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<keyword id="19929103" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nationalist-Congress-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Nationalist Congress Party" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Nationalist Congress Party">Nationalist Congress Party</keyword> (SP) president <keyword id="19913755" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sharad-pawar" source="keywords">Sharad Pawar</keyword> on Friday hit out at the <keyword id="19909267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centre" source="keywords">Centre</keyword> over <keyword id="20214944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Leader-of-Opposition" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Leader of Opposition" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Leader of Opposition">Leader of Opposition</keyword> <keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> not being allotted a <keyword id="22807715" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="front-row-seat" source="keywords">front-row seat</keyword> at the <keyword id="22594483" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Independence-Day-event" source="keywords">Independence Day event</keyword>, accusing it of not honouring the post of LoP. Addressing party workers of the opposition bloc <keyword id="19924537" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Vikas-Aghadi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Vikas Aghadi" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Maha Vikas Aghadi">Maha Vikas Aghadi</keyword>, Pawar said the threat to the <keyword id="19942019" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Constitution" source="keywords">Constitution</keyword> is still not over even if the BJP did not get majority in the Lok Sabha polls. "The Centre did not honour the post of Leader of Opposition," Pawar said. "The Leader of Opposition was made to sit in the back row," said the NCP (SP) chief. The Congress on Thursday said making Gandhi "sit in the fifth row" at the <keyword id="20069086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="independence-day" source="keywords">Independence Day</keyword> celebrations at the Red Fort showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "pettiness" and lack of respect for democratic traditions. Pawar said that when he was the leader of the opposition during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure, his seating arrangement at the I-Day event was alongside the cabinet ministers. He recalled that when Manmohan Singh was the PM, the then LoP Sushma Swaraj was given a seat allotted to cabinet ranks. The prime minister is an institution, and so is the leader of the opposition. The prestige of the PM's post has to be maintained. Similarly, LoP's prestige is also equally important, Pawar stressed.

Centre did not honour LoP's post: Pawar on Rahul not being allotted front-row seat at Independence Day event

The <keyword id="19895876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Election Commission of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Election Commission of India">Election Commission of India</keyword> (ECI) has officially announced the schedules for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, setting the stage for crucial state elections next month. Here’s what voters in these states can expect: <h2>Maharashtra: Single-phase voting on November 20</h2>Maharashtra will head to the polls in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. This election will see a high-stakes contest between two major coalitions: the <keyword id="19924537" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Vikas-Aghadi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Vikas Aghadi" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Vikas Aghadi">Maha Vikas Aghadi</keyword> (MVA) and the <keyword id="21555670" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Yuti-Alliance" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Yuti Alliance" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Yuti Alliance">Maha Yuti Alliance</keyword>. The MVA consists of <keyword id="19905331" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uddhav-Thackeray" source="keywords">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword>'s Shiv Sena (UBT), the <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>, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Sharad Pawar. Meanwhile, the Maha Yuti Alliance brings together the <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharatiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bharatiya Janata Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. This intense battle for control over the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly follows the end of the current term on November 26. The model code of conduct has come into immediate effect in Maharashtra, guiding political parties on appropriate campaigning practices and ensuring fair elections. <h2>Jharkhand: Two-phase voting on November 13 and 20</h2>In Jharkhand, voting will occur in two phases: the first on November 13 and the second on November 20. The results will be declared on November 23, alongside Maharashtra’s. This election focuses on the 81-seat Assembly, with a fierce competition expected between the ruling <keyword id="20028356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jharkhand-Mukti-Morcha" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha">Jharkhand Mukti Morcha</keyword> (JMM)-Congress alliance and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and Janata Dal (United). Jharkhand’s current Assembly term expires on January 5, 2025. The elections will feature 29,562 polling stations across urban and rural areas to accommodate the state’s 2.6 crore registered voters. This diverse electorate includes 66.84 lakh young voters and 11.84 lakh first-time voters, with special arrangements for 3.67 lakh persons with disabilities. <h2>Pre-election preparations</h2>The ECI’s preparations for the elections began in September, with teams visiting both states to assess readiness. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, met with local officials, district collectors, and political representatives to evaluate logistical arrangements and security measures. In Maharashtra, the Maha Yuti Alliance and the MVA have been ramping up their efforts to secure <keyword id="23060079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-support" source="keywords">voter support</keyword> in what is expected to be a dramatic electoral showdown. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM, which is part of the INDIA bloc, is eyeing another term despite recent controversies surrounding Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who faced legal challenges earlier this year. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance remains strong, as the party is expected to contest all 81 seats in the Assembly. (With inputs from agencies)

