Voting Begins In Maharashtra, Haryana, Terror Attack Threat In Varanasi & Other Top Stories

Voting Begins In Maharashtra, Haryana, Bypolls For 2 Lok Sabha And 51 Assembly Seats

After a long spell of intense electioneering, voting for the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections has begun. While the BJP, which rules both the states, will look to retain power, the Opposition Congress would hope to win back people’s trust after the debacle in Lok Sabha elections. Besides this, by-elections will also be held for two Lok Sabha constituencies and 51 Assembly elections spread across 18 states. In Maharashtra BJP-Shiv Sena led ‘Mahayuti’ alliance is up against the ‘Maha-agadhi’ coalition led by the Congress and the NCP. Read more…

PM Modi Urges Voters To 'Enrich Festival of Democracy' As Polling Begins In Assembly Elections, Bypolls

As polling began for Maharashtra, Haryana assembly elections as well as bypolls across 18 states on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to cast vote and "enrich the festival of democracy".  "Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers," the prime minister wrote on Twitter. Read more…

Bypolls: Voting In 2 Lok Sabha Constituencies, 51 Assembly Seats Across 18 States Begins

Bypolls in as many as 51 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 18 states started on Monday. The BJP and its allies had nearly 30 of these assembly seats, while the Congress had won 12 and the rest were with regional parties. Among the states ruled by the BJP and its allies, the maximum 11 seats will have bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, followed by six in Gujarat, five in Bihar, four in Assam and two each in Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Read more…

Ayodhya Case Verdict: UP Under Terror Attack Threat, Alert In Varanasi, Mathura

Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi and other cities in has been put on alert after intelligence agencies warned of possible terror attacks in view of the upcoming verdict in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case. According to media reports, the whole state of Uttar Pradesh has been put on alert after these inputs. Security has been beefed up in places of religious importance like Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura as well as police station and training centres in the state. Read more…

Syria Crisis: Clashes Amid Efforts For Kurd Pullout From Proposed ‘Safe Zone’

Kurdish-led fighters and Turkish-backed forces clashed sporadically Sunday in northeastern Syria amid efforts to work out a Kurdish evacuation from a besieged border town, the first pull-back under the terms of a US-brokered cease-fire. Turkey said one of its soldiers was killed in the day’s violence. Both sides accuse each other of repeatedly violating the three-day old cease-fire. Read more…