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Mayurbhanj (Odisha): The hot topics in Odisha politics are alleged corruption in 5T and Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project, non-Odia origin of BJD leader VK Pandian, but it seems the people in President Droupadi Murmu's native village Uperbeda would vote on local issues, such as the inadequate livelihood opportunities, irrigation, education and health facilities. This village falls under Mayurbhanj constituency which goes to polls on June 1 in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha election. Some villagers said they are ready to support those who honoured their village as well as the district by making Droupadi Murmu the President of India.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis worked for Nitin Gadkari's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Raut's claim has drawn sharp reactions from the BJP and Congress' candidate from Nagpur. Raut alleged that Fadnavis had unwillingly campaigned for Gadkari, who contested from the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat, when he realised the Union minister couldn't be defeated. Nagpur is the hometown of both BJP leaders.

BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday credited his party with providing a «mazboot» (strong) government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was capable of penetrating Pakistan's borders to destroy terrorist hideouts. In contrast, the former Union minister charged, the Congress-led UPA government that got voted out in 2014 was «majboor, kamzor aur apang» (helpless, weak and crippled). Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Bihar's Arrah and Jehanabad constituencies, Nadda mocked the UPA for having sent «dossiers to Pakistan when the nation was rattled by terrorist attacks sponsored from across the border». «When Modi took over, and Uri and Pulwama happened, our troops penetrated Pakistan's borders to conduct surgical strikes and Balakot air strikes and beat the terrorists inside their homes,» he said.

Rajnath Singh on Sunday took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying he had heard about «work from home» but it is the first time that he is hearing of "work from jail". Addressing an election rally in Khanna for the BJP's Fatehgarh Sahib candidate Gejja Ram Valmiki, Singh said, «Here, AAP is the ruling party. You don't need to be told much about what kind of work it is doing.» «There is also an AAP government in Delhi. But the AAP leader was jailed in the liquor scam,» Singh, said referring to Kejriwal's arrest in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. The defence minister said he thinks every leader should have the moral courage to resign from their post if they face any allegation until being cleared of the charges.

Amit Shah has said that the Modi government's Kashmir policy has been vindicated by the successful polling in Jammu and Kashmir, where even separatists have voted «overwhelmingly», as he assured that the assembly elections in the region will be held before September 30. Once the elections are over, the government will start the process of restoring statehood to the Union Territory, Shah said in an interview to PTI late Saturday. «I have said in Parliament that we will give the statehood after the assembly elections,» he said, adding that everything is going according to plan, such as the surveys of the backward classes and delimitation exercise of the Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies. «We have completed the delimitation process. Because the reservation can be given only after the delimitation process is completed. Because we have to know about the status of various castes (to give reservation). That has been done. Lok Sabha election is also over (in Jammu and Kashmir). Next is the assembly election which will also be held. We will complete the process before the Supreme Court deadline,» he said.

(This story originally appeared in on May 26, 2024)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor slammed the BJP, saying that if the party comes to power again at the Centre, democracy will be in danger in the country. «If BJP forms the government this time, democracy will be in danger. If we want to save the country, the BJP will not have to be allowed to come to power again at the Centre. That's why I am asking for votes for Charanjit Singh Channi,» Tharoor told reporters here as he was in the state to campaign for former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, who is contesting from Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency as Congress candidate. Tharoor alleged that the BJP wants to polarize voters on the basis of religion.

Delhi witnessed a significant turnout of women voters, reflecting diverse backgrounds and concerns, in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. With over 69 lakh women among the 1.52 crore voters in the city, their participation is crucial in shaping the electoral outcome. From the outskirts to the heart of the city, women of all ages were seen queuing up outside polling stations, dressed in a variety of attire ranging from colorful saris to kurtis and western wear. Their reasons for voting varied, showcasing the diversity of perspectives and priorities among women voters. Influential Factors Driving Women's Decisions

voter turnout of 54.03 per cent was recorded in Uttar Pradesh where polling took place for 14 parliamentary constituencies in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. According to the Election Commission of India's Voter Turnout app, Allahabad recorded 51.75 per cent turnout, Ambedkar Nagar 61.54 per cent, Azamgarh 56.12 per cent, Basti 56.66 per cent, Bhadohi 53.03 per cent, Domariyaganj 51.94 per cent, Jaunpur 55.52 per cent and Lalganj 54.39 per cent. The voter turnout in Machhlishahr was 54.43 per cent, Phulpur 48.97 per cent, Pratapgarh 51.60 per cent, Sant Kabir Nagar 52.63 per cent, Shravasti 52.76 per cent and Sultanpur 55.60 per cent. The polling percentage in the Gainsari assembly bypoll was 51.10 per cent.

voter turnout of 61.41 per cent was recorded till the end of polling in the four Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand at 5 pm on Saturday, officials said. Voting, which commenced in Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur constituencies at 7am as part of the third phase of elections in the eastern state and sixth round nationwide, was peaceful. Giridih registered the highest polling at 64.75 per cent, followed by Jamshedpur (64.30 per cent), Dhanbad (58.90 per cent) and Ranchi (58.73 per cent). «Today, I exercised my right to vote at Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration, Ranchi. I urge all voters to exercise their right to vote. Ensure your participation in this great festival of democracy,» Governor C P Radhakrishnan said in a post on X.

Odisha recorded 61.44 per cent voter turnout in the six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 assembly segments on Saturday, showed data of the Election Commission. Voting was held in Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri parliamentary constituencies along with 42 assembly segments within the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha seats.

BJP and AAP-Congress alliance for the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi witnessed a turnout of over 54 per cent on Saturday in the midst of the scorching summer heat. Delhi had recorded 60.52 per cent voting in the 2019 general election when the BJP had swept all the seats, routing both AAP and Congress — which have now joined hands to end the saffron party's dominance.

Kolkata: West Bengal registered a voter turnout of 77.99 per cent till 5 pm in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies that went to polls in the sixth phase on Saturday, an official said. Polling began at 7 am in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur constituencies. It would continue till 6 pm.

constituencies of Bihar passed off peacefully on Saturday, with a provisional voter turnout of 55.45 per cent, nearly 3.02 per cent lower than the 2019 polls, officials said. Constituency-wise, Paschim Champaran recorded the highest voting percentage of 59.75, followed by Vaishali (58.5), Valmiki Nagar (58.25) Purvi Champaran (57.3), Sheohar (56.3), Siwan (52.5), Maharajganj (51.27) and Gopalganj (50.7), chief electoral officer H R Srinivasa said, adding that the figures are provisional.

voter turnout of 55.93 per cent was recorded in Haryana till 5 pm in its 10 Lok Sabha seats and polling remained peaceful on Saturday, officials said. Voting ended at 6 pm, sealing the fate of 223 candidates. Poll officials said that the turnout figure could increase as data is being compiled. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the overall poll percentage was 70.

Shah on Saturday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is spreading false propaganda on the Agniveer military recruitment scheme. Gandhi, in his first election meeting in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday, had said that the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped and thrown in the dustbin if the INDIA bloc comes to power. He had also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for «turning Hindustan ke jawan into labourers».

BJP and opposition parties in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, a Rajasthan minister on Saturday said the classification of certain Muslim groups under the OBC category would be reviewed in the state. Social justice and empowerment minister of Rajasthan Avinash Gehlot said that previous Congress governments gave OBC reservation to Muslim castes from 1997 to 2013 as part of appeasement politics and now it will be reviewed.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections.

Delhi on Saturday, with people queuing up outside booths across the city from early morning to escape the summer heat. The early morning voters included Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Minister Atishi, outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir, and candidates of different parties.

Lok Sabha elections recorded a voter turnout of 10.82 per cent as of 9 am, revealed the data shared by the Election Commission of India on Saturday.