Assembly Elections 2022: Priyanka Vadra targets Modi, Adityanath in Raebareli

A day ahead of Punjab Assembly elections, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's wife Kamaljit Kaur said that she is positive about Congress victory in the polls and that the party high command had appointed her husband as the Chief Ministerial candidate since he has the love and support of people. 

Speaking to ANI, Kamaljit Kaur said, "We are very positive about the upcoming Punjab elections. Channi Ji has got love and support from the people of Punjab and this is the reason Congress high command has appointed him CM face."

She further said that when they visit villages, they get good responses from people and they say they support us. "I believe this is the case," she added. 
 

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of spending funds on advertisements instead of using them to empower people.

Gandhi arrived in Raebareli on Saturday on a two-day visit to campaign for Congress candidates. Raebareli is the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi will be holding a series of 'nukkad sabhas' and meetings in all assembly constituencies of Raebareli, where elections will be held in the fourth phase on February 23.

Addressing a 'nukkad sabha' in the Harchandpur assembly constituency, she said under the Congress governments at the Centre, there was all-round development in people's lives but now, small businesses have closed down.

On the problem of stray cattle in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said in Chhattisgarh, the Congress government buys cow dung at Rs 2 per kilogram from people who keep stray cattle.

"The job of the government is to develop you and we are seeing that the government in Uttar Pradesh is not doing what it should do. It is the government's job to make you stand on your feet, but big advertisements are being seen everywhere  Modiji's and Yogiji's advertisements worth thousands of crores of rupees. If the same money would have been invested to empower you, think about how much progress could have been made," she said.

Interacting with media persons in the Johwa Sharki area, the Congress leader said, "Raebareli has been completely rejected under the BJP government. All the projects that were started by us have been closed down."

"Inflation and farmers' problems have increased manifold. Ask anyone here, shopkeepers, farmers or any youth, if their lives have improved in the past five years, and I can bet no one here will say it has," she said in reply to a question.

Referring to the pandemic, Gandhi said, "There were no facilities for coronavirus patients. My mother (Sonia Gandhi) had asked to send medical oxygen to Rae Bareli from somewhere and we talked to the Chhattisgarh government and they were sending oxygen, but the government here refused."

"They did not want oxygen to come to you through the Congress government, this is not the work of a government, this is politics," she said, and appealed to people to vote in favour of Congress candidate.

The Harchandpur and the Raebareli seats were won by Congress candidates Rakesh Singh and Aditi Singh respectively in the 2017 assembly elections, but both have now joined the BJP.

Gandhi also targeted Harchandpur MLA Rakesh Singh and accused him of grabbing land.

(PTI)

More than 80 crore people were provided with free ration since beginning of Covid crisis. Only BJP has the capacity to do this. We believe in doing, not just saying. BJP has fulfilled all its promises since we came into power in 2014: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lucknow, UP

The polling in Punjab will take place from 8 am to 6 pm. The poll timing for the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls is 7 am to 6 pm.

Since you (BJP) have power in the state, you're mowing down farmers under your jeep while FIR doesn't get filed until a protest takes place. When the Lakhimpur Kheri incident took place this govt protected the perpetrator and even police was absent from the scene: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress

The sense of security among people in UP is the most important thing. Without security, no development work is complete. The double engine govt will make sure each and everyone is safe in the state: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh

Our baba CM is awesome (Kamaal ke hai). Neither he knew anything before, nor does he know anything right now. The UP election is for rights of farmers, employment of youth, and development of the state: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on connection with Ahmedabad blast terrorists

"SP alliance will win all nearby seats. BJP will try but won't be able to do anything. The last 5 years only had problems, be it inflation, unemployment, corruption, or electricity... we'll win around 50/58 seats in the west, 45-50 seats in central UP,"  PSP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said.

He added, "A CM (Yogi Adityanath) shouldn't say bulldozers will run, it's against the dignity of the post. The results will turn BJP cold. This coalition will cross over 300 seats. BJP just talked about temple/mosque, Hindu/Muslim, development has not happened."

If Congress is voted to power, we will make sure every district has special schools for girls, 25% of recruitments in Police are reserved for women. We will create a job calendar & employment from time to time will be provided: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Johva Sharki, Raebareli, UP

The ruling Congress, which is still heavily embroiled in infighting, faces a rising AAP which has declared Bhagwant Mann as its CM face, Akali Dal-BSP, BJP-Capt. Here are the key battles in February 20 polls.

Making a startling allegation against the Samajwadi Party on Saturday, Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur claimed that one of the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts convicts was a member of the Samajwadi Party. He asked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to break his silence on the controversial SP neta who allegedly conspired the blasts which also targeted then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a public address in UP Colonelganj, Gonda said poll analysts and survey agencies have stated that in the first two phases, BJP is getting more or less the same number of seats it won in the last Assembly elections.

"If voted to power in UP again, BJP Govt will provide free LPG gas cylinder on the occasion of Holi and Diwali every year," he promised.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath claimed that family members of some of the accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blast case were spotted with Akhilesh Yadav, seeking votes for the Samajwadi Party. Addressing a rally in Pilbhit, Yogi said, the wind has changed direction but the SP remains the same. "SP ka haath, aatankwadiyon ke saath. This has been proven once again," told the public.

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ahmed Hasan passed away at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow today. Hasan was reappointed as Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council in July last year.

In a bizarre claim, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday, alleged that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was the 'mastermind' behind the Hijab agitation across Karnataka. Speaking on the ongoing UP polls, Singh claimed that SP was fuelling these protests for polarising the UP elections. The 7-phase Uttar Pradesh elections are currently underway with results on March 10.

Samajwadi Party President and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav hit back at the BJP's 'pariwarvadi' claim on Saturday saying that those only who have a family understand its pain and struggles. 

Addressing an election meeting in Jalaun, Yadav said, "They call me a 'ghor pariwarvadi' (ultimate dynast). A person who has a family understands the pain of the family. The BJP leaders do not have any family, will they be able to feel the pain of families? Only a family man can understand his responsibility. A family man can understand what inflation is. People who have families are sitting here and they can feel (pain of) price rise. The youth feel (pain of) joblessness."

While the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are presently underway, incidents of political clashes continue to surface from the poll-bound state where supporters of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were seen attacking each other in a clash on Friday evening. 

As reported by ANI, various supporters of both the political parties clashed during their poll campaigning near Ayodhya's Maharajganj police station on Friday. During this while, Samajwadi Party leader Abhay Singh's convoy was also allegedly attacked by stones and later fired upon in the same area. While one is reported to be injured in the attacks, only one of the vehicles has been badly damaged. 

Targetting the Yadav family, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday, claimed that SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's younger brother - Shivpal Singh Yadav - was being sidelined by Akhilesh Yadav. Addressing a rally in Karhal - Akhilesh Yadav's turf - Adityanath claimed that the PSP chief was not even given a chair to sit between the father-son duo. Pitying Shivpal Yadav, Adityanath said that he felt sorry for him. The 7-phase Uttar Pradesh elections are currently underway with results on March 10.

A case has been registered against Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi for violating EC guidelines during a door-to-door campaign in Mansa on Friday. The poll panel has registered a case against Channi under section 188. According to EC guidelines candidates were supposed to stop their campaigning after 6 PM on February 18. Channi had held a Padh Yatra (foot march) along with Congress workers and Mansa candidate Sidhu Moosewala.

The Batala police booked two Congress sarpanches for the murder of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supporter Karamjit Singh on the last day of his election campaigning in the Fatehgarh Churian constituency on Friday.

According to a statement by the Batala police, an argument took place between SAD and Congress workers over a roadshow by SAD candidate Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal last evening. 

 “During the brawl, Tajinderpal Singh and Jaswant Singh, sarpanches of Shiera and Patti Shiera villages, hit Karamjit with a baseball. The victim was seriously injured and declared brought dead at the civil hospital,” the police said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday replied to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's letter on Aam Aadmi Party's alleged relation with separatist groups like Sikh For Justice, stating that he has taken serious cognizance of the matter. Amit Shah has further said that he is personally looking into it. 

"It is extremely unfortunate and condemnable that people just to gain power are going to the extent of allying with separatist elements and working towards dividing Punjab as well as India," the Union Minister added,

Days ahead of Assembly elections in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Friday said that the party is committed to Punjab's all-round development which would ensure the resurgence of industry and protection of the farming community.

In a statement, Chugh said Punjab needed to be immediately taken out of the hold of drug mafias and the BJP would ensure that it happens within six months of the party's win.

The BJP would also make sure that law and order is restored in the state, particularly in view of the repeated attempts being made by the Pakistan ISI to disturb peace in Punjab, he said.

As high decibel campaigning in Uttar Pradesh has intensified further after two phases of polling, an interesting picture emerged from Etawah where Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav were seen together on the campaign trail for the first time after more than five years. 

The trio was last spotted together in public in October 2016 to flag off "Samajwadi Vikas Rath" in Lucknow ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections.

In 2016, Akhilesh had shown the Samajwadi Party's exit door to his uncle Shivpal due to a family dispute. Shivpal later formed his own party Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya). However, the PSP had failed to win a single seat in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Shivpal Singh Yadav's party is now part of the alliance led by Akhilesh Yadav.

The rift between Akhilesh and Shivpal had officially ended last year as they decided to join hands to oust the BJP government in the state. However, since then both leaders were never seen together sharing a stage.

In Etawah, once considered a bastion of the SP, both Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal not only shared a stage but have also acknowledged each other. Akhilesh said, "Uncle's (Shivpal Singh Yadav) return will strengthen our power in upcoming Assembly elections and will help us defeat the BJP in UP polls."

On Thursday, Samajwadi Party's "Samajwadi Vijay Rath" was started from Lion Safari, Etawah. During the movement of 'rath', Shivpal and Mulayam Singh Yadav campaigned for Samajwadi Party and its alliance.

Mulayam also held a rally in the Karhal constituency in the Mainpuri district where Akhilesh Yadav is contesting his maiden Assembly election.

As polling for the two phases has ended on February 10 and 14, voting for the remaining five phases will take place on February 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 312 seats out of the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly while Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates.

(PTI)

Attacking the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the midst of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, BJP President JP Nadda on Friday said campaigning of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in the seat being contested by Akhilesh Yadav indicates the party has lost ground in the state. 

Addressing a public rally in Milkipur, Nadda said, "Yesterday Akhilesh Ji was in Karhal with his revered father. This indicates all his hopes are now finished. If Mulayam ji had to campaign, it means the SP's ground is now lost. It means the rest of his seats are gone, Akhilesh Yadav is now saving his own Assembly constituency."

People want to create a 'Nava Punjab' and only the BJP-led alliance can bring all-round progress in the state, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday after participating in a road show taken out by Punjab Lok Congress chief Amarinder Singh here.

Rajnath Singh was canvassing for Amarinder Singh on the last day of campaigning for the February 20 polls to the 117-member state assembly. The BJP is fighting the elections along with the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

"Participated in a road show for Captain Amarinder Singh ji at Patiala, Punjab today. The people here want to create 'Nava Punjab' (new Punjab) and only the BJP-led NDA can bring change," Rajnath Singh, a senior BJP leader, tweeted after the event.

Amarinder Singh, who was made to resign from the post of Punjab chief minister by the Congress last year and replaced by Charanjit Singh Channi, is in the fray from his traditional Patiala Urban seat.

He campaigned along with his wife Preneet Kaur, the Congress MP from Patiala, and the defence minister, as the three leaders moved in an open vehicle as part of the road show.

Addressing a gathering at the end of the event, Rajnath Singh said he had specially travelled from Uttar Pradesh to join Amarinder Singh here.

While assembly elections were held in Goa and Uttarakhand on February 14, polls will be held in Punjab on Sunday and in Manipur on February 28 and March 5. The assembly elections are being conducted in Uttar Pradesh in seven phases, with the third on February 20. Results for all will be declared on March 10. 

Appealing to the people to elect Amarinder Singh with a large majority, Rajnath Singh assured that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support, Punjab will make huge progress, if the BJP-led alliance is voted to power.

"The whole nation loves and respects Capt Amarinder's patriotism and nationalism," he said and mentioned that Prime Minister Modi has special respect for Amarinder Singh.

Rajnath Singh lashed out at the Congress, saying it had failed the country and that is the reason someone of the stature of Amarinder Singh had to leave the party.

He said with Amarinder Singh, the BJP will ensure all-round progress of Punjab. It will be in the interest of the state's security as well as the nation, the minister said.

Kaur, to whom the Congress had last year issued a show-cause notice seeking explanation for alleged "anti-party activities", said, "I have come to you to appeal for Amarinder Singh as your family member.

Amarinder Singh expressed gratitude to the people of Patiala for joining his road show and he said he was touched and overwhelmed by the love they have always showered on him.

"I could see each and every face that showed great affection and warmth to me today," he said, according to a PLC statement.

"People of Patiala will always have a special place in my heart as they all belong to my extended family," the former chief minister said.

Amarinder Singh said this was a golden chance for the people of Punjab and Patiala in particular to elect a government in the state, which will have a good equation with the Centre.

He said Punjab will progress by leaps and bounds if an NDA government comprising BJP, PLC and SAD-S is formed in the state.

"Let's work together to ensure a better future for the people by providing them with a stable, secure and progressive Punjab," he said.

Talking to reporters during his road show, Amarinder Singh hit out at Channi for his 'bhaiyas from UP, Bihar' remarks, saying, "making such remarks about people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who have made immense contribution towards the development of Punjab, is unbecoming of a chief minister".

(PTI)

Goddess Lakshmi always arrives on a lotus, have you ever seen her arriving on a cycle, sitting on an elephant, or waving her hand? It is very clear that prosperity and growth will only arrive if lotus blooms in Uttar Pradesh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow

The Samajwadi Party has fielded the maximum 52 candidates having assets worth over Rs 1 crore while the BJP stands second in the list with 48 such contestants for the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, according to a report.

The Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded 46 such candidates while the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have 29 and 18 contestants, respectively, the report by Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

The UP Election Watch and the ADR said they have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 623 candidates out of 627 who are contesting the polls on February 20. The affidavits of remaining four candidates were either badly scanned or incomplete, it added.

Overall, 245 (or 39 per cent) candidates are crorepatis in the fray for the third phase assembly polls, the report found.

The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates, it noted.

The richest candidate in the fray is SP's Yashpal Singh Yadav with assets valued more than Rs 70 crore. He will be contesting from Babina constituency in Jhansi, the report stated.

The next two richest candidates are both from the Congress in Kanpur -- Ajay Kapoor (Rs 69 crore) and Pramod Kumar (Rs 45 crore). Kapoor will contest the polls from the Kidwai Nagar seat while Kumar from the Arya Nagar constituency.

Two candidates have declared zero assets. Both are independent contestants. Raja Babu and Rahul Pratap Singh both are fighting from Jalesar (SC) seat in Etah district, the report said.

Among candidates with low assets except zero, independent contestant Devraj from the Mahoba seat in Mahoba district has declared assets worth just Rs 10,000.

The next in line is independent Ramdas from Bilhaur (SC) seat in Kanpur Nagar with Rs 20,000 assets and Dhirendra Singh Gautam of Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) from the Dibiyapur seat in Auraiyya district with Rs 25,000 assets.

The phase three polls on February 20 will be held in 59 assembly constituencies spanning the 16 districts of Auriyya, Etah, Etawah, Farukkhabad, Firozabad, Hamirpur, Hathras, Jalaun, Jhansi, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Kasganj, Lalitpur, Mahoba and Mainpuri.

The elections to the 403 assembly seats are being held in seven phases this time. The polls for the first two phases were held on February 10 and 14.

The election results will be announced on March 7.

(PTI)

There's no water supply in 150 villages, don't know what they have (Congress) done in last 5 years, they couldn't even supply water in last 70 years but we'll ensure water supply to every village once our government is formed: AAP's Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in Jalalabad, Punjab

The Indian National Congress expelled its sitting Attari MLA, Tarsem Singh DC, for anti-party activities two days ahead of Punjab Assembly elections.

Samajwadi Party candidate (former CM Akhilesh Yadav) will lose his deposits in Karhal, Mainpuri in this election. BJP has already won this fight since the commander of Samajwadi Party himself is going out of the contest: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath in Kanpur

Breaking his silence on the 'Khalistani' allegations levelled against him, Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned why no one had arrested him to date if it was true. Dismissing both Congress and BJP's 'terror' allegations on him, he pointed out that Rahul Gandhi first raised the issue, followed by PM Modi and then Priyanka Gandhi - accusing all parties of conspiring against AAP. Ex-AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas has accused Kejriwal of supporting separatism and wishing to be 'PM of independent Punjab'. The border state goes to polls on February 20 and results will be announced on March 10.

Kejriwal said, "They are saying that I want to divide India and become pm. This is comedy and a joke. For 10 years when I was CM, neither Congress nor BJP govt took any action against me. What were their security agencies doing? Why didn't they arrest me? I am a sweet terrorist who is giving free education, electricity, healthcare."

Prominent Sikh community members across the country are at the PM's residence now. As per sources, PM Modi is meeting around 40 Sikh leaders at present. 

Here are some of the leaders who participated in the meeting:

• Harmeet Singh Kalka, President, Delhi Gurudwara Committee

• Padma Sri Baba Balbir Singh ji Sichewal (Sultanpur Lodhi) 

• Mahant Karamjit Singh, President Sewapanthi, Yamuna Nagar

• Baba Joga Singh, Dera Baba Jang Singh (Nanaksar) Karnal

• Sant Baba Mejor Singh Waa, Mukhi Dera Baba Tara Singh Waa, Amritsar

• Jathedar Baba Sahib Singh Ji, Kar Sewa Anandpur Sahib

• Surinder Singh Namdhari Darbar (Bheni Sahib)

• Baba Jassa Singh Shiromani Akali Budha Dal, Panjwa Takht

• Dr Harbhajan Singh, Damdami Taksal, Chowk Mehta

• Singh Sahib Giani Ranjit Singh Ji, Jathedar Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi campaigned for PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East. Sidhu is pitted against Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia. Congress supporters claimed that Channi was warmly greeted by the people of the Amritsar East constituency. 

Addressing a rally in UP, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reiterated that a girl wearing Hijab will become the Prime Minister one day. On this occasion, he also hit out at Akhilesh Yadav over the Hijab row. According to him, Yadav pretended to not hear the question on being asked about SP's stance on Hijab.

As CM of Punjab, I request Hon'ble PM @narendramodi Ji to order an impartial enquiry in the matter of @DrKumarVishwas Ji’s video. Politics aside, people of Punjab have paid a heavy price while fighting separatism. Hon’ble PM needs to address the worry of every Punjabi.

As the first two phases of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election witnessed an increased percentage of women voters turning up to exercise their rights on the polling day, political parties are making all efforts to reach out to them and convince them to vote for their respective party.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) keeping the women in mind have launched 'kamal kitty club' on the lines of kitty party. Here the BJP women workers from other states have also been fielded for campaigning in Uttar Pradesh. These women are going door-to-door meeting women and speaking with them.

Women party workers from Rajasthan, Haryana, Bhopal, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh arrived in Lucknow on February 10. They will continue the campaign till 15 days from their arrival.

Every pravasi worker is campaigning for the candidate in five assembly seats here in Lucknow.

"Whenever we go and meet women they say that they are satisfied with the way the women are being treated here with respect since BJP formed the government here. Moreover, they are happy with the schemes initiated and implemented for them," said Sita Negi, Nagar Adhyask, BJP Mahila Morcha of Lucknow.

BJP is also paying attention to who will go where for example women worker from Gujarat is going to Gujarati-dominated areas.

Richa Vasisht from the Haryana women's wing of BJP told, "My duty is in 172 Uttar Vidhan sabha. Women are turning up in large numbers on polling days and that shows what the BJP government has done. Wherever we are going the women are welcoming us with warmth."

BJP's kamal kitty club work schedule will go on for 15 days. BJP candidate Anjani Srivastava is pitted against Samajwadi Party's Armaan Khan in Lucknow West assembly constituency. 

Seven-phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10, and the polling for the first two phases have been held. The third phase of UP polls will be held on February 20.

(PTI)

Union Minister Jitendra Singh claims UP had an "atmosphere of riots and anarchy" which changed under BJP's "double-engine government" that gave impetus to the development and established rule of law.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its election manifesto for the 2022 Manipur assembly polls on Thursday that promises a long list of 'freebies' while focusing on the protection of territorial integrity and preserving the rights of the indigenous people of Manipur and its rich culture.

Among the BJP's top promises are two free LPG cylinders to be provided annually to all the PM Ujjwalabeneficiaries of the state. Free scooty would be provided to all meritorious college going girls of the state. Girls from EWS and backward sections will be provided with an incentive of 25,000 under the Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi Singi Scheme.

The manifesto also promises free laptops which would be distributed to all the meritorious students passingthe class 12 exam to support their higher education. The monthly pension for all the senior citizens in the state will be increased from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The financial assistance of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will be increased for all the farmers from 6,000 to 8,000 per annum. Free of cost accidental insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to all fishermen in the state.

Scholarships would be given to the children of small and marginal farmers and landless farmers pursuing technical education at the graduation and post-graduation level. Manipur Skill University will be established for skilling the youth of Manipur in various sectors.  AllMS (All India Institute of Medical Science) will be established in Manipur to further advance the standard of healthcare services in the state. 100 per cent coverage of Ayushman Bharat and CMHT (Chief Minister-gi Hakchelgi Tenbang) scheme will provide health insurance of Rs 5 lakh to all the eligible beneficiaries. Expanding the people-centric initiatives like Go To Village and Go To Hills, doorstep delivery of all Central and State government schemes will be introduced, the manifesto reads.

The manifesto added these points: Introduction of Aspirational Block Programme with special focus on overall development in selected blocks of the state. Introduction of One Sub Division One Product scheme to promote indigenous produce and boost the local economy. Interest-free loans will be provided to MSMEs for technology upgradation, capital requirements and to enable better market access. Establishment of Rs 100 crores Start-Up Manipur Fund to provide zero-interest loans of up to Rs 25 lakh.

FO-FO train (Follow Foothills train), a peripheral rail network along the foothills of the state will be launched to boost tourism and increase allied vocational opportunities in the state. To promote local tourism, cash incentives and subsidies for the homestay owners will be provided, aiming to generate around 1 lakh employment opportunities in the state. Loktak Mega Eco-tourism project will be undertaken to promote tourism in the state, it reads. 

First-century is already scored in first two phases and the second will also be scored in the coming third and fourth phases. The majority mark has already been crossed for Samajwadi Party. BJP will be left silent. They are afraid of losing: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in Etawah

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the rival parties of collusion and claimed their only aim is to prevent his party from coming to power in Punjab. He alleged the SAD, Congress and the BJP have come together to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab Assembly elections.

They fear if the AAP comes to power it will put an end to the "loot" that these parties have been carrying out in the state, Kejriwal claimed.

He appealed to the people, that if all the parties are "colluding to defeat our honest politics, then you should unite to defeat their politics of loot and corruption".

"This time, we have to vote to save Punjab. Vote for the better future of your children. Vote to end corruption and mafia".

People in the Samajwadi Party government never had time for the state, and that's why I would like to extend my gratitude to Aparna Yadav for joining the BJP and committing  herself to the welfare of the public: UP CM Yogi Adityanath at a public meeting in Lucknow

Ahead of Punjab Polls, Congress on Thursday expelled Kewal Singh Dhillon, senior leader and former MLA from Barnala, from the primary membership of the party.
 

Unleashing an attack on opposition parties over opposing ban Triple Talaq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Opposition doesn't even care about the betterment of people who vote for them.

The central government in July 2019 banned the practice of instant 'triple talaq' among Muslims, terming it to be the step for the betterment of Muslim women.

"When the central government made a law against triple talaq, they opposed it. They are so engrossed in selfishness that they can't even think for the betterment of those people who vote for them," said PM Modi while addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and former chief minister Mayawati on Thursday hit out at political opponents terming them anti-development and facilitators of injustice, and promised that her party will reinstate the rule of law and prevent migration of the youth for jobs on coming to power.

We are fighting to form a majority government like in 2007 to get rid of the casteist, narrow-minded, arrogant and dictatorial rule of the BJP. You will have to support BSP, the only party that cares for all sections of the society, to ensure this, Mayawati said addressing an election rally in Banda.

The BSP formed its government in 2007 assembly elections with 206 seats but its seat count reduced to 80 in 2012 elections and further to just 19 seats in 2017 election.
 

Reacting to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's 'Don't let UP, Bihar ke bhaiya enter Punjab' remark, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Anyone can visit any state in the country. Being a CM, Channi Ji should work taking all along." 

The BJP on Thursday released its manifesto for the assembly elections in Manipur, promising two-wheelers to meritorious female college students, increasing the monthly pension for senior citizens to Rs 1,000 and setting up a Rs 100 crore start-up fund.

Releasing the manifesto, BJP national president JP Nadda said that under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh the state has headed towards development in the last five years, tackling the drugs menage and achieving stability with rule of law being established.

"Free scooty will be given to all meritorious college-going girls to empower the women of the state," Nadda said, quoting the manifesto.

The BJP also promised Rs 25,000 to girls from economically weaker sections under the 'Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi Singi Scheme' if voted back to power.

The party announced two free LPG cylinders per year to the beneficiaries of the PM Ujjwala scheme, and increasing the monthly pension for senior citizens from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000, if voted back to power.

"Laptops will be also be provided to all meritorious students who pass class 12, as a gateway to higher education," Nadda said.

"Scholarships will be given to children of marginal, small and landless farmers, pursuing technical education at the graduate and post-graduate level," he added.

The financial assistance of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi will be increased for the farmers of Manipur from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per annum, the party promised.

The BJP also announced setting up Manipur Skill Development University to train youths for making them job-ready, and an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to ensure that people do not have to travel out of the state for medical treatment.

A Rs 100 crore 'Start-Up Manipur Fund' would be set to give zero-interest loans of up to Rs 25 lakh to entrepreneurs, the BJP promised.

The Loktak Mega Eco-Tourism project will become a reality, and cash incentives and subsidies would be given for setting up homestay facilities, to promote tourism in the Northeastern state, the BJP said. 

"FO-FO Train" (Follow Foothills Train) -- a peripheral rail network along the foothills of the state will be developed to boost tourism and increase allied vocational opportunities, the party said.

The BJP believes in good governance and the 'Go to Village' and 'Go to Hills' programmes will be expanded to reach government schemes at the doorsteps of the people, Nadda said.

Besides the chief minister, senior BJP leader Sambit Patra, state BJP president A Sharda Devi and Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh were present at the programme. 

(PTI)

M Modi also predicted that BJP will win in Assembly elections and people have decided to celebrate Holi on March 10- itself. "The people of Uttar Pradesh have determined to hold colourful celebrations of victory on 10th March, ahead of Holi." 

I would like to tell these dishonest forces that the people of Punjab will not get entangled in this propaganda. People of Punjab know that the dishonest forces just want to conspire to stop an honest Arvind Kejriwal and AAP: Raghav Chadha, AAP on Kumar Vishwas' allegations

Bharatiya Janta Party always misleads, betrays and instigates rifts among people so the party should change its name to 'Bharatiya Jhagda Party', says SP chief Akhilesh Yadav at a rally in Mainpuri's Karhal

In a video message ahead of the Punjab polls, former PM Manmohan Singh urged people to vote for Congress. He opined, "People are remembering our (Congress) good work. They (BJP) tried to dishonour Punjab CM and the people of the state over PM Modi's security issue. Rich people are getting richer while the poor people are getting poorer". Maintaining that BJP does not understand economic policy, he accused the Centre of failing on the foreign policy front. 

Dr. Singh added, "Relationships do not improve by giving hugs to politicians, or by going to eat biryani without invitation. Their (BJP government's) nationalism is based on the British's divide and rule policy. Constitutional institutions are being weakened." 

The Uttarakhand's Chief Electoral Officer revealed that the percentage of women voters was 4.60% more than men. Of the total 65.37% polling in the state, 67.20% women voted, while 62.60% men voted. 

Hitting out at Channi for his 'won't let Bhaiyas from UP enter Punjab' remark, CM Yogi Adityanath said that the government will realize the contribution of the labourers from UP if they stop going to other states for work. Speaking to DD National, he said, "But I assure you, that the people of UP will stay in UP in the next 5 years and work for the development of their state". Recalling the Punjab CM's visit to Varanasi, he said, "If Channi had learned from the thoughts of Sant Ravidas, he would not have made such unfortunate statements. This is the actual face of Congress". 

In a big boost ahead of the Punjab election, Amritsar Congress counsellors Priyanka Sharma, Mandeep Ahuja, Gurjeet Kaur joined AAP in the presence of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. A day earlier, Amritsar Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu had joined the party. 

Stoking a row ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election, state Minister Sunil Bharala assured support to the persons accused of attacking Asaduddin Owaisi's car. He met the families of Sachin Sharma and Shubham, who have been arrested in connection with this case, on Tuesday and demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident. Speaking exclusively to Republic TV on Thursday, Bharala contended that one does not become a criminal simply after a case is registered. Casting aspersion on the involvement of the aforesaid accused, he claimed that their faces were not visible in the CCTV footage. 

Uttar Pradesh:

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts that the NDA is likely to emerge as the single largest alliance once again in Uttar Pradesh with 249-269 seats in the 2022 Assembly polls. However, the saffron will suffer a major seat loss as Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and its allies may win 113-133 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party's seat share is likely to reduce further as the Republic P-MARQ Opinion Poll suggests only 9-17 seats for Mayawati's party. On the other hand, Congress may get 3-9 seats.

Uttarakhand:

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts that BJP is likely to retain power with the party projected to win 34-40 seats in the 70-member Assembly. On the other hand, Congress is likely to see major gains. The grand old party is projected to win 27-33 seats, while debutant AAP can win 0-2 seats. The other parties and independents are likely to win 1-3 seats.

Punjab:

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts that Punjab may witness a hung assembly as Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party might win 49-55 seats, just short of the majority mark. The ruling Congress is predicted to win 43-49 seats while Shiromani Akali Dal can get 15-21 seats. BJP, who is fighting polls in alliance with Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt), can win 1-3 seats.

Goa: 

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to win 15-19 in the 40-member House. On the other hand, Indian National Congress, which was the single largest party in the 2017 assembly elections, is likely to get 10-14. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which went black in the last polls might win 5-9 seats. Debutant Trinamool Congress along with its ally MGP can get 1-5 seats. The majority mark is 21.

Manipur: 

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts that BJP is likely to stay ahead in the race as the poll shows the saffron party bagging the most 29-35 seats out of 60 seats followed by the Indian National Congress winning 13-19 seats. The National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) remain behind INC with 4-10 and 2-6 seats respectively.

PM Modi will address a rally at Fatehpur for the Uttar Pradesh election today. This rally will cover 6 Assembly constituencies of Fatehpur, 4 constituencies of Banda and one seat in Rae Bareli.