ECI Announces election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand; both states to vote in November

On expected lines, the <keyword id="54794" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nationalist-congress-party" source="Orion">Nationalist Congress Party</keyword> (<keyword id="42402" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ncp" source="Orion">NCP</keyword>) on Friday unanimously rejected the resignation of party's national President <keyword id="6364749" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sharad-pawar" source="Orion">Sharad Pawar</keyword> and requested him in one voice to continue in his post. The decision was taken at a meeting of the special panel set up by <keyword id="42401" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="pawar" source="Orion">Pawar</keyword> to name his successor after his dramatic announcement to step down, made on May 2, said NCP Vice-President Praful M. Patel, who is the convenor of the committee. Addressing a crowded media conference, Patel said that the panel's decision on two resolutions - rejecting the resignation and urging him to continue as party chief - shall be conveyed to Pawar for his final call in the matter. The committee also resolved that it was unable to elect another President in place of Pawar and requested him to continue till his full term ended, indicating that the party has fully united under him vis-A-vis recent speculation of a possible split. State President Jayant Patil said that the resolutions were passed in tune with everybody's expectations and now a team of senior leaders shall meet Pawar and convey it to him. The official decision was greeted with thunderous applause and cheers, tears of relief shed by some activists, singing and dancing by the party rank-and-file who had gathered outside the NCP headquarters. Patel said that the entire party has made its sentiments clear on Pawar's decision, and their views were again put forth at the committee meeting today, as the shell-shocked party grassroots workers eagerly awaited their decision. Nevertheless, Pawar Sr.'s nephew <keyword id="6366108" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ajit-pawar" source="Orion">Ajit Pawar</keyword> had adopted a differing line since the past four days and batted for electing a new party chief. After the panel decision, Ajit Pawar did not comment on the fresh development and he is likely to meet his uncle later in the day. Soon after Pawar, 83, dropped his bombshell on the national political horizon, the NCP had been in a turmoil with protests, demonstrations, hunger strikes, appeals and letters penned in blood, spate of lower rung resignations, etc, demanding he should retract his move. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/retail-inflation-in-india-expected-to-average-at-5-2-2023-emkay/articleshow/100010743.cms">Retail inflation in India expected to average at 5.2% 2023: Emkay</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/india-is-at-a-tipping-point-and-a-major-focus-for-apple-says-tim-cook/articleshow/100011015.cms">India is at a 'tipping point' and a major focus for Apple, says Tim Cook</a>

