Jharkhand Elections: BJP vs JMM as Second Phase Voting Underway Across 38 Constituencies

Jammu and Kashmir: One person was killed, while eight others were injured after a car crashed into a house after losing control at Assar block in Doda. More details awaited.

Two persons were killed and 18 others injured in an accident involving a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus and a truck in Nashik district on Wednesday morning, police said.

According to the police, the MSRTC bus was on its way to temple town of Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district from Manmad when the truck collided head-on with it at around 5.50 am in the Ankai Shivar area.

The truck was going from Yeola to Manmad, both located in Nashik district.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan says, "In all countries, any professional army would be preparing for the future. To join the professional arms, you're not practising everyday, but yet you're preparing every day...They (Chinese) have been talking about informatised warfare and that's equivalent to net-centric warfare, which I said. And then they're saying that they will be moving on to intelligentised warfare. That is something data-centric warfare which helps you make better and faster important decisions to win that particular cycle of combat. Even if they are not, we should assume that they are also preparing for a future kind of conflict, even if they are not better prepared for such kind of event..."

Jharkhand (phase-II) and Maharashtra recorded 68.01% and 62.05% voter turnout respectively, as per the Election Commission of India.

CBSE Class 10, 12 exams to begin from February 15; board announces datesheet: Exam controller.

"An Indian PM visiting Guyana after 56 years is an important milestone in our relationship. I have personal relationship with Guyana and I had come here around 24 years ago as a common citizen," says PM Modi in a joint press conference with Guyana President Irfaan Ali. 

"We further discussed about collaboration in infrastructure, education, human capital development and a continued diversification of our economy. Important to economy is also our collaboration on issues of defence and technology transfer. These are areas that India is already collaborating with us on," says Guyana President Irfaan Ali in a joint press conference with PM Modi. 

The closure of schools and colleges in the Imphal Valley was extended till November 23 for the safety of the students, according to official notifications issued on Wednesday.

Schools and colleges in the five Valley districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching -- were shut on November 16 amid fresh tensions in the state following the violence in Jiribam district.

Both state-run and private schools and colleges will remain closed during the period, the notifications said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is eager to deepen cooperation with the Caribbean countries across various sectors.

Modi, who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday -- the first visit by an Indian head of the state in more than 50 years, made the remarks as he was set to join leaders from the Caribbean partner countries for the second India-CARICOM Summit here.

Their engagement was expected to strengthen ties in areas such as economic cooperation, agriculture and food security, health and pharmaceuticals, and science and innovations.

"I thank the people for coming out in huge numbers to cast their votes. By casting their vote, people have sent a clear message to the current government who played with the lives of women and youth here," says state LoP and BJP leader Amar Bauri on exit poll predictions.  

The second phase of the multi-agency Sea Vigil exercise to check the preparedness of security forces began off the Goa coast on Wednesday, officials said.

MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Meets Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar

"The results will be in favour of Mahayuti because in the past 10 years, we have worked for all people. Efforts were made to mislead people during Lok Sabha elections, but now people have understood that no one can change the Constitution," says Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. 

 EVMs being sealed at a polling booth in Phulpur, Prayagraj as voting concludes. 

On an army personnel from Tripura Subhankar Bhowmik losing his life in Siachen, Tripura CM Manik Saha says, "He was a braveheart from Tripura and belonged to Amarpur. He was around 34 years old and had a two-year-old daughter... He had joined his duty back after attending the Durga Puja. He lost his life in Siachen a day before yesterday... He was from the Assam Battalion... We lost a braveheart..."

Jharkhand Elections 2024: "As per the trends that we have received from several agencies, BJP-led NDA have an edge in the state and we will form the government," says state BJP chief Babulal Marandi

Jharkhand Polls recorded at 67.59 Percentage Till 5 PM.

EVMs are being sealed by polling officials as the voting for the #JharkhandElections2024 concludes. 
 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds bilateral meeting with Admiral Dong Jun, Minister of National Defence, China during 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus) in Laos.

UP Bypolls: Clashes reported between BJP and Samajwadi Party workers at Kanpur Government Inter College polling booth after a stone was allegedly thrown on BJP candidate's car. Party workers staged dharna outside the booth and raised slogans earlier today.

Close to 50 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in the bypolls to four assembly segments in Punjab on Wednesday while a minor clash between AAP and Congress supporters was reported from Dera Baba Nanak.

Bypolls to the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC) and Barnala assembly segments were necessitated after the incumbent legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha. Polling began at 7 am and would continue till 6 pm.

A voter turnout of 49.61 per cent was registered till 3 pm, they said.

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai says, "I met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised him of the Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh... In the last 11 months, nearly 200 Naxals have been eliminated, and nearly 600-700 have surrendered... We are fast moving towards the Prime Minister's and Home Minister's aim of making India a Naxal-free country by March 2026...

On ED raids going on in Raipur, he says, "There was a lot of corruption in Chhattisgarh under the Congress rule... We have zero tolerance towards corruption and our agencies are doing their job. CBI is investigating the PSC scam and a few arrests have been made."

The Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids at the premises of Gaurav Mehta (employee of an audit firm named Sarathi Associates) in connection with an alleged Bitcoin scam. The searches are being carried out in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

On renaming Karimganj district as Sribhumi, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "I think they can criticise me, but why are they criticising Rabindranath Tagore? In Assam, why a district should be named after an unknown person? It should have been changed long back."

Uttar Pradesh: BJP candidate from Sismau, Suresh Awasthi says, "(Samajwadi Party candidate) Nasim Solanki came here with Samajwadi Party goons to cast fake votes. I request the administration that he should not be allowed to enter any polling station. And even if he goes, he should go as a candidate, so many goons should not be allowed with him..."

Jharkhand voter turnout till 3pm: 61.47 percent

In a shocking incident, a woman teacher was fatally stabbed on government school premises in Mallipattinam in the district by a youth, leading to some tense moments in the educational institution, police said on Wednesday.        The youth, who was later detained, repeatedly stabbed the teacher in full view of her colleagues at the school’s staff room, they said.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Hari Om Rai, the MD of Lava International mobile company, in a money laundering case involving smartphone-maker Vivo. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri granted relief to the Lava official, who was in custody since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in October last year.

The situation in Kashmir is under control as all security agencies are working in synergy, a top CRPF officer said here on Wednesday.Inaugurating the second edition of CRPF Cup Srinagar Sector, a cricket tournament to be held from November 20 to 28, Inspector General of CRPF (Srinagar Sector) P K Sharma said the aim is to have maximum connect with the youth of Kashmir.

A speeding dumper rammed into an ambulance in Rajasthan's Pali district early Wednesday, leaving four persons dead, police said.

Station House Officer Niranjan Singh said a patient identified as Ashok was being taken in an ambulance from Ahmedabad to Jodhpur by his family members.

The ambulance hit a stray cattle near Gajangarh and was damaged. Another ambulance was then called from Jodhpur.

 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday appeared to justify the killing of Maoist leader Vikram Gowda in an encounter with the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), noting that he faced multiple criminal cases and also chose to ignore the government's direction to lay down arms and join the mainstream.

A voter turnout of over 36 percent was recorded till 1 pm on Wednesday in the bypolls to four assembly segments in Punjab where clashes were reported between AAP and Congress workers in Dera Baba Nanak segment.Officials said Gidderbaha seat recorded 50.09 percent polling, Dera Baba Nanak 39.4 percent, Barnala 28.1 percent and Chabbewal 27.95 percent.

The Kedarnath assembly constituency of Uttarakhand where bypoll is being held on Wednesday recorded a turnout of more than 17 per cent in the first three hours of polling. By 11 am, 17.69 per cent of the electorate cast their votes, an election official said. Polling began at 8 am and will go on till 6 pm, he said.

The administration of Khairthal-Tijara district in Rajasthan has announced that all schools will hold online classes for students of classes 1 to 5 for four days starting Wednesday in view of alarmingly high pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.The order was issued by District Collector Kishore Kumar on Tuesday following the Supreme Court's directions to all states in the Delhi-NCR area to decide on conducting physical classes for students up to class 12 amid the dire situation.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami appealed to the voters in Maharashtra and Jharkhand to actively participate in elections, stressing that their votes are crucial in strengthening democracy and promoting the region's development, especially in sectors like education, healthcare, employment, and infrastructure.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy has deposed before the Lokayukta police, which is probing the alleged MUDA site allotment scam.

Swamy reached the Lokayukta police office at about 8 pm on Tuesday with documents, Lokayukta sources said.

According to sources, the Lokayukta officials sought details pertaining to the bank transactions.

Mallikarjuna Swamy, who is accused number three in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority case registered by the Lokayukta police, was questioned in the past as well.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted eight weeks to the Manipur government to respond to a plea challenging the system of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable. To visit ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need permission.

Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly "favouring a ruling party candidate" in Madhupur assembly constituency during voting.Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested.

Jharkhand Polls: Voter Trunout till 11AM is 31.37 Pc 

Hours before the commencement of the second and final phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections on Wednesday, five trucks were torched allegedly by Maoists in Latehar district, police said.The incident occurred in Laat forest under the jurisdiction of Herhanj Police Station around 1.30 am, a senior officer said.

As polling for the second phase of assembly elections is underway in Jharkhand, JMM leader Kalpana Soren on Wednesday exuded confidence in the party-led INDIA bloc's victory, saying that they are "definitely" going to form government in the state.
Kalpana Soren also praised Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, saying that he has been working very well as a Chief Minister.

Nearly 10 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling across nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Voting started at 7 am in Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki seats and will end at 5 pm.

 Nearly 13 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 AM on Wednesday in 38 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting is underway in the second and final phase, officials said.Polling began at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 PM.

Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi on Wednesday cast his vote at a polling booth in Giridih for the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024. Following this, he highlighted infiltration and unemployment as major issues in the state and accused incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren of betraying the youth.
 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a three-day visit to Laos next week to attend a meeting of a grouping comprising 10-nation ASEAN and some of its dialogue partners that is expected to deliberate on evolving regional security situation.

Singh is likely to present India's position on dealing with major security challenges facing the region at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), sources said.

The defence minister will visit Laos from November 20 to 22, they said.

ADMM-Plus is a platform comprising 10-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

Polling began amid tight security at 7 am on Wednesday for bypolls to four assembly segments in Punjab.Officials said polling would close at 6 pm. Bypolls to the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala assembly segments were necessitated after the incumbent lawmakers were elected to the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged voters in Maharashtra to participate in the polls with full enthusiasm and enhance the splendour of the festival of democracy.

In a post on X, he appealed to the women and young voters to poll in large numbers.

He made a similar appeal to the voters in Jharkhand, urging them to create a polling record with their high participation.

On the polling day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post urged voters to vote in large numbers. He said, "Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I specially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state.