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New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): A <keyword id="4261957" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="general-discussion" source="Orion">general discussion</keyword> on the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> and the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the fiscal year 2024-25 will be held in the <keyword id="19895369" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajya-Sabha" source="keywords">Rajya Sabha</keyword> later on Wednesday. <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> presented both the Union Budget and the <keyword id="22525621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-Kashmir-Budget" source="keywords">Jammu and Kashmir Budget</keyword> in the House on July 23. The discussion is crucial as both the budgets shape the financial direction of the country and the Union Territory, respectively. The Union Budget outlines the government's revenue and expenditure plans for the upcoming fiscal year, while the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a significant event considering the developmental needs. As per the list of businesses of the Rajya Sabha, the discussion on these two budgets will be convened later in the day. The discussion over these two budgets is expected to start in the second half of the day. According to the list of business of the Rajya Sabha, the ministers that are set to lay the papers on the table are Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Nityanand Rai for the Ministry of Home Affairs; and Sukanta Majumdar for the Ministry of Education. Besides, Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody will lay on the table the Public Accounts Committee reports. This includes the 124th Report on Construction of Toilets in Schools by CPSEs; the 125th Report on Rejuvenation of the Ganga (Namami Gange); the 126th Report on Avoidable Payment due to Non-Charging of Service Tax/GST from the Passengers; and the 127th Report on Action Taken by the Government on the Observations and Recommendations of the Committee contained in their 46th Report (16th Lok Sabha) on Implementation of the Public-Private Partnership Project at Chhatrpati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, among others. The reports were presented to the Speaker on February 23 and April 29, 2024, and to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, on February 28 and May 13, 2024, before the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. The Speaker had ordered the printing, publication and circulation of the reports. As per the business list of the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will move the motion for election to the committee on the welfare of other backward classes. Kiren Rijiju will also move the motion for nomination to the committee on the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The motion for nomination to the committee on public accounts will also be moved by Union Minister Rijiju in the House today. Moreover, Kiren Rijiju will move the motion for nomination to the committee on public undertakings. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday during the Monsoon Session of <keyword id="19895397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parliament" source="keywords">Parliament</keyword>. Nirmala Sitharaman became the first finance minister to present seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former prime minister Morarji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964. In her seventh budget, Nirmala Sitharaman outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. These included productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment, and skilling and services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Union <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "This budget strengthens every section of society. It takes the country's poor, village and farmers on the path of prosperity," the prime minister said in a video message. The Prime Minister praised the budget, emphasising its potential for job generation by incentivizing the top 500 companies to recruit more youth and also induct interns. The PM said the budget would help India achieve its objective of becoming the third largest economy, besides laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday also said the Union Budget 2024-25 is game-changing and will go down in history for coupling Bharat's economic growth with the torque of its youth power. He also lauded the government's decision to provide training and internship programmes to youth. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, welcomed the Union Budget 2024 laid before Parliament on Tuesday. Calling the Union Budget 2024 a 'visionary document', Sonowal said, "The Union Budget, 2024 lays the roadmap for renewed and holistic growth towards Viksit Bharat. This visionary budget is aimed at empowering the 'Garib' (poor), 'Mahilayen' (women), 'Yuva' (youth), and Annadata' (farmers) so that the process of development reaches every citizen of the country." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that Union Budget 2024 stands out for its unprecedented push towards employment generation and powering small businesses.

Rajya Sabha to hold general discussion on Union Budget, Jammu and Kashmir Budget today

Mumbai, Feb 23 (PTI) Former <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> Speaker Manohar <keyword id="19952829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joshi" source="keywords">Joshi</keyword> passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Friday, where he was admitted after suffering a cardiac arrest. Joshi (86) was admitted to <keyword id="20694838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hinduja-hospital" source="keywords">Hinduja Hospital</keyword> in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on February 21 and passed away early Friday, the private medical facility said. Joshi Sir, as he was popularly known, was the first chief minister of the undivided Shiv Sena and held the post during 1995-1999. He was admitted to the hospital in May last year after suffering a brain haemorrhage. He was also elected as a member of Parliament and was the Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002 to 2004 when the Vajpayee government was in power. Born on December 2, 1937 in coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, Joshi obtained his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) in Mumbai. His political career began with his involvement in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and he later became a member of the Shiv Sena. In the 1980s, Joshi emerged as a key leader within the Shiv Sena, and was known for his organisational skills. He was the Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002 to 2004 when the Vajpayee government was in power. The former Union minister was married to Anagha Joshi, who died in 2020 at the age of 75. He is survived by a son and two daughters. Joshi began his career as a teacher and entered politics in 1967. He was associated with the Shiv Sena for more than four decades. He was a municipal councilor in Mumbai during 1968-70 and Chairman, Standing Committee of the Mumbai municipal corporation in 1970. He was the Mayor of Mumbai during 1976-1977. He was then elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1972. After serving three terms in the Legislative Council, Joshi was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1990 and was the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly during 1990-91. In the 1999 general elections, Joshi won from the Mumbai North-Central Lok Sabha Constituency as a Shiv Sena candidate, and was later Union minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. Condoling Joshi's demise, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who was a member of the Maharashtra ministry when the former was the CM, said the state had lost a "cultured face" of politics. Joshi's family said his last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar area.

Former Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi passes away at 86

With assembly polls in key states coming up, <keyword id="404256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress-Parliamentary-Party" source="Orion">Congress Parliamentary Party</keyword> chairperson <keyword id="19935990" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonia-Gandhi" source="keywords">Sonia Gandhi</keyword> on Wednesday said the "<keyword id="22613088" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahaul" source="Orion">mahaul</keyword> (public mood)" is in the party's favour but there is a need to sustain the momentum and goodwill generated for it in the <keyword id="56978" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections" source="Orion">Lok Sabha elections</keyword>. "We must not become complacent and over confident...I dare say that if we perform well, reflecting the trend that we witnessed in the Lok Sabha elections, national politics will undergo a transformation," she told the <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> Parliamentary Party (<keyword id="43847" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPP" source="Orion">CPP</keyword>). Gandhi also accused the <keyword id="19916814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-government" source="keywords">Modi government</keyword> of not drawing the right lessons from "their significant decline" in the Lok Sabha elections and persisting with their policy of "dividing communities and spreading an atmosphere of fear and animosity". "Fortunately, the Supreme Court intervened at the right time," she said in an apparent reference to the stay on the orders passed by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand government asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the name of owners. "But this can only be a temporary respite. Look at how the rules have been suddenly changed to permit the bureaucracy to participate in the activities of the RSS. It calls itself a cultural organisation but the whole world knows that it is the BJP's political and ideological base," Gandhi said. Noting that elections will be held in four states, she urged party leaders to sustain the momentum and goodwill that had been generated for the party in the Lok Sabha elections. "We must not become complacent and over confident. The 'mahaul' does favour us, but we have to work unitedly with a sense of purpose. I dare say that if we perform well, reflecting the trend that we witnessed in the Lok Sabha elections, national politics will undergo a transformation," Gandhi said. Her remarks come ahead of assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand as also the possibility of elections in Jammu and Kashmir this year. She also slammed the Union Budget, saying that the pressing demands of farmers and youth in particular, have been totally ignored. Allocations in a number of vital sectors have not done justice to the tasks required to be fulfilled, she said. "There has been widespread disappointment, in spite of the prime minister, the finance minister and others to talk up the Budget and its so-called accomplishments. The Union Government, especially its top leadership, continues to be self-delusional as crores of families across the country are devastated by mounting unemployment and price rise," she said.

'Mahaul' in our favour, don't be complacent and over-confident: Sonia Gandhi to party on upcoming polls

New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday directed that Election Commission's order of February 7 granting name of 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' for the group led by <keyword id="19913755" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sharad-pawar" source="keywords">Sharad Pawar</keyword> will continue till further orders. A bench of Justices <keyword id="20018010" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surya-kant" source="keywords">Surya Kant</keyword> and K V Viswanathan sought response of Ajit Pawar-led faction on a plea of Sharad Pawar against the February 7 order of Election Commission recognising the <keyword id="19897316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maharashtra" source="keywords">Maharashtra</keyword> deputy chief minister-led group as the real Nationalist Congress Party (<keyword id="19913757" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ncp" source="keywords">NCP</keyword>). The bench gave liberty to Sharad Pawar to move the poll panel for allocation of the party symbol and directed the poll panel to allot it in one week of the application. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sharad Pawar, said that order passed by the Election Commission on February 7 is an interim arrangement made by the poll panel for <keyword id="19895369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="keywords">Rajya Sabha</keyword> elections till February 27. "The Maharashtra assembly session is scheduled to start from February 26 and our group will be without any name or symbol," he submitted. Sharad Pawar had sought an urgent hearing of his plea in the top court in the wake of twin blows suffered by the group led by him and the consequential fear of facing action for possible violations of whip by his MLAs. He had sought urgent hearing in view of the February 15 order of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Narwekar held that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar was the real NCP and that the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution cannot be used to stifle internal dissent. Prior to this, the poll panel announced on February 7 that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and also allotted the party's 'clock' symbol to the group. The one day special Maharashtra assembly session on Maratha quota is beginning on February 20.

Sharad Pawar faction can use 'NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar' name till further orders: SC

<keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> president <keyword id="19897159" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mallikarjun-Kharge" source="keywords">Mallikarjun Kharge</keyword> on Monday wrote an open letter to the country's bureaucracy on the eve of counting of votes for the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha elections</keyword>, urging officers to adhere to the Constitution and serve the nation "without fear, favour and ill-will against anybody". "Do not get intimidated by anyone. Do not bow down to any unconstitutional means. Do not be afraid of anyone and discharge your duties, based on merit, on this counting day," he wrote. "We owe it to future generations, a vibrant Democracy and a long-lasting Constitution, as penned by the makers of modern India," he said. The counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections will be held on Tuesday. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Infographic"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> "In this hope that India remains truly Democratic in nature, I extend good wishes to each one of you, and expect that our eternal ideals of the Constitution remain untarnished," the Congress chief said. In his appeal to all civil servants and officers, he said he is writing in his capacity of the Leader of the Opposition (Rajya Sabha) and as the president of the <keyword id="19964138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-National-Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian National Congress" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Indian National Congress">Indian National Congress</keyword>. He congratulated the Election Commission of India, the Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces, civil servants, district collectors, volunteers and all in the bureaucracy who were involved in the smooth conduct of the mammoth general elections. "Our inspiration and India's First Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel famously called the civil servants as the 'Steel frame of India'. The people of India are well aware that it is the Indian National Congress which established numerous institutions, laid their solid foundation, and devised mechanisms for their independence, on the basis of the Constitution of India. "Independence of the institutions is paramount, for every civil servant takes oath of the Constitution that they 'will faithfully and conscientiously discharge their duties and will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will'," he said. "In this spirit we expect every bureaucrat and officer - from top to bottom of the hierarchy, to discharge their duties in the spirit of the Constitution, without any coercion, threat, pressure or intimidation either from the ruling party/coalition or from the opposition party/coalition," the Congress chief said in his letter. He said that the Congress, through the Constitution prepared by inspirational founding members such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, B R Ambedkar, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu and countless others, not only created a framework of strong governance, but also ensured affirmative action through representation of the marginalised in the bureaucracy and the civil society. "The last decade has witnessed a systemic pattern to assault, undermine and suppress our autonomous institutions by the ruling party. India's Democratic ethos are being consequently damaged. There is a widespread tendency to turn India into a regimental dictatorship. "We are increasingly seeing some institutions shedding their independence and brazenly following the diktats of the ruling party. Some have completely adopted their style of communication, their way of functioning, and in some cases even their political rhetoric," Kharge said. But it is not their fault, he said. "With brute power, threat, coercive mechanisms and misuse of agencies, this tendency to bow to the powers that have become a way for their short-term survival. Even though, in this denigration, India's Constitution and Democracy have become a casualty." The Congress chief also said that the "will of the people" is supreme, and people want Indian bureaucracy to again be the same 'Steel frame of India' as envisaged by Sardar Patel. "Indian National Congress now urges the entire bureaucracy, to adhere to the Constitution, enact their duties, and serve the nation, without fear, favour and ill-will against anybody," Kharge said. Counting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections would be held on Tuesday, and both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc have claimed victory. Meanwhile, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a purported letter of the Congress in which it has asked all its cadres to reach the counting centres. However, there was no confirmation of the letter from the Congress. "<keyword id="1571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress-party" source="Orion">Congress party</keyword>'s instruction to its workers' reads like a manual to riot...There is absolutely no merit in asking people to assembly in state and district offices because counting happens in a designated secure zone for each Lok Sabha, unless the idea is to unleash mobs and disrupt the process," Malviya said in a post on X while sharing the unsigned letter of the Congress.

