Election Commission Of India Archives - Lokmarg

‘Rahul’s Vote Adhikar Yatra Failed To Have A Big Impact In Bihar’

By Lokmarg 16th September 2025

Prashant Manav, a student associated with socio-political movements in Bihar, says Election Commission’s rolls revision has made the state voter suspicious of SIR. His views:

Rahul Gandhi began his “Vote Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar from the historic land of Sasaram. He was the central face of this journey. While it can be considered successful, calling it a “great success” would be an overstatement. This yatra only covered a few districts; out of Bihar’s 38 districts, he was only able to cover 23.

These 23 districts contain about 50 assembly constituencies, where the Mahagathbandhan had won 23 seats in the 2020 assembly elections. Specifically, if we talk about Congress, they contested on 20 of those 50 seats and won eight. Based on these figures, it’s evident that the purpose of the Yatra was to secure their existing strongholds and consolidate some potentially favourable seats. So to say this Yatra had a massive impact across all of Bihar would be incorrect.

Regarding the crowds — yes, there was a significant turnout, but not to the extent that was expected. In fact, had it not been for the RJD workers, even those crowds could have been questionable. Many of the cities and places he visited are already strongholds of the alliance.

As for the ‘vote theft issue’, it has certainly stirred anger within some specific communities, which may benefit the Mahagathbandhan. But overall across Bihar, the issue of vote tampering hasn’t become a major concern for the general public.

Removing 6.5 million voters from the electoral list is no small matter. In a state like Bihar, where administrative flaws are frequently exposed, people are naturally suspicious of how the Election Commission managed to execute such a massive task in such a short time. Under the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process, removing so many voters so quickly raises serious questions — like, under whose influence did the Commission make such a huge decision?

It seems that this mass deletion disproportionately targeted specific communities, and such a detailed, strategic plan could only have been prepared by those in power — likely developed over years. If the decision was truly neutral and independent, it wouldn’t have been implemented so hastily.

ALSO READ: ‘Nitish Kumar Is Bound To Lose CM’s Chair This Year’

Another major controversy was the discovery of more than 200 registered voters at a single empty house. This kind of mistake shows administrative manipulation, as these entries were accepted without proper verification.

Unemployment in India has risen significantly in recent years, and the current government is largely responsible for this. It is the government’s duty to create jobs and opportunities — but no such effective policies have emerged. Even when job openings are announced, recruitment processes are often marred by corruption. This has left the poor, middle class, and educated youth frustrated. So, yes, the reason why youth are attending Rahul Gandhi’s rallies is primarily due to their anger with the current government.

Nitish Kumar remains a key factor in the upcoming 2025 Bihar elections. Ignoring his presence in this election is not just difficult, it’s impossible. He still retains credibility among a section of voters, largely due to his role in freeing Bihar from the so-called ‘Jungle Raj’ era. That generation still respects him and plays a decisive role in the ‘family-vote’.

The BJP-led alliance NDA has played a masterstroke by launching the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana’ (Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme), similar to schemes in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. This is a well-timed move to attract women voters just before elections. Besides, with 6.5 million voters removed, NDA stands to gain substantially. Their political strategy has always focused on specific communities and issues, and now they can concentrate even more narrowly on those groups.

Bihar has always led the country in political thought and revolutionary movements. However, in recent assembly elections, it seems to have lost that leadership spark — it’s a progressive state only in name, still categorized among the BIMARU states. There may be a political shift in the future, but as of now, no clear sign of that change is visible.

(The narrator is a student of MIT SOG Student (MPG Batch-20), Pune with roots in Bihar. Currently, he is pursuing internship as a political assistant to Pushpam Priya Choudhary, founder of The Plurals Party, an initiative to bring in grassroots change in Bihar.)

As told to Amit Sengupta

‘Unfortunate That Rahul Is Targeting Election Commission For Political Gains’

By Lokmarg 10th September 2025

Prof Amar Bahadur Shukla from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University says Rahul Gandhi must show a conclusive proof of vote theft instead of repeatedly targeting the ECI. His views:

The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body and an autonomous authority under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, which is delegated to hold free and fair elections at various levels elections in the country. If a political party, in this case the Indian National Congress and its allies, allege that it is acting in a partisan manner and indulging in “vote theft”, then it is a serious matter of concern.

