Tag: India Elections 2024

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UN chief congratulates Indians for ‘massive exercise of democracy’

Customarily the Secretary-General sends a message of congratulations to leaders when their elections are officially announced…reports Asian Lite News

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulates the people of India for the “massive exercise of democracy”, his Associate Spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino said on Tuesday.

“We, of course, want to congratulate the people of India for engaging in this massive exercise of democracy as they are the largest democratic elections in the world,” she said.

Since the tallying of results was on, she said: “We can’t officially comment until all the voting has all the counting has been done” on its outcome.

“And we hope to have a much more official statement once everything has been said,” she added.

Customarily the Secretary-General sends a message of congratulations to leaders when their elections are officially announced. At the time of noon briefing in New York, 19 results were still pending while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance had won 292 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha assuring him of a third term. The opposition opposition INDIA bloc had won 232 seats in the election.

World leaders send messages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday after she congratulated him on the third consecutive electoral victory in the Lok Sabha polls, adding that he is looking forward to working together for global good.

Expressing gratitude to his Italian counterpart, PM Modi, in a post on X wrote, “Thank you for your kind wishes PM @GiorgiaMeloni. We remain committed to deepening India-Italy strategic partnership which is underpinned by shared values and interests.”

“Looking forward to working together for global good,” he added.

The Italian PM, in her congratulatory message to Prime Minister Modi, said that both nations will cooperate on various issues that bind the two nations and are for the well-being of the people.

“Congratulations to @narendramodi on the new electoral victory and my warmest wishes for good work. Certain that we will continue to work together to strengthen the friendship that unites Italy and India and consolidate cooperation on the various issues that bind us, for the well-being of our Nations and our peoples,” Italian PM Meloni said in a post on X.

Other leaders also congratulated PM Modi and the BJP-led NDA government on their third consecutive victory in the Lok Sabha polls.

Singapore Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, also extended congratulations to PM Modi earlier today. “Congratulations, @narendramodi on the historic victory by the NDA for the third consecutive term,” he wrote in a post on X.

“Look forward to working with you to deepen the Singapore-India partnership and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year,” Wong added.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu too, congratulated PM Modi and said he looks forward to working together to advance the ‘shared interest’ in pursuit of shared prosperity and stability for our two countries.

“Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, and the BJP and BJP-led NDA, on the success in the 2024 Indian General Election, for the third consecutive term. I look forward to working together to advance our shared interests in pursuit of shared prosperity and stability for our two countries,” Muizzu had said.

In response, PM Modi thanked the Maldivian President and said he looks forward to closer cooperation for further strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations.

He said Male is New Delhi’s valued partner and neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region.

“Thank you President @MMuizzu. Maldives is our valued partner and neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region. I too look forward to closer cooperation for further strengthening our bilateral ties,” PM Modi posted on X.

Prime Minister Modi thanked Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and said he looks forward to working together for the welfare of the people of the two countries.

“Thank you Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM. India-Jamaica relations are marked by centuries-old people-to-people ties. I look forward to working together with you for the welfare of our people,” PM Modi stated.

He also thanked Barbados PM Mia Amor Mottley and affirmed a strong partnership between the two nations for the welfare of the people.

“Thank you Prime Minister @miaamormottley. I look forward to working with you for a strong partnership between India and Barbados for the welfare of our peoples,” the Prime Minister stated.

The counting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was held on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, and with its allies has 292 seats in the Parliament. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth winning 99 seats.

ALSO READ: World media covers India’s election results

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India Elections Phase 2 Sees Enthusiastic Voter Turnout

Second phase of Lok Sabha polls sees enthusiastic voter turnout from Jammu to Kerala, Maharashtra to Tripura

The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, encompassing 88 seats in 13 states/UTs, spanning Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, and Maharashtra to Manipur, concluded peacefully on Friday with a vibrant display of democratic fervour as 60.96 per cent of eligible voters, young and old, braved the summer heat and logistical problems to exercise their franchise.

The queues at polling stations painted a vivid picture of India’s societal diversity, with newlyweds, senior citizens, tribals, IT professionals, persons with disabilities (PwDs), women, and first-time young voters patiently awaited their turn to press the EVM buttons for their desired candidates.

Special arrangements were made to combat the heat including the provision of shade, drinking water, medical kits, and fans.

Cricketing superstars Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Javagal Srinath were seen voting at different polling stations in Bengaluru and posed with their inked fingers to encourage voters. In several states like Rajasthan and Karnataka, officials and voters alike came in their traditional attire to celebrate the “Chunav ka Parv”.

The fate of 1,202 candidates, including prominent figures such as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, former Union Ministers Shashi Tharoor and Mahesh Sharma, actress Hema Malini, actor Arun Govil of “Ramayana fame”, former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, BJP youth leader Tejasvi Surya, D.K. Suresh, brother of Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, former Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, and independent Pappu Yadav, now rests in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude towards voters. “The second phase went very well! Gratitude to the people across India who voted today. The unprecedented support for the NDA is further disappointing for the opposition. The voters want the NDA’s governance. Youth and women voters are strongly supporting the NDA”, he said in a post on X.

In this phase, voting took place for all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, along with half of Karnataka’s 28 seats, the remaining seats of Rajasthan, Manipur, Tripura, as well as several in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir.

With this phase, polling has been held in 190 seats and the elections have been concluded in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and Uttarakhand

The BJP, holding a significant number of seats in this phase, considers these elections crucial for maintaining and expanding its influence to secure a substantial majority in the Lok Sabha.

Tripura witnessed the highest voter turnout at 78.63 per cent, while Maharashtra recorded the lowest at 54.34 per cent.

Other states saw varying levels of participation, with Manipur at 77.18 per cent, Chhattisgarh at 73.05 per cent, West Bengal at 71.84 per cent, Assam at 70.68 per cent, and Jammu and Kashmir at 71.63 per cent.

Karnataka recorded a 67 per cent turnout, Kerala 65.28 per cent, Rajasthan 63.74 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 56.60 per cent, Bihar 54.91 per cent, and Uttar Pradesh 54.74 per cent.

However, these are provisional figures and the final turnout will be released following verification of Form 17A.

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India Urges Digital Giants to Fix Platforms After Microsoft Warning

The Central government has taken a tough stand at Artificial Intelligence-generated content, deepfakes ahead of polls, reports Asian Lite News

 As Microsoft warned India about China’s plan to create and amplify AI-generated content to “benefit its interests” amid the seven-phase elections starting April 19, the Centre has come down heavily on global digital companies, asking them to fix their platforms as part of a new advisory around AI and its potential misuse during polls.

With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea and the US: “We assess that China will, at a minimum, create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests,” according to Clint Watts, General Manager, Microsoft Threat Analysis Center.

According to exposure management company Tenable, misinformation spread through AI-generated deepfakes and fake content are the biggest threat to the upcoming polls.

“The biggest threats to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are misinformation and disinformation as part of influence operations conducted by malicious actors against the electorate,” Satnam Narang, Senior Staff Research Engineer, Tenable, told IANS recently.

Alarmed at AI’s potential misuse, the Centre last month said that social media intermediaries “must not permit any bias or discrimination or threaten the integrity of the electoral process.”

School students create a ‘rangoli’ depicting Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) to raise awareness among people to vote in the upcoming general elections, in Chennai on Thursday, March 28, 2024. (Photo: IANS/R. Parthibhan)

A new IT Ministry advisory now specifically deals with AI, which says that digital platforms have to take full accountability and cannot escape by saying that these AI models are in the “under-testing phase.”

“It is reiterated that non-compliance to the provisions of the IT Act and/or IT Rules would result in potential penal consequences to the intermediaries or platforms or its users when identified, including but not limited to prosecution under IT Act and several other statutes of the criminal code,” according to the advisory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a conversation with Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates late last month, also expressed concerns about deepfakes in a democratic country like ours.

“I have engaged with leading minds on AI and its risks. I suggested that we should start with clear watermarks on AI-generated content to prevent misinformation. Proper sources of AI-generated content should also be mentioned,” PM Modi emphasised.

“Someone can even misuse my voice to deceive people and such a deepfake can trigger widespread uproar. We need to think about creating robust dos and don’ts on deepfakes,” the Prime Minister told the billionaire philanthropist.

ALSO READ: China Plans to Disrupt Indian Elections Using AI, Warns Microsoft

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China Plans to Disrupt Indian Elections Using AI, Warns Microsoft

School students create a 'rangoli' depicting Indian flag and a woman's finger marked with indelible ink to raise awareness among people to vote in the upcoming general elections, in Chennai on Thursday, March 28, 2024. (Photo: IANS/R. Parthibhan)

A Microsoft Threat Analysis team warned that China will exploit AI-generated content in upcoming elections in India, South Korea, and the United States, reports Asian Lite News

With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea and the US, a Microsoft Threat Analysis team has warned that China will create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests.

Despite the chances of such content in affecting election results remaining low, China’s increasing experimentation in augmenting memes, videos, and audio will likely continue – and may prove more effective down the line.

According to the tech giant, China is using fake social media accounts to poll voters on what divides them most to sow division and possibly influence the outcome of the US presidential election in its favour.

“China has also increased its use of AI-generated content to further its goals around the world. North Korea has increased its cryptocurrency heists and supply chain attacks to fund and further its military goals and intelligence collection. It has also begun to use AI to make its operations more effective and efficient,” the company said in a blog post.

Deceptive social media accounts by Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-affiliated actors have already started to pose contentious questions on controversial US domestic issues to better understand the key issues that divide US voters.

“This could be to gather intelligence and precision on key voting demographics ahead of the US presidential election,” the company warned.

China’s geopolitical priorities remain unchanged but it has doubled down on its targets and increased the sophistication of its influence operations (IO) attacks.

Indian Americans voters casting their vote in the quadrennial U.S. presidential elections in Jersey City, US. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/IANS)

The Taiwanese presidential election in January this year also saw a surge in the use of AI-generated content by China-affiliated cyber criminals.

“This was the first time that Microsoft Threat Intelligence has witnessed a nation-state actor using AI content in attempts to influence a foreign election,” said the team.

ALSO READ: India is emerging as the alternative to China

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India To Hold 7-Phase General Elections Starting April 19

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses a press conference on General Elections 2024, in New Delhi on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo: IANS)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections.

The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections.

Phase 1 elections will be held on April 19, the last date for making nominations is March 27. Polls will be held in 21 States and Union Territories.  

Phase 2 elections will be held from April 26, last date of nominations for candidates in April 4.Second phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories.

Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Gyanesh Kumar and others during a press conference on General Elections 2024, in New Delhi on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo: IANS/Qamar Sibtain)

Phase 3 elections will be held on May 7, last date for nominations for candidates is April 19. The third phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. 

Phase 4 elections will be held on May 13, last date for nominations for candidates is April 25.Fourth phase will cover 10 States and Union Territories. 

Phase 5 elections will be held on May 20, last date for nominations for candidates in May 3. The fifth phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. 

Phase 6 elections will be held on May 25, the last date for nominations for candidates is May 6. The sixth phase will cover 7 States and Union territories. 

Phase 7 elections will be held on June 1, last date for nominations for candidates is May 14. The seventh phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. 

Phase 1 elections will be held in 102 constituencies, a total of 89 constituencies will undergo in phase 2.

In Phase 3, polling will be held in 94 constituencies.

96 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase  4, and 49 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 5.

A cyclist rides past a wall adorned with political graffiti in anticipation of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, in Kolkata, Monday, March 4, 2024.(IANS/Ashok Nath Dey)

In Phase 6, polls will be held in 57 constituencies and also in Phase 7, 57 constituencies will undergo for polls.

The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be held on May 13. while the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19; Counting of votes  will be held Jun 4.

Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately.

CEC Rajiv Kumar said that strict directions have been given to District Magistrates and SPs to ensure level playing field. CAPF to be deployed adequately & assisted by Integrated control rooms in each district. Check posts & drones to ensure vigil.

Ensuring voters’ trust is paramount. Violence in elections is unacceptable. Impersonators to be swiftly punished. Transparency in permissions to parties/candidates through SUVIDHA portal.

ECI has offered 27 apps and portals for all stakeholders.

cVigil empowers citizens to report MCC violations and assured action within 100 mts. KYC app facilitates informed voting. A revamped results portal to enhance the experience on results day.

He further mentioned that the poll body is sensitive to environmentally sustainable elections.

A Woman walks past a wall adorned with political graffiti in anticipation of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, in Kolkata, Monday, March 4, 2024.(IANS/Ashok Nath Dey)

“We are making efforts to minimise single-use plastic and encourage eco-friendly practices in the election process,” he said. 

CEC Kumar informed that to curb the flow of illicit money, the poll body has held extensive reviews with enforcement agencies.

“Cash movement worth around Rs 3,400 crore was restricted in the last 11 state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Tripura,” CEC Kumar said.

“Measures like ESMs portal, and coordination between agencies resulted in an exponential increase in seizures in the last 11 elections,” he added. 

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that there is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections.

“From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them,” he said. 

On the misinformation being spread in the current era, CEC Kumar said, “We have put certain measures in place to ensure misinformation is nipped in the bud. We’re proactive in debunking fake news. Originators of fake news to be dealt with severely as per extant laws.” 

“Verify Before You Amplify” is the mantra to combat fake news. Let’s rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process,” he added. 

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar’s mentioned a Shayari advising voters to not forward fake news and unverified information.

“Jhuth ke bazaar mein raunak to bahut hai, Goya bulbule jaisi turant hi fat jati hai..
Pakad bhi loge to kya hasil hoga siwaye dhokhe ke,” he said. (ANI)