'Follow Constitution, serve nation without fear': Congress chief Kharge writes open letter to bureaucrats

The much-anticipated Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results is here! As the excitement peaks, you can track the seat count, constituency wise data and major updates here on Business Insider India: <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Infographic"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> As the day progresses, more and more details of who are leading and winning across the country will emaerge. The polling for the 543-member Lok Sabha, except for the uncontested seats of Surat and Indore, took place over seven phases from April 19 to June 1. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Infographic"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lok Sabha Election Results: Date and time" comment="subhead" text="Lok Sabha Election Results: Date and time"><keyword id="21610112" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-Election-Results" source="keywords">Lok Sabha Election Results</keyword>: Date and time</cmsannotation> According to the <keyword id="19895782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission" source="keywords">Election Commission</keyword>, the counting of votes will commence at 8 AM, on Tuesday, June 4. This will cover not only the Lok Sabha elections but also the state legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, along with various bye-elections. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Where to track Election Commission's updates" comment="subhead" text="Where to track Election Commission's updates">Where to track Election Commission's updates</cmsannotation> For the latest updates on the Lok Sabha election results, you can visit the official Election Commission of India (ECI) website: <a href="https://results.eci.gov.in/" data-type="tilCustomLink">https://results.eci.gov.in/</a>. These updates will also be accessible via the Voter Helpline App, compatible with both iOS and Android devices. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Where to watch live Lok Sabha Election Results" comment="subhead" text="Where to watch live Lok Sabha Election Results">Where to watch live Lok Sabha Election Results</cmsannotation> To experience comprehensive coverage, constituency wise updates and debates, the election results will be live-streamed on various news channels, YouTube channels, and social media accounts of major news outlets. Enthusiasts of large screen experience in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, can watch the 2024 Lok Sabha election results live in theatres as well as MovieMax will showcase the event titled 'Election Results 2024' starting at 9 AM. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The counting process for Lok Sabha Election" comment="subhead" text="The counting process for Lok Sabha Election">The counting process for Lok Sabha Election</cmsannotation> Under Rule 54 A of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1961, the process for counting votes starts with postal ballots at the Returning Officer's (RO) table. Thirty minutes into postal ballot counting, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes can be counted, or immediately if no postal ballots are present. Counting officials must ensure that the EVM's Control Unit (CU) seal is intact and that the total votes match Form 17C before counting. Results from the CU are recorded in Part-II of Form 17C, verified by the counting supervisor, micro observer, and candidate agents. If the CU's display fails, VVPAT slips are counted post CU counting. Results for each CU are documented and signed in Form 17C, which is then sent for compiling the final result in Form 20. VVPAT slip counting starts after CU votes are counted, with mandatory verification of VVPAT slips from five random polling stations per constituency. If the victory margin is less than the rejected postal ballots, those ballots are re-verified before declaring the result. In case of a tie, the winner is determined by a draw of lots.

Lok Sabha Election Results 2024 LIVE on June 4: Date, time, how to track poll results, counting process, and more

Lok Sabha Election Results 2024 LIVE: BJP-led NDA crosses halfway mark in terms of leads; INDIA bloc still putting up a fight

The tallies for each constituency are in, and the arithmetic for the next government is being worked out. If the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword>) manages to hold onto their alliances, the stage will be set for Modi 3.0. However, if the Congress-led INDIA bloc somehow lures major parties like JD(U) and TDP, they might have a chance, though it is a long shot at the moment. However, with the results out for all 543 constituencies, much has been revealed about the general attitude of the country’s voters. For instance, despite the almost-unshakable belief that the BJP will sweep almost all 80 <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> seats — especially after the Ram Mandir inauguration — the party shockingly only managed to win only 33. Some experts speculate that this outcome came from the party failing to address core issues such as employment and economic anxiety, and instead choosing to focus on religious divide to win ballots. Expert institutions, such as Bernstein and Citi Research, have now noted that new spendings may now thus become focused on the poor, women, farmers and rural areas, especially considering how rapidly BJP’s <a href="https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/bias-of-markets-expected-rural-agriculture-to-be-the-new-focus-areas-reports/110728041">vote share has dropped in the rural seats</a>. For context, rural constituencies make up 60% of the total constituencies in India, according to The Economic Times. However, this is not to say that the party has clear favourites among the more developed and richer states either. Many of the richest Indian states have expressed mixed to lukewarm reactions towards BJP this election cycle, and even delivered unexpected shockers. For instance, the NDA lost a lot of ground in Uttar Pradesh, <keyword id="19897316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra" source="keywords">Maharashtra</keyword> and Rajasthan — some states with the biggest economies in the country. As for the current scenario, the party favourite remains mixed. Considering that the country has delayed the National Survey by four years, we have to rely on independent sources to come up with more current state-wide economic statistics. Therefore, as per the India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), <keyword id="19896017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka" source="keywords">Karnataka</keyword>, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat formed the five largest state economies in India in the 2023 Financial Year. Let’s take a look at how India’s wealthiest states voted in <keyword id="20886626" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-2024" source="keywords">Lok Sabha 2024</keyword>. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Karnataka" comment="subhead" text="Karnataka">Karnataka</cmsannotation> Despite struggles with making headway in the South, the BJP had made a clean sweep in Karnataka, bagging 25 seats in the 2019 general elections. While the BJP-JD(S) alliance has managed to retain a majority in the southern state with 17 seats, <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> made an impressive comeback this year, winning 9 seats compared to the 1 in the last election cycle. JD(S) managed to capture the remaining two seats. As for the four Bengaluru constituencies, BJP managed to cling onto all of them as well, with Tejasvi Surya in Bengaluru South, Shobha Karandlaje in Bengaluru North, P. C. Mohan in Bengaluru Central and C. N. Manjunath in Bengaluru Rural. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Uttar Pradesh" comment="subhead" text="Uttar Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</cmsannotation> As mentioned earlier, the biggest controversies came out of Uttar Pradesh. Housing prominent figures such as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has been widely considered as a stronghold for the saffron party, who had won a whopping 62 seats in 2019. However, resident voters were determined to take to the booths to voice their dissent this year. Of the 80 UP constituencies — by far the state with the largest number of seats — 37 were won by the Samajwadi Party. Meanwhile, the BJP held onto 33 seats, and the INC 6. The difference is stark: BJP lost 27 of the seats it won in the previous election cycle. Many prominent figures were dethroned this year, including Smriti Irani in Amethi, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra in Kheri and Maneka Gandhi in Sultanpur. However, perhaps the biggest shocker came from the fact that the BJP also lost the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which housed the contentious Ram Temple. Awadesh Prasad of the Samajwadi Party will be chairing the constituency for the next five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, contested for the Varanasi seat, beating INC’s Ajay Rai by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Maharashtra" comment="subhead" text="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</cmsannotation> Another of the biggest losses for the BJP also saw a resurgence for Congress in the state with the highest <keyword id="35050" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp" source="Orion">GDP</keyword>. While the NDA had clinched 41 out of the 48 seats in the previous 2019 elections, it managed to bag a paltry 9 this time around. While this is a monumental loss for the ruling party, they managed to hold firmly onto most of the coastal Konkan belt. Headed by the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP won 7 of the 12 coastal seats, including in Palghar, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and Mumbai North. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) maintained its hold on half of the six Mumbai constituencies. Of the four Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) seats, NCP (SP) won Bhiwandi, Shinde-led Shiv Sena won Thane and Kalyan and BJP won Palghar. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Tamil Nadu" comment="subhead" text="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</cmsannotation> Of all the economic powerhouses, Tamil Nadu was the only state untouched by the BJP this year. Out of the 39 seats in the state, the MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came out victorious in 22, the INC won 9, while a coalition of other parties bagged the remaining seats. This was a massive win for the DMK, especially considering the two major opposition parties, the AIADMK and BJP, had come together to contest this year. Considered by many as BJP's most promising candidate, K Annamalai, too lost to DMK’s Ganapathi P Rajkumar in Coimbatore. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Gujarat" comment="subhead" text="Gujarat">Gujarat</cmsannotation> While most of the other states endured major plot-twists, the story has remained almost the same for Narendra Modi’s home state, Gujarat. As per final polls, the BJP won 25 of the total 26 seats in the state, falling short of a full clean sweep due to INC clutching the final one. However, the INC win in the Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat was no small victory, considering this was the first time in a decade that the party had made ground in the western state. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah contested and won from state capital Gandhinagar by a massive margin of nearly 7.5 lakh votes.

Lok Sabha 2024: How BJP, Congress and other parties have performed in states with largest economies in India

New Delhi, More than 10 years after a Supreme Court judgement paved way for introduction of the <keyword id="20335981" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nota" source="keywords">NOTA</keyword> button on EVM for polls, the number of voters choosing it still remains low, with the experts dubbing it as a "toothless tiger" with no implications on the results. NOTA (None of the Above) was introduced in India through the Supreme Court's judgement in September 2013. The need to introduce NOTA was felt to discourage the parties from fielding tainted candidates. The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to make necessary provision in the ballot papers/EVMs so that the voters can decide not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray. Introduced in 2013, the NOTA option on electronic voting machines has its own symbol - a ballot paper with a black cross across it. After the Supreme Court order in September 2013, the Election Commission added the NOTA button on the EVMs as the last option on the voting panel. One ballot unit has 16 buttons. Before the apex court order, those not inclined to vote for any candidate had the option of filling what is popularly called form 49-O. But filling out the form at the polling station under Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, compromised the secrecy of the voter. However, even as NOTA has secured over 1.29 crore votes in the state assembly elections and the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections combined in the last five years, the number of candidates with criminal records has increased in both the general and the assembly elections. According to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the share of MPs with declared criminal cases against them has been increasing in the last decade. While 30 per cent elected MPs had criminal cases against them in 2009, which went up. Of the 543 winners analysed by the ADR in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, 162 (30 per cent) had declared criminal cases against them, with 76 (14 per cent) had serious criminal cases against them. In 2019, the share of MPs with criminal and serious criminal cases increased to 43 per cent and 29 per cent. "NOTA has made no difference as far as criminality is concerned, in fact the number of candidates with criminal cases has increased," Major General (Retd) Anil Verma, Head of ADR, told PTI. "The concept of NOTA was that some pressure would be on the parties not to field tainted candidates. It has not happened," he said. Overall in different state and general elections, votes polled on NOTA have been between .5 per cent to 1.5per cent, according to data compiled by the ADR. It secured around 1.06 per cent votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and among states, highest was when it got 1.98 percent of the total votes in the 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. The lowest number of votes NOTA in the Lok Sabha was 100 votes in Lakshadweep, and among the state polls, it secured the lowest percentage of vote share - 0.46 percent in both the Delhi State Assembly Elections, 2020, and the Mizoram State Assembly Elections, 2018. "Unfortunately, it turned out to be a toothless tiger. It merely provided a platform to express dissent or one's anger for political parties to take note and nothing more," <keyword id="20887282" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maj-gen-verma" source="keywords">Maj Gen Verma</keyword> (Retd) said. He, however, pointed out that overall, the percentage of NOTA votes in seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribe has been slightly higher, which may indicate there are more grievances among these groups. "In the reserved constituencies, we have seen the percentage of NOTA votes are higher. Perhaps the tribals and SCs have more grievances so they go in larger numbers for NOTA," he said. Constituency wise, NOTA has secured as high as 27,500 votes in Maharashtra's Latur Rural constituency, a seat reserved for the SC community, over 13 per cent of the total votes. NOTA got the second spot, with Congress' Dhiraj Deshmukh winning with over 67 per cent of the total votes. In 'Red Alert Constituencies', the seats with three or more candidates with criminal cases contesting the elections, NOTA secured 26, 77,616 votes (26.77 lakhs) in the state assembly elections since 2018. It ranges from 1.63 per cent in Bihar in 217 red alert constituencies to 0.43 per cent in Delhi. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the highest number of NOTA votes (51,660) were polled in Bihar's Gopalganj, another reserved SC constituency, where it secured the third spot getting 5.03 per cent of the total votes. Axis India chairman <keyword id="20816878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pradeep-gupta" source="keywords">Pradeep Gupta</keyword> said there is a requirement to give more teeth to the NOTA option. "I believe that candidates, who have lost against NOTA should not get a chance to contest again. That is what the logic is all about. Since there is no such rule, many voters think what is the point of choosing NOTA," Gupta told PTI. "In 2014, 1.08 pc voters chose NOTA, the percentage was 1.06 pc in 2019. It is a sizeable number but I believe it is more due to error and less due to intention," Gupta said. "But if a rule is brought in barring the rejected candidates from contesting again, I believe the number will go up like anything. The political parties understand the sensitivity of this and that is why I believe no one will favour such a law and hence NOTA is a toothless option," he added. Calls have also been made for scrapping NOTA. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had last year sought scrapping NOTA, stating that in certain cases it polled more votes than winning margin. In 2018, the Supreme Court had ruled that NOTA option should not be given in the <keyword id="19895369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="keywords">Rajya Sabha</keyword> elections.

None of the Above or NOTA toothless without right to reject, say experts

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, The <keyword id="19895782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Election Commission" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Election Commission">Election Commission</keyword> on Friday said it has identified 266 <keyword id="20809469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parliamentary-constituencies" source="keywords">parliamentary constituencies</keyword>, including 215 in rural areas, with <keyword id="21207154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="low-voter-turnout" source="keywords">low voter turnout</keyword> and is planning <keyword id="21207534" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="targeted-intervention" source="keywords">targeted intervention</keyword> to enhance <keyword id="19973117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voting-percentage" source="keywords">voting percentage</keyword> in the upcoming <keyword id="19912155" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-polls" source="keywords">Lok Sabha polls</keyword>. Municipal commissioners from major cities and select district election officers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh discussed enhancing voter engagement and participation in identified urban and rural Lok Sabha seats. At its conference on low <keyword id="20108198" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-turnout" source="keywords">voter turnout</keyword> here, the EC said 266 parliamentary constituencies -- 215 rural and 51 urban -- with low voter turnout have been identified. Eleven states and Union territories - Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand - had a voter turnout lower than the national average of 67.40 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Addressing the participants, <keyword id="19998985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Election-Commissioner" source="keywords">Chief Election Commissioner</keyword> Rajiv Kumar stressed that 'one size fits all' approach will not work and different strategies have to be worked out for different areas and segments. Polling for the seven-phased Lok Sabha polls begins on April 19. Kumar emphasised on a three-pronged strategy of providing facilitation at polling stations, such as queue management, sheltered parking in congested areas; targeted outreach and communication; and involvement of critical stakeholders including RWAs, local icons and youth influencers to persuade people to come to polling stations on voting day. He told officials to prepare a booth-wise action plan for enhanced participation and behaviour change. He asked the participants to prepare different strategies for urban and rural areas and plan interventions accordingly for different target audiences. Discussions were centred on critical issues such as optimising queue management at polling stations and facilitating voting in high-rise buildings. Urban specific hurdles to increased voter turnout were identified and targeted city-specific interventions were planned. The officers were encouraged to develop tailored, region-specific outreach programs that resonate with the unique needs and demographics of their constituencies. The Commission recalled that nearly 29.7 crore eligible voters did not vote in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections "underscoring the scale of the problem which calls for proactive measures". In the last Lok Sabha elections, of the 50 seats with the lowest voter turnout, 17 were in metropolitans or major cities. It said recent elections across various states have highlighted trends of urban apathy towards the electoral process, warranting targeted interventions and collaborative endeavours.

EC identifies 266 Lok Sabha seats with low voter turnout, mostly in rural areas

The onset of a strong El Niño event led to an unusual winter season, with <keyword id="6355648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="summer" source="Orion">summer</keyword>-like conditions arriving prematurely as early as February this year. Although the El Niño phenomenon has now moderated and is transitioning towards a neutral phase, the country must prepare for an exceptionally harsh summer ahead. If you've been struggling with the heat already, the news isn't comforting. The <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> Meteorological Department (<keyword id="19933636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="imd" source="keywords">IMD</keyword>) has issued a stark warning for the upcoming summer season spanning from April to June, anticipating scorching temperatures and prolonged heatwaves across most regions of the country. Expect both daytime and nighttime temperatures to remain higher than usual in many areas, except for parts of northeast and northwest India. Extended periods of intense heatwaves are forecasted to affect South, Central, and East India, as well as the northwestern plains, throughout April, May, and June. Moreover, there's a significant likelihood of heatwaves lasting 10-20 days, surpassing the typical duration of 4-8 days. Central and western regions, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, are anticipated to experience the brunt of these extreme heatwaves. In terms of pre-monsoon rainfall, April is expected to see normal rains, with increased precipitation predicted for May and June in Northwest, Central, North Peninsular, East, and Northeast India. However, coastal areas in both the East and West, as well as West-central India, can expect below-normal rainfall, offering little relief from the sweltering conditions. Heatwaves pose serious risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with health issues, who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses like heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. Additionally, extreme heat can strain power grids, transportation, and other infrastructure. To mitigate these risks, proactive measures such as establishing cooling centres, issuing heat advisories, and implementing strategies to reduce urban heat buildup are crucial. Furthermore, this period of intense heat coincides with the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections (April 19th - June 1st), where nearly a billion people are expected to participate. Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasised the need for India to prepare adequately due to its large population and extreme weather conditions. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a <keyword id="6371478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heatwave" source="Orion">heatwave</keyword> advisory for the elections, urging electoral bodies to work with states to prevent heat-related incidents during public gatherings. In summary, India is bracing for a challenging summer characterised by above-normal temperatures and prolonged heatwaves. Remaining informed and taking necessary precautions will be vital for navigating this period safely.

You Searched For "maharashtra rajya sabha election" and got 12 results

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None of the Above or NOTA toothless without right to reject, say experts

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

Kunal Kambli

EC identifies 266 Lok Sabha seats with low voter turnout, mostly in rural areas

PTI

India in for brutal heatwave conditions from April to June; likely to have sizzling impact on Lok Sabha elections

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