NCP junks Sharad Pawar's resignation, wants him to remain President

A look at Sharad Pawar’s political career as he hangs his boots as NCP chief

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, Several political parties declined to share details of electoral bond donors citing various legal provisions, while others said they received the funding instruments through "drop box" or by post without any name. The DMK, which received most of its donations from a lottery firm, reached out to its donors to seek details of the electoral bonds as demanded by the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="keywords">Supreme Court</keyword> in 2019. The BJP cited the amendments to the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the relevant portions of the Reserve Bank of India Act and the Income Tax Act for not revealing its donors. "It is duly submitted that the electoral bonds were introduced with the aim of bringing only accounted for funds in political funding while protecting the donors from any consequences, therefrom," the BJP said in its letter to the <keyword id="19895782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="election-commission" source="keywords">Election Commission</keyword>. The <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress" source="keywords">Congress</keyword> shot off a letter to the <keyword id="19934368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-bank-of-india" source="keywords">State Bank of India</keyword> (SBI) seeking details of donors of electoral bonds, the amount, the bank account in which it was credited and the date. The SBI responded to the Congress that the details of the electoral bonds were available with the political parties and shared the statement of the bank account which was shared with the Commission. The Samajwadi Party shared details of bonds of relatively smaller amounts of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, but merely mentioned that 10 bonds of Rs 1 crore each were received by post without any name. The DMK, which received almost 77 per cent of its funds from lottery king Santiago Martin's Future Gaming, said it had reached out to the donors of the party to get details of the donations they had made. "The scheme also does not require the details of the donor to be furnished to the donee. ... Be that as it may, following the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court, we contacted our donors and we were able to collect the details from them," the DMK said. The <keyword id="19910625" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="telugu-desam-party" source="keywords">Telugu Desam Party</keyword> mentioned "not readily available" in the column for listing out the names of donors. The <keyword id="19968095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="trinamool-congress" source="keywords">Trinamool Congress</keyword> said the electoral bonds were sent to the party office and were "dropped in the drop box". The party said some bonds were sent through messengers from various persons who wished to support the party, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous. The NCP, then led by Sharad Pawar, expressed inability to furnish details of donors against each bond as the party had not maintained details or issued any receipts. The letter by the NCP to the Election Commission said several of its office-bearers were busy with the election campaign. "Wherever possible we have indicated the name of the person through whom bonds were received by the party," the NCP said. The Goa unit of the Congress reached out to its donor V M Salgaonkar and Brothers to get details of the electoral bonds worth Rs 30 lakh given by them to the party. The RJD said the details about donations worth Rs 1.5 crore were not readily available. The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has told the Election Commission that someone delivered to its office an envelope with electoral bonds worth Rs 10 crore in 2019, which were redeemed by the party.

Electoral bonds dropped at office, received by post, say political parties

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 5 (ANI): The crisis in NCP is escalating with the two factions calling separate meetings on Wednesday in an apparent show of strength. Supporters of NCP chief <keyword id="6364749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sharad-pawar" source="Orion">Sharad Pawar</keyword> have gathered outside YB Chavan Centre ahead of the meeting called by the party chief. NCP working president and MP, <keyword id="26805" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supriya-sule" source="Orion">Supriya Sule</keyword> also reached YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who belongs to the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="6366108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ajit-pawar" source="Orion">Ajit Pawar</keyword>, said the exact number of leaders can only be seen on the stage. "We will see the number of leaders sitting in on the stage and at other places. Supporters are signing papers and they are asked from where have they come. The exact number of leaders can only be seen on the stage," he said. NCP suffered a split on Sunday with Ajit Pawar joining the Eknath Shinde-BJP government along with eight other MLAs. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar has moved a disqualification petition against the nine MLAs to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal along with Dilip Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Mundo, Dharmaraobaba Atram, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode and Anil Patil joined Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra government on Sunday. Sharad Pawar has removed his close aide Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare from the party for "anti-party activities". "Your actions of supporting Ajit Pawar and the eight other MLAs, who have sworn oath as Ministers in violation of the party's direction and mandate, ex-facie amount to anti-party activities and that you deemed to have voluntarily left the membership of Nationalist Congress Party," Pawar said in a communication which was also sent to the two party MPs. "I formally remove your names from the Membership Register of the Party in view of your actions of voluntarily giving up membership of the Nationalist Congress Party," it said. The communication said the action of MPs, "in a surreptitious manner, without the knowledge or consent of the party president, amounts to the desertion of the party, which in turn invites disqualification from primary membership". Praful Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP, has been a close associate of Pawar and was appointed working president of NCP last month. He was a minister in the Congress-led UPA government along with Pawar.Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule had written to him for action against the two MPs. (ANI)

NCP crisis: Supriya Sule reaches YB Chavan Centre for meeting called by Sharad Pawar

