THE HEADLINES:-
- Political leaders make last ditch efforts to woo voters in Assam, Keralam, and Puducherry as campaigning to end this evening.
- Senior BJP Leader and Home Minister Amit Shah promises to send all infiltrators back, if BJP comes to power in West Bengal.
- Over 27 lakhs voters found ineligible under Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
- Centre doubles daily allocation of five kilogram free trade LPG cylinders to migrant labourers.
- Supreme Court begins hearing on women’s entry in religious places, including Sabarimala.
- West Asia conflict intensifies as Israel carries out strikes on the energy infrastructure of Iran.
- In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals to take on Mumbai Indians in Guwahati this evening.
<><><>
Campaigning for the Assembly elections in Assam, Keralam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry will end this evening. In the final hours today, top leaders from various political parties are making concerted efforts to connect with voters and strengthen their support base across these regions.
Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that all infiltrators will be sent back, if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal. Addressing an election rally in Assam’s Patharkandi, Mr. Shah alleged that Congress gave shelter to infiltrators in Assam’s Barak Valley.
He alleged that the Congress neglected Assam’s Barak Valley and did nothing for its development. He said, BJP’s vision for Assam is to transform the state and bringing it at par with other developed regions of the country. He said that Assam would reach new heights of development in the coming five years. He listed out initiatives undertaken by the BJP government, including the distribution of land patta to eligible beneficiaries and the construction of a medical college in Sribhumi.
Mr. Shah assured that Silchar would be developed so that people would not have to depend on Guwahati for essential services.
Congress President Mallikarjun kharge Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, came down heavily on BJP leader and Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma alleging that he is working only for his family’s development. He said, the Centre must probe into allegations of Himanta’s wife possessing assets abroad, and having passports of 3 countries. He also said, Assam’s son Zubeen did not get justice.
In Puducherry, with only a few hours remaining before the curtain falls on campaigning, the Union Territory is witnessing a a flurry of political activity. Parties are crisscrossing constituencies in a final push to win the support of voters.
As campaigning draws to a close this evening, parties are pulling out all stops to consolidate support and win over voters. Campaigning will conclude at 6 PM today, after which no form of canvassing will be permitted. The Election Commission has directed all parties to ensure that non-local campaigners leave the constituencies immediately after the campaign period ends. Following the mandatory silence period, Puducherry will go to the polls on Thursday, along with Keralam and Assam. Bibin S Nath, Akashvani News, Puducherry.
<><><>
Campaigning for the Assembly elections in Keralam will culminate this evening.
All the 140 Assembly constituencies in Keralam are busy with small rallies and announcements as public campaigning comes to an end at 6 pm. At the same time, tight security arrangements have been made across the state. A total of 160 teams of Central Police have been deployed in addition to the state police. BJP leader and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi is attending programmes in Palakkad, while BJP leader K. Annamalai is in Manjeswaram. CPM leader and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is attending programmes in his constituency, Dharmadam. CPM General Secretary M. A. Baby is campaigning in Kollam. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is attending programmes in Wayanad, while Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is taking part in roadshows in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts. Smithy M Palluruthy, Akashvani News, Thiruvananthapuram.
<><><>
In West Bengal, over 32 lakh voters have been confirmed as eligible, while nearly 27 lakh have been marked ineligible, as the Election Commission released the full list of voters under judicial review under the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll. For the first time, district-wise details have been made public, with voters clearly classified as eligible or ineligible. According to the report, more than 60 lakh names were under scrutiny.
<><><>
In Tamil Nadu, a total of 7 thousand 600 nominations are under scrutiny today. Nominations are being cleared after verification of the details and are being updated on the website.
With just 14 more days to go for the campaigning to end for the single-phase elections, star campaigners are on the electioneering trail across the State. Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, and Members of Parliament are all crisscrossing the State for electioneering. Colourful roadshows with display of flags and beating of drums and folk dances never fail to reverberate the air of celebration for the festival of democracy. Thousands of onlookers and party workers throng the roads to get a glimpse of their leaders. The social media reels also continue with sarcasm and assurances to appeal to the young and first-time voters. Joy/Chennai.
<><><>
The government has decided to double the daily allocation of five kilogram free trade LPG cylinders available for distribution to migrant labourers across states. Secretary of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dr Neeraj Mittal has written a letter to Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories in this regard. He said, these five kilogram LPG cylinders will be made available to State Governments and their Food and Civil Supplies Departments for supplying only to migrant laborers in their State, with the support of Oil Marketing Companies.
<><><>
A nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court today commenced hearing petitions concerning alleged discrimination against women at religious places including the Sabarimala temple, and the scope of religious freedom across faiths. Ahead of the hearing, the Centre submitted written arguments urging the apex court to uphold restrictions on the entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple.
<><><>
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan today said that the true strength of a nation lies in the knowledge, values and capabilities of its people. He said institutions like IGNOU are playing a key role in strengthening the national skills ecosystem through their regional centres by providing vocational certification and skill training. The Vice President added that such efforts will help India achieve the goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Addressing the 39th Convocation Ceremony of IGNOU held in New Delhi, Mr Radhakrishnan said the Indira Gandhi National Open University- IGNOU has made the country proud by connecting the entire nation through accessible education and transforming the learning landscape.
<><><>
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that ensuring food security and increasing farmers’ income are the government’s top priorities. The Union Minister was addressing the Regional Agriculture Conference held in Jaipur today. He said that concrete and multi-dimensional efforts are being made to strengthen the agriculture sector.
<><><>
In our ongoing series on constituency profiles, today we take a look at the Jagiroad constituency in Assam’s Morigaon district. Polling in the state is scheduled to be held in a single phase for all 126 Legislative Assembly constituencies on Thursday.
The 52 No. Jagiroad Legislative Assembly Constituency is one of the 126 constituencies of Assam. Polling will be held on 9th April. Jagiroad is a key constituency in the Morigaon distric and it is predominently a rural area. In the current Assembly election, two candidates are in the fray. State Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika is pitted against the Congress candidate Bubul Das. Following the 2023 delimitation exercise, the Jagiroad LAC has undergone changes in its population and areas. According to the Election Commission of India, Jagiroad has over 2 lakh 51 thousand voters, over 1 lakh 25 thousand are male and over 1 lakh 26 thousand are female voters and two are registered as transgender voters. Polling will take place across 335 polling stations. In the 2021 Assembly election, a total of 4 candidates contested from the seat. The seat was won by BJP’s Pijush Hazarika. Aminul Haque Jwadder.
<><><>
Assam Police today conducted searches at Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence in New Delhi today. The searches came after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma lodged an FIR against Mr Khera. During a press conference in New Delhi, Mr Khera had claimed that Riniki Bhuyan holds three passports.
Talking to reporters after the search, DCP of Assam Police Dr Debajit Nath said that Mr Khera was not present in the House and they have seized some incriminating documents from his house.
<><><>
The birth anniversary of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was celebrated with much reverence and devotion at Gurudwara Guru Ke Mahal, the birthplace of the Guru in Amritsar.
A religious procession was taken out from the Akal Takht in Sri Harmandir Sahib for Gurdwara Guru ka Mahal, yesterday. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister, Sh. Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have paid homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji on this occasion.
<><><>
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is arriving in New Delhi today on a three-day visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. During his visit, Mr Rahman will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He is also expected to meet National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
<><><>
Tensions across West Asia are rising further as Israel carried out strikes on energy infrastructure of Iran yesterday. Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas field in Asaluyeh, the country’s largest gas facility. The development has raised fears of retaliation and possible disruption to global energy supplies.
<><><>
In IPL Cricket,, Rajasthan Royals will take on Mumbai Indians at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Rajasthan Royals are currently placed third on the points table, while Mumbai Indians are in sixth position. Royal Challengers Bengaluru occupy the second spot.
Meanwhile, the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings was abandoned due to rain at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night.
<><><>
Benchmark domestic equity indices rebounded from early losses and were trading about 0.3 per cent higher in the afternoon session today.The Sensex gained 186 points to 74 thousand and 293, while the Nifty added 60 points to 23 thousand and 29, when reports last came in.
<><><>
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall activity over Northeast India, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir adjoining Punjab for the next three days. IMD also noted isolated rainfall activity over Uttarakhand and adjoining plains of Western Himalayan region, Central India, Odisha and Coastal Andhra Pradesh for three days.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Political leaders make last ditch efforts to woo voters in Assam, Keralam, and Puducherry as campaigning to end this evening.
- Senior BJP Leader and Home Minister Amit Shah promises to send all infiltrators back, if BJP comes to power in West Bengal.
- Over 27 lakhs voters found ineligible under Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
- Centre doubles daily allocation of five kilogram free trade LPG cylinders to migrant labourers.
- Supreme Court begins hearing on women’s entry in religious places, including Sabarimala.
- West Asia conflict intensifies as Israel carries out strikes on the energy infrastructure of Iran.
- In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals to take on Mumbai Indians in Guwahati this evening.
<><><>
