Elections 2022 LIVE: EC Updates Himachal Turnout At 75%. Highest In Doon Seat, Lowest In Shimla Urban
Assembly Election 2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this space to get all the latest news on bypoll results as well as electioneering and campaigning for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls.
The demand for restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS) has emerged as a major poll plank in Gujarat with both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party promising to implement it if voted to power in the state where the Assembly elections are scheduled next month.
With this promise, the opposition parties aim to garner the support of lakhs of government employees who are up in arms against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the new pension scheme.
Elections for the 182 member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.
The Gujarat government had introduced the new contributory pension scheme for employees joining the service on or after April 1, 2005. As per its notification, it will make a matching contribution of 10 per cent of the basic pay plus dearness allowance (DA) contributed by the employees in the NPS fund.
Under the Centre's scheme, the government will contribute 14 per cent against an employee's contribution of 10 per cent of his/her salary and DA with effect from April 1, 2019.
After protests by employees in Gujarat, the state government had said the new pension will not be applicable to those employees who had joined duty before April 2005. It also promised to increase its contribution in the fund to 14 per cent from the 10 per cent earlier.
The employees have staged massive agitations against the government in Gujarat while demanding restoration of the OPS because they believe the New Pension Scheme is not in the interest of the retiring employees.
With the BJP government not acceding to the demands of the employees, the Congress and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP have assured to bring back the OPS, in one of their most emphatic poll promises. (PTI)
Bumper voting was witnessed for the elections of 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh and the turnout has reached almost 75 per cent. The counting of votes done through ballot paper is yet to be done. Therefore the vote percentage is expected to reach up to 77 per cent. The highest voter turnout was 85.2 per cent in Doon assembly constituency, while the lowest, 62.53 per cent was recorded in Shimla Urban. Sirmaur district topped in terms of voting, where 78.00 per cent polling was recorded and the lowest voter turnout was 71.05 per cent in Kangra district. During 2017 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, 75.57 percent voting was recorded.
Ahead of the Gujarat Elections 2022, the Bharatiya Janata Party is facing rebel from four of its leaders, one sitting MLA and four former legislators, after they were denied tickets by the party, reported news agency PTI. While some of these disgruntled leaders have said they will make their next move after consulting supporters, former BJP MLA and the party's known tribal face Harshad Vasava already filed his nomination papers on Friday as an independent from Nandod seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates.
Six-time MLA Madhu Shrivastav from Vadodara's Vaghodia seat said that his will contest as independent if his supporters want him to while another BJP MLA from Padra seat in the same district, Dinesh Patel also said that he will contest as independent.
Former BJP MLA from Karjan seat, Satish Patel in unhappy after sitting legislator Akshay Patel was given the party ticket.
"We're a part of UPA, we've been contesting elections together in Maharashtra. Similarly, in Gujarat too we'll (Congress-NCP) be contesting together. We've asked for 4 seats, Congress has agreed on 3 while talks are underway for another seat," Jayant Boskey, Gujarat NCP President
The AAP will "solve all problems" of Delhi's business community after coming to power in the December 4 civic polls, the party's city trade wing asserted, claiming it has the support of all traders of the national capital. In a statement, the Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi Trade Wing claimed all traders are eagerly waiting to press the button against the party's broom symbol on election day.
Polling for 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will take place on December 4 and the results will be announced on December 7.
The AAP on Thursday launched the party's war room for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi election to monitor activities such as the nomination process, campaigning and social media campaign. The 250-ward Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) goes to polls on December 4 and the counting of votes will take place on December 7. The party's Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai launched the war room and predicted a landslide victory for the AAP.
"This war room is being launched to intensify the party's preparations for the upcoming MCD elections. We will use this war room to monitor 10 activities related to the polls. "The first will be to track activities related to the 'Jan Samvaad', taking place in over 13,000 booths. It will look into issues of scheduling, prepare the list of speakers for these events and send out invitations to local residents," Rai said. The second activity that the war room will engage in is the nomination process.
Poll authorities on Thursday received five nominations from independent candidates for the MCD elections, taking the number of nominations to seven so far, a senior official said. Out of these seven nominations, five have been filed by men and two by women, all as independents, the official said. One nomination was received for ward Rohini C on Wednesday and one on Monday. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections will be held on December 4 and the votes will be counted on December 7.
Speaking at an election rally in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that is difficult to find scam under BJP rule and difficult to count scams under Congress rule. "Do you see anything besides 'mother-son' when you look at Congress minutely? There is a 'mother-son' in Delhi as well as Himachal. Congress is not a democratic party, it is a party born out of dynasty," he said.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said that if Congress forms government in Himachal Pradesh, it will implement old pension scheme, reported news agency ANI.
"BJP state govt brought inflation and joblessness in Himachal Pradesh. Now is time for a change. Congress party has promised that upon forming govt Old Pension scheme will be implemented in 10 days, jobs will be given to 1 lakh people," Baghel said.
Former Congress MLA Bhavesh Katara will join the Bharatiya Janata Party today at 2:30 pm in presence of Gujarat BJP President C R Patil.
Ahead of Mainpuri bypoll, Bharatiya Janata Party core committee has scheduled its meeting on November 12, sources told ABP News. Teh meeting will be attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Mourya and Brajesh Pathak.
After the Bharatiya Janata Party released its list of candidates for the Gujarat Assembly Election 2022 on Thursday, Gujarat BJP chief C R Patil said that the list was made on the basis of merit.
"There are changes that need to be done during the elections. We made the list of candidates on the basis of merit and discussion held with booth-level workers. BJP is giving importance to the youth and women," he said, quoted by news agency ANI.
Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda on Thursday said that the upcoming Assembly election in Himachal Pradesh is "for the development of the state."
"Delhi is far from here but the State is close to PM Modi's heart. PM wore the traditional 'Chola Dora' from Chamba on his visit to Kedarnath temple," he said while addressing a public rally in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district.
Former Congress leader from Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur, Harpreet Singh Ratan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday at party national president J P Nadda's residence, reported news agency ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Kangra is the land of 'Shaktipeeths'. It is a pilgrimage of India's faith and spirituality. From Baijnath to Kathgarh, in this land, the infinite grace of Baba Bhole is always with us all, he added.
Congress is the guarantee of instability, corruption, and scams. Congress can never give a stable govt to Himachal Pradesh and neither do they want, PM Modi said in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra. Congress has only two states left, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, no news of development comes from these two states, he added.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday released a list of 20-star campaigners for the upcoming Assembly polls in Gujarat where the party is looking to take on the BJP. The party's big names, including Delhi CM and party's supremo Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy in the Delhi government Manish Sisodia, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, are among the star campaigners of the party. AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha are also on the list. Former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Harbhajan Singh will also campaign for the party in Gujarat as a star campaigner. Besides, AAP's Chief Ministerial candidate in the state Isudan Gadhvi and the party's state president Gopal Italia in Gujarat are also on the list.
Election Commission of India announces the schedule of Uttar Pradesh's Khatauli by-election - polls to be held on December 5th; counting of votes to be on December 8th. All vacancies for 2022 as of now are covered with this announcement for the by-election.
Compare Congress's 60 years of rule to our 5 years of rule, and you will see that our 5 years of rule will have more weightage. They've only stopped developments whereas we've brought developments in the state, Says Union Minister Anurag Thakur while addressing a public rally.
33% reservation for women in government jobs, cycle for school-going students and scooty for college-going students, Rs 51,000 to poor women during their marriage, 3 free gas cylinders in a year for poor women, if BJP comes to power in HP, says Union Minister Anurag Thakur in Bilaspur, HP
Days ahead of the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, 26 Congress leaders and members of the state including Dharampal Thakur Khand - Former General Secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee joined the BJP on Monday. This comes as a big jolt to the Congress party with less than a week to go for the polling.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday targeted the BJP-led Himachal Pradesh government alleging that the drug menace is spreading in the state when the youths want to get jobs. "Drug menace spreading. Youth wanted to do something, get jobs, look after their families. But those desires aren't getting fulfilled, so they're misguided & drug menace is being spread. Truth is that there are about 30 lakh youth here, 15 lakh of whom are unemployed," she said during her election campaign in Una.
"Chhattisgarh has lowest unemployment rate, we gave 5 lakh jobs in 3 yrs. In Raj, we gave 1.3 lakh jobs. Here, 63,000 posts are vacant. Youth is worried, they're educated, hardworking & want jobs. But what do they get? Drugs," she said.
"I can guarantee, no 'Maai ka Laal' in Himachal or across the country can say that there's even a blip of corruption in HP CM Jairam Thakur's governance... he should be given another chance to make his govt here": Defence Min Rajnath Singh said in Baijnath, as quoted by ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a roadshow and arrives at the venue in Valsad where he will address a public rally shortly. CM Bhupendra Patel also with him.
This is the win of the people of Mokama & the defeat of BJP's pride. We knew the win would be ours, as we had the blessings of the people of Mokama, says RJD's Neelam Devi after winning the Mokama bypoll.
"The entire Gopalganj district is with me. Victory for everyone is my victory. I will carry forward the development work that did not get completed. I was blessed by everyone": BJP's Kusum Devi after winning the Gopalganj byelection, ANI reported.
BJP wins 3 bypoll seats out of 7 (Adampur, Gorakannath, Gopalganj), Shiv Sena secures Andheri East, and RJD wins Mokama. All eyes are on Munugode.
It's a victory of the policies of PM Modi, of the working of CM Khattar, of the trust of Adampur in Chaudhary Bhajan Lal family. I thank the people of Adampur they trusted us once again": BJP's Kuldeep Bishnoi, father of BJP candidate Bhavya Bishnoi who has won the Adampur bypoll, ANI reported.
The BJP has retained the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh as its candidate Aman Giri won against former Gola MLA Vinay Tiwari.
The Gola Gokarannath seat fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Arvind Giri on September 6. With the BSP and the Congress keeping away from the bypolls.
As the counting for Munugode by-poll is underway. BJP MP K Laxman alleged that, "TRS conspired even for counting, it has been exposed. When BJP was leading in first 3-4 rounds, it wasn't published on official website immediately. Whereas round-wise updates from other seats were being given"
"The situation is different in Telangana. The state govt has made this poll a matter of their prestige as BJP is rising here. Only BJP can fight TRS. I hope that BJP will win by the last round of counting. In the days to come, there'll be a BJP wave in the state," ANI quoted him as saying.
Counting is underway for Dhamnagar by-elections.
BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj continues his lead on the assembly seat after five rounds of counting, with a total of 22,495 votes so far
BJP candidate from Adampur assembly seat in Haryana, Bhavya Bishnoi continues his lead with a total of 35,686 votes so far after the sixth round of counting.
RJD's Candidate Neelam Devi Wins From Mokama
Rutuja Latke, the candidate of Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, continues her lead on Andheri (East) assembly seat in Maharashtra with a total of 24,955 votes so far.
A disappointed congress candidate Palvai Sravanthi Reddy left the counting centre.
Munugode has been a congress and left party bastion previously.
Her father Palvai Govardhan Reddy represented the constituency five-time.
In 2018 it was Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy who won the election on a congress ticket.
He is now the BJP candidate.
The saffron party had only got around 8% in the 2018 state election and now in the bypolls emerges as the strongest opponent of TRS, while congress is in ruin. (Reporter: Ashish Kumar Pandey)
Telangana By Poll: TRS candidate Koosukuntla Prabhakar Reddy leading with 26,443 votes after four rounds of counting for Munugode by-election. BJP candidate Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy trailing with 25,729 votes.
BJP candidate Aman Giri continues his lead on Gola Gokrannath seat in Uttar Pradesh with a total of 76,765 votes. Samajwadi Party's Vinay Tiwari trailing.
This 'Sankalp Patra' stands on 11 commitments. These commitments will bring uniformity in society, empower youth and farmers, strengthen horticulture, give justice to govt employees and take forward religious tourism: BJP national president JP Nadda releases party's manifesto for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.
BJP's Suryabanshi Suraj leading with 8737 votes on Dhamnagar assembly seat. BJD's Abanti Das trailing with 7358 votes, ANI reported.
BJP candidate Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy leads with a margin of 1100 votes after fourth round of counting for Munugode by-election, ANI reported.
After the 9th round of counting, RJD's Neelam Devi continues her lead on Mokama assembly seat with 35,036 votes. BJP's Sonam Devi trailing with 24,299 votes, ANI reported.
Rutuja Latke, the candidate of Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, continues her lead with 11,361 votes after the third round of counting.
After 4th round, BJP leads with over 2,000 votes in Munugode
Munugode BJP lead by more than 900 votes in the second round.
BJP's Aman Giri continues to lead on Gola Gokrannath assembly seat with 15,866 votes after the fourth round of counting. Samajwadi Party's Vinay Tiwari trailing with 10,853 votes.
Second round update:
TRS leads with 563 votes
TRS: 14,211 votes
BJP: 13,648
Cong: 3,597
As per initial trends, Rutuja Latke, the candidate of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, leading with 4277 votes in the Andheri East ByPoll
As per initial trends, BJP's Aman Giri leading on Gola Gokrannath assembly seat with 3877 votes.
As per initial trends, RJD's Mohan Prasad Gupta leading on Gopalganj assembly seat with 2713 votes.
Munugode First-round update:
TRS leads with 1,352 votes
TRS - 6478, BJP - 5126 & Congress - 2,100
As per initial trends, BJP candidate Bhavya Bishnoi leading by 2846 votes in the first round of counting in Adampur bypoll.
As per initial trends, RJD's Neelam Devi leading on the Mokama assembly seat
Counting of Adampur Byelection underway. "3-layer security provided as EVMs have reached. CAPF & district police deployed. Law & order company with anti-riot equipment present in case of any eventuality. Checking is being done," ANI reported the Adampur SSP as saying.
Counting of votes for Gopalganj and Mokama by-elections taking place today. Visuals from Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Patna that has been designated as a counting centre.
100% I am confident of winning: TRS candidate for Munugode Bypoll, Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy said, as quoted by ANI.
Counting for Munugodu Bypoll to take place today. Outside visuals from godown of Food Corporation of India in Nalgonda, Telangana where the counting of votes is set to take place.
"This poll wasn't about winning or losing, but about victory margin. With the blessings I've received from my Adampur family since the beginning I'm confident that people will once again celebrate Diwali within a few hours," Bhavya Bishnoi, BJP candidate for Adampur ByElection, as quoted by ANI.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel says Congress raising issues of unemployment and inflation. "Our manifesto's guarantees will increase people's income. BJP didn't fulfil the promise of jobs. Congress party will work on the steps of Virbhadra Singh who worked for the state," he said.
Making false promises and giving false guarantees has been an old trick of Congress. Congress never gave priority to the development of Himachal. BJP has fulfilled its promises made to the people: PM Narendra Modi in Mandi, as quoted by ANI.
"We gave free vaccines. If there was a Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, then vaccines would have reached Himachal Pradesh at last. You (public) voted on the right button and that's why so much development happened," he added.
Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Saturday expressed grief on the demise of 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, the first voter of Independent India. "Saddened to hear the news of the demise of Shyam Saran Negi Ji, the first voter of independent India and who belonged to Kinnaur," the Chief Minister tweeted in Hindi.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Saturday expressed grief on the demise of 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, the first voter of Independent India. "Saddened to hear the news of the demise of Shyam Saran Negi Ji, the first voter of independent India and who belonged to Kinnaur," the Chief Minister tweeted in Hindi.
Background
Elections 2022 LIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to ABP Live blog to find all the latest news from the polling battlegrounds of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls.
Gujarat Elections 2022: AAP Declares 12 More Candidates, Alpesh Kathiriya To Contest From Surat
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday announced the names of 12 more candidates, including former Patidar quota leader Alpesh Kathiriya, for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, which has been trying to project itself as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) main contender in Gujarat, released its 11th list of candidates on Monday.
With this, it has so far declared 130 candidates for polls to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly which will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.
Kathiriya has been given the ticket from the Patidar-dominated Varachha Road seat in Surat city, currently held by former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kishor Kanani.
Kathiriya was a close aide of quota spearhead Hardik Patel, who joined the BJP earlier this year after quitting the Congress.
Another Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Dharmik Malaviya has been chosen for the Olpad seat in Surat, also held by the BJP.
The other AAP candidates are - BT Maheshwari (to contest from Gandhidham seat), MK Bombadiya (Danta), Ramesh Nabhani (Palanpur), Mukesh Thakkar (Kankrej), Lalji Thakor (Radhanpur), Rajendrasinh Parmar (Modasa) and Umesh Makwana (Botad).
Rahul Bhuva and Dinesh Joshi have been given the tickets for Rajkot East and Rajkot West seats respectively, while Bhimabhai Makwana has been chosen to contest from Porbandar's Kutiyana seat, currently held by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal's party had won 27 seats in the Surat Municipal Corporation last year.
Himachal & Gujarat Election Schedule
The Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule for 182-member Gujarat Assembly which will see its term ending on February 18, 2023. In a press conference held in the national capital, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that Gujarat will undergo polls in two phases with first phase of election on December 1 while the second phase of polling will be held on December 5 and the votes will be counted on December 8, 2022.
The Himachal assembly poll ( Himachal Vidhan Sabha election) will be held in a single phase and the date of polling is November 12. The last date to file the nomination is October 25 and the counting of votes for the Himachal Pradesh assembly election will take place on December 8.
With the announcement from the ECI, the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect.
(With PTI inputs)
- - - - - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - - - - -