Bypolls of 5 assembly seats in Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab and Bengal on June 19
The Election Commission has announced assembly by-polls for five constituencies across four states.These constituencies include Kadi and Visavadar in Gujarat; Nilambur in Kerala; Ludhiana West in Punjab; and Kaliganj in West Bengal.The Election Commission also shared the reason behind the by-elections on these seats.
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With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in all five constituencies.The voting for all five assembly seats is scheduled for June 19. The counting of votes will be held on June 23.For these by-polls, the Commission has decided to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in all polling stations.Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available to ensure a smooth electoral process.Must Watch
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The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Rahul Gandhi dismissing mandate of people as they rejected him: Fadnavis
On Saturday, Gandhi, in an article published in several newspapers and in posts on X, claimed the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were a 'blueprint for rigging democracy' and alleged this 'match-fixing' would next happen in Bihar. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha is preparing his excuses for future defeats in the upcoming assembly elections, including Bihar, Fadnavis said in his articles published in the Indian Express and Marathi daily Loksatta. Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, instead of introspecting on the defeat in the 2024 state assembly polls, has been repudiating the mandate given by the people because they rejected him. In a post on X, Gandhi outlined the alleged electoral irregularities in a stepwise manner — fake voters are added, voter turnout is inflated, bogus voting is facilitated, and evidence is subsequently hidden. The Election Commission rejected the charge, saying defaming the poll panel after an unfavourable verdict is absolutely absurd. In response to Gandhi's claims, Fadnavis in his article said the Congress leader has been constantly 'insulting' the democratic process and the people's mandate. 'The people have rejected Rahul Gandhi, and in retaliation, he is rejecting the people and their mandate,' the BJP leader charged. ' It would be more prudent to accept defeat for once and introspect on where you are going wrong, where your connection with the people is lacking, and what you should do about it,' he said. The Congress leader is preparing his excuses for future defeats in the upcoming assembly polls, including Bihar, he charged. The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, won the 2024 Maharashtra polls with a thumping majority, defeating the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). Fadnavis said, 'As far as the Maharashtra election is concerned, it was not fundamentally a contest between the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi. There was another factor: The Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. What was this 'todo' (break) campaign, established under the name of 'jodo' (unite), doing?' It was creating misconceptions among the public against all of the country's constitutional institutions, thereby inciting them to fight against the nation itself. This includes the judiciary and the Election Commission, he claimed. From 1950 until a new law was enacted, the (previous) Congress governments directly appointed the Chief Election Commissioner, Fadnavis said. Out of 26 commissioners to date, 25 were directly appointed by the central government. For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi established a committee that includes the leader of the opposition or the leader of the largest political party (in the opposition), he noted. Referring to Gandhi's objection to an increase in the number of electors in the 2024 Maharashtra polls whom he called 'bogus voters', Fadnavis said the number of young voters is constantly increasing. 'Between 2014 and 2019, 63 lakh new voters were added; from 2009 to 2014, 75 lakh new voters were added; and from 2004 to 2009, 1 crore new voters were added. This means that nothing extraordinary happened in 2024,' he said. In 2004, 5 per cent more in the assembly elections than in the Lok Sabha polls. In 2009, 4 per cent more; in 2014, 3 per cent more; in 2019, 1 per cent more; and in 2024, 4 per cent more. So again, nothing new happened in 2024, the CM said. 'The claim that the voting percentage suddenly increased is a huge joke. Is Rahul Gandhi unaware that 5 pm to 6 pm is also a polling hour, and everyone present in the queue at the booth by 6 pm is allowed to cast their vote?' he asked. In the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout figure given at 5 pm was 60.96 per cent, which was finalised at 66.71 per cent the next day. The increase was 5.75 per cent. 'But are you going to hide that fact because you won that election?' Fadnavis said. Previously, the final voting figures would come late at night; now, the 5 pm figure is released, and the final figure comes the next day, he said. The claim that the NDA won where the voter percentage increased at the last moment is 'even more laughable,' Fadnavis said. 'Rahul Gandhi gave the example of Kamthi (assembly seat in Maharashtra). But I will provide the examples which he did not. In Madha, there was an 18 per cent increase, where the Sharad Pawar group's candidate won. In Wani, a 13 per cent increase, where the Uddhav Thackeray group's candidate won. In Shrirampur, a 12 per cent increase, where the Congress won,' he said. Fadnavis said Rahul Gandhi has been constantly 'insulting' the democratic process and the people's mandate. 'The people have rejected Rahul Gandhi, and in retaliation, he is rejecting the people and their mandate,' he said. 'This will only push the Congress party further into a ditch. He needs to introspect on why his own party's MLAs make statements challenging anyone to get an appointment with him within a day. He must be mindful of which direction he is taking the country and what poison he is spreading by constantly raising doubts about the democratic process and constitutional institutions,' the CM said. Fadnavis said the defeat in Maharashtra has hurt Gandhi and his allies. 'But if you continue to insult the mandate of Maharashtra's farmers, Ladki Bahin (beloved sisters), common people, and all its citizens in this manner, the people of Maharashtra will never forgive you,' he added. PTI MR GK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi dismissing mandate of people as they rejected him: Fadnavis
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi , instead of introspecting on the defeat in the 2024 state assembly polls, has been repudiating the mandate given by the people because they rejected leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha is preparing his excuses for future defeats in the upcoming assembly elections, including Bihar, Fadnavis said in his articles published in the Indian Express and Marathi daily Saturday, Gandhi, in an article published in several newspapers and in posts on X, claimed the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were a "blueprint for rigging democracy" and alleged this "match-fixing" would next happen in a post on X, Gandhi outlined the alleged electoral irregularities in a stepwise manner - fake voters are added, voter turnout is inflated, bogus voting is facilitated, and evidence is subsequently Election Commission rejected the charge, saying defaming the poll panel after an unfavourable verdict is absolutely response to Gandhi's claims, Fadnavis in his article said the Congress leader has been constantly "insulting" the democratic process and the people's mandate."The people have rejected Rahul Gandhi, and in retaliation, he is rejecting the people and their mandate," the BJP leader charged." It would be more prudent to accept defeat for once and introspect on where you are going wrong, where your connection with the people is lacking, and what you should do about it," he Congress leader is preparing his excuses for future defeats in the upcoming assembly polls, including Bihar, he Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, won the 2024 Maharashtra polls with a thumping majority, defeating the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).Fadnavis said, "As far as the Maharashtra election is concerned, it was not fundamentally a contest between the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi. There was another factor: The Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. What was this 'todo' (break) campaign, established under the name of "jodo" (unite), doing?"It was creating misconceptions among the public against all of the country's constitutional institutions, thereby inciting them to fight against the nation itself. This includes the judiciary and the Election Commission, he 1950 until a new law was enacted, the (previous) Congress governments directly appointed the Chief Election Commissioner, Fadnavis of 26 commissioners to date, 25 were directly appointed by the central government. For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi established a committee that includes the leader of the opposition or the leader of the largest political party (in the opposition), he to Gandhi's objection to an increase in the number of electors in the 2024 Maharashtra polls whom he called "bogus voters", Fadnavis said the number of young voters is constantly increasing."Between 2014 and 2019, 63 lakh new voters were added; from 2009 to 2014, 75 lakh new voters were added; and from 2004 to 2009, 1 crore new voters were added. This means that nothing extraordinary happened in 2024," he 2004, 5 per cent more in the assembly elections than in the Lok Sabha polls. In 2009, 4 per cent more; in 2014, 3 per cent more; in 2019, 1 per cent more; and in 2024, 4 per cent more. So again, nothing new happened in 2024, the CM said."The claim that the voting percentage suddenly increased is a huge joke. Is Rahul Gandhi unaware that 5 pm to 6 pm is also a polling hour, and everyone present in the queue at the booth by 6 pm is allowed to cast their vote?" he the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout figure given at 5 pm was 60.96 per cent, which was finalised at 66.71 per cent the next day. The increase was 5.75 per cent. "But are you going to hide that fact because you won that election?" Fadnavis the final voting figures would come late at night; now, the 5 pm figure is released, and the final figure comes the next day, he claim that the NDA won where the voter percentage increased at the last moment is "even more laughable," Fadnavis said."Rahul Gandhi gave the example of Kamthi (assembly seat in Maharashtra). But I will provide the examples which he did not. In Madha, there was an 18 per cent increase, where the Sharad Pawar group's candidate won. In Wani, a 13 per cent increase, where the Uddhav Thackeray group's candidate won. In Shrirampur, a 12 per cent increase, where the Congress won," he said Rahul Gandhi has been constantly "insulting" the democratic process and the people's mandate."The people have rejected Rahul Gandhi, and in retaliation, he is rejecting the people and their mandate," he said."This will only push the Congress party further into a ditch. He needs to introspect on why his own party's MLAs make statements challenging anyone to get an appointment with him within a day. He must be mindful of which direction he is taking the country and what poison he is spreading by constantly raising doubts about the democratic process and constitutional institutions," the CM said the defeat in Maharashtra has hurt Gandhi and his allies."But if you continue to insult the mandate of Maharashtra's farmers, Ladki Bahin (beloved sisters), common people, and all its citizens in this manner, the people of Maharashtra will never forgive you," he added.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
'Article vs Article': Devendra Fadnavis Responds To Rahul Gandhi's Poll Rigging Claim
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Devendra Fadnavis has responded to Rahul Gandhi's allegations of electoral fraud in Maharashtra. He criticized Mr Gandhi for questioning the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Mr Fadnavis said that Mr Gandhi is a leader "who cannot accept failure". Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he claimed "match-fixing" in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections and said the "one whom the public rejects, rejects the mandate." His response comes a day after Mr Gandhi, in an op-ed for The Indian Express, questioned the way the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in which the alliance of the Congress, the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena suffered a humiliating defeat, were conducted. "If you cannot convince people, then confuse them. This is the policy that Rahul Gandhi is adopting," Mr Fadnavis wrote in a Marathi daily on Sunday, a day after he said he would respond to the "article with an article". He said the Congress has been rejected by the people, which is why they are now tarnishing the image of democracy by blaming the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). "It has now become a habit for the opposition parties to raise questions on the EVM in every election in Maharashtra. All petitions against the EVM have been dismissed by the Supreme Court," the senior BJP leader wrote. Mr Fadnavis also said that Mr Gandhi is a leader "who cannot accept failure". "Are EVMs right in the elections in which the Congress government wins?" he asked. "Respect the mandate. The public is watching everyone. Now, excuses will not work, and the accountability will be fixed," he concluded. The alliance of the Congress, Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena, known as the Maha Vikas Aghadi, managed to win only 46 of the state's 288 assembly seats between them in the November 20 elections. The BJP-led alliance, Mahayuti, which comprised the then Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, secured 235 seats. The BJP alone won 132 seats, its best performance in the state's history. What Rahul Gandhi Said On Maharashtra Polls Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, outlined the alleged electoral irregularities in the Maharashtra polls in a five-step manner. "Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission, Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll, Step 3: Inflate voter turnout, Step 4: Target the bogus voting exactly where BJP needs to win, Step 5: Hide the evidence," Mr Gandhi wrote in a post on X that accompanied a cutout of his June 7 op-ed. How to steal an election? Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy. My article shows how this happened, step by step: Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll Step 3: Inflate voter… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 7, 2025 In the article, the Congress MP said he has "doubted the fairness of Indian elections, not every time, not everywhere, but often enough". "I am not talking of small-scale cheating, but of industrial-scale rigging involving the capture of our national institutions," he wrote. "But if some earlier election outcomes seemed odd, the outcome of the 2024 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections is glaringly strange. The scale of rigging was so desperate that, despite all efforts to conceal it, tell-tale evidence has emerged from official statistics, without reliance on any nonofficial source, revealing a step-by-step playbook," he added. He said that "rigging is like match-fixing - the fixing side might win a game, but irreparable damage is done to institutions and to people's faith in the result." "Match-fixed elections are a poison for any democracy," Mr Gandhi said. Hours after his X post, the Election Commission re-released a document it had issued in April this year and said his allegations are "completely absurd".
