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BJP releases second list of 72 candidates

Banto Kataria from Ambala, Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa, Chaudhary Dharambir Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendargah, Rao Inderjit Singh Yadav from Gurgaon, and Krishanpal Gurjar from Faridabad…reports Asian Lite News

The Bharatiya Janata Party released the second list of Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday, consisting of 72 candidates, including three former Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Trivendra Singh Rawat, Basvaraj Bommai as well as four Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, and Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi.

The BJP has fielded former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier resigned from the position of Haryana Chief Minister on Tuesday.

In Himachal Pradesh, Union Minister Anurag Thakur will contest from the Hamirpur constituency. Suresh Kashyap has been fielded from Shimla seat.

In Karnataka, the party has fielded Union Minister Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad. Tejaswi Surya will contest from the Bangalore South constituency. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai has been given a ticket from the Haveri Lok Sabha seat, while PC Mohan will contest from Bangalore Central.

In Maharashtra, the BJP has decided to field Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the Nagpur seat. Piyush Goyal will contest from Mumbai North. Pankja Munde has been fielded from Beed.

The BJP also announced the candidature for two seats in Uttarakhand.

The party has fielded former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from the Haridwar seat while Anil Baluni, who is the National Chief Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to contest from the Garhwal seat.

Also, BJP announced that Harsh Malhotra will contest from East Delhi constituency, a seat which was held by former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir. Yogendra Chandolia will contest from North West Delhi.

Meanwhile, Kalaben Delkar will contest from Dadar and Nagar Haveli.

In the second list, the BJP has announced the names of candidates for seven Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat.

In Gujarat, the party has fielded Hashmukhbhai Somabhai Patel from Ahmedabad East, Dhawal Patel from Valsad, Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal from Surat, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt from Vadodara, Nimuben Bambhania from Bhavnagar, Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakor from Sabarkantha and Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathwa from Chhota Udaipur.

Six names have been announced from Haryana.

Banto Kataria from Ambala, Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa, Chaudhary Dharambir Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendargah, Rao Inderjit Singh Yadav from Gurgaon, and Krishanpal Gurjar from Faridabad.

BJP has fielded Raghvendra from Shimoga and V Sommana from Tumkur in Karnataka.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has fielded Vivek ‘Bunty’ Sahu from the Chhindwara seat where he will face Congress leader Nakul Nath. Shankar Lalwani will contest from Indore.

In Maharashtra, Anup Dhotre will fight the polls from the Akola seat on the BJP ticket, and Kapil Moreshwar Patil from Bhiwandi.

In Telangana, Godam Nagesh will contest from Adilabad, DK Aruna from Mahbubnagar, and Saida Reddy will contest from Nalgonda.

From Tripura East, Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma will contest on BJP ticket.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday had released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi again.

Meanwhile, Congress has so far announced names for 82 Lok Sabha seats.

The BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

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Cong invites Pawar to join Rahul’s yatra 

The Yatra entered the state days after the party witnessed some high-profile exits like former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who joined the BJP, and former Union minister Milind Deora who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leaders on Tuesday gave an invitation to NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and the public meeting to be held at Shivaji Park on March 17.

The Yatra will reach Chaityabhoomi on March 16, where Sharad Pawar will also be present.

It is noteworthy that the Yatra entered Maharashtra from the district of Nandurbar on March 12.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh earlier revealed, “Between 12-17 March, the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Jodo Nyay Yatra. Members of the INDIA alliance will be present… The motive behind the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, ‘Panch Nyay’, I think the guarantees that we gave, we have been successful in that”.

The Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also includes the NCP (SPawar) in the state. Smaller parties like the Swambhimani Vikash Parishad (SWP) and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) are also likely to join the Congress-led alliance in the state. The state sends 48 legislators to the Lok Sabha.

The Yatra entered the state days after the party witnessed some high-profile exits like former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who joined the BJP, and former Union minister Milind Deora who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Later, Ashok Chavan was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, Baba Siddiqui a prominent minority face of the Congress in Mumbai quit the party and joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following which, Zeeshan Siddiqui his son was removed from the post of Mumbai Youth Congress President.

The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.

The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

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‘Modi wants youth to chant Jai Shri Ram, starve to death’

Earlier in the day the BJP launched an all-out attack against the Congress’ ally DMK for a speech made by former Minister A Raja in Madurai…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused his government of misleading the youth, saying that the PM wants the young generation to only chant ‘Jai Shri Ram and starve to death’.

