149 of 1,107 Booths In Bhubaneswar Sensitive; Candidates' Security Top Priority, Says CP

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149 of 1,107 Booths In Bhubaneswar Sensitive; Candidates' Security Top Priori...

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda on Monday said security of MP and MLA candidates will be given top priority during the electioneering in the capital city.

Bhubaneswar, Mar 25: Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda on Monday said security of MP and MLA candidates will be given top priority during the electioneering in the capital city.

The police have identified 149 of a total of 1,107 booths as sensitive ones, he said.

Panda stated this after chairing a meeting of police officers of the Bhubaneswar Urban Police Department (UPD) where various issues relating to the security of candidates and voters and smooth voting were discussed.

Additional Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar DCP, all four ACPs, and IICs of all police stations were present.

The Commissioner directed all IICs to intensify enforcement drive in their jurisdiction in the coming days.

Panda also said all eyes will be on criminals. Presently, a non-bailable warrant has been issued against 284 criminals. As many as 403 licensed guns have been deposited. 912 others have been advised to deposit their guns with the police. Cases under 110 have been slapped against 56 persons.

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Political parties in UP tweak campaign strategy as mercury soars

by Swati Sucharita

Lucknow, Apri 29: With temperatures rising menacingly with every passing day, various political parties have tweaked their campaign style and strategy to protect their workers and voters from the heat.

Lucknow recorded 42 degrees Celsius on Sunday and there is no respite in sight from the heatwave in the near future.

BJP MLA from Sarojini Nagar in Lucknow, Rajeshwar Singh, said, “We are not campaigning between 12 noon and 4 p.m. We connect with voters in door-to-door meetings between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and in the evening, we do meetings in small groups. Most of the organisational meetings at the ward level are held indoors in the afternoon.”

He further said, “Our focus is on increasing the voter turnout in the state capital. With the district administration deciding to make polling stations in 14 high-rise buildings, the party is knocking at every door appealing to voters to cast their votes as a responsible citizen of the country.”

Praveen Garg, media in charge of BJP, said, “We carry out door-to-door visits in morning hours between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thereafter, we do our organisation meetings to chalk out strategies and again in the evening, we do ‘nukkad sabha’ and public meetings in small groups.”

“We have made adequate arrangements for packaged drinking water for our party workers on Monday when Rajnath Singh files his nomination in which several thousand people will take part in the procession from the state BJP office to the Collectorate,” Garg added.

The Samajwadi Party leaders also have made changes in their timings to connect with people as they drum up support for their sitting MLA Ravidas Mehrotra who has been fielded against Rajnath Singh from Lucknow Lok Sabha seat.

“We planned a month-long connect with our voters that began on April 18 and ends on May 18. We are doing a door-to-door campaign between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. In the afternoon, we hold meetings in community halls. Between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., we try to reach out to voters by organising small meetings,” said Gaurav Singh Yadav, media in-charge, Samajwadi Party, Lucknow Lok Sabha seat.

(IANS)

PM Modi says 'pride of Odisha under threat'

by Swati Sucharita

Bhubaneswar, Apr 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should get an opportunity to serve Odisha.

The Prime Minister said the pride and dignity of Odisha is being destroyed, and the BJP should be given a chance to serve the state.

PM Modi said this during an interview with a news channel, while responding to a question related to Odisha.

Speaking on the BJP's relationship with BJD in Odisha, PM Modi said: "The BJD has given support to us at the Centre on the basis of issues. There are many other parties who have provided us issue-based support too."

PM Modi also said that the BJP has no truck with the BJD in Odisha.

"The pride of Odisha and Odia language is at stake. I don't think Odia people will tolerate this for a long time. Odisha has so many resources that it could have become the richest state in the country today," PM Modi added.

He said every Odia has the aspiration regarding Odisha to become the richest state.

Notably, Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results will be out on June 4.

(IANS)

NTR Jr bonds with Ranbir-Alia, Hrithik-Saba over dinner

by Manisha Das

Mumbai, April 29: Amid his ongoing 'War 2' shoot in Mumbai alongside Hrithik Roshan, actor NTR Jr has been making sure to bond with other members of Bollywood as well.

On Sunday night, NTR Jr and his wife Lakshmi Pranathi met with couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt and filmmakers Karan Johar and Ayan Mukerji. Hrithik also joined them with his girlfriend Saba Azad.
They all met over a casual and intimate dinner.

In the visuals captured by the paps, Ranbir and NTR Jr could be seen stepping out of a black SUV. Before entering the restaurant's premises, they looked behind and waited for Ranbir's wife Alia to join them. Following her closely in the other car were filmmakers Karan Johar and Ayan Mukerji.

Hrithik and Saba joined them later. They walked hand-in-hand as they entered the venue.

The stars opted for casual wear and kept it simple. Ranbir and NTR Jr were seen twinning in black. Karan also opted for black. Alia wore an off-shoulder yellow dress, exuding summer vibes.

This is the first time that Karan and NTR Jr were spotted since Karan announced he has got the north theatrical distribution rights for the latter's 'Devara'.

Earlier this month, Karan took to Instagram and announced his partnership with the team of 'Devara'. He revealed that Dharma Productions and AA Films have acquired the rights for the North India theatrical distribution of 'Devara' that stars NTR Jr along with Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan in pivotal roles.

"A mass hurricane of grandeur entertainment is closer than ever before. Honoured and extremely grateful to be a part of - Man of Masses Jr NTR's Devara. We are extremely thrilled and proud to announce our partnership for the north theatrical distribution rights for the next big cinematic experience in Indian cinema," he wrote, adding a picture from his meeting with NTR Jr.

Team 'Devara' also confirmed the same on their social media stating, "Happy to join forces with the dynamic distributors of our country, Karan Johar and AA Films for the North India theatrical distribution of #Devara! Looking forward to a thunderous release on 10th October 2024!"