Mumbai, In a setback for Congress in Mumbai ahead of Lok Sabha polls, former Union minister <keyword id="85636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="milind-deora" source="Orion">Milind Deora</keyword> on Sunday quit the party "to walk the path of development" and joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, ending a "55 years old association" of the Deora family with the Grand Old Party. With Deora resigning just before the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress alleged that the timing of the announcement of his departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for headline management to counter the yatra, and asserted that it would have no impact. The former Mumbai South MP announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party on social media platform X in the morning hours on Sunday. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," Deora stated. He later went to Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers. In the afternoon, Deora joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Eknath Shinde in a function at Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister. Earlier in the day, when Deora stepped out of his residence 'Ramalayam' in south Mumbai, he told reporters that he was "going to walk on the path of development". Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency which he had represented in the past. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time. He is the son of party stalwart late Murli Deora. After Deora announced his resignation on X, Mumbai Congress president <keyword id="20188187" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="varsha-gaikwad" source="keywords">Varsha Gaikwad</keyword> said it was unfortunate that he had quit the party on the day when the Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' commences from Manipur. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole called it a ploy by the Bharatiya Janata Party to divert the attention from the Yatra and mocked Deora as a "twice defeated candidate". Former chief minister Ashok Chavan said Deora wanted to contest from the Mumbai South constituency but the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliance's understanding is that the sitting MP must not be disturbed. "The BJP was spreading rumours that the Congress will split. Now the BJP and its allies are taking along with them a twice-defeated candidate to divert attention from the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This attempt will not be successful," Patole said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, however, said there would be no compromise on the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. "Arvind Sawant is a two-time MP (of Shiv Sena-UBT). What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this," Raut asserted. In a swipe at BJP, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP <keyword id="20083020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supriya-sule" source="keywords">Supriya Sule</keyword> asked if the saffron party had no talent of its own. Asked about Deora's resignation, Sule said the BJP and its allies were becoming the Congress, an apparent reference to leaders from the grand old party switching allegiance to the ruling side.

Milind Deora quits Congress, joins Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde to 'walk development path'

New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): With counting slated for today for the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha elections</keyword>, which have seen the largest voter participation, the electoral fate of several leaders across the political spectrum will be decided. Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>, Home Minister <keyword id="19899491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amit-Shah" source="keywords">Amit Shah</keyword> and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are among the senior BJP leaders in the fray. Key opposition leaders, including former Congress chief <keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, NCP's <keyword id="20083020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supriya-Sule" source="keywords">Supriya Sule</keyword> and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, are also contesting the poll. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Infographic"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> Here is a look at some key contests involving prominent leaders: 1. Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Modi, is seeking a third term from Varanasi, the constituency that paved his way to the Lok Sabha after his stint as Chief Minister. He is pitted against Congress leader and INDIA bloc candidate Ajay Rai. PM Modi won the seat by huge margins in 2014 and 2019. 2. Amit Shah: The Union Home Minister entered the Lok Sabha in 2019 from Gandhinagar and is seeking his second straight term from the seat, which has been held by BJP veterans in the past. Shah, who earlier served as BJP President, is against Congress candidate Sonal Patel. 3. Rahul Gandhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from two seats -- Wayanad and Raebareli. Gandhi, who lost the family bastion seat of Amethi in 2019 and entered the Lok Sabha from Wayanad, is aiming to maintain the party's lone bastion left in the state. He is up against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh and BJP's K. Surendran, as well as CPI-M's Annie Raja in Wayanad. 4. Supriya Sule and <keyword id="20734555" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sunetra-pawar" source="keywords">Sunetra Pawar</keyword>: The Baramati constituency is another 'hot seat' that will decide the future of the 'Pawar' legacy. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule is against his cousin Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, from the seat. The exit polls have predicted a tight contest. 5. <keyword id="42749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor" source="Orion">Shashi Tharoor</keyword>: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who is a three-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, is facing a three-way contest against BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI-M's Panniyan Ravindran. The exit polls have predicted a tight contest. 6. K. Annamalai: BJP Tamil Nadu chief and rising face in the south, K Annamalai, is aiming to make the party's inroads in the state. Contesting from Coimbatore, the former cop is up against DMK leader Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK's Singai Ramachandran. 7. Rajnath Singh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is seeking a third term from Lucknow. The former Uttar Pradesh CM served as the Home Minister in BJP's first term and Defence Minister in the second term. Singh is facing SP candidate Ravidas Mehrotra and BSP candidate Sarwar Malik. 8. Abhishek Banerjee: As the BJP is aiming to make further inroads in West Bengal, and TMC is looking to maintain its fortress, TMC general secretary and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee is contesting from Diamond Harbour seeking a second term from the seat. Banerjee is pitted against CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahaman and BJP's Abhijit Das. 9. Akhilesh Yadav: Former Uttar Pradesh CM and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made a surprise entry in the Lok Sabha polls, announcing his candidature from Kannauj. Yadav, who is an MLA from Karhal assembly constituency, is facing incumbent MP and BJP leader Subrat Pathak. 10. Asaduddin Owaisi: The Hyderabad constituency is bracing for a big showdown with four-time MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi facing a challenge against BJP candidate and actor-turned-politician Madhavi Latha. The Lok Sabha elections for 543 seats of the lower house were held across seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on Tuesday, June 4. The Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing a third straight term in power, while the Opposition under the umbrella of the INDIA bloc is seeking to wrest power from the ruling party. Meanwhile, all the exit polls have predicted the BJP returning to power with a resounding majority, with further inroads in Odisha, West Bengal, and southern states.

