THE HEADLINES:
⦁ All arrangements in place for 7th and final phase of Lok Sabha polling tomorrow; 57 Parliamentary Constituencies across seven states and one Union Territory to go to polls in this phase.
⦁ Prominent candidates include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Congress leader Manish Tewari and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
⦁ India’s real GDP estimated to grow by 8.2 percent in Financial Year 2023-24.
⦁ Prime Minister expresses concern over natural disasters in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal; Assures all possible support to affected states.
⦁ And in Sports: Nishant Dev becomes first Indian male boxer to qualify for Paris Olympic Games.
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All arrangements are in place for voting for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections tomorrow. A total of 57 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across seven states and one union territory will go to polls in this phase. Voting will be held in 13 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, 13 seats in Punjab, nine seats in West Bengal, eight seats in Bihar, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Himachal Pradesh, three seats in Jharkhand, and one Parliamentary Constituency in Chandigarh. Additionally, polling for the remaining 42 Assembly Constituencies of the Odisha State Assembly will also take place simultaneously. The voting will begin at 7 AM.
Elaborate arrangements have been made by the Election Commission to ensure smooth and transparent voting. Election officers have been instructed to implement measures to mitigate the challenges posed by scorching temperatures, safeguarding the health and well-being of voters and poll officials. Over 10 lakh 90 thousand polling officials have been deployed for the conduct of polls. