Retail Inflation Rises to 6.21% in October

Jharkhand is geared up for polling in 43 of the 81 assembly seats in the first phase on Wednesday, when the electoral fate of 683 candidates, including former chief minister Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora will be decided, officials said.

Polling is scheduled to begin around 7 am in 43 assembly constituencies in 15 districts, and will continue till 5 pm.

However, in 950 booths, voting will end at 4 pm, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise.

While the JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power in a tough contest with BJP-led NDA by riding on its welfare schemes including Maiyan Samman Yojana the saffron party has raised the election pitch through an aggressive Hindutva pitch, including infiltration and corruption by the current dispensation.

Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chief JP Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma held a number of rallies where they attacked the JMM-led coalition over corruption and infiltration.

INDIA bloc leaders including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife and legislator Kalpana Soren campaigned, promising welfare schemes and accusing the BJP-led Centre of "unleashing" all central agencies including ED, CBI and I-T against the opposition.

A total of 1.37 crore voters out of the total 2.60 crore are eligible to participate in the voting on Wednesday. Of the 683 candidates, 609 are men, 73 women and one of the third gender person.

Out of the 43 seats, 17 are reserved for general category candidates, 20 for Scheduled Tribes and six for Scheduled Castes.

A total of 15,344 polling stations have been set up for the first phase of elections. Of those, 12,716 are located in rural areas and 2,628 in urban areas.

Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said all preparations for voting have been completed and polling personnel have reached the stations.

 India is confident of achieving USD 100 billion in annual bilateral trade with Russia well ahead of the timeline of 2030 and a more substantive relationship between the two nations has a larger global resonance, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.

There have been challenges to trade, especially with regard to payments and logistics and perceptible progress has been made in that regard, but there is still some work to be done, he said.

The external affairs minister was speaking at the 25th India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

The Russian delegation at the meeting was led by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

In the meeting, both sides agreed to work towards developing a broad-based enabling framework for increasing economic engagement, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The agenda of the IRIGC-TEC included cooperation in trade, investments, hydrocarbons, nuclear energy, connectivity, agriculture, science and technology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, fertilizers and education.

In his televised opening remarks at the 25th session of the IRIGC-TEC, Jaishankar said the trade between the two countries needs to be "more balanced and that would require addressing current constraints and undertaking greater facilitative efforts." "As two major nations in an increasingly multipolar world, a more substantive relationship between us has a larger resonance," he said.

“Many elections take place in the country. You vote and then the results are out. Some elections are important which decide the future and save the country,” said UP CM Yogi Adityanath as he addressed a public meeting in Akola earlier today.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose asks for an immediate report from CM Mamata Banerjee in the RG Kar rape and murder case after key accused Sanjay Roy alleges the involvement of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

On water conservation, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil says, "The way the water problem is increasing day by day, at such a time, the ministry is working to highlight Jal Shakti, to revive it, to fulfil the water needs of the people, for agriculture... and to conserve water for the coming generations as well..."
 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi distributed copies of Constitution with blank pages, he is indulging in petty politics: Shah at rally

"Maharashtra gave the mantra of 'swaraj' to the entire country. It is a land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Maharashtra is a land of Jyotiba Phule, BR Ambedkar, Jyoti Savitribai Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Veer Savarkar. I salute this holy land of Maharashtra," says Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a rally in Borivali.

BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia raises objection to Jharkhand Congress releasing the party manifesto during the silent period. Here’s what he said.

“It shows how Congress and JMM are destroying the Constitution… The Representation of People’s Act clearly states that you cannot do campaigning 48 hours before the election. However, they released the manifesto at their party headquarters in Ranchi. They are scared and therefore they are disrespecting the Constitution.”

PM Modi to visit Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana from 16-21 November: Ministry of External Affairs

Addressing a public meeting in Ghatkopar East Assembly Constituency, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "... A Mahayuti government is going to be formed here and the Maha Vikas Aghadi is going to be wiped out..."