From Modi and Shah to Gandhi and Tharoor, here's a look at some key Lok Sabha seats ahead of election results

Mumbai, In a huge jolt to the opposition <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), senior leader <keyword id="6357736" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Eknath-Khadse">Eknath Khadse</keyword> has quit the party to join the ruling <keyword id="54794" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nationalist-Congress-Party">Nationalist Congress Party</keyword>, a top leader said here on Wednesday. "He has quit the BJP after serving the party for over 35 years... He will join the NCP on Friday afternoon," NCP State President and <keyword id="10144819" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="minister-jayant-patil">Minister Jayant Patil</keyword> told mediapersons. Besides, several other BJP leaders, including many activists at various levels, are likely to follow suit and shall be followed by other elected legislators later, said Patil. "Khadse Saheb has expressed his willingness to work under the leadership of NCP President <keyword id="6364749" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sharad-Pawar">Sharad Pawar</keyword>... He has been subjected to great injustice in his party... Other elected leaders would enter NCP at a subsequent stage...," the NCP state chief said. Earlier, Khadse informed newspersons that he had quit from the primary membership of the BJP. However, state BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye claimed that the party has not received his (Khadse's) resignation letter so far. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-ril-ioc-ongc-cipla-hindustan-zinc-prabhat-dairy-and-others/articleshow/78780036.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Top stocks to watch — RIL, IOC, ONGC, Cipla, Hindustan Zinc, Prabhat Dairy, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-samsung-galaxy-m51-mobile-review/articleshow/78780771.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Samsung Galaxy M51 review – insane battery life</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-will-be-most-consequential-partner-for-us-in-indo-pacific-this-century/articleshow/78780949.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">US Defence Secretary believes India will be the most consequential partner for US in Indo-Pacific this century</a>

Senior leader Eknath Khadse quits BJP to join NCP

INDIA bloc leaders gathered at <keyword id="19895812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jantar-Mantar" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jantar Mantar" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Jantar Mantar">Jantar Mantar</keyword> here on Tuesday to demand the release of Delhi Chief Minister <keyword id="19901384" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal" source="keywords">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> amid his declining health and hit out at the BJP-led Centre for "suppressing" the voice of <keyword id="19895395" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="opposition" source="keywords">opposition</keyword>. They also blamed the Centre for obstructing the work of the Delhi government, therefore leading to the recent incident in Rajinder Nagar where three students died after getting trapped in a flooded basement of a coaching centre. Slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "End dictatorship" were raised during the <keyword id="19895811" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="protest" source="keywords">protest</keyword> rally called by the <keyword id="19914482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AAP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AAP" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="AAP">AAP</keyword>. CPI(ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya said three senior AAP leaders -- Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain were put in jail as "part of a conspiracy". He also accused the Centre of obstructing the work of the Delhi government, and held them responsible for the situation in the national capital, including the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre deaths. "The Modi government is responsible for the anarchy in Delhi. This anarchy took the lives of the three <keyword id="20217536" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPSC-aspirants" source="keywords">UPSC aspirants</keyword> in Rajinder Nagar. <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> took the lives of three UPSC aspirants," Bhattacharya said during the rally. "They tried to end AAP, weaken Delhi government as part of a conspiracy. The elected chief minister is in jail. Umar Khalid and many activists are in jail in false charges in Delhi riots. Bhima Koregaon fake case, father Stan Swamy was in jail and he even died while in custody. There is a huge conspiracy against leaders, activists," he said. The BJP-led Centre is "trying to suppress the voice of those who oppose them", he said. "Six months ago when Arvind ji, Hemant ji were arrested, we knew it was a conspiracy because Lok Sabha elections were there," he said. "Hemant ji came out, there was an appeal to stop his bail but it was dismissed. Kejriwal ji was released for less than a month. Now though he has been given a bail there is a conspiracy to keep him in jail," he said. "It is a conspiracy to finish a democratically elected government and a political party," Bhattacharya said, urging the people to give their reply to the BJP in upcoming assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand by defeating the BJP. "The recent mandate has proved that people won't tolerate tyranny. We will ensure justice,"he added. Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja also demanded the immediate release of the Delhi chief minister, and expressed concerns about his health. "After BJP's coming to power, democracy is no longer 'for' the people, democracy is 'far' from people, democracy is not 'of' the people, it is 'off' the people, and it is not 'by' the people, it is 'buy' the people," Raja said. "Kejriwal is one of the victims of the central agencies used by the Modi government. Can we allow this? How much longer can we tolerate this situation in the country. Kejriwal is not well and his health has deteriorated," he said. AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai said Kejriwal's sugar levels are going down in custody. "He was granted bail by trial court and Supreme Court but a conspiracy was hatched to keep him in jail. Why does BJP want to put opposition leaders in jail? Who is responsible for the deaths of the three UPSC aspirants?" Rai said. "When LG is being asked about the incident, he is quiet. The BJP, which is demanding Kejriwal's resignation, snatched away the powers of the Delhi government. They want rights but run away when they are held accountable," he charged. has been accusing the BJP of "conspiring to kill" Kejriwal in jail and cited his medical report to show that his sugar levels have fallen 34 times between June 3 and July 7. Nationalist <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> Party - Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi are also present in the INDIA bloc rally. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari referred to Kejriwal's wife Sunita as a "symbol of resistance" as he began his address. "We have come to give complete moral support to AAP and Kejriwal on behalf of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the struggle against illegal arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The arrest of Kejriwal in an illegal and unconstitutional manner indicate nothing but the bad intentions of the BJP," he alleged. Tiwari said it was "height" of inhumanity to keep Kejriwal in jail despite his medical reports showing dip in his blood sugar to a dangerous level. The Congress and AAP had fought the recent Lok Sabha elections in Delhi in alliance. AAP had fielded candidates on four seats and Congress on three seats. However, the alliance drew a blank. Gogoi warned the BJP and its leaders saying they cannot scare the opposition whether it is AAP, Congress or any other party. "Their illusion lies shattered with this rally. If fair Lok Sabha elections had been held in 2024, the BJP would have been in opposition and we would have been in power. The BJP-led government is not going to complete its five-year term," he stressed. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam and has been granted bail by the Supreme Court. However, he is currently lodged in Tihar in a connected CBI case.

INDIA bloc leaders gather at Jantar Mantar, demand release of Delhi CM Kejriwal

<ul><li>Uddhav Thackeray will take oath as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra with support from Sharad Pawar's NCP and the Indian National Congress.</li><li>The three parties differ in their ideologies and therefore have decided to arrive at a 'common minimum programme'.</li><li>Given the state's rural distress, financial aid for farmers cannot be ruled out.</li></ul>A month long political drama has come to an end paving the way for Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This is a historic moment for the Thackeray family, which has been politically significant in the state for decades but never had a member on the hot seat. Thackeray has got to this point with support from Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and the Indian National Congress. All three parties differ in their ideologies and therefore have decided to arrive at a 'common minimum programme' in a bid to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party out of power. Given the state's rural distress, financial aid for farmers cannot be ruled out. "There has been significant political discourse around farm stress in last few weeks. Farm loan waiver can potentially could be the first order of the business of the new government," a Macquarie research report said. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 <div type="image" title="Nagpur: NCP President Sharad Pawar interacts with farmers during a visit to Khap..." msid="72272944" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;NCP President Sharad Pawar interacts with farmers during a visit to Khapa village to inspect damaged crops, in Nagpur district of Maharashtra.Photo) (&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>





























 This has implication for the state's financial health. An estimated ₹50,000 crore farm loan waiver, spread over 2 years, will push the state's fiscal deficit beyond 3%. Fiscal deficit is the amount of money a government spends over and above its earnings and it's advised by law that any government (state or central) should keep the excess spending to less than 3% over its earnings. Maharashtra's budget deficit is already at a four-year high, which means the government has been spending a lot more than it earns. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 While the farm crisis in the state does warrant immediate attention, a farm loan will increase the deficit and reduce the money available for growth projects like building infrastructure. In the last three years, Mumbai has seen an explosion of infrastructure projects which are in various stages of completion. Roads have been dug up across the city causing traffic snarls but people have been hopeful that the temporary pain will make way for easier commute in the future. For instance, 274 kilometres (km) of metro-rail network is under construction. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 <div type="image" title="Mumbai: A view of a construction site of a metro train parking shed at Aarey Col..." msid="72272112" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A view of a construction site of a metro train parking shed at Aarey Colony, Mumbai. The Supreme Court on Monday restrained authorities from cutting any more trees in Mumbai&amp;#39;s Aarey colony for a Metro car shed before further hearing on Oct. 21.Photo)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>























































 In the particular case of the metro rail shed construction in the Aarey colony (a rare green cover in the mega city), the incoming coalition will be tested on its will to reverse the decision. The previous government had bulldozed opposition from the citizens to the cutting of about 2,0000 trees for the construction of the shed, while all opposition parties paid nothing more than lip-service to the cause. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 <div type="image" title="Mumbai: Residents protest against the cutting of trees in Aarey forest to make t..." msid="72273060" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Residents protest against the cutting of trees in Aarey forest to make the car shed for Metro project, in Mumbai.Photo/Shashank Parade)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



























 Aside from the metro rail construction in the capital city, there are also other marquee projects like the upcoming airport in Navi Mumbai, the high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Nagpur as well as Mumbai and Ahmedabad (in the neighbouring state of Gujarat) that will be in focus. As rivals of BJP, the parties in the incoming coalition have time and again criticised these ambitious projects heralded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the top NCP leadership, the three parties have decided that the money which is to be given by the state government for the Bullet Train will be diverted to the farmer welfare scheme as it is part of the common minimum programme they have agreed on, the IANS reported on Tuesday. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 <div type="image" title="Bullet train" msid="72272606" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The upcoming airport in Navi Mumbai, the high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Nagpur as well as Mumbai and Ahmedabad (in the neighbouring state of Gujarat) will be in focus as rivals of BJP, the parties in the incoming coalition, have time and again criticised these ambitious projects heralded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>







































