Assembly Elections 2021 Live Updates:
Polls are to be held for 294 seats in West Bengal, 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam and 30 seats in Puducherry.Assembly Elections 2021 Live Updates: M K Stalin-led DMK released its manifesto on Sunday for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, promising to revive the economy, improve agriculture and farming productivity, focus on health and education, urban and rural development and, abolition of manual scavenging. Stalin also promised a Rs 1000 monthly allowance to homemakers with ration cards.
Addressing a poll rally in Thiruvananthapuram in poll-bound Kerala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF factions have a healthy competition between them but for doing scams, not for taking Kerala forward. “When UDF comes to power, it commits solar scam and when LDF comes to power, it does Dollar, gold scams,” ANI quoted Shah as saying.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday led a ‘padayatra’ in Siliguri to protest against the huge hike in the prices of LPG cylinders. Countering BJP’s rhetoric of bringing “asol poriborton” (real change) in West Bengal, Banerjee said the change will happen but in Delhi, not in Bengal. She further said the people of Bengal would be under grave threat if a “divisive force” like BJP seizes power in the state.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a grand rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground and accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of indulging in “tolabaazi, syndicate, and commission cut”. He promised to bring ‘asol poriborton’ in the state if the BJP government comes to power. At the event, actor Mithun Chakraborty officially joined the BJP in the presence of several BJP leaders, including Dilip Ghosh and Kailash Vijayvargiya.
Meanwhile in Tamil Nadu, campaigning for the AIADMK-BJP-PMK alliance on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was confident they would emerge victorious in the upcoming Assembly polls. Shah is on a day-long political tour in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He commenced his visit by holding a door-to-door campaign in Kanyakumari, and then held road show there.
Capping off a week-long negotiation, the DMK on Sunday formally allotted 25 Assembly constituencies to Congress along with the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha bye-election seat. It has also given six seats to MDMK through a deal with Congress and CPI(M). The ruling AIADMK, on the other hand, allotted 20 seats to its ally BJP after rounds of talks, while its talks with the DMDK remained inconclusive. With talks on seat sharing over, the DMK is set to kick start its campaign with .a mega rally in the state today.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former state minister-turned-BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. (File Photo)
The newly-formed Assam Jatiya Parishad on Sunday announced the second list of 50 candidates for the three-phased assembly polls, with its president Lurinjyoti Gogoi contesting from one more constituency, Naharkatia. Both the constituencies of the former AASU general secretary are in upper Assam and are going to polls in the first phase.
AJP vice president Adeep Kumar Phukan said the party announced names of 68 candidates for all three phases and is in talks with its alliance partner for selecting nominees in some more seats.
The AJP has forged the alliance with the Raijor Dal of jailed anti-citizenship law activist Akhil Gogoi for the assembly elections intending to oust the BJP-led ruling coalition from power.
"We are united to defeat the BJP though there may be friendly contests in a few seats," Phukan said.
AJP working president Pabindra Deka, who had quit the Asom Gana Parishad and resigned from the assembly, to join the party, will contest from Pathacharkuchi and is pitted against BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass. (PTI)
The newly-floated Raijor Dal on Sunday announced the names of two more candidates, following All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) leader Azizur Rahman and former BJP leader Madhab Mushahary joining the party ahead of the assembly polls.
Rahman will contest from Naoboicha and Mushahary from Jonai constituencies, both of which are in Upper Assam and go to polls in the first phase on March 27.
RD working president Bhasco De Saikia said the party has decided to contest from a minimum number of seats to ensure votes are not divided and the BJP is defeated.
"We are not fighting the elections for the lust of power but with the sole objective of defeating the BJP to save Assam and its identity. If the BJP-RSS is allowed to rule the state, the people of Assam will be doomed," he said. (PTI)
The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), an alliance partner of the ruling BJP-led combine in Assam, on Sunday declared its first list of eight candidates for the approaching assembly polls in the state. Announcing the candidates for the first phase of polling on March 27, AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita told a press conference that newcomer Prithviraj Rabha would contest from the prestigious Tezpur seat.
Veteran AGP leader and five-time MLA Brindaban Goswami was denied ticket and replaced by Rabha, who was inducted into the party fold during the day.
AGP president and state minister Atul Bora will contest from Bokakhat, while his cabinet colleague and working president of the party Keshab Mahanta will be in the fray from Kaliabor constituency.
Names of sitting MLAs Renupoma Rajkhowa (Teok), Bhabendra Nath Bharali (Dergaon) and Prodip Hazarika (Amguri) feature in the list. The party has fielded Ponakan Barua from Chabua and Jayanta Khaund from Naoboicha constituency respectively, Kalita told reporters.
The party currently has 13 MLAs in the 126-member Assam Assembly, which is going to polls in three phases. (PTI)
'Metroman' E Sreedharan on Sunday said he was ready to take up any responsibility given to him by the BJP, which he had recently joined.
Speaking at a rally attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at nearby Shangumugham, Sreedharan said he wanted to utilise his energy for the state of Kerala.
"For the last 67 years I was a government servant. Many people have asked me why I ventured into politics after these many years. For 67 years, I worked as part of many projects for this country."
"I am still energetic and want to utilise my energy for the state of Kerala. Whatever responsibility is given to me I will take it up with all courage and energy," he said at the rally marking the culmination of the Vijay Yatra taken out by BJP state president K Surendran from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, ahead of the April 6 assembly polls.
'Metroman' E Sreedharan on Sunday said he was ready to take up any responsibility given to him by the BJP, which he had recently joined.
Speaking at a rally attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at nearby Shangumugham, Sreedharan said he wanted to utilise his energy for the state of Kerala.
"For the last 67 years I was a government servant. Many people have asked me why I ventured into politics after these many years. For 67 years, I worked as part of many projects for this country."
"I am still energetic and want to utilise my energy for the state of Kerala. Whatever responsibility is given to me I will take it up with all courage and energy," he said at the rally marking the culmination of the Vijay Yatra taken out by BJP state president K Surendran from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, ahead of the April 6 assembly polls. (PTI)
Sunday was an eventful day in all the poll-bound states, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata attacking TMC for letting “corruption flourish”; an Assam BJP minister resigning to join the Congress; and in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah raising the poll pitch.
Here are all the important assembly elections-related updates you need to know today.
DMK leader M K Stalin releases 10-year vision document. He promises to revive economy, improve farming productivity, Agriculture, Health and Education, Urban and rural development. Rs 1000 monthly allowance to homemakers, abolition of manual scavenging are part of the reform plans.
M K Stalin-led DMK released its manifesto on Sunday for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, promising to give Rs 1000 per month to every homemaker with ration card.
Addressing a poll rally in Thiruvananthapuram in poll-bound Kerala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF factions have a healthy competition between them but for doing scams, not for taking Kerala forward. "When UDF comes to power, it commits solar scam and when LDF comes to power, it does Dollar, gold scams," ANI quoted Shah as saying.
"I heard Kerala CM saying that Central agencies are working under political pressure. I want to ask him if the main accused in Dollar & gold smuggling cases were working in his office or not? You should tell people if your govt gave them Rs 3 lakhs per month salary or not," he added.
He further said, "You (Kerala CM) should tell if the CM office put pressure when illegal gold was recovered by the Customs at the airport or not. ED and Customs officers were attacked. Has he conducted a detailed investigation in this case?"
Ten smaller outfits, including the former Member of Parliament, A C Shanmugam-led Puthiya Needhi Katchi, on Sunday extended their support to the AIADMK for the April 6 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the ruling party said.
Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi's N R Dhanapalan, Akila Indiya Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam founder leader N Sethuraman, Pasumpon Desiya Kazhagam leader N Jothi Muthuramalinga Thevar, were among those who promised support to the AIADMK.
Bharatiya Forward Block's Muruganji, Indiya Uzhavar Uzhaipalar party leader Vettavalam K Manigandan, Tamil Maanila Muslim League president S Sheikh Dawood, Inidya Desiya Kudiyarasu Katchi's founder chief C Ambedkar Priyan, Veera Mutharaiyar Munnetra Sangam's KK Selvakumar and Tamil Telugu Desiya Katchi's EVS Ramkumar Naidu were the others who pledged the backing of their respective outfits to the AIADMK. (PTI)
The Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), a constituent of the opposition 'Grand Alliance' in Assam, on Sunday expressed unhappiness over the "slow pace" at which the Congress is moving on several issues of the combine.
The AGM also announced the names of two candidates for constituencies going to polls in the first phase on March 27.
Rajya Sabha MP and AGM president Ajit Bhuyan made public the names of Lachit Bordoloi from Batadroba and Pranab Doley from Bokakhat at a press conference here.
Bhuyan said though there are certain issues within the alliance, but "we are going to work towards strengthening it and there is no question of leaving" as our sole objective is to prevent the BJP from forming government in the state.
"The AGM had asked for four to five seats in the first phase but due to various reasons, the Congress said it had problems, and finally we asked for the Batadroba and Bokakhat constituencies," he said. (PTI)
Addressing the crowd at the BJP's Kerala Vijay Yatra in Shangumugham, Kerala BJP leader E Sreedharan said, "Many people ask me why I entered politics at this age. My answer is -- I worked on many projects for the country. At this age too, I have enough energy to work and I want to use it for the development of Kerala. That's why I joined BJP."
Sharing dais with Sreedharan and Home Minister Amit Shah, state BJP chief K Surendran said, "Only BJP can save Kerala. People here are seeking a change from the corrupt fronts of LDF and Congress. The reformers have dreamed of a Kerala which is not this Kerala."
The party also inducted actors Devan and Radha at the rally. Former bureaucrat K V Balakrishnan also joined the BJP.
(inputs from ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah met representatives of 27 religious mutts across the state at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram.
He also attended the valedictory function for BJP's Kerala Vijay Yatra being held in Shangumugham area of Thiruvananthapuram. 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan was also present at the event.
Launching a fresh tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said he was "peddling lies to mislead the voters" in the poll-bound state.
Banerjee, addressing a rally in Siliguri following her protest march over LPG price hike, said the prime minister made many "empty" promises over the years, and people no longer trust him. She sought to know "why the PM has not yet deposited Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of every citizen, as promised by him before 2014 Lok Sabha polls".
"You have made many empty promises. People will not accept your falsehood every day. We demand you make LPG cylinder affordable to every citizen of the country. You have made LPG cylinders inaccessible for the common man," Banerjee said in her address.
The CM also said that Modi should be "ashamed of his habit of telling lies". "He gives speech in Bangla, but the script in always written in Gujarati, and kept under a transparent sheet of glass before him. He just pretends that he knows Bangla well," she said.
"Your party had vandalised Vidyasagar's bust. Your party dishonoured Birsa Munda. Your party wrongly said Rabindranath Tagore was born in Santiniketan. This shows your depth of knowledge about Bengal and its culture," she said. (PTI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been requested by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to campaign for her in the West Bengal Assembly elections and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha will take a decision on this soon keeping in mind the objective of giving a pushback to the BJP's poll prospects, a senior JMM leader said on Sunday.
The development assumes significance as the JMM is an alliance government with the Congress in Jharkhand and the Sonia Gandhi-led party has tied up with the Left and the Indian Secular Front in West Bengal against the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
In West Bengal, communication keeps happening with Mamata Banerjee as being in neighbouring states, issues are regularly discussed, a senior JMM leader said on condition of anonymity.
"It was our demand that some regions of West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha should have been made part of Jharkhand as they had been part of the movement for the state, but in 2000 the borders that were created, some areas were left out," the leader said.
"As a result, you would see that in West Bengal's tea gardens, a majority of the people are from Jharkhand. So, we do have an influence there," the leader said. (PTI)
Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s electric scooty ride in protest of rising fuel prices, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said while he did not wish anyone to fall, what could he do if “Didi’s scooty is destined to fall in Nandigram” — the seat from which she is contesting the Assembly elections.
The Prime Minister, who addressed a mega rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, said: “When you took over the scooty a few days ago, everyone was praying for your safety. It is good that you did not fall, or you would have made the state where the scooty was manufactured your enemy.”
“You turned your scooty towards Nandigram instead of Bhawanipur. Didi, we want the good of everyone, we do not want anyone to get hurt. But what can I do if the scooty is destined to fall in Nandigram.” Read more
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched his party's campaign for the April 6 Lok Sabha bypoll here and exuded confidence that the party would not only win here, but that the NDA in Tamil Nadu would emerge victorious in the Assembly elections too next month.
Launching his "Vetri Kodi Eandhi Tamizhagam Velvom" (Will Win Tamil Nadu Carrying the flag of victory) campaign from Suseendiram in this district, Shah said he was confident that a coalition government of the NDA will come to power in the state after the April 6 assembly polls.
Addressing reporters, he said, "We have started the campaign to take the BJP's Lotus symbol door-to-door," and appealed to the public and the voters to elect Radhakrishnan as the party "needs him."
"I am sure about the outcome (of the polls), looking at the excitement of the people", both in Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat as well in the Assembly polls, he said, implying that the NDA would emerge victorious in the hustings.
"I am confident that a coalition government of AIADMK-BJP-PMK will be formed (after the Assembly polls)," he added. (PTI)
Shri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Sunday claimed he has sought a BJP ticket to contest the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat and said this would be his final attempt to enter active politics. "I am aspiring to become an MP from Belagavi and have sought a ticket from the BJP," Muthalik told PTI.
Muthalik had sought a BJP ticket from the state unit in February and had met senior BJP and RSS leaders in this regard.
He said this would be his final attempt to get into active politics. "This is my last chance to get into electoral politics because I am 66 now. If I miss the opportunity, which seems unlikely, I will not contest elections in future," he said. (PTI)
BJP leader and MP Gautam Gambhir, who is likely to join party's campaign in poll-bound West Bengal, Sunday said he always felt at home in the state.
Gambhir said he felt "sad and dejected" over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks that the BJP was a party of "outsiders" and it had no place in the state. "Not even for a brief moment was I made to feel that I was an outsider and was not born or brought up in Kolkata or anywhere else in Bengal, that I had not attended Presidency College or Jadavpur University or that I did not have egg rolls from Park Street while growing up."
"I always felt like a part of this huge and happy family which showered me with love and blessings every time I visited the state," the former cricketer said.
Gambhir, under whose captaincy Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won two finals of the IPL, has a fan following among the youth of the state where polls for 294 assembly seats will begin on March 27.
The fate of the West Bengal people and the state cannot be decided by bombs and bullets, Gambhir said expressing concern over "incessant and mindless" killings of political workers and violent clashes between parties. (PTI)
Leading a march in Siliguri against the LPG hike, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said: 'Khela hobe'. I am ready to play one-on-one... If they (BJP) want to buy votes, take the money and cast your vote for TMC. (ANI)
Retorting PM Modi's remark at Brigade Ground where he questioned women's security in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri said: "Poribortan (change) will happen in Delhi, not in Bengal. He (PM Modi) said there is no women security in Bengal but look at UP, Bihar and other states. Women are safe in Bengal." (ANI)