Journalists should be given COVID Frontline worker status

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May 4, 2021

journalists, covid frontline, frontline workers, aap, journalists, media personnel, media, uddhav thackeray, maharashtra government, covid, covid-19, photojournalist, journalist died, journalist died covid-19 — Journalists should be given COVID Frontline worker status 13

In recent times more than a hundred journalists have succumbed to the COVID-19 virus, Chief Ministers from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and West Bengal have announced that all working journalists from their states will be considered as COVID Frontline workers.

Journalists and the Journalist Associations from Maharashtra are also requesting the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government to include Journalists / Media personnel into the COVID Frontline category. About 55 journalists from Maharashtra have succumbed to the COVID-19 infections as of today. Also, the ministers from Maharashtra are demanding the Thackeray government call journalists as frontline workers and get them vaccinated as a priority.

Sahil Joshi, Executive Editor for India Today told Afternoon Voice, “I do believe all the journalists are frontline workers. They have been working during the whole pandemic year and have been exposed to all the danger pandemic exposes too. Looking at the situation of the second wave it’s high time that they should be given the vaccination at earliest.”

Sumita Chakraborty, Editor for Stardust Magazine said, “It is really a shame that in Maharashtra journalists are not considered COVID warriors more so as there have been so many media personnel who have succumbed to the virus while on duty. Journalists are in the line of fire and they are doing their jobs despite the massive risks to their lives, it’s time our state government recognises this and tags the media under COVID warriors too.”

Sanjay Bhide, Prawartak – Convenor at Aamhi Marathee said, “The Journalists are as brave as other Corona Warriors. They reach all nooks & corners to get the frontal news about the Good and Bad about this deadly disease Corona and catch the attention of the concerned Authorities. They also do deserve the Salute with others! Yes, not all of them may be clean without selfish vested interests. But, by and large, most of them are also the Foot Soldiers against Corona!”

Anita Shukla, a senior journalist for Bhanu Sandesh said, “I think Maharashtra government should also announce journalists as COVID Front line workers as other states have already taken this decision. They should provide better facilities to the fourth pillar of our nation, as these journalists work at ground zero levels to bring up the truth and facts going in the country right now. They should be considered as the priority to be vaccinated.”

“It is essential that journalists and their crew be declared as frontline workers and they get the same vaccination priority as any other frontline workers do because they are out on the field risking their lives to bring news to us daily,” said Preeti Sharma Menon of Aam Aadmi Party.

Suresh Nakhua, Mumbai BJP spokesperson said, “The Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh government has included journalists in the frontline category, so all states must do so and in my opinion, the delivery boys working for essential deliveries be included in this category.”

Atul Tiwari, Editor of Voice of Thane said, “The MVA government is a confused government in the state, no decision making in place. The government needs press and reporters for press release in this pandemic situation where journalist are sacrificing their life in search of right information, collecting info from government and their authorities, but it seems very unfortunate that MVA government is least bothered about the journalist and press workers. It is said to be the Fourth pillar of democracy but Maharashtra government is not considering it.”

Senior Congress leader and Minister of Revenue, Balasaheb Thorat said, “Journalists are constantly out of the house for news. Therefore, they are at higher risk of corona infection. Their families are also at risk. I have requested the Chief Minister to give frontline worker status to all these journalists and vaccinate them immediately.”

Maharashtra TV Journalists Association said, “We are working every day since the start of this pandemic. Though considered as part of essential services, the state government has restricted our movement. We request the CM of Maharashtra to please allow all journalists and not only accredited journalists during this lockdown. Maximum numbers of journalists are not accredited because of its lengthy, complicated procedure. Restricting such a large number of journalists of various news organisations will be unfair & unacceptable.”

Krishna Hegde of Shiv Sena said, “I have written a letter regarding this to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, our Maha Vikas Aghadi government will surely be looking into this request.”

Pramesh Jain, a freelance journalist from Bangalore said, “There was no provision made, despite voice from press and journalist association raised from time to time. The CM announces compensation and journalists pull money to donate to the family of the deceased. But despite repeated pleas and demand, the state governments are yet to include journalists as COVID frontline workers, though it has given an exemption to work under essential services during the lockdown.”

Senior Advocate, Rohini Salian said, “Every person in the entire globe is a COVID warrior if he or she survives the pandemic. God bless the human race.”

In a first such incident, Eight Asiatic Lions test positive for COVID-19 in Hyderabad zoo

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Afternoon Voice

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May 4, 2021

asiatic lions, asiatic, hyderabad zoo, covid-19, covid-19 to animals, lion, nehru zoo, telangana, covid — Image for Representative Purpose

In perhaps the first such reported incident, eight Asiatic lions in the zoo have tested positive for COVID-19 after their saliva samples were thoroughly examined by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Rakesh Mishra, advisor of the premier research institute said on Tuesday.

“The saliva samples of the Asiatic lions were thoroughly tested and they turned out to be positive. As they were living closely it must have been spread among them,” Mishra told PTI.

“Now we are developing a method to test the samples of their faeces. This method would be useful in future as every time it is not possible to collect saliva samples from wild animals,” he added.

He further said the virus which is present in the lions at the Nehru Zoological Park here is not any new variant.

“They have mild symptoms and they are eating well and they are fine,” he said.

Replying to a query, he said there is every possibility of animals contracting the virus as they are also mammals like human beings.

Mishra further said these animals must have got infected through zoo-keeping staff.

A senior official of the zoo said they keep sending the samples of the animals to CCMB from time to time for analysis.

As the lions started showing symptoms such as fever, the zoo officials collected the samples and sent them to CCMB.

The official further said the samples from the wild animals will be collected either by the ‘Squeeze cage’ method or by tranquilising them.

In the ‘squeeze cage’ method, the animal will be confined in a cage without any space so that it cannot move or resist while taking samples.

In view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the country, the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change recently issued an advisory to close all zoological parks, national parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries for visitors till further orders to control the spread of the pandemic.

Accordingly, the zoo, Kakatiya Zoological Park, Warangal, Kawal and Amrabad Tiger Reserves, all National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Telangana were closed from May 2, an official release had earlier said.

Twitter suspends account of Kangana Ranaut; ‘I have many platforms to use’ says actress

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Afternoon Voice

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May 4, 2021

Kangana Ranaut, Ranaut, Kangana, Twitter, Instagram, Account Suspended, Kangana Ranaut Twitter Suspended — Twitter suspends account of Kangana Ranaut; 'I have many platforms to use' says actress 16

Twitter on Tuesday said it has permanently suspended the account of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut for repeatedly violating the platform’s rules.

“We’ve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behaviour that has the potential to lead to offline harm. The referenced account has been permanently suspended for repeated violations of Twitter Rules specifically our Hateful Conduct policy and Abusive Behaviour policy,” a Twitter spokesperson said.

In her recent tweets, the ‘Queen’ star demanded President’s rule in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee-led TMC defeated BJP in the recent elections in the state. Taking to her Twitter handle, the National Award-winning actor used demeaning words against Mamata.

In a series of controversial tweets, Kangana also called her an “unleashed monster”.

From calling out on nepotism, farmer protests to people asking for oxygen due to the COVID-19 crisis, she was involved in all the recent controversies.

Reacting upon the same, Kangana in an official statement, said, “Twitter has only proved my point they are Americans and by birth, a white person feels entitled to enslave a brown person, they want to tell you what to think, speak or do, fortunately, I have many platforms I can use to raise my voice including my own art in the form of cinema but my heart goes out to the people of this nation who have been tortured, enslaved and censored for thousands of years and still there is no end to the suffering.”

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Few minutes after the news of her account suspension broke; she took to her Instagram handle and shared an emotional video message, calling the move “death of democracy”.

Chhagan Bhujbal smashes Chandrakant Patil

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Vaidehi Taman

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May 3, 2021

chhagan bhujbal, chandrakant patil, chandrakant dada patil, bjp, ncp, ed, enforcement directorate, anjali damania, aap, bhujbal, chhagan, patil, bjp maharashtra, bjp president — Chhagan Bhujbal smashes Chandrakant Patil 18

Chandrakant Patil, once a blue-eyed boy of BJP is irked these days, the veteran public figure aims to become the chief minister of Maharashtra, but his cravings always remained unsatisfied. Born to a Maharashtrian family on 10th June 1959, he grew up in a small neighbourhood in Mumbai. His inclination towards politics began early at the age of 18. Patil is fondly known as Chandrakant Dada who is very sensitive to his party and hardly takes any criticism.

Former Revenue and Public works minister of Maharashtra, he gave tough time to many innocent engineers. He always suspected PWD engineers are Chhagan Bhujbal’s people and all this led to harassment. Somehow, he is out of power and Chhagan Bhujbal too came out of jail. Now Chhagan Bhujbal is in power and Chandrakant Patil always takes Bhujbal as a rival.

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that Mamata Banerjee fought like the queen of Jhansi. Mamata had promised that she would not give up her Bengal. PM Modi and Amit Shah were holding meetings for a day. Bhujbal said that 8 to 10 ministers were sitting but it was of no use. He had also criticized the BJP over the Bengal result. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s leadership has proven its spark. Speaking on the issue, BJP state president Chandrakant Patil has warned Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Talking about this, Patil said that Chhagan Bhujbal should react to Pandharpur, he has been released on bail, he has not been acquitted.

So, he should not speak too deafeningly otherwise it will be very expensive for him. Chandrakant Patil alleged that if Mamata wins in West Bengal, EVM is right and if BJP wins in Assam, EVM is wrong. The defeat in Bengal must be sad. It should be noted that despite the defeat, everyone came together against the BJP. For years, there seems to be no one in the government, said Patil.

In 2014, when the public accounts committee of the state legislature filed a report alleging irregularities in some projects of the PWD department while it was under Bhujbal. This included the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan – against a budget outline of Rs 50 crore, the project ended up costing thrice as much, Rs 152 crore.

In 2015, an inquiry was initiated amid allegations that kickbacks were paid to the Mumbai Education Trust, an institute owned by Bhujbal’s, in exchange for the contract. In 2016, the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) chargesheet against 17 people, including the NCP leader. The ED, probing the case as part of a special investigation team with the ACB, arrested Bhujbal for alleged money laundering in the case, claiming the contractor had earned an 80 per cent profit while rules entitled them to only aim for 20 per cent.

The chargesheet stated that Chamankar Associates, the firm that bagged the contract, had transferred money to other companies in the name of people who worked for the Bhujbals and that these companies were used to siphon off the money.

In 2012, Mumbai Educational Trust (MET) filed a criminal complaint against Chhagan Bhujbal, alleging misuse and mismanagement of trust property for family-run furniture business and destruction of evidence in connection. Bhujbal was accused of ‘destroying evidence’.

In a written complaint, the former AAP leader Anjali Damania and her associate Khandekar demanded that the ACB must register a criminal complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Money Laundering Act against Bhujbal, who is a former minister in Maharashtra state PWD department and his family members including his MLA son Pankaj Bhujbal as well as nephew Samir Magan Bhujbal, a former MP. Former CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis nod for ACB probe against Chhagan Bhujbal.

Damania in her public interest litigation petition has alleged that the family members of former Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal received kickbacks after the award of contracts, including for the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, and sums of money were credited to the account of Bhujbal Charitable Trust. After two years in jail, nothing could be proven against Bhujbal and he came out on bail. More than two years after he was arrested in a money laundering case, NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal won the election in 2019 and against resumed as a cabinet minister.

Today when BJP is in opposition, they time and again try to rake the corruption issue, but this time Bhujbal is not as vulnerable as he was. And Chandrakant Patil also not as influential as he was when in power.

Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com

AAP demands arrest of Chandrakant Patil; Chhagan Bhujbal says BJP should learn to handle criticism

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Afternoon Voice

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May 3, 2021

chandrakant patil, chhagan bhujbal, chhagan, patil, aap, aam aadmi party, bjp, money laundering case, ncp, abp majha, chandrakant dada patil, bjp, maharashtra, ncp bhujbal, sameer bhujbal, supreme court — AAP demands arrest of Chandrakant Patil; Chhagan Bhujbal says BJP should learn to handle criticism 20

BJP state president Chandrakant Patil made a shocking revelation in a recent interview with ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel on the bail of NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal in a money laundering case.

Chandrakant Patil was quoted saying in the interview, “It is only because of Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew, Sameer Bhujbal’s insistence, that we went out of our way and ensured that Chhagan Bhujbal is given bail, despite not meriting it. How then, does he have the audacity to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi?”

In reply to Chandrakant Patil’s statements the NCP leader and Cabinet Minister of Food and Civil Supply Chhagan Bhujbal, said, “First of all, my nephew (Sameer Bhujbal) was arrested two months before I was arrested, hence, there is no possibility of me going along with him to meet Chandrakant Patil. If they are talking about my son (Pankaj Bhujbal), even he was summoned by ED and other agencies, so he was away from everyone and was seeking anticipatory bail at that time. This man (Chandrakant Patil) is blatantly telling lies on National Television.”

Also read: Bhujbal attempting to get rid of bad karma

Bhujbal further asked, “Is Chandrakant Patil trying to say that BJP has taken control over agencies like ED, CBI, NAI and now they control the judiciary as well?”

“I have got justice from the Supreme Court of India, it was Justice Rohinton Nariman who amended Section 45 of the ED Act, which gave relief to several others like me. Chandrakant Patil should learn to listen to critics too. West Bengal was a shock for them, now they will have to take many more shocks ahead,” Bhujbal further added.

Chhagan Bhujbal, who has spent over two years in jail in connection with a money laundering case, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in 2018. Bhujbal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March 2016. He got bail when the Supreme Court struck down a provision that can deny a person bail even if there is reasonable ground to believe that he or she did not commit the offence of money laundering.

Justice Nariman, who authored the verdict, said Section 45(1) was violative of Article 14, both in its discriminatory aspect and its “manifestly arbitrary” aspect. The court found that Section 45(1) does not serve the purpose of PMLA.

When we spoke to Chandrakant Patil about Bhujbal’s claims he said, “Sameer Bhujbal not only approached us but also promised to leave politics if they are left out from the ED and corruption case. I never said Devendra Fadnavis arranged bail. My statements are twisted for political motives.”

Interview of BJP Maharashtra state president Chandrakant Patil to ABP Majha news channel

AAP demands probe against Chandrakant Patil

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) expressed shock and disgust against Maharashtra’s former BJP revenue minister, Chandrakant Patil’s brazen revelation, about influencing the bail of the present minister and PWD scam – accused Chhagan Bhujbal.

Speaking over the same AAP Mumbai leader Preeti Sharma Menon said, “We are shocked and appalled at Chandrakant Patil’s statement, which clearly shows that the former Devendra Fadnavis’ government in Maharashtra, not only interfered with the criminal justice system; but also ensured that Chhagan Bhujbal is given bail.”

Menon further continued, “Moreover, the BJP only woke up when their fragile ego was hurt by Bhujbal’s criticism of Narendra Modi. We demand that Chhagan Bhujbal’s bail be cancelled, Chandrakant Patil be arrested for interfering with the law, and a thorough investigation be conducted, to probe all such instances of political interference during Devendra Fadnavis’ term in government.”

COVID-19: Commission for Protection Child Rights has written to states, UTs over the issue of orphaned children

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Afternoon Voice

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May 3, 2021

orphan, childs right commission, commission for child rights, NCPCR, covid, covid-19 — Image Courtesy: PTI

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written a letter to the chief secretary of all states and union territories regarding the issue of children who have become orphan due to the death of both parents due to COVID-19.

The commission has requested that if any such information for an abandoned or orphaned child is received by any entity, organisation or NGO then the same can be also be informed to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights either through email (cp.ncpcr@nic.in) or through telephone (011-23478250) for assistance and help to the children.

This information can also be shared with the respective state commissions of the said state and UT for the same. NCPCR said that they have been made aware of instances where it has been seen that many NGOs are advertising about the children who have become orphans after losing both their parents to COVID-19.

“In such a sad situation of the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, there are situations arising where the child has lost both its parents or is found to be abandoned. It may be noted that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provides for the procedure to be followed for children who have lost their family support and have become a child in need of care and protection,” it said in a letter.

The procedure under the JJ Act, 2015 ensures that the child is provided with all the minimum standards of care and the rights of such child are upheld and protected.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that these children who have lost their family support must be produced before the child protection authorities of the district and information about these children must be shared with the authorities.

“These children who have lost family support due to COVID-19 or are found to be abandoned due to the loss of parents to COVID-19 are a child in need of care and protection as per the JJ Act, 2015 and such children must be produced before the Child Welfare Committee as per Section 31 of JJ Act, 2015, so that necessary orders for the care of the child can be passed,” it said.

The commission further said that every individual, entity, organisation, NGO must ensure that if any such information is received for orphaned and abandoned children by them during these COVID times, then the same must be informed to the childline helpline number 1098 and the child must be produced before the Child Welfare Committee of the district.

NCPCR is a statutory body constituted under Section 3 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 to protect child rights and other related matters in the Country.

The Commission is further mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

State Bank of India allocates Rs 70 crore to combat the second wave of COVID-19

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Afternoon Voice

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May 3, 2021

sbi, state bank of india, sbi, rs 70 crore, second wave of covid-19, covid-19, coronavirus, sbi helps — File Photo | State Bank of India Branch

The State Bank of India (SBI) has allocated Rs 70 crore to support various initiatives in combating the second wave of COVID-19 and is in talks with various designated authorities to explore partnerships for setting up makeshift hospitals.

The country’s largest commercial bank has dedicated Rs 30 crore to set up 1,000 bed makeshift hospitals, 250 bed ICU facilities and 1,000-bed isolation facilities across some of the worst-hit states.

These facilities will be set up in collaboration with government hospitals and municipal corporations of respective cities, the lender said in a statement on Monday. SBI will also contribute Rs 10 crore for genome-sequencing equipment, lab and vaccine research equipment to the government.

SBI’s other initiatives

Besides, SBI has allocated Rs 21 crore to all its 17 local head offices to address the urgent medical needs of citizens including procuring life-saving healthcare equipment and enhancing oxygen supply to hospitals. It will continue to provide PPE kits, masks, rations and cooked meals.

The bank will also spend Rs 10 crore in partnering with NGOs to undertake community-based testing, strengthening vaccination drives, creating helpline for COVID-19 related matters, providing oxygen supply and other critical activities.

“We are trying our best to make a small contribution to society in the fight against the second wave,” said Chairman Dinesh Khara. “We are committed to contribute funds, resources and reach out to the citizens of India and also join in the government’s efforts in fighting the virus. I urge everyone to offer their support in any form to the people in need and contribute towards making the country Covid-19 free.”

SBI has tied with various hospitals for the vaccination of its employees. The bank has also decided to bear the cost of vaccination for its employees and their dependent family members. SBI has converted 60 of its training centres across the country into isolation/quarantine centres for affected employees and their family members

Last year, SBI had pledged 0.25 per cent of its annual profit to fight the coronavirus outbreak in India and has donated over Rs 108 crore to the PM CARES Fund. In addition, SBI also contributed Rs 11 crore toward supporting the government’s vaccination drive.

SBBI is the largest commercial bank in terms of assets, deposits, branches, customers and employees. The bank has a deposit base of over Rs 35 lakh crore and advances of more than Rs 26 lakh crore with a CASA ratio of about 45 per cent.

Victory for Trinamool in West Bengal; DMK wins in Tamil Nadu; Left in Kerala; BJP keeps Assam

By

Vaidehi Taman

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May 2, 2021

tmc, dmk, lfd, bjp, bharatiya janata party, trinamool congress, mamata banerjee, mk stalin, dmk, tamil nadu, west bengal, kerala, assam — Victory for Trinamool in West Bengal; DMK wins in Tamil Nadu; Left in Kerala; BJP keeps Assam 24

The opposition DMK-Congress alliance has won in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Actor Kamal Haasan and his Makkal Needhi Maiam or MNM, made a rather drab electoral debut in the 2019 general election, failing to win a single seat. This time, Haasan was trailing.

The people saw this election as a choice between the BJP and BJP-controlled alliances and that of the DMK, which stands to oppose the BJP and its ideology. The DMK has also won in constituencies including Kurinjipadi, Neyveli, Virudhachalam. The BJP’s state unit chief L Murugan was ahead in Dharapuram and AIADMK leaders and state ministers KC Veeramani and Benjamin were ahead in Jolarpet and Maduravoyal.

Assembly election results in 2021, clear that BJP will form govt in Assam. Congress leading the alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP), which mainly represent the Bodo and Sarania communities respectively, the BJP faced stiff competition from two corners this year: the first being the Congress-led Grand Alliance of which the minority-backed All India United Democratic Front, the Bodoland People’s Front, which had control over the Bodoland Territorial Council for nearly two decades, and marginal players such as Anchalik Gana Morcha, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI and CPI (Marxist-Leninist); the other was from two newly formed regional parties — the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the Raijor Dal which emerged out of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests that swept Assam in 2019.

On the other hand, change of guard is all set to happen after 10 years in Tamil Nadu with the DMK-led alliance coasting towards an emphatic victory in the 2021 Assembly polls. The DMK, led by its President M.K. Stalin won maximum Assembly constituencies and it formed the government on its own. The DMK-led alliance has notched up a comfortable lead routing the AIADMK front across the state barring the western belt where the latter is holding its own. With poll victory in sight, DMK cadres assembled at the party headquarters here and celebrated by bursting crackers and dancing, with no adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols.

The party cadres are visibly happy as DMK is expected to maintain the lead and finally win the poll to capture power in the state after a decade. According to Election Commission data, the DMK secured 37.2 per cent of the votes polled and with allies, it was about 43 per cent while the AIADMK got 33.5 per cent and along with allies, it was about 41 per cent. The AIADMK has put up a good performance despite the expectations/predictions to the contrary. The party had the issue of dual leadership (Coordinator O. Panneerselvam, Joint Coordinator K. Palaniswami), and anti-BJP sentiments in the state.

In 2019 there was an anti-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu. But in the 2021 Assembly elections, Stalin was at the centre stage but there was no wave in his favour to rout the AIADMK. One interesting aspect of this Assembly poll is the NTK party that has emerged as a third force in many constituencies after the DMK and the AIADMK.

As the counting of votes of Puducherry assembly election 2021 were underway. The 15th legislative polls in Puducherry, which is currently under the President’s rule, decide the fate of 324 candidates across the 30 constituencies. The V Narayanasamy-led Congress government collapsed in February 2021. The four districts consisting of 30 seats voted on April 6 to elect a new chief minister. The four districts comprise Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. BJP won here undoubtedly.

In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is likely to return as the Chief Minister for the third consecutive term with the TMC leading in over 200 seats. In Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin is set to become the state Chief Minister with the DMK-led alliance leading in over 140 seats. In Kerala, the Pinarayai Vijayan-led LDF government looks set to create history by becoming the first government to fight incumbency and retain power in the state. The Congress, meanwhile, had a dismal performance in the state, with the UDF leading in only 41 seats at present. In Assam, the BJP is set to have a second term with the party’s alliance leading in 76 of the 126 seats while the Congress alliance is leading in 48. In Puducherry, the NRC+ alliance is inching towards the halfway mark with leads in 12 seats.

‘Didi O Didi’ – Congratulations on winning the toughest political battle

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Afternoon Voice

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May 2, 2021

mamata banerjee, mamata, didi, tmc, trinamool congress, bjp, bharatiya janata party — File Photo of Mamata Banerjee

The Minorities and Mahila mixture has driven Mamata Banerjee to cross the halfway mark. Muslims account for more than 35 per cent of the population and influence the outcome of 95 seats out of 294. However, Mamata lost a most crucial fight in Bengal’s Nandigram seat to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, her former right-hand man.

Mamata joins the league of Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik and Arvind Kejriwal who have humbled Modi. Amit Shah and Modi invested a lot of political capital in the state leading the campaign and this result is a setback of sorts for the duo. The two jointly held 51 rallies/road shows covering all districts of the state.

Nandigram is the town that catapulted Mamata Banerjee to power for the first time in 2011 and winning here serves as a big message to aides – mainly Mr Adhikari — who ditched her this time to cross over to the BJP.

The results for the West Bengal assembly elections are trickling in and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) looks all set to retain power despite battling 10 years of anti-incumbency, a Hindu awakening and lower caste consolidation in favour of the BJP. The exit polls have again gone wrong (after Bihar last year) as most of them predicted a close contest and failed to pick this wave in favour of Mamata.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, “This win was expected and inspiring. One lady single-handedly gave a tough fight to BJP is no joke. She proved her capacities and shrunk the nasty political perspectives in one go”.

BJP’s over-reliance on Modi damaged the party’s prospects. It didn’t have candidates for all seats and gave tickets to 130 turncoats from other parties relying mainly on the top leadership’s campaign. Modi’s new getup as Rabindranath Tagore has not gone well with Bengal voters. Above all his cheap style of campaign and constant personal attacks boomeranged on him.

BJP failed to deflate the insider versus outsider campaign of the TMC, especially in the urban and semi-urban seats. The Bengali Asmita factor worked for the TMC. The rising cases of coronavirus in Bengal and Mamata’s accusation that the BJP is responsible for the same clicked with the urban audience which was impacted.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal among others sent out congratulatory messages for Mamata on social media. Following up, Rajnath Singh tweeted, “Congratulations to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial Didi on her party’s victory in West Bengal assembly elections. My best wishes to her for her next tenure.”

Dipanjan Ghosh, Afternoon Voice’s West Bengal correspondent said, “Hats off to this great woman. She fought all sorts of relentless personal attacks on her and her party and still emerged victorious. For Modi, Amit shah Bengal defeat will wrinkle for a long time to come. Unless BJP develops good local leaders and works for the people’s welfare in states where it’s weak, they will continue to lose assembly elections. Even today for the Lok Sabha elections people will vote for Modi. Modi must understand attacking women in a personal way will not be liked by the electorate of this country.”

Pandharpur bypolls: BJP’s Samadhan Autade all set to win against NCP’s Bhagirath Bhalke

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Afternoon Voice

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May 2, 2021

pandharpur assembly elections, pandharpur bypolls, samadhan autade, bhagirath bhalke, ncp, bjp, bharatiya janata party, bjp elections, elections, mangalveda — Pandharpur bypolls: BJP’s Samadhan Autade all set to win against NCP’s Bhagirath Bhalke 27

BJP’s Samadhan Autade is all set to win over his NCP rival Bhagirath Bhalke in the bypoll to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly seat in Maharashtra’s Solapur district.

“At the end of the 34th round, NCP candidate Bhagirath Bhalke bagged 97,212 votes, while BJP’s Samadhan Autade polled 1,01,607 votes, taking the lead of 4,354 votes,” a district election official said.

As per district poll officials, there are total38 rounds of counting.

The NCP and the BJP are locked in a direct fight in the bypoll, which was necessitated following the death of NCP legislator Bharat Bhalke due to post-COVID-19 complications in November last year.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fielded Bhagirath Bhalke, the late MLA’s son, against BJP’s Samadhan Autade, who had contested the 2019 Assembly elections as an Independent and the 2014 polls on the Shiv Sena ticket.

Political observers feel the bypoll will test the popularity of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies – Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress – three ideologically different parties which have been sharing power in the state for the last one- and-a-half years.

Over 66 per cent voting was recorded during polling held in the constituency on April 17, as per the Election Commission.

”The counting staff has been provided sanitisers, masks and gloves. Social distancing is being maintained and only candidates and their polling agents are allowed inside the counting centre,” he said.

Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people at one place, has already been imposed and no victory celebration is allowed outside the counting centre, the collector said.

Adequate police security has been deployed outside the counting centre, he added.