EC for re-poll in 25 booths in Bihar
Patna: Election officials have recommended re-poll at 25 polling stations in Patliputra and Munger lok Sabha constituency which had gone to polls on April 17. Of the 25 polling stations, 13 are in Patliputra and 12 are in Munger constituency, official sources said. While scuffle was reported at four polling stations, EVM was broken at one. The rest are such where replacement of faulty EVMs took much time and hampered voting
Cong hits back at Jaitley’s ‘reader’ jibe
New Delhi: India does not need “a bleeder or a pleader” as PM, said Congress on Saturday, hitting back at BJP leaders Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley for dubbing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “just a reader and not a leader”. Congress spokesperson Shashi Tharoor also questioned Jaitley’s attack on Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and said why the BJP was targeting a “private individual”, who is neither a member of a political party nor a candidate in this lok Sabha polls. Tharoor’s remark came after Jaitley posted stinging remarks on his blog against Singh and Vadra.
BJP demands EC probe against BJD
Bhubaneshwar: Accusing ruling BJD of misusing Government machinery and pumping huge money during elections in Odisha, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra has demanded a thorough probe by the Election Commission into the matter and role of officials in the whole process. “Sensing an anti-BJD mood and disenchantment among voters, the ruling party in a desperate bid to influence the people indulged in gross misuse of Government machinery and distributed huge money,” Mohapatra told reporters here.
lalu Prasad to face EC ire
Patna: The Kisanganj district administration on Saturday took strong exception to RJD president lalu Prasad allegedly threatening the officer in-charge of a police station for seizure of campaign vehicle of Congress candidate and sought direction of Election Commission to register a case against RJD chief. Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar said that the RJD president, while addressing an election meeting at Thakurganj used threatening words for the officer in-charge of Thakurganj police station for seizure of campaign vehicle of Congress candidate Asrarul Haque last night.
EC notice to Assam Minister
Assam: Election Commission has issued showcause notice to Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly making communal remarks in an election rally against BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Sarma, who is State Health and Family Welfare, made some “objectionable remarks” during an election rally in Tezpur on March 29, an official release on Saturday said. Sarma is also the State Education Minister and has been asked to respond by Monday to the notice.
‘No top role for Priyanka in Cong’
New Delhi: With Sonia and Rahul Gandhi at the top, the Congress has “no vacancy” for a leadership role, party leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said amid speculation that Priyanka Gandhi could assume a bigger responsibility in the organisation.
EC mum over Azam’s allegations
Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India on Saturday refused to be drawn into a controversy over allegations levelled by the Samajwadi Party that the poll watchdog was “biased” towards the BJP.