
Reduce number of voters per polling booth for local body elections: V.D. Satheesan
Mr. Satheesan placed the demands and apprehensions of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) regarding the arrangements for the elections at a meeting with A. Shajahan, State Election Commissioner and Chairman of the State Delimitation Commission, here on Wednesday.
Mr. Satheesan urged the State Election Commission to come up practical solutions in the matter of the polling booths. The number of voters per booth needs to be revised from from 1,300 to 1,100 in the panchayats and from 1,600 to 1,300 in municipalities. Since each voter has to cast three votes, large numbers of voters per booth would create problems, Mr. Satheesan said.
There are also complaints that, even after delimitation, voters would be forced to travel more than eight km to access polling booths. The Commission should make arrangements for multiple booths in such locations, he said.
The UDF also demanded the Commission to rectify anomalies and guideline violations in the draft notifications on ward delimitation in local bodies.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
18 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Explained: What is the new Rohith Vemula Bill 2025 proposed in Karnataka?
The Karnataka government is set to introduce a bill named after Rohith Vemula, the Dalit PhD scholar who died by suicide in 2016, to tackle caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions. The proposed legislation, titled 'The Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice)(Right to Education and Dignity) Bill, 2025', is expected to be tabled in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the legislature. What is Karnataka's Rohith Vemula Bill? According to the draft, the Bill seeks to 'prevent exclusion or injustice and to safeguard the right to education and dignity for the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and minorities' across public, private, and deemed universities in Karnataka, The Indian Express reported. What penalties does the Bill propose? The draft legislation makes cast discrimination a non-bailable and cognisable offence. It provides for strict penalties for individuals who commit or abet acts of discrimination. -A first-time offence will attract one year of imprisonment and a ₹10,000 fine, with courts empowered to award compensation up to ₹1 lakh to the victim. -A repeat offence will invite a three-year jail term along with a ₹1 lakh fine. -Institutions found violating inclusivity provisions — such as not being open to all castes, creeds, or genders — may face similar penalties and loss of government grants or financial aid. Why is the Bill named after Rohith Vemula? Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar from the University of Hyderabad, died by suicide in January 2016, alleging caste-based discrimination in his suicide note. His death triggered national outrage and debates on the marginalisation of Dalit students in Indian universities. In April this year, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging the state to bring legislation in Vemula's name to combat caste prejudice in educational settings. The proposal was also a promise in the Congress manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly elections. What is the political controversy around the Bill? As Karnataka moves forward with the Bill, political tensions have escalated in neighbouring Telangana. Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana president N Ramchander Rao has issued a legal notice to state Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka for alleging Rao's involvement in Vemula's suicide. On Tuesday, Rao demanded an unconditional apology within three days and threatened criminal proceedings and a ₹25 lakh defamation suit if the demand is not met. The notice called Vikramarka's remarks 'ex-facie defamatory' and said that Telangana Police had found no evidence of Rao's involvement, having cleared him and others in a closure report filed last year. What are the Congress and BJP saying? The Congress criticised Rao's elevation as Telangana BJP chief on July 1, calling it a reward for those who act against Dalits and Adivasis. On July 11, Deputy CM Vikramarka recalled the 2016 incident, alleging that Rao had visited the university with supporters to pressurise the administration into acting against Dalit students of the Ambedkar Students' Association. The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, is defending Rao and accusing Congress leaders of false and malicious accusations, pointing to the Telangana Police's clean chit in the case. Rao, a senior advocate and ABVP veteran, has denied all allegations. (With agency inputs)


Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ravi Kishan birthday special: From Rs.500 in his pocket to becoming Bhojpuri superstar and MP, his journey inspires all
On the occasion of 's birthday, here's a look at his inspiring journey. From running away to Mumbai with just ₹500 to becoming a Bhojpuri superstar and Member of Parliament, Ravi Kishan's story is a true example of hard work and determination. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan Bhojpuri superstar and Member of Parliament, Ravi Kishan, who celebrates his birthday on July 17. Ravi faced a lot of struggles in his early life. At the age of 17, he ran away from home with just Rs.500 in his pocket to chase his dreams of becoming an actor in Mumbai. He had no support from the film industry and began his journey by living in a small chawl, sharing space with several people and barely managing to survive. His struggling days His initial days in the film industry were full of hardship. His first film role earned him just ₹5000, and the movie did not even do well. When he asked the producer for his payment, the producer insulted him and said he should be grateful for even being included in the film. He also threatened to reduce his screen time. These kinds of discouragements did not break Ravi Kishan's spirit. He kept pushing forward and soon found his breakthrough in the industry, where he became a household name. In fact, many people started calling him the 'Amitabh Bachchan of Bhojpuri cinema' because of his stardom and popularity. Over the years, Ravi Kishan worked in not just Bhojpuri films, but also in Bollywood, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil movies. Apart from films, he also gained attention through reality TV shows like Bigg Boss Season 1 in 2006 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 5 in 2012. He even hosted several television shows. He was elected as the member of parliament Later, Ravi Kishan entered politics. He first contested elections in 2014 with the Congress party but did not win and got only a small percentage of votes. In 2017, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2019, he was elected as the Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, with a huge winning margin of over 3 lakh votes. His transition from cinema to politics was smooth, and he has been actively raising important issues in Parliament. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now About his personal life Today, Ravi Kishan is not only a successful actor and politician but also a wealthy man. According to reports, he owns 11 luxurious properties across cities like Mumbai, Pune, and his hometown. Ravi Kishan married in 1993. The couple has four children, one son and three daughters. His daughter made her Bollywood debut in 2020, and another daughter Ishita joined the Indian Army as an NCC cadet in 2023. His journey has been full of ups and downs, but he has never given up. In 2025, he was even honoured with the Sansad Ratna Award for his performance as a parliamentarian. From starting with ₹500 and no support to becoming a star with multiple properties and political achievements, his story continues to inspire many across the country.


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Political Storm In Chhattisgarh Over Pak Nationals Amid Rohingya-Bangladeshi Deportation Drive
Raipur: The political discourse in Chhattisgarh has intensified following the recent deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals from the state. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has trained his guns at the BJP-led government, demanding transparency and firm action against illegal Rohingya, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani nationals residing in the state. Mr Baghel, invoking a past central government order issued post the Pahalgam attack, has asked how many Pakistani citizens have been identified and deported so far and accused the BJP of using the issue of infiltrators only as an election-time rhetoric. "After Operation Sindoor, the Government of India had ordered the identification and deportation of Pakistani nationals. The BJP, during elections, promised to send back all Rohingya, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. It's been two years now, and not a single one has been deported. Their silence is proof of their inaction," Mr Baghel said, questioning the so-called efficiency of the 'double-engine' government in Chhattisgarh. Responding to the allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma hit back, stating that Mr Baghel should raise the issue within the Assembly if he truly seeks answers. "He was absent yesterday when the PM Awaas Yojna issue was to be discussed. He should raise these concerns in the House, not outside. We have full details about legal Pakistani nationals. As for the illegal ones, investigations are underway," Mr Sharma said. Sources indicate that around 2,000 Pakistani citizens are in India on valid short-and-long-term visas, with over 95 per cent of them being Hindus. Some of them have even applied for Indian citizenship. Post the Pahalgam terror attack, 11 citizens voluntarily returned to Pakistan. While the Congress is pressing for figures and demanding deportation of all Pakistani nationals still in Chhattisgarh, the BJP appears to be relying on procedural processes and urging for discussions within legislative channels. With both sides trading barbs, the issue of illegal foreign nationals has turned into a fresh flashpoint in the state's political arena - one that seems poised to escalate further in the coming days.