Addressing a gathering in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress MP also advocated for the caste-based census and said that conducting the survey will ensure social justice for the people.

“Our policy is very clear– that is a revolutionary step towards social justice that is only caste-based census…the Congress has done only revolutionary work. It fought for the country’s independence when they (BJP) went lost, where they were at that time. Be it, the green revolution, white or digital, all the revolutionary works have been done by Congress…but the PM wants our youths to be glued to their phones for the whole day, chant Jai Shri Ram and starve to death (bhukhe raho aur mar jao),” he said.

Earlier in the day the BJP launched an all-out attack against the Congress’ ally DMK for a speech made by former Minister A Raja in Madurai.

Amit Malviya, the head of Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell, criticised A Raja, accusing him of advocating for the Balkanisation of India and making derogatory comments about Lord Ram, Manipuris, and the idea of India as a nation.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra resumed from Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district on Tuesday morning. Gandhi started the yatra from Sarangpur in the presence of a large number of party workers.

He was in an open Jeep, greeting the party workers who were carrying the party flag. Notably, the Congress MP is also slated to visit the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, one of the Jyotirlinga temples, during his yatra.

This marks Gandhi’s second visit to the temple during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, with the last one taking place on November 29, 2022.

Notably, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered the state on March 2 and will stay in the state till March 6. The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.

The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

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Cong finalises seat-sharing pact

Congress General Secretary says party has finalised its seat sharing with all other parties of the INDIA bloc except in West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir…reports Asian Lite News

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh has said that the Congress party has finalised its seat sharing with all other parties of the INDIA bloc except in West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir.

The Congress leader made the remark while addressing a press conference in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district on Tuesday, when he arrived here with the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

On being asked about where the INDIA alliance stands as Lok Sabha elections are draws closer, the Congress leader said, “INDIA alliance started in Patna on June 23, last year. After that, the second meeting was held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18. The third meeting of the alliance was held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 and the fourth meeting was held in Delhi on December 19 last year. There were a total of 28 parties in the alliance. After the formation of the INDIA alliance, suddenly the Prime Minister tried to revive the dead NDA alliance. We would be aware that when the India alliance was announced, the talk of NDA had started. Where does NDA come from? Take out two ‘I’ from INDIA, Imandari (honesty) and Insaniyat (humanity) and it becomes NDA.”

He also took a dig at Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who recently switched sides to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is a part of INDIA bloc saying he (Nitish Kumar) is a master of ‘Palti’ (switching sides).

“There were a total of 28 parties in the INDIA Alliance but of these a party leader (Bihar CM Nitish Kumar) switched sides. His history is of ‘Palti’ (switching sides). He is a master of Palti. Out of 28 parties, 27 were left and later one more party left INDIA bloc and joined NDA. So we became 26. But I want to say that 26 parties are strong parties,” he added.

The Congress leader further said, “Now out of 28 parties, 26 parties are with us and one or two more parties may join us in Maharashtra. We are strong and our seat-sharing formula in Jammu and Kashmir is being finalised. There has been some delay (referring to seat sharing issue) in West Bengal but the Congress Party has finalised the seat sharing with all the other parties. Only two states left are West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.”

When asked whether Congress is in touch with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Jairam Ramesh said that they were hopeful that some middle path would be worked out and were trying their best.

“Mamata Banerjee is part of the INDIA Group. The Left parties are also the Part of India group. Mamata Banerjee attended Patna, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi meetings of the INDIA Group. She has said that her priority is to defeat the BJP and strengthen India. That is also the priorities of the Congress party. We are hopeful that some middle path will be worked out. Let us see we are trying our best,” the Congress leader said.

Panel prepares draft manifesto 

The Congress panel tasked with preparing the party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls has prepared the draft which will now be discussed by the Congress Working Committee.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who heads the manifesto committee, said the draft report will be presented to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

“We have prepared the draft manifesto. Now it will go to the Congress Working Committee. They will finalize the manifesto then it will become the Congress party document. Tomorrow we will hand over this draft to the Congress President,” he said.

Congress is all set to launch its campaign for the Lok Sabha polls next week, aiming to cater to different age groups, said party sources on Friday.

According to the sources, the party has hired two large companies for publicity materials and hoardings.

For the first time, the party will do new experiments in its media strategy. In response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) centralised media campaigns, the Congress will launch localised campaigns at micro levels, said the sources.

Sources said Congress will also put up hoardings promising legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. Earlier, during the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ March, the party had said it would provide legal guarantee of MSP for farmers if voted to power.

The Congress has promised to conduct a nationwide caste census if voted to power.

To provide momentum to the election campaign, the Congress has appointed one lakh Booth Level Agents (BLA). The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

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PTI Threatens to Disrupt Assembly Unless They Get ‘Due Rights’

PTI leader Junaid Akbar said: “We do not recognise this assembly. We will neither legislate nor allow it [in the House].

Coming down hard on the ruling alliance, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Junaid Akbar warned that they would not let the National Assembly function until provision of their “due rights,” Geo News reported on Friday.

The PTI leader, who is also a Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmaker, made the remarks during his fiery speech at the second session of the newly elected lower house of parliament.

Taking the floor, Akbar said: “We do not recognise this assembly. We will neither legislate nor allow it [in the House].

Notably, the Imran Khan-founded party has claimed that its mandate was “stolen” during the February 8 general elections. It has termed the polls “rigged” and accused the caretaker government of denying a ‘level playing field’ in the run-up to elections.

“A market [of horse-trading] was set up at the Sindh House and consciences [of lawmakers] were bought,” Akbar said firing a fresh salvo at the Pakistan Peoples Party. “Some were threatened, some were shown their videos.”

Highlighting the cases of alleged discrimination with the PTI, the lawmaker said that his party was stripped of its electoral symbol ‘bat’ in the garb of May 9 mayhem.

He also alleged that two assassination attempts were made on the life of the PTI founder.

Some 34 PTI supporters were killed on May 9 and FIRs were also lodged against the leadership of Khan-founded party, he added. “Sedition cases were registered against me and my friends.”

The May 9 riots were triggered almost across the country after the deposed prime minister’s arrest in the 190-million-pound settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations, according to Geo News.

During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations including — Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 “Black Day” and decided to try the miscreants under the Army Act.

(Photo: Instagram)

Talking about the alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, the PTI leader said that those who suffered defeat as per Form 45 were sitting in the House.

He also vowed to hold the ruling alliance accountable for “violating” the constitution and harming the country.

The PTI urged the government and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to launch a fresh inquiry to ascertain the beneficiary of the May 9 violence, Geo News reported. (ANI)

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Breakthrough for INDIA bloc: AAP, Cong seal deal

New Delhi, Feb 18 (ANI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a meeting, at Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi's residence in New Delhi on Sunday. ANI Photo)

Parties reached a four-three seat-sharing formula in Delhi while AAP is likely to contest two seats in Gujarat and one in Haryana…reports Asian Lite News

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have finalised their seat-sharing pact for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi after several rounds of deliberations. Leaders from both parties confirmed that they had settled for a four-three seat-sharing formula, with AAP contesting four seats and Congress three.

AAP has offered to fight on the South Delhi, New Delhi, West Delhi and Northwest Delhi seats, bringing East and Northeast Delhi and Chandni Chowk seats to its fold.

All seven seats in the national capital are currently held by BJP MLAs — each with over 50% of the vote share. In 2019, in the Chandni Chowk constituency, incumbent BJP MP Dr Harsh Vardhan had claimed almost 53% of the vote share, while Congress came in second with 30% votes. In Northeast Delhi, BJP’s Manoj Tiwari secured almost 54%, Congress’ Sheila Dikshit got almost 19%. In East Delhi, BJP’s Gautam Gambhir polled more than 55% votes, with Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely getting more than 24%.

“These are the three seats that AAP wants us to contest. Out of these, two share a border with Uttar Pradesh (East and North-east). When we analysed our performance in previous elections, including municipal polls, we found that our performance has suffered because of polarisation… The final announcement is expected on Friday, where the seat roster will also be revealed,”a senior Congress leader said.

While both parties were in favour of an alliance in Delhi, a decision on Gujarat, Goa and Haryana were the sticking points. A long wait in coming to a final decision — the last meeting between AAP and Congress leaders was held in January — was also playing on AAP’s mind, sources said.

While all issues related to seat-sharing in states have not been ironed out yet, AAP is likely to contest two seats in Gujarat and one in Haryana. In Gujarat, AAP has declared Botad MLA Umesh Makwana as its candidate for the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha seat, and Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch.

Sources said while Congress was willing to part with the Bhavnagar seat, the Bharuch seat is still under discussion.

AAP has also announced a candidate, Venzy Viegas, from the South Goa Lok Sabha seat. The party is likely going to give this to Congress as the party won the seat in 2019. Congress will contest from Chandigarh, while AAP will get one seat in Haryana, sources said.

Deal in Chandigarh

In return, the Congress will fight Chandigarh’s sole Lok Sabha seat, which is held by the BJP. Kirron Kher won in 2014 and 2019, but the Congress’ Pawan Kumar Bansal won it for three terms previously.

Sources had earlier said the AAP might insist on contesting this seat.

Meanwhile, In Haryana, the AAP is expected to fight one seat. There are, though, some questions marks here, with the Congress’ state leaders reluctant to surrender space to their ally.

Like Gujarat, the BJP dominated this state in the last general election, winning all 10 seats with nearly 60 per cent of votes. The Congress returned with less than 29 per cent of the votes.

And, like Gujarat, the AAP did not contest this election. It did not contest the last state poll either, which was in 2019, and saw the BJP score a comfortable win, claiming 40 of 90 seats. The Congress won 31.

AAP-Congress In Goa

The AAP had earlier said Venzy Viegas would fight from South Goa seat, will now withdraw the Benaulim MLA and hand the seat to the Congress, for whom Francisco Sardinha won in 2019.

It is unclear which of the two parties will contest the North Goa seat, which is held by the BJP.

INDIA waking pp

Set up in June, the bloc has already lost a key member – Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and, potentially Jayant Chaudhary’s Rashtra Lok Dal.

Bengal’s ruling Trinamool has pulled back to the fringes of the bloc, snubbing seat-share talks after incessant attacks on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by the Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

The Chandigarh mayoral win is increasingly looking like the jumpstart INDIA needed to prove it can stay together and defeat Mr Modi and his BJP. The UP deal added to that feel-good wave, and the raft of AAP-Congress seat-sharing announcements is set to cap what has been a good week for INDIA.

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Alliance talks underway, says Kamal Hassan

Hassan’s MNM which was founded in 2018, is celebrating seven years this year…reports Asian Lite News

Makkal Needhi Maiam president and actor Kamal Hassan said on Wednesday that his party will ally with ‘anyone who thinks selflessly about the nation’.

He further said that the discussions are underway adding that ‘good news won’t come soon’.

“Good news won’t come soon. When it comes, I will reveal. Discussion is still underway. As soon as the decision is taken, I won’t be able to escape without telling you all. It’s my duty to inform you when it’s decided,” Kamal Hassan said.

“I have already said that this is the time to blur party politics and think about the nation. Anyone who thinks selflessly about the nation, my MNM will be part of it. If you play local feudal politics then we won’t be part of it,” the MNM chief said.

Hassan’s MNM which was founded in 2018, is celebrating seven years this year.

Addressing the cadres after hoisting the party flag in the MNM headquarters at Alwarpet in Chennai, Hassan said, ” I don’t know how these 7 years went by. I didn’t enter politics in anger, I entered politics in sadness. How can this happen to my people. I entered politics with the question of why this continues to happen to my people. I am here without thinking anything about how this goes thereafter”.

Responding to criticism over actors simultaneously joining politics, “Many are asking as you are acting in cinema and including my part as a man, say I am not a full time politician. No one is a full-time politician, no one is a full-time father, full-time husband and full-time son.”

He also slammed the central government for allegedly neglecting needs of Tamil Nadu.

“It is wrong. We are punished for our service to the nation. Today we are punished without seats and voice. If the central government keeps check from which state they are getting income, in top 3 states Tamil Nadu would be there. Even Bihar people are my brothers. But my breakfast shouldn’t be his snacks. Everyone should get equal opportunities. Let nation be with unity,” Hassan said.

He also criticised the people who are not voting during election terming it as the defeat of democracy.

“I lost in Coimbatore South with a margin of 1728 votes. My loss is not those votes, my actual defeat is 90,000 people who didn’t vote in Coimbatore South. Even in India, 40 per cent of people are not voting. You are asking whether I am a full time politician? You are not even full time citizen as 40 per cent are not voting. If those people vote, everything can be changed,” he said.

On actor Vijay forming his own party, Hassan said that he was the first person to welcome Vijay’s decision to join politics.

Kamal Hassan also thanked the election commission for allocating the Torch Light symbol despite being a smaller party.

Hundreds of cadres gathered and welcomed Kamal Hassan with crackers and cultural dances on the occasion.

This comes amid speculation that MNM will join the Congress-led opposition coalition, INDIA bloc and will contest in one seat from Tamil Nadu.

Earlier in September last year, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin hinted at his party allying with Hassan’s MNM ahead of the parliamentary polls.

“The party leaders will decide on the alliance (with Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam party) at the time of the elections,” Udhayanidhi Stalin had said. (ANI)

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Romania Sets September Date for Presidential Election

The massive blast brought down the building and caused severe damage to neighbouring houses in the western part of the camp…reports Asian Lite News

 At least 17 Palestinians were killed and more than 34 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, local medical sources told the media.

The sources added on Wednesday that rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the casualties include women and children, Xinhua news agency reported.

The recovered victims were all transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir el-Balah, the sources said.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua news agency that an Israeli warplane fired several missiles at the house sheltering several displaced families.

The massive blast brought down the building and caused severe damage to neighbouring houses in the western part of the camp.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip has risen to 29,313, with 69,333 others wounded, as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Wednesday.

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Imran Khan Votes from Adiala Jail via Postal Ballot

Only inmates with valid computerised national identity cards (CNICs) were allowed to vote, Dawn reported quoting jail authorities as saying…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf founder Imran Khan on Thursday cast his vote for the general elections by a postal ballot from Adiala Jail, local media reported.

Other incarcerated leaders who could vote included former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former Punjab province chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry.

However, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, could not vote as she was convicted and arrested after the completion of the postal voting process.

Only inmates with valid computerised national identity cards (CNICs) were allowed to vote, Dawn reported quoting jail authorities as saying.

In a post on X on Wednesday, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan had said that former prime minister Khan had dedicated everything, including his life, to restore the country’s dignity, honour and sovereignty and ensure the welfare of people.

“As citizens of the country, we have a debt to pay. We must use our vote to change the face of Pakistan by dismantling a rotten system that has cast a vicious stranglehold on the country and its people,” Hasan said.

General Elections Begin Amid Tight Security

Polling for Pakistan general elections began on Thursday at 90,000 polling stations across the country amid tight security.

The polling began at 8:00 a.m. local time and will end at 5 p.m.

Minutes before polling began, mobile internet services were temporarily suspended across the country, Dawn reported.

“The step has been taken due to recent surge in terrorist activities,” the country’s interior ministry said,

Islamabad police said security is in place and polling stations are being manned since Wednesday morning.

Polling for the four provincial assemblies is being held on the same day.

Over 128 million people, or more than half of the country’s total population, are eligible to vote in the general elections.

Elections were to be held for 266 seats in the lower house, but the elections for one of the seats had been postponed due to the death of a candidate, according to the ECP.

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Political Dynamics in Bihar Shift as Nitish Kumar Steps Down

Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Kumar Manjhi are also expected to go with Nitish Kumar to the Raj Bhawan…reports Asian Lite News

In a significant political development, Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, officially resigned from his post today. The decision culminates days of intense speculation surrounding the leader’s potential shift towards rejoining an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The leader of the Janata Dal (United) arrived at the governor’s office and formally submitted his resignation at 11 am. Prior to this, he held a meeting with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from his party at his official residence.

Nitish Kumar’s resignation marks his departure from the 28-party Opposition bloc INDIA, signaling his intention to forge a new coalition with the BJP. There are indications that he is considering the removal of ministers affiliated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), his erstwhile alliance partner led by Lalu Yadav, according to sources close to the development.

This move by Nitish Kumar adds a new layer of complexity to the political landscape in Bihar, prompting keen observations on the potential realignment of alliances and the ensuing impact on the state’s governance.

Amid high political drama in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has requested an appointment with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arleker on Sunday morning.

The Raj Bhawan sources said that the governor has given the time to Nitish Kumar at 10.30 a.m.

Nitish Kumar is expected to resign from the post of chief minister of the Mahagathbandhan government and also stake his claim to be the chief minister for the ninth time with the help of BJP and NDA constituents.

He will be accompanied by BJP state president Samrat Choudhary, leader of opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha and BJP Bihar in charge Vinod Tavare.

Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Kumar Manjhi are also expected to go with Nitish Kumar to the Raj Bhawan.

At present, BJP is holding the meeting in Atal Sabhagar of its headquarters in Patna. They are expected to go to the residence of Nitish Kumar around 10 a.m. and handover the letter of support bearing signatures of all 78 MLAs.

Nitish Kumar has already taken the signature of his party MLAs on Saturday evening.

Kumar will carry the support letter of BJP and HAM-S legislators to the Bihar Governor. He is expected to take oath for the ninth time on Sunday evening. Keeping this in view, Patna district administration has imposed section 144 in the Raj Bhawan area and strictly prohibited any kind of protest march or Dharna.

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