LOK SABHA POLLS IN PUNJAB

Lok Sabha Speaker poll: Om Birla vs K Suresh; key points

The Speaker election in the Indian Parliament showcases a dynamic interplay of political strategies and alliances. With the BJP-led NDA government holding a numerical advantage, the Opposition's attempts to rally support for their candidates underscore the competitive nature of the electoral process. Key figures like Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah are pivotal in shaping the unfolding events, while the support announcements from various parties add layers of complexity to the proceedings.

Lok Sabha Session: Meet the millennial MPs of India, who took oath in 18th LS

Expected better poll results in Delhi & Punjab: AAP's Sandeep Pathak

AAP's national general secretary Sandeep Pathak expressed disappointment over the party's performance in Delhi and Punjab in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

ECI gets EVM verification requests for eight Lok Sabha seats

The Election Commission announced on Thursday that it has received eight applications from aggrieved Lok Sabha 2024 candidates requesting EVM/VVPAT memory verification in their constituencies. These applications pertain to eight out of the 543 parliamentary constituencies spread across six states, involving a total of 92 polling stations.

BJP performed better in LS polls in Punjab, but better is not enough, says Sunil Jakhar

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar acknowledged party's improved performance in Lok Sabha polls but emphasised the need for greater success, especially after losing traditional seats. Despite not winning any seats, the BJP's vote share doubled to 18.56% in the state. Jakhar expressed gratitude to party workers and vowed to address shortcomings. In the recent Lok Sabha polls, Congress emerged victorious, dealing blows to AAP, BJP, and SAD in Punjab.

Have been offered ministerial berth as Punjab's progress is NDA govt's 'priority': Ravneet Bittu

BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu, despite losing in the Lok Sabha polls, has been chosen by PM-designate Narendra Modi to join his council of ministers. Punjab's progress is a key focus for the BJP-led NDA government.

Lok Sabha polls: Heartache for BJP in heartland

UP proved to be a Waterloo for BJP, with the party getting a major setback in the state. In initial party reports, there was high anti-incumbency against several sitting MPs in UP and it was expected that BJP would make several changes. The party did make some changes but at large, it relied on sitting MPs who were winning for two consecutive terms. With PM Modi’s guarantee and extensive campaign, BJP believed that it would overcome the anti-incumbency against sitting candidates. However, that didn’t materialise, with the party incurring heavy losses.

Lok Sabha polls: In Punjab, jailed Amritpal and other radicals add a new twist

​The chief among them is Amritpal Singh, the Sikh separatist who headed the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit, and is lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act. However, the most influential among the separatists fighting elections is Simranjit SIngh Mann, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), who had won in the 2019 elections from Sangrur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of the AAP.

Congress' state leaders confident of much better returns for party than projected in exit polls

Congress leaders in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan expressed confidence that their party will perform better than projected in exit polls in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. They attributed the success to internal squabbling in the BJP and the impact of the INDIA bloc. Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah predicted his party would win at least seven seats in the state, while Punjab Assembly leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed 7-9 seats were given to the Congress.

BJP's alliance strategy: Where it is gaining and where it is not

The important takeaway is that the BJP could be emerging as a bigger national party by penetrating in pockets where it had little influence of its own. Going forward, it's possible that the BJP chooses to ally with many smaller parties instead of the big ones in states.

Lok Sabha polls: About 60 drones recovered along India-Pakistan border; highest in Punjab

During the Model Code of Conduct for the ongoing general elections, the BSF has brought down or recovered about 60 drones along the India-Pakistan border. Two China-made drones carrying methamphetamine were found in Punjab's Tarn Taran district. The recovery comes ahead of Punjab's Lok Sabha polls. Since March 16, the BSF has recovered the highest number of drones from the Punjab border, with some intercepted from Rajasthan. The India-Pakistan boundary runs along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat on India's western flank, with Punjab sharing a 553-kilometer-long front with Pakistan.

Palpable anger among farmers against BJP as Punjab heads to polls

The anger against the Modi government is now spilling into elections as all the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of Punjab vote in the last phase of voting on June 1. "Vote for anyone but BJP -- this is our call," says Balwant Singh, state president Bharatiya Kisan Union (Behramke). Singh says the entire farmers morcha has sent word back to the villages to drive away BJP candidates if they come to campaign.

Four-cornered contest builds up in Darbar Sahib city Amritsar

The Congress, which has secured the seat in the last two terms, is represented by incumbent MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has put forward Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, a sitting minister in the state government, as their candidate. On the other hand, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has chosen to field a Hindu candidate, Anil Joshi, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Taranjit Sandhu Samundri, a descendant of a prominent Sikh leader.

Lok Sabha polls: It's pretty much CM Bhagwant Mann versus Khaira of Congress in Punjab's Sangrur

Residents in Sangrur, Punjab, praise the AAP government for offering government jobs without bribes or political connections. The constituency, previously held by Bhagwant Mann, is now contested between AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) in a byelection.

PM Modi, Pawan Singh, Kangana Ranaut to Ravi Kishan: Top Candidates in final phase of LS Polls 2024

Netas join public at home museum of Moosewala amid polls

On the second death anniversary of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala, fans flock to Moosa village in Mansa district, where he was shot dead. The village has turned into a pilgrimage site, with shops selling merchandise featuring Moosewala. Residents have set up shops to sell his merchandise, which remains in high demand. Moosewala has become a cult figure, and his popularity has surged since his death, with fans considering him a "martyr."

BJP will scrap Constitution if voted to power: Rahul Gandhi

Addressing a poll rally in favour of Congress' Ludhiana candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring in Dakha, Rahul Gandhi said the 2024 Lok Sabha polls are for saving the Constitution.

Mallikarjun Kharge in Punjab: 'Drug addiction, a big menace for the state; will make GST simple if voted to power'

Jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh gets ' mike' as poll symbol

Amritpal, the chief of the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit, is lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act.

Lok Sabha Polls: Nearly Rs 8,900 cr of seizures in four phases

Seizures worth Rs 8,889.74 cr have been made so far in the model code period spanning four phases of Lok Sabha elections, ECI data published ahead of phase 5 of polls shows. The western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan have recorded the highest seizures at Rs 1461.73 cr and Rs 1133.82 cr, respectively.

What's in a nickname: Channi, Bittu, Pappi strike a chord with Punjab voters

Contestants with unique nicknames like 'Channi', 'Bittu', 'Tinu', 'Kaka', 'Pappi', 'Sherry', 'Raja', 'Rinku', 'Meet' are vying for victory in the Punjab Lok Sabha polls, using catchy slogans to engage voters.

LS polls 2024: Will be happy to see AAP winning all 13 seats in Punjab while watching results from jail, says CM Kejriwal

2024 Elections BJP Candidates Analysis: Over 25% of BJP's Lok Sabha candidates are defectors

In the realm of Indian politics, party-switching among leaders is a common occurrence, especially during election seasons. However, the BJP's candidate list for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls stands out due to the sheer volume of such defections. Remarkably, nearly a quarter of the BJP's candidates, 106 out of 435, are individuals who have joined the saffron party in the last decade. According to a TOI report, 90 of these candidates have made the switch in just the past five years. This unprecedented influx of defectors highlights a significant trend in the party's strategy for the elections.