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UP: Nomination of 104 candidates found valid, 78 rejected

Among the rejections, the nomination of BSP candidate Chhotalal Gangwar stood out due to its incomplete nature…reports Asian Lite News

After a rigorous scrutiny process for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, out of the 182 candidates who filed nominations across 10 constituencies in the third phase, the papers of 104 individuals were deemed valid, while 78 nominations faced rejection, a senior official from the Election Commission has said.

Among the rejections, the nomination of BSP candidate Chhotalal Gangwar stood out due to its incomplete nature, as observed by the Returning Officer of Bareilly Lok Sabha constituency, Ravindra Kumar.

The constituencies slated for voting in this phase include Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Amla, and Bareilly. The process of filing nominations commenced on April 12, with scrutiny taking place recently, indicating the intensification of electoral activities as the polling date approaches.

The rejection of nominations, while disappointing for the candidates affected, underscores the significance of complying with electoral regulations. Incomplete nominations, as in the case of Chhotalal Gangwar, highlight the importance of attention to detail in the paperwork required for candidacy.

Notable candidates vying for seats in this phase include Union Minister and BJP candidate SP Baghel from Agra and Samajwadi Party candidate Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri. Their participation adds to the political fervor surrounding these constituencies and amplifies the stakes involved in the electoral contest.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa provided insights into the nomination process, revealing that while 182 candidates filed nominations, 104 were deemed valid after scrutiny. This scrutiny process ensures the integrity of the electoral process by vetting candidates’ eligibility and adherence to legal requirements.

The distribution of valid and rejected nominations varied across constituencies, reflecting the diverse political dynamics at play. For instance, while all 11 nominations in Agra (SC) were deemed valid, nine out of 19 nominations in Fatehpur Sikri faced rejection. Such variations underscore the unique challenges and considerations in each constituency.

Instances of nominations being rejected due to unauthorized representation, as seen in the case of Satyaveer from Aonla Lok Sabha constituency, highlight the importance of adhering to party protocols and ensuring proper authorization before filing nominations.

Rajnath to file nomination from Lucknow

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will file his nomination for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat on April 29, BJP sources said.

Lucknow BJP Chief Anand Dwivedi said Rajnath Singh will proceed to file his nomination papers from the Uttar Pradesh BJP office opposite the Vidhan Sabha.

“From there, he would proceed on a motorised chariot to the collectorate to file his nomination along with Ministers, Mayor, senior party functionaries, and others,” Dwivedi added.

Rajnath Singh is seeking a third consecutive term as a Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow.

Before contesting his first election from Lucknow in 2014, Rajnath had won the Lok Sabha polls from Ghaziabad in 2009.

At that time, former Governor, the late Lalji Tandon, was the Lucknow MP after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee bowed out of electoral politics after serving as Lucknow MP for five consecutive terms.

Dwivedi also said that on April 26, O.P. Srivastava, the BJP candidate for Lucknow (East) Assembly bypolls, would file his nomination.

The bypoll to the seat, polling for which would also be held on May 20, was necessitated due to the demise of sitting lawmaker Ashutosh Tandon Gopal.

Lucknow will go to polls along with 13 other constituencies on May 20 in the fifth of the seven-phased 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP’s film flopped on opening day, says Akhilesh

During a spirited address at an election rally, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav made scathing remarks against the BJP, claiming that the first phase of polling had shifted the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh.

“The wind has changed. It’s not only that their film has flopped, but also no one wants to listen to their repeated story. No one wants to give them their vote,” Yadav said, addressing an election rally seeking support for the SP and INDIA bloc candidate Sunita Verma.

He dismissed the BJP’s electoral narrative as stale and reiterated that the electorate was disenchanted with their repetitive storyline, signaling a lack of support for the ruling party.

Yadav, while seeking support for SP and INDIA bloc candidate Sunita Verma, emphasized the failure of the BJP’s governance, particularly highlighting the leakage of examination papers under their watch. He portrayed the BJP’s missteps as emblematic of their broader incompetence and inability to deliver on their promises.

Responding to a query regarding BJP Lok Sabha candidate Arun Govil, Yadav humorously remarked that Meerut residents would bid him farewell, alluding to the constituency’s revolutionary spirit and urging voters to reject the BJP’s influence.

Critiquing Prime Minister Modi’s recent assurances, Yadav characterized them as deceptive tactics aimed at misleading the public. He contrasted these superficial guarantees with the foundational principles enshrined in the Constitution, emphasizing the importance of constitutional safeguards in securing dignity, employment, and reservation rights.

Yadav further lambasted the BJP, denouncing it as a haven for corrupt elements and alleging its exploitation of institutions like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for personal gain. He underscored the significance of the PDA coalition, comprising marginalized communities such as the Pichda (backward), Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (minority), portraying it as a formidable force capable of effecting meaningful change.

In his critique of the BJP’s electoral promises, particularly regarding farmers’ income doubling and job creation, Yadav dismissed them as empty rhetoric devoid of substance. He positioned the SP and its allies as the true champions of the people’s interests, contrasting their commitment to social justice and inclusive governance with the BJP’s purportedly hollow assurances.

Overall, Yadav’s address reflected a blend of political acumen and rhetorical flair, as he sought to galvanize support for his party while dismantling the BJP’s narrative and highlighting its alleged failures and shortcomings.

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Next-Gen dynasties waiting to rise on UP horizon

The latest addition to the list is Neeraj Tripathi, son of the late veteran BJP leader and former Speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi, who has been named as the BJP candidate for the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat…reports Asian Lite News

The ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh are witnessing the emergence of new generations from families with a history in politics.

The latest addition to the list is Neeraj Tripathi, son of the late veteran BJP leader and former Speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi, who has been named as the BJP candidate for the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat.

Neeraj Tripathi, a lawyer by profession and also the additional advocate general of the state government, has finally taken a plunge into politics. His wife Kavita has been actively involved in politics and is the office-bearer in the BJP Mahila Morcha.

Shreya Verma, the granddaughter of another political stalwart and former Union Minister, Beni Prasad Verma, has been fielded from Gonda as the Samajwadi Party candidate in her political debut.

She is banking on her grandfather’s influence among the Kurmi caste group.

Beni Prasad Verma had previously won the same Lok Sabha seat as a Congress candidate in 2009.

Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, the great-grandson of Congress stalwart Kamlapati Tripathi, is contesting from the Bhadohi seat as the lone Trinamool Congress candidate.

Lalitesh Pati quit the Congress in 2021 and is now seeking to revive the political fortunes of his family, which had almost faded into oblivion.

Shashank Mani Tripathi, the BJP candidate from Deoria, is also a third-generation member of his family to enter politics and contest his first election.

Shashank’s father, Prakash Mani Tripathi, was a Lok Sabha member from Deoria in 1996. He was also an ex-army officer.

His grandfather, Surat Narain Mani Tripathi, was an IAS officer and also a member of the Vidhan Parishad.

Zia-ur-Rehman Barq is the grandson of the late Shafiqur Rehman Barq, a sitting SP MP who passed away after his ticket from Sambhal was announced.

Zia has replaced his grandfather, Shafiqur, in Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency as the SP candidate.

Similarly, Iqra Hasan, the granddaughter of the late Congress stalwart Chaudhary Akhtar Hasan and the daughter of SP leader late Munawwar Hasan and Tabassum Hasan is continuing her family’s political legacy by entering the electoral arena as an SP candidate from Kairana. Her brother Nahid Hasan is currently a sitting MLA from the Kairana Assembly segment.

Another Congress MP and former UP bureaucrat, P.L. Punia’s son, Tanuj Punia, is also testing his luck in place of his father from Barabanki as the Congress candidate.

Shivpal Yadav’s son Aditya Yadav is also making his electoral debut from the Budaun seat. Aditya has waited long enough to take a plunge into politics and is being groomed by the family for his new career.

Apart from this, Arvind Rajbhar, the son of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, is making his political debut from the Ghosi Lok Sabha seat.

O.P. Rajbhar is an MLA from the Zahoorabad Assembly seat and holds a cabinet minister position in the BJP government in the state.

While, Union Minister and Apna Dal(S) leader, Anupriya Patel, is the sitting MP from Mirzapur, her estranged sister Pallavi Patel is preparing to enter the electoral fray from either Phulpur or Pratapgarh parliamentary constituency.

Pallavi, who belongs to the rival Apna Dal(K) faction of the party, will be contesting in alliance with AIMIM.

Will work to stop oppression of Muslims: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati, on Sunday, accused sitting MP Danish Ali who after being suspended from BSP, is now contesting on a Congress ticket, of betraying the party and people.

“We did not betray the Muslim community. When a Muslim person betrayed us, we did not punish the Muslim community, but this time also, we have given the ticket to a Muslim candidate. I am sure this time also, you will make the BSP candidate win,” she said.

Mayawati added that BJP would not be coming to power at the Centre easily this time.

“Their guarantees have no effect on ground reality. They have been engaged only in protecting some people and this information has come to light in Electoral Bond that they are running their organisation with their support. They have also politicised the Central agencies. Amroha is famous not only for workmanship but also for farming, but the present BJP government has not taken care of farmers,” she alleged.

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati addresses a press conference at her residence, in Lucknow, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.(IANS/Twitter:@Mayawati)

Mayawati said that the condition of the minority Muslim community remains very bad and pathetic. There is an atmosphere of panic and fear in this society because of BJP and Sangh.

She added that the free food items being given by the Central government are not going to do any good.

Mayawati reiterated that the BSP will work to stop the oppression of the Muslim community and added that strict steps will be taken for the safety of this community.

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23% candidates in UP LS polls have criminal cases

In a concerning revelation, a report by ADR and National Election Watch has noted an alarming prevalence of criminal cases among candidates contesting polls…reports Asian Lite News

Around 23 per cent of candidates of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh are facing criminal cases, while 46 per cent of candidates are crorepatis.

According to a joint report released here on Tuesday by Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), they analyzed affidavits of all 91 candidates contesting from eight constituencies in the second phase of the polls in the northern state.

The seats going to polls in the second phase are Aligarh, Amroha, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Gautambudh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Mathura and Meerut. The polling of the second phase will be held on April 26.

The report says 23 percent out of 91 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, out of which 18 per cent are facing serious criminal charges.

Party-wise details of candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves are — Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with three out of eight (38%), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) two out of seven (29%), and the Samajwadi Party’s (SP) all four candidates (100%). The Congress has two out of four candidates (50%), and Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party two out of three candidates (67%) with criminal cases registered against them.

Serious criminal cases declared by candidates include 25% of BSP, 29% of BJP, 50% of SP, 50% of Congress, and 33% of Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party.

Pandit Keshavdev Gautam, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Aligarh, has five criminal cases registered against him. Next is Amarpal, the Samajwadi Party candidate from Baghpat. He has nine criminal cases registered against him, while Haji Afzal, with two cases, is at the third position, who is contesting as an Independent from Meerut.

Talking about crorepati candidates, 42 out of 91 (46%) candidates fall in this bracket. All eight candidates of the BSP, seven of the BJP, four of the SP, two of the Jai Hind National, one of the Samaj Vikas Kranti Party, and three out of four candidates of the Congress (75%) fall under this income bracket.

The report also said that the average asset of the candidates is Rs 10.05 crore. Among the main parties, the average asset of eight candidates of the BSP is around Rs 10.75 crore, while that of seven candidates of the BJP is Rs 91.23 crore. The average asset of four candidates of the SP is around Rs 17.34 crore and that of four Congress candidates is Rs 3.56 crore.

UP Election Watch state convenor Santosh Srivastava said among the candidates in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Hema Malini, who is contesting on BJP ticket from Mathura, whose assets are around Rs 278 crore and similarly Satish Kumar Gautam, BJP candidate from Aligarh has assets worth Rs 16 crores. Devbrath contested from the Meerut Lok Sabha seat on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket, whose assets are around Rs 5 crores.

In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in UP, 33 out of 91 (36%) candidates have declared their educational qualification between 5th and 12th. Whereas 52 (57 percent) candidates have declared their educational qualification as Graduation and above. Two candidates have declared his/her educational qualification as Diploma holders. Two candidates have declared their educational qualification as literate and 2 candidates have declared their educational qualification as illiterate.

Talking about the age of the candidates in the second phase, 31 out of 91 (34 percent) candidates have declared their age between 25 to 40 years, while 42 (46 percent) candidates have declared their age between 41 to 60 years while 18 (20 percent) candidates have declared their age between 61 to 80 years.

A total of 9 (10 percent) women candidates are contesting in the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Chief Convener UP Election Watch ADR Sanjay Singh said that literate and intelligent people are still trying their luck in the country’s largest Parliament. He said that on one hand literacy is continuously increasing in the country. But such candidates are still seen in the country’s largest parliament. Despite many important orders of the Supreme Court, all the parties showed no hesitation in fielding candidates with criminal tendencies. It is clear that if any criminal is being given a ticket then the reason for the same will have to be explained and the reasons will have to be published in the media as well.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have analyzed the self-sworn affidavits of 1,618 candidates out of the 1,625 candidates contesting the elections in Phase 1 on April 19.

Furthermore, the report highlights that 42 out of the 102 Lok Sabha seats slated for Phase 1 are contested by three or more candidates facing criminal charges. Additionally, 18 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women, including one candidate facing a rape charge under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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UP’s Political Women Power Doesn’t Belong To It

Maneka Gandhi, who originally belongs to Delhi, is the senior-most MP among these women, having won her first election in 1989 on a Janata Dal ticket. She later joined the BJP and has always chosen Uttar Pradesh to contest elections — first Pilibhit and then Sultanpur…reports Asian Lite News

Uttar Pradesh has strong and established women leaders but, ironically, the majority of this ‘Nari Shakti’ does not belong to this state.

Barring a few, most of the women leaders have come from other states and after contesting several elections, they have consolidated their position in Uttar Pradesh.

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi leads the brigade of political talent imported from outside Uttar Pradesh. A native of Italy who was living in New Delhi with her in-laws, the Gandhi bahu made her political debut from Amethi in 1999 and then contested and won the Rae Bareli seat from 2004 to 2019.

Sonia Gandhi began campaigning in Amethi from 1984 when her husband Rajiv Gandhi made his political debut.

When Sonia Gandhi finally took a plunge in politics after the former Prime Minister’s demise, she chose the family turf, Amethi.

The former Congress President was at one time seen as a prime ministerial candidate, though she never claimed the position.

Another woman politician who was seen as a prospective prime ministerial candidate is BSP supremo, Mayawati.

Mayawati was born in Delhi but her political ‘karambhoomi’ became Uttar Pradesh when the first SP-BSP government came into existence in 1993 in the state.

Circumstances propelled Mayawati into the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s chair in 1995 and over the years, she has emerged as a politician who cannot be ignored.

Actor-turned-politician, Hema Malini, who is seeking her third term from Mathura, belongs to Tamil Nadu and has spent most of her life in Mumbai.

She contested and won the 2014 and 2019 elections from Mathura. Hema Malini calls herself ‘Krishna ki gopi’ and claims to have a divine connect with Mathura.

Among others in this list is Smriti Irani, who is seeking her second term from Amethi and originally belongs to Delhi.

However, after winning Amethi in 2019, she calls herself ‘Amethi ki bitiya’. She has even built her home in Gauriganj in Amethi and is well versed with local politics and the local people.

Maneka Gandhi, who originally belongs to Delhi, is the senior-most MP among these women, having won her first election in 1989 on a Janata Dal ticket. She later joined the BJP and has always chosen Uttar Pradesh to contest elections — first Pilibhit and then Sultanpur.

Jaya Prada, another actor-turned-politician, was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh but chose Uttar Pradesh to kickstart her political career even though she had earlier joined the TDP.

Jaya Prada successfully contested the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and 2009 elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket. Later, she joined the BJP in 2019.

Dimple Yadav, senior SP leader and wife of Akhilesh Yadav, originally belongs to Uttarakhand but made Uttar Pradesh her home after her marriage to Akhilesh.

Dimple Yadav began her career by losing a bypoll to Raj Babbar of the Congress from Firozabad in 2009 but won the Kannauj seat in a 2012 bye-election. She won the Kannauj seat in 2014 but lost in 2019.

However, Dimple Yadav won the Mainpuri bye-election after the demise of Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2022.

Among all these women leaders, it is only Union Minister Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (S) who was born and brought up in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Interestingly, even in the past, several women leaders who made a mark in Indian politics were born outside Uttar Pradesh but chose to contest polls from the state.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, made her debut in politics when she won a bye-election from Bijnor in 1985. Meira Kumar, who is the daughter of late veteran politician Jagjivan Ram, was born in Bihar.

Former Delhi Chief Minister, late Sheila Dikshit, won her first election from Kannauj in 1984. She was born in Kapurthala in Punjab.

Freedom fighter Sucheta Kripalani, the first woman Chief Minister in India, who headed the Uttar Pradesh government, also belonged to Punjab but won the Assembly polls from Mehdawal in Sant Kabir Nagar.

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Electioneering in UP is unusually quiet this time

There is no colour visible on the ground and even posters and hoardings are nowhere to be seen…reports Asian Lite News

The familiar sound of ‘Jitega bhai jitega bhai’ over the loudspeakers is missing in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the highest number of MPs to the parliament, this time.

There is no colour visible on the ground and even posters and hoardings are nowhere to be seen.

Even the messages on the mobile phones are hard to come by. It is only the television that keeps up the momentum with speeches and debates.

Electioneering in Uttar Pradesh this time around is unusually quiet and subdued. In fact, it does not seem like election time at all.

Campaign in the largest state of the country, in the true sense of the term, is yet to begin.

While the BJP is focussing on the national campaign and is going ahead full steam, opposition parties are keeping a low profile – with most of their candidates not yet declared.

Slogans, once the mainstay of campaigning, are also conspicuous by their absence.

“The BJP has one slogan ‘Abki baar 400 paar’ and every candidate is banking on it. No candidate has coined a slogan for himself because he wants to ride high on the Modi wave. The slogan is catchy and has already caught on,” said a BJP candidate from central UP.

The Congress slogan ‘Ab Hoga Nyay’ has failed to catch the fancy of the people.

“It does not convey exactly what the Congress wants to say. The slogan should be short and catchy – one that can say everything in a few words,” said Ravish Mathur, a young psephologist.

The SP and BSP have not yet found slogans of their choice for this season.

The change in the style of campaigning has also done away with flags and posters.

“People no longer get impressed or are swayed by posters and flags. The majority of them have already made up their mind. It is useless to waste one’s money on such things. Earlier, people used to choose candidates but now people choose parties and candidates are just incidental,” said a candidate.

Most candidates are also using social media for campaigning in a very cautious way. For instance, much before the elections were announced, the SP candidate from Lucknow, Ravidas Mehrotra, put out his audio message via phone to the voters. However, he soon gave it up and no other candidate has followed this.

A BSP candidate explained: “Social media is a double-edged sword and can be used against you. It is safer and better to establish a direct connection with the voters and convey your message,” he said.

Interestingly, almost all candidates are also shying away from giving interviews and taking media persons along on their campaigns.

They claim that they have been asked by their party leaders to keep the media at a safe distance.

S N Dixit, a retired political scientist from Allahabad explained the phenomenon saying that silence prevails when the candidates and the people know the outcome of the elections.

“Almost everyone knows who the winner is. So no one is making a noise. The prospective winners are keeping quiet because they are confident of the outcome. The opposition too does not want an unnecessary effort because they also know the result,” he said.

Congress vows to end manual scavenging

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the centre and raised questions over the death of a sanitation worker due to a gas leak in Varanasi and promised to end manual scavenging.

“On April 5, 2024, a sanitation worker in the Prime Minister’s own Lok Sabha constituency died due to a gas leak when he entered a sewer without equipment. This is not a new case in Varanasi; during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we were told that in the last ten years, more than 25 deaths have occurred in Banaras due to entering sewers,” he lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Further accusing the Modi government of doing injustice to sanitation workers, he said that, on the other hand, Congress has made this promise in its manifesto that they will end the evil practice of manual scavenging.

“All manual scavengers will be skilled for some other work and will be provided jobs. A dignified and safe life will be ensured for them,” he added.

He further ensured that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 will be strictly enforced and anyone employing manual scavengers will be punished.

He announced that a compensation of Rs 30 lakh will be given to the families of sanitation workers who lose their lives while performing manual scavenging work.

Earlier in the day, Jairam Ramesh also posed questions for PM Modi, as the latter is all set to address a public rally in Bihar as part of his election campaign at 11 am on Sunday.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, “Today, the Prime Minister heads to Nawada in Bihar–the state where the BJP orchestrated its latest government collapse. While they have excelled at forcing their way into power, the BJP’s governance has left much to be desired.”

He alleged that the ruling BJP party does not hesitate to topple governments or use ‘ill-gotten electoral bonds chanda’ to buy and sell MLAs in desperate bids to cling to power. (ANI)

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BJP Optimism Peaks in UP

With Rashtriya Lok Dal as its ally, the BJP is confident of winning all seats in the State…reports Asian Lite News

Hopes run high for the BJP in the first phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh.

With Rashtriya Lok Dal as its ally, the BJP is confident of winning all seats here.

“The BJP-RLD combine will sweep in the first phase. The public mood is in our favour and so are the electoral combinations,” said the party functionary.

In 2019 elections, SP-BSP combine had won five seats — Saharanpur, Bijnor, Nagina went to the BSP, and Moradabad and Rampur to the Samajwadi Party (SP).

This time BJP has given Bijnor to ally Rashtriya Lok Dal but is treading cautiously in other three constituencies. RLD has fielded its Meerapur MLA Chandan Chauhan, a Gurjar, against SP candidate Yashveer Singh, a Dalit in Bijnor. The BSP has fielded Bijendra Singh, a Jat, who left RLD to join Mayawati’s party.

In Rampur, BJP has fielded Ghanshyam Lodhi who had defeated SP’s Asim Raja in 2022 bypoll when the seat fell vacant after the disqualification of SP leader Azam Khan who was convicted in a criminal case. SP, which has tied-up with Congress, is yet to name its candidate for Rampur but the Azam Khan factor will continue to play a role even though his entire family is missing from the elections this time.

The BJP is trying to wrest back Saharanpur where BSP’s Haji Fazlur Rehman had defeated its candidate Raghav Lakhan Pal by 24,000 votes in 2019.

In Moradabad, which was won by SP’s S.T. Hasan in 2019, is also on BJP’s bucket list this time. However, both BJP and SP-Congress combine, are yet to name the candidates for these two seats.

Kairana is also a keenly watched seat which hit headlines ahead of 2017 UP elections amid reports of exodus by Hindu families. BJP has repeated sitting MP Pradeep Chaudhary, a Gurjar, against SP’s Iqra Hasan, sister of SP’s Kairana MLA Nahid Hasan. A postgraduate in international law from the school of Oriental and African Studies, London University, Iqra had campaigned extensively for Nahid during the 2022 Assembly polls. Incidentally, it was the tussle over Kairana that made RLD sever its ties with SP because Akhilesh Yadav was keen on Iqra contesting the seat. BSP is yet to name a candidate though speculations are rife that Mayawati may pick a Muslim to cut SP’s Muslim votes.

In Muzaffarnagar, BJP is banking on its sitting MP and Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan, a Jat, who had defeated the then RLD chief Ajit Singh by a slender margin of 6,500 votes in 2019. He is pitted against SP’s Harendra Malik, also a Jat. The BSP, on the other hand, has played the OBC card by fielding Dara Singh Prajapati.

The reserved seat of Nagina was won by BSP’s Girish Chandra in 2019 by defeating BJP’s Yashwant Singh, and will now see a change of candidates. The BJP has opted for MLA Om Kumar, a Jatav, instead of Yashwant Singh. He is up against SP’s Manoj Kumar. BSP has yet to announce its candidate. Speculation is rife that Dalit leader and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad will also throw his hat in the ring from Nagina and if he does, it will make the contest increasingly interesting.

The focus, however, in the first phase, is on the Pilibhit seat because the BJP is yet to decide on fielding its sitting MP Varun Gandhi who has been openly critical of his own party since the farmers’ protest against agricultural laws in 2021. The Samajwadi Party has already said that it is ‘open’ to the idea of fielding Varun Gandhi in Pilibhit if he does not go with BJP. His mother Maneka Gandhi, MP from Sultanpur, too has been keeping a low profile in the party, after the BJP dropped the mother-son from the national executive committee in 2021. Whether or not the BJP names Varun Gandhi as its candidate, there is little doubt that the contest in Pilibhit will remain in public focus.

Territorial Integrity ‘At Risk’, Alleges Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday alleged that the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the country’s territorial integrity and national security “at risk” in dealing with its neighbouring country, China.

Kharge, in a post on X, also accused the Modi government of “attacking the constitutional rights of our own citizens of Ladakh”.

“Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee! In Ladakh, there is a strong wave of public support, with unified calls for protection for tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” he said, adding that the Congress remains committed to protecting Ladakh and securing national interests at the borders.

Kharge comments come as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike in support of statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule for the Union Territory of Ladakh continues.

“But like all other guarantees – ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ to assure constitutional rights to the people of Ladakh remains a colossal betrayal. It is nothing but fake and Chinese in nature,” the Congress chief said.

Kharge also alleged that the Modi government wants to exploit the eco-sensitive Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh and benefit its “crony friends”.

“PM Modi’s CLEAN CHIT to China after Galwan Valley, post the sacrifice of our 20 bravehearts, has emboldened the expansionist nature of China at our strategic borders (sic),” he added.

“On one hand, Modi government has put our territorial integrity and national security at risk, and on the other hand, it is attacking the Constitutional Rights of our own citizens of Ladakh,” the Congress chief added.

He also claimed that China continues to occupy Indian territory at Depsang Plains, Hot Springs and Gogra regions.

He also said that the Modi government failed to ensure status quo ante before 2020 despite at least 19 rounds of one-on-one talks between PM Modi and his Chinese counterpart since 2014. (ANI)

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BJP’s OBC Strategy Reshapes UP Politics

The BJP changed the game by focussing on Kurmis — the next largest group within the OBCs…reports Asian Lite News

With 200-odd groups, the OBC are emerging as an important factor in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Despite the BJP making inroads among OBC voters and its non-dominant castes, the OBCs remain the core support base of many regional parties.

The OBCs in Uttar Pradesh are estimated to be over 50 per cent of the state’s population, according to data from the Hukum Singh committee set up in 2001.

Yadavs are the largest OBC caste with a 19.40 per cent share. They are the most powerful constituent of the OBC group and had, till now, played a dominant role in shaping politics in Uttar Pradesh but after 2014, other groups started emerging on the political horizon.

The BJP changed the game by focussing on Kurmis — the next largest group within the OBCs.

Apna Dal (S), a Kurmi-centric party, joined the NDA in 2014 and has been an important and loyal BJP ally ever since.

It is important to note that amongst the OBCs, the non-dominant OBCs combined are numerically larger compared to the combined total of various castes amongst the dominant OBCs.

This has resulted in BJP focusing more on mobilising the non-dominant OBC castes compared to the dominant OBCs, who anyway are the core supporters of different regional parties in different states.

The Rajbhars and the riverine communities are part of this and the BJP has Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and Nishad Party representing these two vote banks in UP.

The BJP, according to surveys conducted by Lokniti-CSDS, has been able to make inroads amongst the voters belonging to the OBC castes — more amongst the non-dominant OBC castes compared to the dominant OBC.

“Our presence among OBCs has increased in the past decade and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made several announcements for supporting those who belong to the non-dominant OBC castes. He launched a scheme with an initial fund of Rs 13,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore for workers engaged in traditional trade, those who work with tools, use their hands, and are primarily from the OBC section,” said a BJP party functionary.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 30 per cent of dominant OBCs voted for the BJP while amongst the non-dominant OBC voters, it got 43 per cent votes.

The BJP’s support amongst the OBC voters increased further during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Amongst the dominant OBC voters, 40 per cent voted for the BJP while amongst the non-dominant OBCs it got 48 per cent votes.

The BJP mobilised the non-dominant OBC castes voters by building a narrative of them being denied their share in social, economic and political power, which have been cornered by the dominant OBC castes.

The evidence suggests that BJP’s narrative seems to have paid dividends and the BJP now enjoys the support of most of the non-dominant OBC groups.

On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party, which has been banking mainly on the Yadav vote bank, has failed to clobber the support of non-Yadav OBC groups.

“The party has failed to make a conscious effort to woo non-Yadav communities. It has been a major cause of failure for the Samajwadi Party in the last decade. Akhilesh Yadav, despite representing the new generation in politics, has failed to see beyond the Yadavs,” admitted a senior non-Yadav leader in the SP.

He further said that the PDA (Pichhda-Dalit-Alpsankhayak) formula has come rather late in the day and is unlikely to benefit the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

“The problem with the party leadership is that it is unable to strike a balance among major caste groups. PDA was abandoned in the selection of Rajya Sabha candidates and this led to a revolt in the ranks,” the leader added.

The Congress, meanwhile, is also reaching out for OBCs but the party lacks a well-defined strategy on the issue.

The party had appointed Ajay Kumar Lallu, an OBC, as UPCC Chief in 2019 but he failed to rope in OBC voters. He was succeeded by Brijlal Khabri, a Dalit, but he too failed to benefit the party.

The Congress announced its 130-member state committee, giving major representation to OBCs with 44 members.

Over the years, Congress has lost support both amongst the dominant and non-dominant OBC castes.

The Bahujan Samaj Party, meanwhile, has failed to make inroads in the OBC vote bank and most of its OBC leaders in UP have either walked out of the party or have been expelled.

The BSP, besides issuing statements, has not made any visible efforts to reach out to non-dominant OBCs, ahead of the upcoming elections.

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UP replacing red tape with red carpet, says Modi

The Prime Minister also insisted that in the last seven years, crime has reduced in the state and business culture has expanded…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, said that Uttar Pradesh had changed its investment culture from “red tape to red carpet’’.

He said that this was possible because of the double-engine government.

Speaking at the Ground Breaking Ceremony 4.0. here, the Prime Minister said “It has been seven years since a double-engine government was formed in UP. In these years, the red tape culture in the state has been ended and a red-carpet culture has been brought in.”

He said that Uttar Pradesh was receiving investment proposals from all sectors.

The Prime Minister also insisted that in the last seven years, crime has reduced in the state and business culture has expanded.

“In the last seven years, an environment of business, development and trust has been formed in UP. The double-engine government has shown that if there is a true intention for change, nobody can stop it,” he said.

The Prime Minister mounted a scathing attack on previous governments led by the Congress and said, “When I speak about ‘Viksit Bharat’, new thinking and new direction is needed for it. Had we followed the kind of thinking that prevailed in the country for decades after Independence, this would not have been possible.”

The Prime Minister referred to the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and said the vehicle with “Modi’s guarantee” reached various parts of Uttar Pradesh so that there is a saturation of government welfare schemes.

“We are gathered here with the resolve to build ‘Viksit Uttar Pradesh’ for ‘Viksit Bharat’. I have been told that through technology, lakhs of people from more than 400 Vidhan Sabha seats of UP are connected to this event. About seven-eight years back, we could not even think that there could be such an atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh regarding investment and employment,” he said.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, in his welcome address, said that economic prosperity depended on availability of land, population and capital. “I am proud to say that all three are amply available in Uttar Pradesh.”

During the groundbreaking ceremony 4.0 organized at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gracing the state with his presence to inaugurate the fourth edition of the groundbreaking ceremony. He also extended a warm welcome to the investors and entrepreneurs gathered at the event, an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said on Monday.

CM Yogi emphasized the sacredness of the land, noting its association with Lord Shri Ram, Gopeshwar Shri Krishna, and Baba Vishwanath. He remarked, “This land is blessed by sages and saints, and has received the divine blessings of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarayu. It is a land of virtue as well as ‘enterprise and entrepreneurship.’ Today, Uttar Pradesh is on the path to transforming India’s labour force into an economic powerhouse.”

Asserting that over the past decade, the country has ascended from being the 11th largest economy to the 5th, the Chief Minister confidently declared, “There is no doubt that India, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, will ascend to the position of the third largest economy in the world. This is ‘Modi ji ki guarantee’ and Uttar Pradesh firmly believes in it.”

Modi witnesses Samsung ‘Galaxy AI’ at UP event

Modi on Monday met J.B. Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, at the UP Ground Breaking Ceremony 4.0 (GBC 4.0) and witnessed the recently-launched ‘Galaxy AI’ features.

Park showcased various features of ‘Galaxy AI’ to PM Modi at the UP ‘Global Investors’ Summit 2023’. He explained the contribution of Samsung engineers to ‘Galaxy AI’, the company said in a statement.

Park also talked about the 28 year journey of Samsung in Noida wherein, it has set up one manufacturing plant — the world’s largest in Noida — and two R&D centres.

‘Galaxy AI; features include ‘Live Translate’ which is a two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within the native app. It also offers intuitive, gesture-driven ‘Circle to Search’ with Google.

In 2018, PM Modi inaugurated the world’s largest mobile factory of Samsung Electronics in Noida’s sector 81.

PM congratulates Yogi for resolve to build $1 tr economy

Meanwhile, Modi congratulated Yogi Adityanath for his resolve to develop the state into a one trillion dollar economy, saying that the country will progress only when every state moves forward with big dreams and resolutions like that of Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the fourth edition of the Ground Breaking Ceremony organised at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, PM Modi stated, “I have full faith in the power of UP and the hard work of the double engine government. I especially congratulate Yogiji. Every Indian is proud that UP has decided to become a trillion dollar economy. My advice to all the political parties of the country would be to leave politics and learn from UP and then enter the field with a similar resolve.”

The Prime Minister launched more than 14,000 projects worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore on the occasion. He also watched glimpses of the changing Uttar Pradesh through films screened at the event.

Emphasising that it is a time of infinite opportunities for industries in Uttar Pradesh, he remarked, “Exports from UP have doubled in the last few years. UP is the state with the highest number of expressways and international airports in the country. The country’s first rapid rail is running here. A large network of Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors passes through UP. The river network is also being used for cargo ships. Transportation has become cheaper.”

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UP Honors Scientist & Entrepreneur on State Day

Dr Ritu completed her B.Sc. in Physics from Lucknow University. She was a research scholar at Lucknow University for six months…reports Asian Lite News

Uttar Pradesh government will honour two personalities, who have brought laurels to the state on Uttar Pradesh Day. The government will confer the ‘Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman’ on eminent scientist Dr Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, who played a crucial role in the Chandrayaan Mission as the Mission Director of Mission Moon at Lucknow’s Mission Directorate, and Naveen Tiwari, a noted entrepreneur from Kanpur, who is regularly featured on covers of magazines like Forbes and Fortune.

Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, who resides in Lucknow, played a crucial role in the development of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. She also served as the Deputy Operations Director for this mission. Mangalyaan was one of ISRO’s greatest achievements, making India the fourth country in the world to reach Mars.

Dr Ritu completed her B.Sc. in Physics from Lucknow University. She was a research scholar at Lucknow University for six months. During the Annual Convocation in 2019, Lucknow University presented her with the prestigious D.Sc. (Honorary Doctorate) degree. Karidhal has been working for ISRO since 1997. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

Eminent entrepreneur Naveen Tewari, a resident of Kanpur, who is regularly featured on the covers of magazines like Forbes and Fortune, has created two unicorns and given India its first unicorn. He has established the world’s largest independent mobile ad tech platform, connecting local businesses in Uttar Pradesh and India with national and international audiences. His lock screen software is present on more than 40 crore smartphones globally.

Entrepreneur Naveen has established his presence in 26 countries, positioning India on the global stage. He has directly employed 3000 people while giving employment to thousands indirectly. (ANI)

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UP Girls Celebrate Teej in London

The UP Girls have proven that while you can take a girl out of India, you certainly can’t take India out of the girl, and created a wonderful communal experience whilst doing so…reports Asian Lite News

Festivities filled the Blue Room, an events venue in Harrow, on 17th September 2023. The theme of the celebration was the Hindu festival Teej, specifically Hartalika Teej. Hartalika Teej commemorates the marriage of the goddess Parvati and the god Shiva, and is an especially important festival for married women. On Teej, women gather to celebrate, and pray for the well-being of their family. They also traditionally observe a fast on this day. However, as the celebration was a day before the actual advent of Hartalika Teej, all present – including men, women, and children – were free to partake in the delicious food provided.

Aside from the food, the event itself was incredibly lively. UP (Uttar Pradesh) Girls, the all-female hosts of this event, did a commendable job in creating an enjoyable afternoon. From witty hosting in a beautifully decorated venue, to various singing and dance performances by adults and children alike, and a multi-generational fashion show, there was not a single dull moment during the four-hour long function. The UP Girls have proven that while you can take a girl out of India, you certainly can’t take India out of the girl, and created a wonderful communal experience whilst doing so.

It was a great platform for all the talented ladies to express themselves. The event had stalls as well as a photo booth and was a complete package of entertainment with fashion show, dancing, singing, and several kids performances. Each participant was given a certificate and prize.

UP Girls in the UK was first started by Richa Sharma 7 years ago but it is for the first time they have organized Teej on a large scale. The entire programme was conceptualized and executed under the guidance of Sunita Chaubey. Others who contributed to the execution of the entire event were Shalini Jaiswal , Abha Sharma , Vijay Lakshmi Shukla , Parul Tandon ,Bakul Bansal , Shipra Singh , Hemlata Pandey , Savita Singh , Kavita Gulati , Priya Sinha, Mamta Sunil Chavan, Priyanka Verma, Anuradha Baranwal , Deepti Agarwal, Juhi Srivastava, Ekta Mishra, Bandana Choubey, Dr Vinita Srivastava, Vijaylakshmi Dubey , Rashmi Chaubey , Parul Pandey

The event was supported by IIW Inspiring Indian Women.

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