF ahead of State Assembly polls

Kerala awaits the 2019 general elections for the Lok Sabha eagerly. The state has 20 parliamentary seats in total to send its representatives to the center. The Election Commission has announced that the polling in the state during 2019 Lok Sabha Elections will be held in a single phase on April 23, 2019. This date will see the 3rd phase of polling in the rest of India. Names of Constituencies in Kerala The names of the 20 constituencies in Kerala include Kasaragod, Kannur, Vadakara, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal, and Thiruvananthapuram. The present status of constituencies in Kerala State Neither the Congress party nor the BJP could win from Kerala during the 2014 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections. While these national parties could never get even a single seat from the state, the UDF holds 12 seats leaving LDF with 8 seats as of now. In 2009 elections, UDF had 16 seats and LDF had 4 seats. Though it is a distant dream for the BJP and Congress to gain a strong position in the state, both the parties are nevertheless sparing considerable efforts to see if they can grab at least a few seats from Kerala this time.

Lok Sabha Seats in Kerala in Election 2019

Lok Sabha Election 2019 candidate list for Kerala

Following the announcement made by the Election Commission on March 10, 2019, the dates of the 7 phase polling across the nation are already released. The <keyword id="4287364" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections-2019">Lok Sabha Elections 2019</keyword> will see the electors of the country electing their MPs for the Parliament from the country’s 543 constituencies. The election dates will be from April 11 and May 19, 2013. The votes will be counted across the entire nation on May 23 and the results will be declared on the same day letting the people know who will rule the country from the center over the next five years. In Kerala, the polling will take place for all its 20 constituencies on the same day during the 3rd phase of elections on April 23, 2019. Constituency wise dates of polling in Kerala Phase -3 (Date of polling: April 23, 2019) Constituencies: Kasaragod, Kannur, Vadakara, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal, and Thiruvananthapuram 2014 <keyword id="43815" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-election">Lok Sabha Election</keyword> results in kerala During 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Kerala elected UDF from 12 constituencies and LDF from 8 constituencies. Election Commission’s Announcement The Election Commission of India has announced that there will not be any online vote casting facility for the voters of any category this time. The voters need to carry the elector’s photo identity card or any one of the 11 valid photo identity documents approved by the election commission. Photo voter slips can never be used as a stand-alone identity document for the sake of voting.

You Searched For "kerala lok sabha" and got 11 results

"Miracle was imminent", says Suresh Gopi after BJP's historic Lok Sabha victory in Kerala

ANI

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Biggest shockers to come out of the thrilling election results

Ankush Banerjee

Election trends show moral defeat for Narendra Modi, expose exit polls as a "total sham": Congress general secretary

PTI

India has 12,146 EV charging stations, Maharashtra leads, Delhi second

IANS

Rupee plunges 45 paise to close at 83.59 against US dollar

PTI

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is not just a battle between political parties, it's also a family feud for these contestants

Kunal Kambli

PM campaign on a cart, most unsuccessful record: Independents who never call it quits

PTI

Jose K Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) faction parts ways with UDF ahead of State Assembly polls

PTI

Lok Sabha Seats in Kerala in Election 2019

BI India Bureau

Lok Sabha Election 2019 candidate list for Kerala

BI India Bureau

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Polling date For Kerala

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides