Report Wire

Category: Politics

  • Jammu & Kashmir polls end: Overall voting 64%, 69% in phase III

    Trehgam: The third and final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday recorded a 68.72% turnout. This phase recorded the highest turnout, with the first phase recording 61.38% and second phase 57.31%. The overall polling percentage in the three phases was 63.45%.

    The main issues this time were unemployment, lack of development, inflated electricity bills and loved ones languishing in jails.

    Voting took place in 40 constituencies 24 in Jammu Division and 16 in Kashmir Valley spread across seven districts of the Union Territory. This election was held after a decade and is the first after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 (A) and delimitation, after which the total number of seats in assembly was increased to 90, with 43 in Jammu and 47 in Kashmir.

    Voters expressed concerns over lack of development, bureaucratic hassles, unemployment and unavailability of basic facilities like clean drinking water and ration at government depots.

    “I should get a job after I complete my studies. Also, the hospital in my area should be upgraded as it lacks basic facilities and remains closed during the night,” Mariya, a firsttime voter from Trehgam and a student of gender studies at Kashmir University, said expressing her wishlist.”I have lost my son in this conflict. I know the pain and suffering of people who were killed here. I just want to see some hope for my area which lacks development and future youngsters, who have no jobs are resorting to drugs,” said Muhammad Rustum Shah of Vodhpora village of Handwara. Election Commission of India overall voting beat the record of Lok Sabha elections in 2024. ECI said that it delivered on its promise and dedicated elections to the people of J&K. “Erstwhile militancy infested regions have celebrated democracy, rebuffed boycott and violence,” read the ECI statement.

  • Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections: 40 seats to vote today in phase 3

    The last phase of polling in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Tuesday. More than 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise across the 40 assembly constituencies, 16 in the Kashmir valley and 24 in the Jammu region. This is the first assembly election in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019, with the results set to be announced on October 8.

    Key Contests

    Kupwara: People Conference’s Sajad Gani Lone Vs PDP’s Mir Mohammad Fayaz Vs NC’s Nasir Aslam Wani Vs Independent Candidate Pirzada Firdous AhmadHandwara: People Conference’s Sajad Gani Lone Vs NC’s Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan Vs BJP’s Ghulam Mohammad Mir Vs PDP’s Gauhar Azad Mir Vs Independent Candidate Abdul Majid BandayBaramulla : 25 Candidates In Fray. Former PDP Patron Muzafar Hussain Baig (Fighting As Independent) Vs NC’s Javid Hassan Baigvs PDP’s Mohd Rafiq Rather Vs Cong’s Mir Iqbal Ahmad Vs Independent Abdul Rehman Shalla (JeiBacked) Vs People Conference’s Asif Akber Lone Vs Apni Party’s Shabir Ahmad LoneLangate: Cong’s Irshad Hussain Ganaie Vs PDP’s Syed Ghulam Nabi Bukhari Vs People Conference’s Irfan Sultan Pandithpuri Vs Apni Party’s Mohammad Munawar Khawaja Vs Jei Backed Independent Candidate Kalimullah Lone Vs Independent Khursheed Ahmad Shiekh (Brother Of Engg Rashid)Sopore: 20 Candidates Contesting. NC’s Irshad Rasool Kar Vs Cong’s Abdul Rashid Dar Vs PDP’s Irfan Ali Lone Vs Independent Manzoor Ahmad Kaloo (JeiBacked) Vs Apni Party’s Ghulam Mohammad War Vs People Conference’s Dr Manzoor Ahmad Bhat Vs Independent Aijaz Ahmad Guroo (Brother Of Afzal Guru)Gurez: NC’s Nazir Ahmad Khan Vs People Conference: Mohammad Hamza Lone Vs BJP’s Faqeer Mohammad Khan Vs DPAP’s Nisar Ahmad Lone

    Gulmarg: NC’s Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah Vs PDP’s Shabir Ahmed Mir Chhamb: Ex Dy CM Tara Chand (Cong) Vs BJP’s Rajeev Sharma Vs Rebel Cong Candidate Satish Sharma (Ind) Vs BJP Rebel Narendra Singh (Ind) Rs PuraJammu South: Cong’s Raman Bhalla Vs BJP’s Dr. Narinder Singh Raina

    Samba: BJP’s Surjeet Singh Slathia Vs Cong’s Krishan Dev Singh Vs Panthers Party (Bhim)’s Rajan Jamwal Vs PDP’s Rajinder Singh

    Jammu North: BJP’s Sham Lal Sharma Vs NC’s Ajay Kumar Sadhotra Vs PDP’s Darshan Kumar Magotra Vs Panthers Party (Bhim)’s Naresh Kumar Chib Vs DPAP’s Maheshwar Singh Manhas

  • Third Eye: BJP leader takes to Urdu, as irony would have it and, a tale and the twist

    BJP leader takes to UrduBJP general secretary incharge of Jammu and Kashmir, Tarun Chugh, has made an interesting move where his press releases and statements are also issued in Urdu, the popular dialect in the UT, during the ongoing elections. This will help the local media as well as the party cadre from the region. It will also reduce the chances of errors in translation from English or Hindi to Urdu.As irony would have it…Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, who is being investigated by Lokayukta, had weakened the agency in 2016 by setting up a separate anticorruption bureau (ACB) to probe graft cases. Two years ago, the high court overturned the decision, abolishing ACB and restoring Lokayukta’s powers. As irony would have it, Lokayukta has now registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the CM a big blow in his 40year political career.A tale and the twistThe war of words between two NCP functionaries recently turned acrimonious, with one of them claiming publicly that he got party leader Ajit Pawar’s tour canceled to show his mettle. The matter had a filmy twist when, responding to the claim, Pawar said that someone who could get his tour canceled wasn’t born yet and added that he himself postponed the tour due to other commitments. Further castigating the leader, Pawar said that a dog walking behind a bullock cart always feels that he is the one pushing the cart.

  • Udhayanidhi Stalin set to become Tamil Nadu deputy CM

    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday announced a cabinet reshuffle that will see his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, being appointed as the Deputy CM.

    Udhayanidhi is a firsttime MLA from Chepauk who came under fire recently for his comments on Sanatana Dharma where he equated the ideology to diseases like malaria and dengue which he said should be eradicated.

    The announcement comes days after DMK celebrated its 75th year Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Chennai. According to the press statement released by the Raj Bhavan, Udhayanidhi has been allotted an additional portfolio of Planning and Development, and elevated as the deputy CM of the state. Further, DMK leader Senthil Balaji, who recently got a bail in connection to a money laundering case linked to an alleged cashforjobs scam, will also be reinducted as a minister in the cabinet.

  • MUDA ‘scam’ row: Lokayukta files FIR against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, BJP demands his resignation

    Bengaluru: The Lokayukta Police in Mysuru registered an FIR against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Friday in a case of alleged unlawful allotment of 14 housing plots in the same city to his wife Parvathy, opening a new chapter of crisis in the veteran Congress leader’s four decades of. political life.

    The FIR names Siddaramaiah as the first accused and his wife as the second. His brotherinlaw Mallikarjunaswamy and Devaraju, the landowner who sold the plot, have been named the third and fourth accused, respectively.

    The police filed the FIR in accordance with the directions of a special court in Bengaluru, which on Wednesday, ordered investigation by the Lokayukta Police into complaints against Siddaramaiah and three others. The order by Special Court Judge Santhosh Gajanana Bhat came on a complaint from a Mysurubased activist Snehamayi Krishna and requires the Lokayukta Police to complete the investigation in three months.

    The police registered the case under Sections 120B, 166, 403, 406, 420, 426, 465, 468, 340, 351 and other relevant sections of the IPC, under Sections 9 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and under Sections 3, 53 and 54 of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 and, under sections 3 and 4 of Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011.

    The private complaint relates to Mysore Urban Development Authority allotting 14 housing plots in an upscale residential area in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah’s wife in return for 3.16 acres of land acquired in Kesare village on the city outskirts. The complainant, however, told the media that he would pursue legally to have the case transferred to the CBI, expressing a lack of faith in the investigation by the Lokayukta Police.Demands for resignationSiddaramaiah rejected demands for his resignation saying the question does not arise since he has not committed anything wrong. He said the Opposition parties have ensnared him in a false case, for the first time, fearing the overwhelming support of people he enjoys. The BJP, however, persisted with its demands for the CM’s resignation. BJP state president BY Vijayendra and Opposition leader R Ashoka urged him to resign and save the state’s honour. The party described the FIR as a major win for justice.

    “Years of corruption & neglect are finally coming to light. Kannadigas won’t forgive these scamsters for exploiting the vulnerable,” the party posted on X.

  • Shankaracharya, leading the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, turned back from Arunachal airport.

    Guwahati: Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who is leading the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, was turned back from the airport in Arunachal Pradesh.

    The spiritual leader, who arrived at Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi via chartered flight, faced opposition from members of All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), who were protesting outside the airport. The Jagadguru is traveling to various parts of the northeastern states to seek a ban on cow slaughter.

    The Papum Pare district administration spoke with the Jagadguru and his entourage and convinced them to return due to the sensitive nature of his visit. The Nagaland government has decided not to allow rallies banning cow slaughter in the state. In Meghalaya, there is resentment against a proposed rally.

    AAPSU representatives voiced their concerns to the media, stating, “Sending back the spiritual leader may send a negative message to the nation… We are not against any religion, institution, or individual. But this cow protection rally is against the sentiments of “Arunachalis.”

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow’s Innovations

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A HandsOn

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Office Productivity

    Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Astrology

    Vastu Shastra Course

    By Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri

    View Program

    Data Science

    SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Web Development

    A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Office Productivity

    Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    Marketing

    Digital marketing WordPress Website Development

    By Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategist and Subject Matter expert

    View Program

    Web Development

    Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence

    By Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor

    View Program

    finance

    Financial Literacy i.e. Lets Crack the Billionaire Code

    By CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of domain experience, trainer

    View Program

    Leadership

    Business Storytelling Masterclass

    By Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs

    View Program

    Marketing

    Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass

    By Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant

    View Program

    HR

    Human Potential and the Future of Employment

    By Lynda Gratton, Prof. at London Business School, Speaker, Author, Global Thought Leader

    View Program

    strategy

    ESG and Business Sustainability Strategy

    By Vipul Arora, Partner, ESG & Climate Solutions at Sattva Consulting Author I Speaker I Thought Leader

    View Program

    finance

    Financial Reporting and Analytics

    By Dr. CP Gupta, Professor: Department of Finance and Business Economics, University of Delhi

    View Program AAPSU general secretary Ritum Tali said: “Here, we tribals also sacrifice cows when somebody falls sick, thereby using the cow for protection.”

  • BJP MP wants probe into Waqf Bill feedback; Congress hits back

    New Delhi: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has raised concern over nearly 1.25 crore submissions received by the parliamentary panel scrutinizing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and has sought probe into the issue.

    The main Opposition, Congress, has slammed him for raising concerns, saying it clearly shows the ruling BJP does not believe in democracy.

    In a letter to committee’s chairperson Jagdambika Pal, Dubey said the probe must cover the possible roles of fundamentalist organizations and individuals like Zakir Naik, and foreign powers such as ISI, China and their proxies. Asked about the issue at a press meet at AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said: “They do not believe in democracy. If in such a big country, only 1.5% of the people express their opinion and they (BJP) are pained by it, then it is clear that they don’ I don’t believe in democracy.”

  • MUDA Land Scam: BJP demands CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation post K’taka HC’s verdict: ‘MUDA case is shameful example…’

    BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on September 24 demanded CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation after Karnataka HC dismisses his plea challenging Governor’s sanction. He also accused him of misusing his office to enrich himself and his family. He further alleged that the Karnataka CM is continuing the tradition of the Congress party of coming into governance in the name of poor. Addressing the press conference, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is continuing a tradition of the Congress party under Rahul Gandhi of coming into governance in the name of poor, making fake promises but always at the end of the day enriching themselves and the family. BJP demands the resignation of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to make way for a free and independent investigation into the allegations of corruption…There is not even a single Congress leader in Karnataka who is not involved in one land scam or another. The MUDA case is a very shameful example of how a sitting CM has misused his office to enrich himself and his family…”

    Show more Show less

  • Third eye: Another trip, ‘kissa kursi ka’ in Delhi CM’s office, and Sharad says ‘together at home’ on Ajit

    Another trip: Just back from a tour to the United States amid election season in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is likely to have a busy travel schedule ahead. Word has it that Gandhi may hold UStype outreach interactions in destinations such as Germany and Chile soon.

    Kissa kursi ka’ in Delhi CM’s office: After assuming charge as Delhi CM on Monday, AAP leader Atishi placed an empty chair beside her CM’s chair, saying, “This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. Today I took charge as the CM of Delhi. Today I have the same pain in my heart as Bharatji had. Just like Bharatji worked by keeping Lord Shri Ram’s sandals, I will take charge as CM for the next four months.” She exuded confidence in Kejriwal returning as Delhi CM after the next assembly elections, expected to be held in February. Opposition BJP and Congress have termed the move a ‘grave insult to constitutional rules’.

    ‘Together at home’, Sharad on Ajit: Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said he and nephew Ajit Pawar are “together as a family”, but made it clear that the latter was heading a different party. “We are together at home,” the veteran politician said at a presser. He was responding to a query about the demand from “various quarters in the state” that uncle and nephew should join hands again.

  • Jammu and Kashmir elections: Left NC for Jammu’s sake, had differences with Abdullahs: Devender Rana

    Devender Rana has had an interesting journey in politics. He won the Nagrota assembly constituency in Jammu district in December 2014 on a National Conference ticket, the lone candidate from the party to score a victory in the region then.

    Brother of Jitendra Singh, Union MoS in the PMO, Rana was once a close associate of Omar Abdullah. But the two are now bitter foes. Rana, who is now BJP candidate from Nagrota, had won this seat by 4,048 votes in 2014 when the polling percentage was low in most parts of J&K. From being a political advisor to Omar, Rana quit NC in 2021. He claims he gave primacy to the welfare of the Jammu region, which was not liked by the Abdullahs. “The differences with NC started when I talked about the Jammu Declaration and said that Jammu must have its own position. I started asserting my authority for the welfare of Jammu and that was to the dislike of the Kashmiri leadership who felt that this is not right. as they (NC) are a Kashmiroriented party while my belief then and now is that Jammu is the only secular bowl of Jammu and Kashmir. We have Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and people of all colors and shades,” Rana told ET.

    He maintains that Kashmir “by default” and especially after the events of 1989 (when Kashmiri Pandits were driven out) has become “unipolar”. His call to all parties to unite for Jammu was vociferously opposed by NC. After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the differences grew further.

    “PostAugust 2019, I said that Jammu must get its due and the sense of alienation should be dealt with. I have been a strong voter of equitable distribution of resources and political authority without depriving anybody of his own identity and rights. This was not acceptable to the leadership in Kashmir,” he said. The differences between Rana and Omar have come out in the open, with the former alleging that NC was desperate to form a government with BJP in 2014 and that NC supports separatism. Omar has countered this, saying Rana has lied for the last 25 years and betrayed him.

    Asked about his earlier proximity to Omar, Rana told ET, “I enjoyed the trust of the Abdullahs but as I raised the Jammu issues, a political lobby in Kashmir influenced them, particularly postAugust 2019. This lobby pressured Abdullah against me and they also found fault with me, but the bargain was that I drop the ‘Jammu, Jammu’ line. The differences between him and NC grew further as “they went the whole hog against me”, he added.The Jammu Declaration he espoused batted for more empowerment and development of the Jammu division. “After delimitation, Jammu has been fully empowered. PostAugust 2019, reservations have been given to Paharis, Valmikis, West Pakistan and PoK refugees, as well as OBCs and SCs. The Kashmir parties wanted to confine all powers to central Kashmir. Terrorism has come down by 70% while stonepelting is zero,” he said. “I think this time, Jammu will decide who forms the government in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

    Congress has fielded Balbir Singh against Rana but the latter is confident of scoring a second consecutive win.