Assembly Elections LIVE: Owaisi Convoy attacked in UP; Republic Accesses Video Of Attack

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's public appearances in districts primarily focussing Dalits upscaled UP's scenario where assembly election is scheduled to begin in one week.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi spoke exclusively to Republic TV on Thursday discussing his door-to-door campaign in Meerut and how minorities would get representation in the upcoming elections. Speaking to Republic TV, Owaisi alleged that the voice of the backward sections was never raised in the state assembly, and vowed to get justice for them.

In a massive revelation, SAD-turned-BJP leader Manjinder Sirsa on Thursday, hinted at a possible reconciliation between Akali Dal and BJP in a post-poll scenario. The saffron allies broke ties after 23 years over differences over the now-repealed three Farm Laws. While Akali Dal has tied up with BSP, BJP has tied up with Capt Amarinder Singh and Akali Dal (Dhindsa) for the upcoming Punjab polls. 117-seat Punjab Assembly goes to polls on February 20 and results will be announced on March 10.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Sirsa was asked if there was a possibility of BJP-Akali Dal reunion. He responded, "Anything can happen in politics". Sirsa's cryptic quip puts Capt Amarinder Singh in a quandary as the Badals were the ex-CM's prime rivals prior to his ouster from Congress. Capt's Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) will contest on 37 seats, Akali Dal (Sanyukt) on 15 seats and BJP on 65 seats, as per its seat share pact, in the upcoming Punjab polls.

As per sources, UP minister Siddarth Nath Singh was attacked while he was filing nomination for UP polls. An unknown man wielding a blade allegedly tried to attack Singh, but was stopped by the minister's bodyguards.

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KP Maurya files poll nomination at Sirath, says, "Sirathu like a family for me. I had represented and won from Sirathu in 2012 too. SP, BSP and Congress can fight together but can't stop the lotus from blooming."

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi might be declared the Congress' chief minister face for the Punjab assembly polls as sources say that he is leading in the survey the party is conducting to choose the CM candidate.

"Opinions of candidates, workers, and party MPs are being recorded to so that any feud over the CM face between Channi and Navjot Singh Siddhu can be avoided," said sources.

"Party is also calling general public through an automated call system to seek their opinion on CM face. The target of the party is to call around 1.5 crore people in the next 3 to 4 days," source added.

"Party is making all these efforts because it is of the opinion the whole process should be transparent and the one who loses in the survey should not oppose the result in any manner," said a senior party member to ANI.

"Both Channi and Sidhu will have to accept the decision of survey as they have agreed for it before Rahul Gandhi," leader said.

According to sources, in its initial trends Channi is leading but the party wants to take sufficient time to announce it with proof, so that Sidhu's displeasure can be handled.

Rahul Gandhi likely to announce CM face of Punjab on 6 of Feb

Don't be afraid of the cases of the BJP government, don't be afraid of their lathis and jail. If the Aam Aadmi Party government is formed, these dishonest people will be caught and put in jail. They did the scam of Corona, they did the scam of water life. Prabhu Scam in Shri Ram's temple too," said Sanjay Singh. 

With a few days left for the first phase polling, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and RLD supremo Jayant Chaudhary will hold a joint press conference at 12.30 pm today. 

The Election Commission of India today organized a briefing meeting with the Special Observers who have been appointed to supervise and monitor the work being done by the electoral machinery for the current General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh 2022.

After the Election Commission banned exit polls between February 10 and March 7 this year with regard to Assembly Polls, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju on Tuesday said that exit polls cannot be conducted and publicized in the state by means of print and electronic media or disseminated in any other manner in the above mentioned period.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers across the country virtually at 11 AM on Wednesday, a day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget for 2022.
PM Modi's virtual Atmanirbhar Arthvyawastha address is expected to highlight the vision with which the Budget has been presented this year, keeping in mind India's journey in the years ahead especially, with India looking to go 25 years ahead.

Farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, who are yet to come to terms with the infamous October incident, are considering using the NOTA' option in the upcoming Assembly polls.

They alleged that while the two main political parties in the state the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have cheated them, the other parties are ineffective. 

Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and state minister Jitin Prasada sought votes from the people in support of BJP candidate Manvendra Singh in Shahjahanpur's Dadraul assembly.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing a rally in Ghaziabad, promised that the BJP government in UP would provide double dose ration every month to every household.
"Just like a free double dose vaccination, the BJP government would also provide you people with free double dose ration every month", said Yogi Adityanath.

Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP and chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the party will win the Dhuri seat with the highest margin in the entire state while adding that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will not be able to reach double-digit mark. AAP has fielded Mann from the Dhuri assembly constituency. Bhagwant Mann visited dozens of villages in the area on Tuesday for campaigning.

Various enforcement teams have seized valuables worth Rs 310.89 crores in connection with violation of MCC in Punjab till Jan 31, including 27.86 lakh liters of liquor, psychotropic substances, & unaccounted cash: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Dr. S Karuna Raju

In a big development, Captain Amarinder Singh revealed that PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Punjab very soon to campaign for the upcoming polls. This comes a month after there was a major lapse in the PM's security when he was on his way to address a rally in Ferozepur. 

In a big development, SAD general secretary Bikram Majithia has decided to contest only from the Amritsar East seat despite having filed his nomination from Majitha as well. While he has won the Majitha seat in 2007, 2012 and 2017, Sidhu is the sitting MLA from Amritsar East. Previously, Sidhu had challenged Majithia to contest only from Amritsar East. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Goa for election campaigning on February 2 has been postponed to February 4.

Congress released a list of 4 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Elections. The party replaced its Kalyanpur candidate Gayatri Tiwari with Neha Tiwari. While Gayatri Tiwari is the mother of slain gangster Vikas Dubey's sister-in-law Khushi Dubey, Neha Tiwari is the sister of the latter. 

In a political twist, Congress gave a poll ticket to Gayatri Tiwari - mother of slain gangster Vikas Dubey's sister-in-law Khushi Dubey. Stating that the 19-year-old Khushi Dubey was falsely arrested in connection to the Kanpur police encounter case, Congress said that it would strengthen the family by fielding her mother. Vikas Dubey - a multiple charge-sheeted gangster - was killed in an encounter by UP police on July 9, 2020. 

After the last date of withdrawal, a total of 301 candidates are in the fray for the General assembly election for Goa 2022 from 40 constituencies. According to the ECI schedule, the election will be held for 40 seats on February 14, 2022, and the counting of votes will take place on March 10, 2022. As per the final electoral roll as of January 28, 2022, the total voters registered in the state are 11,64,522.

The number of candidates in the fray in each constituency are: Mandrem-9; Pernem-9, Bicholim-5, Tivim-7, Mapusa-8, Siolim-13, Saligao-6, Porvorim-5, Aldona-6, Panaji-7, Taleigao-8, St Cruz-5, St Andre-7, Cumbarjua-7, Maem-9, Sanquelim-12, Poriem-7, Valpoi-8, Priol-8, Ponda-7, Shiroda-8, Marcaim-8, Mormugao-8, Vasco Da Gama-9, Dabolim-7, Cortalim-9, Nuvem-7, Curtorim-8, Fatorda-6, Margao-5, Benaulim-5, Navelim-9, Cuncolim-10, Velim-6, Quepem-7, Curchorem-6, Sanvordem-7, Sanguem-8 and Canacona-8.

In a big development ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election, sources told Republic TV that former top ED Joint Director Rajeshwar Singh is likely to join BJP. A BTech and PhD in policy, human rights and social justice, Singh was deputed to ED in 2007. During his tenure, he investigated multiple high-profile scams including the 2G spectrum allocation case, AgustaWestland helicopter deal, Aircel Maxis scam, Amrapali scam, Noida Ponzi scam and Gomti riverfront scam. As per sources, he might contest the UP polls from a seat in the Sultanpur district. 

For the Punjab polls, Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress gave three seats out of its quota of 37 seats to BJP. Thus, the saffron party will now field candidates in Raja Sansi, Zira and Nawanshahr constituencies. Earlier, BJP was allocated 65 seats as a part of its alliance with PLC and SAD (Sanyukt). 

The Shiv Sena on Monday extended support to former BJP member Utpal Parrikar, who is contesting the February 14 elections as an  independent from the Panaji assembly constituency in Goa, and announced it is withdrawing its candidate from the prestigious seat.

Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut tweeted, saying his party is withdrawing its candidate Shailendra Velingkar from the Panaji constituency in support of Utpal Parrikar, who welcomed the move.

The elder son of BJP stalwart and former CM late Manohar Parrikar has filed his nomination as an independent after the state's ruling party denied him a ticket from Panaji, a seat represented in the assembly for long by his father.
 

The Congress on Monday announced seven more candidates, including three women, for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. From Kalyanpur, the party has fielded Gayatri Tiwari, the mother of Khushi Dubey who is in jail. Khushi Dubey is the wife of Amar Dubey, who was an associate of gangster Vikas Dubey who killed eight policemen in Kanpur's Bikru village in July 2020.

Vikas Dubey and Amar Dubey were killed in separate encounters. Congress sources said opposition parties have raised their voice regarding Khushi Dubey and posed questions as to how a woman, who came to her in-laws' house just two days ago, could be involved in a crime committed by her husband.

Khushi Dubey's mother met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra a few days ago.
 

Goa Chief Electoral Officer Kunal on Monday said that the EC is ensuring no padayatra, procession or roadshow is taking place in the state. "So far, Goa's total seizure stands at Rs 10.13 crores, of which cash seizure is at Rs 6.30 crore, liquor worth Rs 2.44 crore, drugs worth Rs 1 crore and balance is freebies and metal items," he said.

Nawanshahr Congress MLA Angad Saini on Monday filed nomination as an Independent candidate from the seat following the denial of party ticket to him for the Punjab Assembly polls, allegedly after his legislator wife joined the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

Saini's wife Aditi Singh was a Congress MLA from UP's Rae Bareli and had quit the party to join the ruling BJP there recently.  

Horses worth Rs 95.82 lakh, two weapons valued at Rs 3 lakh and immovable properties worth Rs 52.95 crore were part of the total assets of Rs 122.77 crore declared by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in his affidavit.

The SAD president filed his nomination papers on Monday from the Jalalabad assembly seat in Punjab's Fazilka district for the February 20 polls.

Union Minister SP Singh Baghel after filing his nomination from Karhal constituency against SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, said, "I thank the senior BJP leadership for fielding me from such an important seat. Lotus will bloom in Karhal. This election is between development and destruction." 

"Home Minister Amit Shah doesn't know history. I'm 42-yrs-old, have been in politics for 20 years. BJP never gave an offer, they want to break us (SP-RLD)," said RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, over Shah's statement that Chaudhary's history is weak (over alliance with SP) and should be forgiven as a child.

Attacking Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday said that the saffron party is contesting polls in the five states alongside the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. He questioned that if all the back money was finished in demonetisation then where it is coming from.

BJP government has ensured a safe and secured environment for women in Uttar Pradesh. Our government has brought in a major positive change in the lives of people. We will win this Assembly election very comfortably. There is no doubt about it: BJP MP Hema Malini

These people (leaders of the Samajwadi Party) are a threat to women security. They exploit farmers, play with the future of the youth, and orchestrate riots. They are 'Sawajwadi' by name, 'parvarwadi' by the thought process, and 'dangawadi' by profession: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

"No recruitment scan happened in Uttar Pradesh in the last 5 years. Five lakh youths were provided jobs but no one say that anyone demanded a bribe for these jobs," UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that in the last five years, the Yogi Adityanath government has brought Uttar Pradesh out of the situation like Kidnapping, extortion, riots, robbery, mafia rule that was the order of the day during the Samajwadi government. 

"No one can forget what was discussed about UP 5 years back? 5 years ago - the 'Dabangg' and rioters were the law, where was the order of the government. 5 years ago- Merchant used to rob, the daughters were afraid to come out of the house and the mafia used to roam freely under government protection," PM Modi said while addressing a virtual rally for UP assembly election. 

According to Election Commission, no roadshows, Pad-yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions shall be allowed till February 11, 2022. The commission has now decided to allow physical public meetings of Political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 1000 persons (instead of existing 500 persons) or 50% of the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from February 1, 2022, for all phases.

Election Commission by Republic World on Scribd

The Commission has also enhanced the limit for door to door campaigns. Instead of 10 persons, now 20 persons, excluding security personnel, will be allowed for door to door campaigns. Other instructions on door to door campaigns will continue.

The Commission has now granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of a maximum of 500 persons (instead of existing 300 persons) or 50% of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA is allowed.

Sometimes I hear about the dreams of some people. You all know that the only person who sleeps can see dreams. Those who are awake take resolutions. Yogi Adityanath is awake, committed to work for UP's development. This is the difference: PM Narendra Modi's jibe at Akhilesh Yadav for saying Lord Krishna comes in his dreams.

In a key development, Shiv Sena's Panaji candidate Shailendra Velingkar withdrew his candidature in support of late BJP stalwart Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar. Taking to Twitter, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut stressed, "We believe that the battle for Panaji is just about the election, but also about the purification of Goa politics". Parrikar is contesting as an Independent from Panaji after BJP denied him a ticket to contest from there. 

As per sources, the EC has decided to increase the maximum number of attendees for a political rally to 1000 from 500. Moreover, 20 persons shall be now allowed for door-to-door campaigning instead of 10. In the case of indoor public meetings, 500 individuals can now gather. This comes amid a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country. 

In a big development, BJP fielded Union Minister SP Singh Baghel from Karhal where he will be pitted against SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. A Lok Sabha MP from Agra, he is currently serving as the Minister of State for Law and Justice. He has filed his nomination from Karhal. 

Launching a fierce attack on Samajwadi Party in a virtual rally, PM Modi claimed that the homes, land and shops of the poor, Dalits, backward classes and the downtrodden were illegally occupied during Akhilesh Yadav's tenure as the CM. He remarked, "Five years ago, strongmen and rioters used to run the show in UP. Their words were treated as Government Orders. People of Western UP can never forget that when this region was burning in riots, the then government was celebrating".

He added, "Five years ago, there were news of the migration of people every other day. Abduction and demand for ransom had ruined the lives of the middle-class and traders. The Yogi Govt has brought the state out of these situations in the last 5 years."

The Supreme Court granted protection from arrest to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia till February 23. However, it asked him to surrender before the concerned trial court on the 23rd and apply for regular bail in the drug case. This comes as a partial relief to Majithia as the polling will get over on February 20. 

The Election Commission may give an exemption to political parties regarding the campaign in the five electoral states, sources told Republic TV. The Union Health Ministry officials told the commission that the cases of COVID-19 are decreasing each day. Moreover, they mentioned that vaccination is being done rapidly in the poll-bound states. Sources indicated that the ECI can provide relaxation in rallies and roadshows based on strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocol. The commission will issue instructions after meeting with Chief Electoral Officers and top administrative officers of the five poll-bound states.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will commence the door-to-door campaigning for the UP polls. While she will canvass for Congress candidate Pankhuri Pathak in Noida today, she is expected to campaign in the Dadri Assembly constituency on Tuesday. In Noida, she will also be interacting with a group of women separately under the 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon' campaign. 

On his way to file his nomination papers from Karhal, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "This 'nomination' is a 'mission' because this election of UP will write the history of the next century of the state and the country! Let's take part in this movement of positive politics with progressive thinking. Defeat negative politics, remove it too!! Jai Hind"

Ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly polls, 25,302 litres of liquor worth over Rs.1 crore, smack of about Rs 1.72 crores, cannabis worth over Rs 26 lakhs, heroin worth over Rs.1 crore and over Rs.33 lakh of cannabis were seized. 

As per sources, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has started discussions with party leaders and workers to pick its Chief Ministerial face in poll-bound Punjab. She is seeking responses from Congress leaders and workers through the party's Shakti app. Sources also indicated that the opinion of common persons will also be sought on the issue within a day or two. On January 27, ex-Congress president Rahul Gandhi agreed to announce a CM face after both Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu requested him to do so. With Channi being fielded on two seats, he has emerged as the likely CM candidate of the party. 

Exuding confidence in the victory of the Congress-led alliance in the Goa election, Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai lashed out at the BJP government in an exclusive interview with Republic TV. Maintaining that there is huge anti-incumbency against BJP, he called upon the people to vote strategically in order to avoid a split in the opposition vote. On this occasion, Vijai Sardesai also opened up on the rationale for rejecting an alliance with TMC and asserted that the intimidatory tactics of the Mamata Banerjee-led party won't work in Goa.

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.

Angad Singh, the incumbent MLA from the Nawanshahar seat, was not named in the new list of candidates of Congress. Notably, he is the husband of Congress-turned-BJP leader Aditi Singh, who is the MLA from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.  As per sources, the candidate who has replaced Angad Singh in the constituency had first joined Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress, following which, he rejoined Congress. Sources close to Angad Singh have also confirmed that he will most likely contest the polls independently and may file his nomination today.

Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address the first virtual rally for the state at 1.30 pm today. The digital outreach is aimed at covering all five districts of the state including Shamli, Muzzafarnagar, Baghpat, Saharanpur and Gautambuddh Nagar and it will further cover 21 Vidhan Sabhas. As per sources, the target is to bring around 500 people, which is the maximum number permitted by the EC for a meeting, to one LED screen. This way through LED screens, the party plans to reach out to around 50,000 people in one virtual rally.

The Election Commission will meet today to assess the COVID-19 situation in the five poll-going states and decide on whether to continue the ban on physical rallies. The Commission may also decide on whether fresh relaxations can be extended to political parties and candidates in holding physical campaigning events. At present, roadshows have been banned whereas physical rallies have been permitted in a restricted manner until January 31.

Elections are set to commence in 5 states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab. The ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh under CM Yogi Adityanath faces a resurging Akhilesh Yadav, in Uttarakhand it faces a strong Congress under ex-CM Harish Rawat, in Goa, Pramod Sawant faces a tricorner fight with Congress, TMC and AAP in the fray and Manipur CM Biren Singh faces a beleaguered Congress. However, in Punjab, it is the ruling Congress, which is now heavily embroiled in infighting, faces a rising AAP, Akali Dal-BSP and an unlikely combination of BJP-Amarinder Singh, apart from the farm union political leaders. Results for all elections will be declared on March 10.