 The good news is that the Navi Mumbai airport and the Trans-harbour sea link may not get stalled, according to Macquarie, but the pace of approvals may slowdown delaying the projects. The international financial services firm believes that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine will be more favourable to the builders in the state and that will be music to the ears for the state's real estate sector that has been in shambles for a while now. It is important that Maharashtra's economy keeps moving at a fast pace because it is the largest contributor to India's GDP (gross domestic product). And already, Maharashtra's contribution to India's GDP is at a multi-year low at 14%. That's a significant setback for the state that is home to the country's financial capital. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/article/maharashtra-state-assembly-elections-2019-debate-veer-savarkar-or-jobs/articleshow/71644079.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">These are the issues the opposition could have capitalised on but didn’t</a>

Here's what to expect from the new government in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister <keyword id="193503" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="eknath-shinde" source="Orion">Eknath Shinde</keyword> has been working to assuage the concerns of <keyword id="6358821" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="shiv-sena" source="Orion">Shiv Sena</keyword> lawmakers after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader <keyword id="6366108" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ajit-pawar" source="Orion">Ajit Pawar</keyword> joined the coalition government and asserted there was nothing to worry, Sena legislators said. Shinde, who presided over a meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs, MLCs and MPs on Wednesday, was kept in the loop about the fast-paced developments in the NCP which culminated in Ajit Pawar taking oath as deputy CM along with eight other ministers on July 2 in a stunning turn of events, they said. A section of Shiv Sena lawmakers had raised certain concerns after the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the one-year-old Shinde-BJP government. The induction of the rebel NCP group in the cabinet has dented the prospects of ministerial aspirants from the BJP and the Shiv Sena, leaving some of them upset and Shinde is aware of their sentiments Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar said earlier in the day. Amid the changed politician equation, Shiv Sena MLAs and MPs on Wednesday night attended a meeting at Shinde's official residence 'Varsha' in south Mumbai. "A lot of issues were discussed in the meeting like the ones pertaining to the monsoon session of Parliament as well as in the state legislature, strengthening the party's organisation," said a party MP. Another party MP said Shinde was asked whether he know about the sudden developments in the NCP to which he responded in the affirmative. The MP said the political developments took place at a rapid pace due to which Sena lawmakers could not be informed about them in advance. The chief minister stressed the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group joining the ruling alliance will only help the party lawmakers, the MP added. "He said there was nothing to worry as the BJP and the Shiv Sena have been in the government for a year now and the NCP (faction led by Ajit Pawar) joining the government will not affect its functioning in anyway," a Shiv Sena MLC said. Last year, more than three dozen Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Shinde, had revolted against party president Uddhav Thackeray over his decision to join hands with the the NCP and the Congress which crystallised in formation of the <keyword id="8357634" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maha-vikas-aghadi" source="Orion">Maha Vikas Aghadi</keyword> (MVA) government in 2019. They had also alleged Ajit Pawar, who was the finance minister in the erstwhile MVA government, did not allocate enough funds for development of their constituencies. Earlier in the day, Sena MP Kirtikar told PTI, "The scope of ministerial aspirants from the BJP and the Shiv Sena minimised after the NCP (rebel faction) joined the government. This has upset some MLAs. The chief minister was aware of this." With the induction of nine ministers from the <keyword id="17888465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ajit-pawar-camp" source="Orion">Ajit Pawar camp</keyword>, the strength of the Shinde-Fadnavis cabinet has gone up to 29, leaving 14 posts still vacant. On Tuesday, Shiv Sena spokesperson and MLA Sanjay Shirsat indicated there was some uneasiness in a section of the party after the latest political development. "Party (Shiv Sena) workers and supporters have started asking us how and why did Ajit Pawar and his group join the government? They said will it shrink their political space in the state. But I can assure you that Ajit Pawar joining the government was inevitable," Shirsat said.

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