Tag: Himachal Pradesh

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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Nominations for Phase 7 of polls begins in Punjab, Himachal

The nominations can be filed from May 7 to May 14 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm every day…reports Asian Lite News

The filing of nominations for the Lok Sabha elections is slated to start in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh from May 7.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed general and police observers for 13 seats in Punjab to ensure peaceful, fair, and transparent elections. These officials will assume their responsibilities from May 14, a press release from the Punjab Information and Public Relations Department said.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C said that 13 IAS officers from various states have been appointed as general observers, while seven IPS officers have been appointed as police observers. Their role is to ensure adherence to the rules and directives of the ECI during the elections, regarding the Model Code of Conduct.

Among the IAS officers, who have been appointed as general observers are K Mahesh (Batch 2009) for Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, Siddharth Jain (2001) for Amritsar, Abhimanyu Kumar (2011) for Khadoor Sahib, J Meghanatha Reddy (2013) for Jalandhar, R Anandakumar (2003) for Hoshiarpur, Heera Lal (2010) for Anandpur Sahib, Divya Mittal (2013) for Ludhiana, Rakesh Shankar (2004) for Fatehgarh Sahib, Roohi Khan (2013) for Faridkot, Kapil Meena (2010) for Ferozepur, S Prabhakar (2009) for Bathinda, Shanavas S (2012) for Sangrur and Om Prakash Bakoria (2006) for Patiala Lok Sabha seat, the release said.

Similarly, police observers include IPS officers like Kushal Pal Singh (Batch 2014) for Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seats, Sweta Shrimali (2010) for Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib, Satish Kumar Gajbhiye (2002) for Jalandhar and Ludhiana, Sandeep Gajanan Diwan (2010) for Anandpur Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib, B Shankar Jaiswal (2001) for Bathinda and Faridkot, AR Damodhar (2013) for Ferozepur and Amir Javed (2012) for Sangrur and Patiala Lok Sabha seats.

Notably, 15 serving IRS officers have already been appointed by ECI as Expenditure observers, the release mentioned.

In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase, with the seventh and final phase on June 1 seeing voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies.

Himachal Pradesh

The electoral body has issued notifications for ensuing Lok Sabha General Elections and six Assembly Constituency (AC) bye-elections in Himachal Pradesh.

A press release, dated May 7, 2024, informed that nominations can be filed from May 7 to May 14 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm every day, from May 7 to May 14, at the designated locations and before the designated ROs/AROs as mentioned in the notification.

It also mentioned the dates and timings for scrutiny and withdrawal. May 14, 2024, will be the last date for making nominations; May 15, 2024 (for the scrutiny of nominations); May 17, 2024 (the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures).

As per notification for four Parliamentary constituencies viz, Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Shimla and six Assembly constituencies where bye-elections are to be held, voting will be held on June 1, 2024 (Saturday) from 07:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The press release also said that nominations will not be filed on May 11 and May 12, 2024 being public holidays.

The elections to the four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh and by-polls to the six assembly constituencies that fell vacant with the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs and their eventual switch to the BJP will be held on June 1.

Six Congress legislators were disqualified from the State Legislative Assembly in February. They cross-voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election on February 27. The rebel Congress MLAs have approached the Supreme Court against their disqualification. The ground for their disqualification was their absence from the Assembly when the State Budget and the Finance Bill were being put to the vote, defying a party whip to vote in favour of the government.

In the 68-member Assembly, the majority figure is 35. The ruling Congress had 40 MLAs, but with the disqualification of six MLAs, the Congress’ number fell to 34. (ANI)

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India News Politics

Sukhu Stays Afloat

“We believe in forgiveness, not revenge”: CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu takes conciliatory tone amid turmoil…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh after cross-voting by six Congress MLAs during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said all fellow party leaders were like his younger siblings, adding, significantly, that his party believes in ‘forgiveness’, and not ‘revenge’.

Assuring that the Congress government will fulfil the mandate of the people and complete its tenure of five years, CM Sukhu told reporters, ” Hum toh sab ko maaf karne wale log hai, hum badle ki bhavna se kaam karne wale log nahi hain (We believe in forgiveness, not revenge.) All fellow members of my party are like my younger brothers and sisters. Our government will complete its full 5-year term.”

On state minister Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation, the chief minister said, “Vikramaditya Singh is my younger brother and I have spoken to him.”

“They (Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate during polling for the Rajya Sabha seat) should have shown more respect for the party. They may be upset with me but a person like Abhishek Singhvi should have been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh. However, they betrayed the whip and did not vote for him. This had never happened before in the history of Himachal politics,” CM Sukhu added.

As the Congress lurched into a fresh political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, fighting to stay afloat in the only heartland state it rules, the grand old party appointed observers who reached Shimla on Wednesday.

After meeting with party observers, CM Sukhu said, “Discussion was held regarding elections. Our government is safe.”

Meanwhile, senior party leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said that he was hopeful that all differences and discord would be resolved soon.

“Our Rajya Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, could not win the elections as some of our MLAs cross-voted. The party high command has appointed observers. I hope the matter will be resolved soon,” Pilot said.

However, amid fears of a churn at the helm of Himachal a day after 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted for the BJP during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal, CM earlier in the day claimed that the conspiracy to bring down the Congress government in the state had failed.

“They conspired to topple our government in Himachal with the help of the CRPF and Haryana Police, and by sending choppers (to airlift Congress MLAs elsewhere). However, the plot to bring down our government has been defeated. They tried luring some our legislators through monetary inducements and bring them to their side. However, we have brought a disqualification motion against them (Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls) and hearing on the same is underway,” Sukhu told reporters on Wednesday.

He claimed that one of the dissident MLAs, who cross-voted during the casting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, prompting BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan to script a stunning win in a draw of lots, has apologised. “One of the MLAs (who cross-voted for the BJP candidate) has asked for forgiveness for betraying the party and the whip. I don’t want to take his name. He said he erred in his decision-making. The hearing on the disqualification case is underway,” CM Sukhu said. (ANI)

Assam’s Congress Chief Resigns, May Join BJP

Assam Congress working president Rana Goswami resigned from the party on Wednesday. He is set to join the BJP very soon.

In a letter addressed to K C Venugopal, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, Goswami wrote that he has tendered his resignation from the post of working president and also from the active membership of the Congress party.

“I beg to state that I am tendering my resignation as the working president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and as active member of the Indian National Congress,” he said in the letter.

Speculations are rife that Goswami will join the BJP on March 4. He is expected to meet Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday.

Goswami was elected to Assam legislative assembly thrice on a Congress ticket. He won polls for the first time in 2006 from Jorhat seat.

Sarma earlier said that he would welcome Rana Goswami to the party fold if he decides to join the BJP.

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