Voting for eight Lok Sabha seats begins in UP

by Manisha Das

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections began on Friday in Uttar Pradesh's eight parliamentary constituencies.

Lucknow, April 26: Polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections began on Friday in Uttar Pradesh's eight parliamentary constituencies.

The seats where polling is underway include Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura and Amroha.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance will be on test in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Uttar Pradesh in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election.

The BJP-RLD alliance is striving for total dominance in the region that has been its stronghold while the SP-Congress have moved in its legion of leaders and cadres to breach the saffron fort.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won seven of these seats -- Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura. The Bahujan Samaj Party managed to win the Amroha seat.

The BJP has fortified its position in the 2024 Lok Sabha election by allying with the RLD that wields political influence over Jats. Among the eight seats, the BJP has allotted Baghpat to the RLD.

To regain lost ground, the SP has tied up with the Congress and the alliance is working on the Muslim-OBC formula.

The SP has fielded candidates on Meerut, Baghpat, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Aligarh seats, leaving Amroha, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad and Mathura to the Congress.

The BSP has decided to go solo and fielded upper caste, Muslim and OBC candidates on the eight seats.

The key candidates in the second phase include former Union minister Mahesh Sharma (BJP), who is seeking a third term from Gautam Buddha Nagar, 'Ramayan' fame actor Arun Govil (BJP) in Meerut, and actress Hema Malini, who is seeking a third term on the BJP ticket from Mathura.

Other key contestants include former Uttar Pradesh minister Atul Garg (BJP) in Ghaziabad, former mayor Sunita Verma (SP) in Meerut seat and sitting MP Danish Ali (Congress) in Amroha.

(IANS)

Naveen Patnaik Govt Has Reached Its Expiry Date: Dharmendra Pradhan's Jibe At BJD

by Hemanta Pande

Jharsuguda, May 6 : Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday launched a scathing attack on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying that the BJD government has reached its expiry date and BJP's government will be formed in the state.

"Odisha is a state of possibilities...PM Modi has pledged to better the lives of the poor. The govt here has reached its expiry date. BJP's govt will be formed in Odisha on June 10," he said.

Further, he attacked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik by stating that despite making several promises to the people of Odisha, he failed to provide them with basic necessities such as drinking water and water for irrigation.

"He (Naveen Patnaik) showed many dreams to the people of Odisha but he could not even provide drinking water & water for irrigation to them. About 40 per cent of children do not study past matriculation here. PM Modi has raised hope for the poor and instilled confidence in women," he said.

Pradhan's comments come after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that "June 4 is the expiry date of the BJD government, saying that "BJP is daydreaming about forming government in Odisha."

Sharing a video on X, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) media coordinator Saurabh Srivastava wrote, "BJP daydreaming about forming a government in Odisha, says CM Naveen Patnaik."

Earlier in the day, while addressing a public rally in Behrampur, PM Modi exuded confidence in the BJP forming a "double engine government" in Odisha for the first time and stated that he is glad to be present in the pious land of Lord Jagannath.

"June 4 is the expiry date of the BJD government... On June 4, BJP's CM face will be announced. On June 10, the swearing-in ceremony of BJP's CM will take place, in Bhubaneswar. Today, I am here to invite all of you to the swearing-in ceremony of BJP's CM," he said.

Also Read: 'BJP CM will take oath in Odisha on June 10', roars PM Modi at Berhampur rally

The state of Odisha will hold Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections in four phases from May 13 to June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.

In the 2019 Assembly election, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won 112 out of 146 seats, while Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 23 seats and Congress won 9.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won the majority of seats in the state, while the BJP and the Congress brought up the rear. The BJD won 12 seats, the BJP finished a close second at 8, and the Congress bagged just a lone seat. (ANI)

Odisha Reeling Under Heat Wave, Mercury Breaches 42°C At 13 Places

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, May 6: Odisha continued to reel under heat wave conditions as the mercury level on Monday breached 42 degree Celsius at 13 places in the State.

According to the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre, Balangir was the hottest place in the state today with a maximum temperature of 44.5 degree Celsius.

Balangir was followed by Titlagarh at 44 degree Celsius, Boudh at 43.5 degree Celsius, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur each at 43.4 degree Celsius, Bhawanipatna and Bargarh each at 43 degree Celsius.

While Sundargarh recorded 42.9 degree Celsius, the maximum temperature was 42.6 degree Celsius at Rourkela, 42.5 degree Celsius at Malkangiri, 42.3 degree Celsius at Sonepur, 42.1 degree Celsius at Angul and 42 degree Celsius at Hirakud.

The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 39.8 degree Celsius and 37.2 degree Celsius, respectively.

Read More Odisha News

Naveen’s Close Aide VK Pandian Throws Open Challenge To PM Modi

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, May 6: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will have its own government in Odisha on June 10, giving an indication that the Naveen Patnaik-led regional Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will be voted out of power, — BJD’s key strategist V Karthikeyan Pandian countered his statement and said, “Naveen Patnaik will be sworn-in as CM of the state for a record sixth term on June 9.”

The rare slugfest between PM Modi and Pandian created flutters in political circles. Curious people began discussing among themselves as to whose assertion was stronger.

While many maintained that the Prime Minister Modi cannot make such a big assertion without having clear understanding of the ground situation as it would cost him his reputation, the others who have been keeping a close watch on the bureaucrat-turned politician, vouched that the latter cannot go wrong as all his previous articulations have proved right.

“Naveen Patnaik will take oath as the chief minister of Odisha for the sixth consecutive time between 11.30 am to 1.30 pm on June 9," Pandian said on Monday afternoon.

At two separate meetings - Berhampur and Nabarangpur in Odisha, the PM on Monday said, “On June 4, BJP will emerge victorious in Odisha Legislative Assembly polls. On June 6, we will name our Odisha chief minister candidate and on June 10, our CM will take oath of office.”