 “It was our pleasure today that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated this event. I extend my greetings to all,” says Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav on week-long All India Kalidas Samaroh in Ujjain.

Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagdambika Pal says, "Elections are being held in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. By-elections are also being held in many states. Many MPs have requested me to pause the study tour owing to their business during the elections... Our remaining study tour of Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, and Lucknow has been postponed. We will reschedule it for later..."
 

BJP leader Smriti Irani says, "The Prime Minister has been appealing to the nation to stay united and move ahead on the path of development for years. He gave the slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' in 2014. Today, all of the BJP workers are elated that what no one had expected in the opposition, we have made it possible today with the blessings of the people. Once again, a government led by PM Narendra Modi has been formed at the centre and in the Maharashtra Assembly, a state government is going to be formed under the leadership of BJP. I express my gratitude to the people of Maharashtra. BJP is coming to power."

VHP Joint General Secretary, Dr Surendra Jain says, "It is often said that there is Islamophobia in the entire world but in reality, it is not Islamophobia, the world is suffering from Islam. Jihadis are influenced by ‘Kafirophobia’...The 'Jihadi' mentality has to be defeated...Surprisingly, leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Pawar who represent secular sections of the society are not only silent but are giving them (jihadis) cover fire... They want to create a situation like 1986... Today Hindus are united and capable of responding to every challenge while staying within constitutional limits..."
 

During a public rally, PM Modi says, " Mahayuti govt is working day and night to empower women. Everyone is talking about Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. It is an example of our commitment towards women. But Maha Vikas Aghadi went to the court to make sure that women do not get this...Today, we are keeping women at the centre of all welfare schemes of the government.  We are working on the mission to make three crore women 'Lakhpati didi'...."
 

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, "Congress work is to make false promises...They mislead the people by telling lies...Rahul Gandhi is still roaming around with the Constitution...Congress has worked to insult BR Ambedkar ji...Under the leadership of PM Modi the country is moving forward and there is no threat to the country...The only threat is to the Congress party because the people have disowned them...Their lies are not working now...They spoke lie in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana...People of Haryana disowned them...the people of Jharkhand and Maharashtra will also disown them and will form the NDA government with the majority..."

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "There are many elections. But some elections become important. There are some elections which make the fate of the country and some which spoil the fate of the country. In 1946 also, there was an election which changed the fate of India, which turned the fate into misfortune. The unfortunate partition of India took place. Then the Congress, greedy for power, got caught in the clutches of the Muslim gang which deceived the countrymen and whatever happened after that was in front of everyone. The country was divided into parts. India which was one from the beginning, was divided into pieces..."
 

PM Modi pitches for tribal unity, accuses Congress of dividing Adivasi Community 

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "The BJP is very clear that the Congress party is conspiring with all the conservative, divisive elements in the Muslim community for the sake of votes as they are apprehensive about their imminent defeat...PM Modi says 'Ek rahenge toh safe rahenge' and they (Congress) are making fun of it and knocking on the doors of the Election Commission. They have a problem with unity and are conspiring with forces who want to break the country..."

BJP leader Praveen Darekar says, "Nana Patole's statement is unfortunate. Its normal for him to bark like this... Nana Patole has ruined the traditions of Congress. The more he abuses us, the more people will come with us... They have started with their drama of gathering sympathy... Mallikarjun Kharge has insulted Maharshtra by insulting 'bhagwa'. Bhagwa is symbolic of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Marathi culture, sacrifice, and prosperity..."

As the Maharashtra election inches closer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sharpened his attack against Congress, alleging the party of 'dividing' the Adivasi community into castes and weakening them.
Prime Minister Modi was campaigning in Maharashtra's Chandrapur for Mahayuti candidates contesting upcoming assembly polls.
Addressing a public meeting, PM Modi said, "The tribal population in our country is around ten per cent. Congress wants to divide the Adivasi community into castes and weaken them".

“Will you allow the Congress and its allies to bring back Article 370 in Kashmir,” PM Modi

Modi also said that the BJP-led government is giving financial assistance to soybean farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the opposition 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' over the growth in the state and accused the alliance of putting a break in the development of Maharashtra.
Likening the MVA as the 'biggest player of corruption,' the Prime Minister said that the MVA has done a 'PHD' in putting brakes and 'stalling, hanging and wandering' the development projects of the city.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that has always been the mentality of Congress’ 'shahi parivar' that it was born to rule the country.

“That is the reason that after Independence, the Congress never allowed Dalits, backward classes and Adivasis to progress,” Modi said, addressing a rally at Chimur in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district ahead of the November 20 state assembly elections.

The Thane police have arrested 105 persons as part of an 'All Out Operation' to crackdown on criminal activities and maintain law and order here ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, officials said on Tuesday.

During the operation, conducted on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, the police seized 43 weapons, including several firearms, and illicit liquor of Rs 5.07 lakh, a Thane police spokesperson said.

An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora on Tuesday.
According to the Indian Army's Chinar Corps, "Operation Nagmarg" is underway in the general area of Nagmarg of Bandipora.

alling Congress an "Anti-reservation" party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that as long as there is one Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, they will not allow reservations for Muslims.
Addressing a public rally in poll-bound Jharkhand's Dhanbad, Shah said, "Congress is an anti-reservation party. They want to end reservations for backward classes and Dalits to provide it to Muslims. As long as there's even one BJP MLA, we won't allow reservations for Muslims."

Four women died while several others were injured in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district after a large mound of soil collapsed on Tuesday.

As per the officials, the women had gone to collect mud to plaster their houses in Mohanpura village when a pile of soil suddenly collapsed and many women got buried in it.

Devotees observed fasts and performed puja rituals at Balua Ghat in Prayagraj to commemorate the ceremonial marriage of Lord Vishnu and Vrinda, in the form of 'Shaligram and Tulsi' on Tuesday morning.

In yet another serious allegation levelled against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA scam, Social Activist Snehamayi Krishna on Tuesday claimed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah influenced the allotment of the plot.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty climbed in early trade on Tuesday helped by value buying at lower levels along with sustained investment by domestic institutional investors and a rally in the US markets.

Residents in Delhi urged the administration to check on the alarming level of pollution in the national capital demanding long-term solution as the Air Quality Index (AQI) continue to remain in the 'very poor' category for the second week post-Diwali.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday launched a series of raids at more than a dozen locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering connected to suspected Bangladeshi infiltration.
The search operation is underway by separate ED teams under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

As the controversy erupts over Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's slogan "batenge toh katenge" (divided we perish), BJP MP Mukesh Dala defended Yogi's slogan and said that the INDIA bloc has done the work of dividing Sanatana Dharma and it needs to unite.

Aspirants in Prayagraj continue their protest outside the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) office. They are demanding that the PCS and RO/ARO exams be conducted in one day and one shift.

Mumbai's Killa Court on Monday sent Shiva Kumar, the main accused and shooter in Baba Siddiqui murder case, along with four other accused, to police custody till November 19.

Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh hits out at Congress and its President Mallikarjun Kharge over his statement where he stated that India faces threats from the RSS-BJP, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, Giriraj said if the country faces a threat, it is from the Congress party that wants to have a 'civil war' in the country.

The U.S struck nine targets at two locations in Syria Monday to hit Iranian-aligned militias that had launched attacks on U.S personnel over the last 24 hours, U.S. Central Command said.

US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Florida representative Mike Waltz as his national security adviser, Reuters reported, citing sources on Monday.

PM Modi to address rally in Pune today

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Yediyurappa on Monday said that the people should teach Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a befitting lesson by securing victory for NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy from the Channapatna Assembly constituency in the upcoming bypoll.
Speaking at a campaign rally for Nikhil in Channapatna, Yediyurappa said, "There's no use in electing Congress puppet CP Yogeshwar in the land of toys. This government can't even fill a single pothole."

Vistara's last flight from Odisha took off for Delhi on Monday night, marking the end of the airline's operations from the state ahead of its merger with Air India.