However, in spite of repeated allegations at multiple public platforms, Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, has not provided any conclusive proof for the charges levelled at the Election Commission.

With the entire fiasco of the alleged vote theft, some of the political parties are referring to the so called illegal or fraudulent practices used to manipulate election results, undermining the democracy at large while trying to prevent the true will of the people from being represented. And as the general public (read the voters) are so well informed thanks to the social media, the entire ruckus, started in the parliament (in both the houses) with allegations and criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, only appears to be a step to confuse people.

The ECI, however, also took confronting steps and even, in a way, challenged the so called ‘protesters and saviours’ of democracy by holding an open press conference and rejected all the allegations. Despite a stern warning by the ECI, to submit an affidavit with proof or produce a written apology in front of the nation no one turned up till now. So, when the ECI claims its stand for its neutrality and impartiality toward the people of the country, why is no one coming up with justifications is a question equally looming in the minds of the voters and the ‘deleted’ voters.

ALSO READ: Is Rahul The Last Mughal of Gandhi Dynasty?

Besides this, the ECI has been working round the clock providing facts and data about the recently concluded SIR in Bihar and according to the statistics available widely in the media, over 90 per cent of the cross checking of the legal votes and substantiating legal documents (for the genuine votes) has been completed. This clearly squares off the matter that only fake or wrong names have been removed from the voter list and it is also not true that only the poor are being struck off. People have been given enough time to submit proper documents and prove that their names were wrongly deleted.

Therefore it can be said that this matter is completely political and it is very unfortunate that legal and constitutional institutions like the ECI are being questioned, defamed and, in a way, hurdles are being created to stop it from working and producing before the upcoming Bihar elections.

If ‘Vote Chori’ was a genuine concern, would it not be raised in the Himachal Pradesh and Telangana elections by the ruling government? Or was it, just as claimed by the opposition parties, a bait to make them forget the process in the bigger elections like the Lok Sabha of the 2024?

Here the role of the media is very important to be neutral and provide impartial information to the people so that confusions can be eradicated. The whole debate will certainly have an impact in the Bihar elections – positively or negatively, specially for BJP but vote theft is not a big issue here because there are more issues in Bihar like unemployment, poverty, lack of quality education, insufficient health infrastructure and mechanisms. This unnecessary debate is becoming a crucial issue in the political sphere of Bihar that needs to be addressed and all political parties should focus on more genuine issues related to the common people instead of confusing them.

At told to Rajat Sharma

Who Moved Your Vote?

By Amit Sengupta 21st August 2025

If crowds indeed are an indication, a deep churning is happening. Will it translate into votes? No one knows.

However, it is time that in a Hindi heartland largely in the grip of retrograde Hindutva, Bihar shows the revolutionary way, as in the past.

The 16-day long Vote Adhikaar Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi (RG), with Tejashwi Yadav along, has attracted tens of thousands of supporters. This is just about the first phase, and the huge crowd in Gaya, Nawada and other towns could be an indicator of a manthan, beyond the entrenched caste equations.

With Nitish Kumar’s credibility having sunk to abysmal levels, and unconfirmed reports that he is ailing, his erstwhile base among the EBC and Pasmanda Muslims might be on shaky ground. And with the BJP top brass now in the rat-trap of ‘vote chori’, and after having failed in all fronts, it is not going to be easy for this opportunistic alliance.

RJD remains the largest party in the Bihar assembly. It’s ‘Muslim-Yadav (MY)’ base remains intact – though it has to expand, especially among the EBC, Dalits and minorities. They have to break the steadfast Nitish-vote bank, because the upper caste vote, feudal landlords etc, largely, will stay with the BJP.

The Congress has a limited base in the state, but the large rallies might boost the alliance. And with the ideologically committed CPI-ML (Liberation) as ally, with its solid constituency in the margins, a formidable coalition can, indeed, become an electoral reality.

RG, in his trademark white T-shirt, and the swirling, excited crowd of people waving Congress and RJD flags, reminds of the stupendous success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. It catapulted the Congress leader into national limelight for months, which decisively broke the nightmarish atmosphere of State terror, the entrenched phobia in the civil society (ED raids, jailed young scholars, clampdown on dissent etc), amid organized media censorship.

The Yatra also created a refreshing discourse of ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan’, amid an atmosphere of hate and fear. The positive message sent shivers down the spine of a dictatorial regime, which, apart from the politics of polarization, had seriously damaged the basic tenets and essence of Indian democracy.

The Red Book (not the ‘Mao Red Book’) of our Constitution became the weapon in the hands of RG. The values and vision of the freedom movement, its secular and progressive ideals, became the doctrine of this ‘Satyagraha on foot’.

Thousands across the country took time off from work and home to join this great experiment in solidarity, including women, youngsters, senior citizens, celebrities, and citizens from all hues of the vast Indian kaleidoscope. It was a glorious celebration of the inherent ethos of unity and diversity, embedded early in our childhood consciousness through school text books, as much as a defiance against the one-dimensional, shallow, fear-driven hate machine of Hindutva.

ALSO READ: Is Rahul The Last Mughal Of Gandhi Dynasty?

Undoubtedly, ‘Vote Chori’, the propaganda blitz started by Rahul Gandhi, and with intentions as noble as they can get, has struck a deep chord with the people. The campaign started with irrefutable evidence, while the government seems to have turned speechless – as in Manipur, or Donald Trump claiming a ceasefire.

Or, the Pahalgam murders.

Indeed, the most uncomfortable questions have not been answered. As always.

How come there was not one cop, a security apparatus, and check points, in an extremely popular tourist hub in a highly fortified conflict zone, when the terrorists struck in Pahalgam with the cold-blooded killings of Indian men? And thereby comfortably escape? Jammu and Kashmir, after all, is now a Union Territory, directly under the government in Delhi.

Who were the terrorists and why have they not been caught till this day – and how did this major intelligence failure allowed to happen?

How many aircraft were lost by India, including the multi-million, state-of-the art, French fighter aircraft called Rafael, and why?

Why, not a word has been uttered on China, which was reportedly remote-controlling the Pakistani counter-attack, and successfully so?

Why did Mr M’s regime allow Donald Trump to hijack what has been for decades a bilateral issue? Did he or did he not, stop the war?

As for the muscle-flexing and fake news in the stooge media, with sirens blowing inside the studios, and Islamabad captured etc, it all became a magnificent box office flop.

Mr M’s emotional rhetoric on Operation Sindoor bombed in the face of the unanswered questions. (Talking of Pulwama – the difficult questions still remain — unresolved.)

Meanwhile, skeletons are toppling over all over the place, and many more might emerge. Data as evidence, voters whose names mysteriously disappeared, voters with bizarre names, one room address with hundreds of listed voters, houses with numbers such as 0, the same voters listed in several constituencies, one 128year-old woman voter, dead voters suddenly appearing as living human beings, the strange public conduct of the EC chairman, the uncanny silence of the last EC chairman, the Supreme Court’s judgment on 65 lakh voters (not a low number) – things are not at all hunky dory for what is being called the ‘B’ team of the BJP.

As CPM MP John Brittas said: “Gyanesh Kumar has spoken at least one fact and truth. He said that crores of people are on the streets, they don’t have houses. So, their house number is 0… Will he say there are crores of people who do not have parents, they are orphans, and that’s why their parents’ name is ABCDEFG? He has to explain that also.”

He said the EC should merge with the BJP. “Why should we need to pay so much of taxes to run such institutions that are a B team of the political party?”

Meanwhile, reports have emerged asking uncanny questions on the Maharashtra elections, again, first raised by Rahul Gandhi in a newspaper article. Before the assembly elections in the state, observers believed that after the surprising defeat of the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections here, the assembly polls will reflect a similar trend in certain constituencies. However, the BJP victory took them by surprise. Now the bitter reality seems to be sinking fast.

Media reports are quoting the findings by Vote for Democracy (VFD), a civic action group led by eminent experts. It has been released with analysis of each of the 288 constituencies in the Maharastra assembly. The findings are disturbing.

The report is titled Dysfunctional ECI and Weaponisation of India’s Election System, and is based on official data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). It also encapsulates discussions with voters, polling staff, etc.

VFD has distinguished experts: M.G. Devasahayam, IAS (retired), Coordinator of Citizens’ Commission on Elections, Pyara Lal Garg, former Dean, Panjab University, Madhav Deshpande, specialist in computer software and architecture, and Professor Harish Karnick, former Professor, Computer Science, IIT-Kanpur.

The report (released August 16, 2025) states that in the November 2024 elections, Maharashtra witnessed a late surge voter turnout. At 5 pm, voter turnout stood at 58.22%, but by midnight it had risen to 66.05. This is a huge rise of 7.83% — that is, as many as 48 lakh extra votes. Nanded, Solapur, Beed, Jalgaon, Hingoli and Dhule recorded double-digit spikes. It has been observed that over the years such late surges have been very rare.

Many seats were decided by extremely small margins. As many as 25 seats were won just about 3,000 votes or less, and 69 seats by fewer than 10,000 votes, says VFD. This is a pointer that small shifts can mark a decisive change in the final outcome. There are other findings that cast a shadow on the poll results.

Clearly, if alleged vote fraud has happened, this ‘EVM’ phenomenon has to be thoroughly investigated and exposed. A vote fraud means that those who have done it, and successfully so, they will do it again. That means, to retain illegitimate power, they can go to any extent.

Democracy, overnight, can turn into a dictatorship.

The intelligent voter in Bihar, as in other places, seems to have sensed this diabolical and dangerous reality. Hence, the huge upsurge in the RG rallies.

What if The Polls Are Rigged?

By Amit Sengupta 24th May 2024

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together Headpiece filled with straw.
Alas! Our dried voices, when We whisper together Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass or rats’ feet over broken glass In our dry cellar
– The Hollow Men by TS Eliot

In a poll season of no waves, hot winds are blowing in the scorching heat. There is no respite in this daily furnace, especially for sweat-soaked bodies of hardworking daily-wagers — men, women, children. Like a thousand venomous vipers slithering on the burning streets. And, then arrives, another straw in the wind! A straw as stuffed, as un-poetic, and as shallow, like the perennial, earthly reincarnations of ‘Hollow Men’!

From one God to another in a season of hate-speak and double-speak, after the 5^th phase, thus spake the incumbent prime minister of India: “Till my mother was alive, I had the impression that perhaps my birth was a biological one. After her demise, when I view after assimilating all the experiences, I am convinced that God has sent me.” (Interview, News 18. Telegraph, May 23, 2024) “I am nothing, only an instrument through which God has decided to achieve and so whenever I do something I believe that God wants to get it done…

Speaking to News 24, he said: “…Possibly, God only has sent me for some work, for some purpose. And, for the achievement of the purpose, he gives direction, education, ability, energy, inspiration. Call it ‘daivya shakti’ (divine power) or ‘ishwariya shakti’ (godly power); all this is not possible without it…”

These magical powers were testified when his party’s spokesman, Sambit Patra, claimed, yes, that Lord Jagannath of Puri, worships the PM; that he was, a devotee. Certainly, the beautiful dark lord with big, beautiful eyes, flanked by his brother and sister, Subhadra and Balram (Balabhadra), stationed in the sanctum sanctorum of this famous temple near the sea, might have himself descended in the BJP office to confess his most profound secret to Patra! He later said that it was a Freudian slip. Between him and PM-speak, pray, tell us, O God, which one is a slip and which one is not?

In response, the media chief of Congress, Jairam Ramesh, cryptically remarked that it was a sign of impending defeat: “The outgoing prime minister seems to think — he is God. This is an unprecedented level of delusion and arrogance.”

Now, things seem to be turning upside down pretty fast. First, it was God’s-own-prophet branding the entire population of Indian Muslims, all legitimate citizens of this secular democracy, as “infiltrators”, and producers of more children. It only brought back dark memories of “baby-producing factories”, “hum paanch, humaare pachees”, and “kutte ka bachcha” — crushed under a car. Such statesman-like sublime-speak, of course, was showcased after the State-sponsored Gujarat Genocide of 2002.

Then there were the 5 Ms. Mutton, Machhli, Mughals, Mangalsutra, and, of course, Muslims. They could have added another M: Madrasa. Then, of course, the two, poor, mythical buffaloes – the Congress will snatch away one and give it to the Muslims. Reservation for SC/ST and OBC – Congress will take away that too and give it to the Muslims. (Coming from a party, and the RSS, which has singularly opposed reservation, and were vanguards of the anti-Mandal agitation!)

At Basti, on May 22, the ‘prophet’ said, “This patron of terrorism which once used to make eyes at us, its condition has become such that its people are hard-up even for grain. Pakistan is finished, but its sympathisers, SP and Congress, are busy scaring the country… They say one needs to be scared of Pakistan because it has an atom bomb. Don’t they know what is a 56-inch (chest)? It’s not the weak Congress government… but the strong government of Modi. India does not spare those who try to bully it. India today beats them in their own homes,” he said. (The same, cliched, typically street-brawl narrative, repeated the umpteenth time: “Ghar mein ghus ke maarenge!”

Another short video (IANS) shows the PM, looking tired and not so happy, claiming, using the first person — that ‘Modi’ gave electricity to every village (false), but the Congress and SP will cut your electric connection, that Modi gave water to every home (false), but the Congress and SP will take away the water tap, that they will shut your bank accounts, and snatch away the money! Delusion?

ALSO READ: Elections 2024 – How Indian Muslims Would Vote

Contrast this with the INDIA bloc campaign. The ‘radical’ Congress manifesto with concrete, living, realistic issues: MSP for farmers, jobs for the jobless, money in the accounts of the poor every month, scrapping of Agniveer, stopping high inflation, blocking crony capitalism of the PM’s best buddy, unleashed since 2014, among other crucial issues dealing with the everyday struggles of the vast masses of India, deprived, marginalized, jobless, malnourished, saving every pie to make a living.

And, most importantly, the reassertion of the sacredness of the Indian Constitution, conceived by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. As a counter to the ‘400 paar’ slogan of the BJP, the reaffirmation of the Constitution, the book, which Rahul Gandhi displays in rally after rally, has turned the tide. The awakened poor, especially Dalits, have recognized that this ‘400 paar’ rhetoric is nothing but a ploy to dump the Indian Constitution, a sinister project of the RSS/BJP, who did not participate in the freedom struggle. Besides, they were, essentially, always opposed to the Constitution of India – they ardently love the ‘Manusmriti’ of the Manuwadis in a Nazi-like, ‘One nation, one culture, one religion’ warped utopia.

There are two more crucial issues in the 2024 polls: People’s power, and the assertion of federalism. It is the people who are reasserting the life-affirming doctrines of the freedom and democracy, despite the low-turnout – which is disadvantage BJP. It is the people who are saying, it’s time for a new, different India, without the ‘nafrat ki dukaan’. Enough is enough!

Second is the strong reaction of the regions to a centralized one-man, quasi-dictatorship in the Centre. The federal states are reasserting with a vengeance, and that is a positive sign. From Mamata Banerjee, to Stalin, Arvind Kejriwal, Tejesvi and Akhilesh Yadav, and Siddharamaiah, among others, the regions are saying no to the centralization of democracy. As in the Nehruvian era. Anyway, the South, Punjab and Bengal, including much of the North-east, care two hoots for Hindutva and its vicious hate politics. They live in a higher realm.

Meanwhile, another undercurrent is flowing strong. That they will fudge the EVMs and declare themselves victorious despite losing the mandate. The Election Commission of India is perhaps the most discredited institution in the current scenario. Surely, they too can sense the simmering mass unrest, despite not disclosing correct poll data in time, and, thereby, mysteriously, increasing the tally! People too can sense that diabolical game this time.

A rigged election will always be called what it is – a rigged election! Perhaps, the fake prophet will not go down so easily. Perhaps, more damage will be done to the ravaged soul of India. Will he do a Trump-like Capitol Hill misadventure? Will the polls be fudged?

In that case, India might resurrect itself into a new avatar! A tiny prairie fire can light up the scorching summer sky. And the fire can spread, like a peaceful torch of hope and rebellion — from Kashmir to Kanyakumari!

India has known the theory and praxis of peaceful civil disobedience — Satyagraha, Jail Bharo, Dandi March. Like Abhimanyu’s memory in the womb, this deep memory is waiting to be rekindled. India is also the land of great revolutionaries: Ashfaqullah Khan, Ramprasad Bismil, Chandraskhekar Azad, Bagha Jatin, Preetilata Waddeddar, Bhagat Singh, Khudiram Bose, Birsa Munda, among others – their memory is etched in our political subconscious. Indian secular democracy is precious. Its people just cannot allow it to be hijacked by fake prophets and dictators. wallowing in narcissism.

And when the dictator falls, and finds his grand finale, like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the same poem will discover its own raison d’etre as well:

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but with a whimper.

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Telangana Polls: 51.89% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 3 PM

By LokMarg 30th November 2023

Telangana recorded a voter turnout of 51.89 per cent till 3 pm in the assembly polls that is currently underway for 119 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.

According to the Election commission, Medak recorded a voter turnout of 69.33 per cent, Mahabubabad at 65.05 per cent, Adilabad at 62.34 per cent, Hanumankonda at 49 per cent and Hyderabad at 31.17 per cent till 3 pm.

Jangaon recorded 62.24 percent of voter turnout, while Kamareddy recorded 59.06 per cent.

The voter turnout in Khammam was recorded 63.62 per cent, Nalgonda recorded 59.98 per cent, Nizamabad at 56.70 per cent, Sangareddy recorded 56.23 per cent and Rangareddy recorded 42.43 per cent.

Long queues were seen outside the polling stations in towns and rural parts of Telangana since early this morning as the polling for the State Assembly at 7 am.

Till 1 pm, a total of 36.68 per cent of voter turnout was recorded in the state.

This time, there are as many as 2,290 contestants in the fray which includes Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, his Minister-son K.T. Rama Rao, State Congress President A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.

In 2018, BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) won 88 of the 119 seats and had 47.4 per cent of the vote share. The Congress came a distant second with just 19 seats.

Several big leaders including Chief Minister KCR, state minister KT Rama Rao, YSR Telangana Party president YS Sharmila, BJP’s Arvind Dharmapuri and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy exercised their franchise and urged voters to cast a vote.

The counting of the votes will take place on December 3. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Telangana Assembly Elections: Voter Turnout Over 20%

By LokMarg 30th November 2023

Telangana recorded a voter turnout of 20.64 per cent till 11 am in the assembly polls that is currently underway for 119 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.

According to the poll commission, Adilabad recorded a voter turnout of 30.65 per cent, Bhadradri at 22.05 per cent, Hanumankonda at 21.43 per cent and Jagtial at 22.50 per cent.

Kamareddy recorded 24.70 per cent of voter turnout while Khammam recorded 26.03 per cent.

A voter turnout in Mahabubabad was recorded at 28.05 per cent, in Medak at 30. 27, Mulugu at 25.36 per cent and Siddipet at 28.08 per cent.

Long queues were seen outside the polling stations in towns and rural parts of Telangana since early this morning as the polling for the State Assembly at 7 am.

Till 9 am, the state recorded an overall turnout of 8.52 per cent.

However, several polling booths across the state witnessed wafer-thin turnout.

This time, there are as many as 2,290 contestants in the fray which includes Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, his Minister-son KT Rama Rao, State Congress President A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.

In 2018, BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) won 88 of the 119 seats and had 47.4 per cent of the vote share. The Congress came a distant second with just 19 seats. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Pass Women Quota Bill During Special Parl Session: Cong

By LokMarg 17th September 2023

A day ahead of the week-long special session of Parliament, the Congress party has yet again raised their demand for a greater reservation for women in legislative roles.

In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Congress Working Committee demands that the Women’s Reservation Bill must be passed during the special session of Parliament.

Praising the previous Congress governments, Jairam Ramesh said former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi first introduced Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation in panchayats and nagarpalikas in May 1989 — which passed in Lok Sabha but failed in Rajya Sabha.

“Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao reintroduced Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in April 1993. Both Bills passed and became law. Now there are more than 15 lakh elected women representatives in panchayats and nagarpalikas,” he said.

Former PM Manmohan Singh brought the Constitution Amendment Bill for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. The Bill was passed on March 9, 2010 in the Rajya Sabha but was not taken up in Lok Sabha.

“Bills introduced/ passed in Rajya Sabha do not lapse. Women’s Reservation Bill is still very much active. The Congress party has for the past nine years been demanding that the Women’s Reservation Bill already passed by the Rajya Sabha should now get passed by the Lok Sabha as well,” Jairma Ramesh wrote on X.

As per the Parliamentary Bulletin, released on Wednesday, a discussion on “Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings” will be held in Parliament on the first day of the five-sitting long special session starting tomorrow.

Also, four bills including a Bill to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are part of the legislative business of the government for the session.

The other bills to be taken up include ‘The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and ‘The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023’, which were already passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2023.

‘The Post Office Bill, 2023’ has also been listed in the Lok Sabha business. The bill was earlier introduced in Rajya Sabha on August 10, 2023 and it repeals the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. (ANI)

Election Results For Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland Today

By LokMarg 1st March 2023

Results will be declared on Thursday for assembly polls in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland with the keenly-fought battle in the three northeastern states marking the first round of polls in an electorally-crucial year.

Meghalaya and Nagaland went for the assembly polls on February 27 and voting was held in Tripura on February 16. The three states witnessed high voter turnout. The BJP, which has replaced Congress as the dominant party in the northeast, is optimistic of prospects in the three states.

Apart from the three states, results will also be declared in the bypolls for Erode (East) seat in Tamil Nadu, Sagardighi in West Bengal Ramgarh in Jharkhand where polling was held on February 27. Polling for Kasba Peth and Chinchwad in Maharashtra was held on February 26.

Apart from the assembly polls, the bypolls have also evoked wide interest due to battle for supremacy between two factions of Shiv Sena. Though the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction is not the contesting the bypolls, it has thrown its weight behind the Maha Vikas Agadhi candidates. The bypolls are the first since the Election Commission recognised the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena and allotted it party name and symbol.

The bypoll to the Erode East assembly seat in Tamil Nadu is also significant for both the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK.

The exit polls have predicted a clear victory of NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland, a clear edge to BJP in Tripura and a hung verdict in Meghalaya.

While Tripura saw 87.76 per cent polling, it was 85.90 per cent in Nagaland and 85.27 per cent in Meghalaya.

Meghayala Chief Minister and National People’s Party leader Conrad Sangma met Assam Chief Minister Himanat Biswa Sarma on Tuesday night. The parties were partners in the ruling coalition but fought the assembly polls separately.

BJP leader Rituraj Sinha expressed confidence of party’s performance in the three northeastern states.

“People in North-East saw good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our government will be elected in these states. Our vote share will increase,” Sinha said on Tuesday.

The BJP had created a record in Tripura in 2018 election, ousting Left parties from their bastion and hopes to continue its winning run. Left parties and Congress joined hands in this election to give a tough fight to BJP. Tipra Motha, a regional party led by Pradyot Debbarma, a member of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, is also expected to make its presence felt.

The BJP has allied with IPFT (Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura), its partner in the previous assembly polls. The BJP contested 55 seats of 60-member assembly in Tripura in Februart 27 election. The Left Front fielded candidates in 47 seats and Congress on 13. Tipra Motha fought 42 seats and Trinamool Congress put up candidates on 28 seats.

Chief Minister Manik Saha contested from Town Bardowali constituency and Union minister Pratima Bhowmik fought the polls as BJP candidate from Dhanpur.

BJP leaders in their speeches talked about the development picking up pace in the border state and efforts of the “double-engine” government over the past five years. Tipra Motha has raised demand of Greater Tipraland.

The counting of votes of 60 assembly constituencies in Tripura will be held in 21 counting locations across the state.

Meghalaya went to the polls for 59 of its 60 assembly seats. Polling for the Sohiong Assembly constituency was postponed following the demise of the state’s former Home minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from the seat, HDR Lyngdoh.

The National People’s Party (NPP) is leading the ruling alliance which also included the BJP. But the two parties have contested the poll separately. Trinamool Congress and regional parties such as the United Democratic Party and People’s Democratic Front have also sought to put up a strong fight and a split verdict could throw open various possibilities in the state.

The BJP and Congress contested 59 seats while the NPP has put up nominees in 56 constituencies. Meghalaya holds significance for pan-India ambitions of Trinamool Congress and the party contested 57 seats.

Conrad K Sangma contested from South Tura constituency while Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma is in the fray from Songsak and Tikrikilla.

In Nagaland, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) contested 40 seats while its ally BJP put up candidates 20 seats in the on the 60-member House. Akuluto seat was won uncontested by BJP.

Congress contested 23 seats in the state. The NDPP-BJP alliance in the state is led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Kuzholuzo Nienu has said that the party is open to post-poll arrangements. Interestingly, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has fielded 16 candidates.

The Election Commission has made adequate arrangements for counting of votes.

While elections have been held in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya, six more states will go for the assembly polls later this year before the Lok Sabha battle in 2024.

The outcome of the polls in three northeastern states is likely to have a bearing on the prospects of national parties in state polls later this year. BJP is hopeful of the outcome giving it momentum for the poll battles ahead. (ANI)

Meghalaya Records 12.06% Voter Turnout Till 9 AM: EC

By LokMarg 27th February 2023

Meghalaya recorded 12.06 per cent voter turnout till 9 am in the ongoing polling for 59 assembly constituencies, the Election Commission informed on Monday.

The polling started at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.
As per the ECI, the highest voter turnout was recorded at 17.82 percent in East Garo Hills.

The data shared by the Election Commission states, “East Jaintia Hills saw a voter turnout at 13.85 per cent, East Khasi Hills saw 14.29 per cent voter turnout, Eastern West Khasi Hills was at 16.18 per cent, North Garo Hills saw 9.83 per cent, Ri-Bhoi at 10.06 per cent, South Garo Hills was at 3.48 per cent, South West Garo Hills was 11.37 per cent, South West Khasi Hills 14.09 per cent, West Garo Hills at 6.70 per cent, West Jaintia Hills at 17.19 per cent and West Khasi Hills at 12.15 per cent.”

The voting for the Meghalaya Assembly elections began amid tight security today.

Polling is being held at 3,419 polling stations across 59 Assembly constituencies in the state.

Of the 60 Assembly constituencies in Meghalaya, 36 constituencies fall in Khasi, Jaintia Hills region while 24 are in Garo Hills region.

Significantly, however, polling for the Sohiong Assembly constituency was postponed following the demise of the state’s former Home Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from the seat HDR Lyngdoh.

There are over 21 lakh electorates (21,75,236) of which 10.99 lakh are women and 10.68 lakh are male voters.

There are about 81,000 first-time voters in the state.

As many as 369 candidates are in the fray of which 36 are women.

Of the total 3,419 polling stations, 120 are all women-managed polling stations, 60 are model polling stations and another 60 are PWD polling stations.

The Election Commission has deployed 119 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Meghalaya.

Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya FR Kharkongor said 640 polling stations are identified as ‘vulnerable’, 323 are ‘critical’ and 84 are identified as both.

The poll panel on Saturday ordered the sealing of Meghalaya’s International border with Bangladesh till March 2. Meghalaya shares a 443 km border with Bangladesh and 885 km with Assam.

Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya FR Kharkongor, told ANI that, Meghalaya’s International border with Bangladesh and the state border with Assam have been sealed.

“We have taken preventive measures to ensure a free and fair election in the State. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed along the international bordering areas in the state,” Kharkongor said.

The counting of votes will be done on March 2. (ANI)

PIB Pulls Up YouTube Channel For Spreading Fake News Against Modi, CJI

By LokMarg 20th December 2022

The government has accused a YouTube channel called ‘News Headlines’ of spreading fake news against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court of India, the Chief Justice of India, and the Election Commission.

According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the YouTube channel reportedly has 10 lakh subscribers and 32 crore views.
“A #YouTube channel ‘News Headlines’ with almost 10 lakh subscribers and 32 crore views has been found to be propagating #FakeNews about the Prime Minister, Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of India, and the Election Commission of India,” the PIB Fact check handle tweeted.

The YouTube channel has been accused of spreading fake news like “elections would be held on ballot paper following the orders of the Chief Justice of India.” It has also spread fake news like re-election will be held for 131 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Earlier, it had also claimed that Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has resigned from the BJP and has joined the Congress.

The fact-checking team of the nodal agency communicates to the media on behalf of the Government of India. It works to identify fake news by doing rounds on social media and the channels associated with them to warn people against believing them. (ANI)