Politics

A former prime minister, four union ministers and several high-profile personalities are fielded in the high-stake contest on 95 constituencies across 11 states.

Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the BJP's strategy to divide the nation on the basis of religion is not nationalism. "You are just diverting people's attention from key issues," he said.

Fourteen of the 28 constituencies in the state will vote in the second phase on Thursday. The BJP and the Congress each currently holds six of these and the JD(S) holds the other two.

The INLD has fielded Rampal Valmiki from Ambala, Dharamvir Pada from Karnal, Surender Chikara from Sonepat; Suresh Kauth from Hisar; and, Mahender Singh Chauhan from Faridabad.

Bharti also targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying by choosing to contest elections from Amethi and Wayanad, he has accepted defeat.

In March, the MLAs had expressed their appreciation for developmental works initiated by the NDPP government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

The BJP has also moved the Election Commission, seeking action against Sidhu for allegedly inflaming communal passion. The party demanded that Sidhu be immediately removed from the Congress' list of star campaigners.

Ramon Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh said that Congress' proposal to setup a separate ministry for potable water won’t address water scarcity.

Addressing a poll rally here in Chhattisgarh, PM Narendra Modi said the India of today carries out surgical and air strikes across the border and shoots down satellite in space due to the strength of 'one vote' of the people.

Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh offered prayers at the famous Hanuman Setu temple before embarking on the roadshow.

The budget of political parties for online promotion is growing exponentially with a surge in smartphone sales in the last five years, and a cut-throat competition among telecom operators to offer cheap data packs.

Kanhaiya Kumar also slammed the Niti Aayog for acting as a government mouthpiece and warned that the space for dissent in the country is being threatened.

Hitting at the Sangh forces, the AICC chief alleged the country is now under attack from the BJP-RSS and there was an ideological fight going on between the BJP on one side and Congress on the other.

The SP and BSP leaders are addressing public meetings to communicate that the BJP wants to push back historically oppressed and backward communities in Uttar Pradesh.

TEPCO estimates it will take some two years to remove 566 units of nuclear fuel, most of which are already spent.

Over 500 temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman and Rama have mushroomed in Purulia in the past year and the Trinamool Congress links it to the shift in voting patterns.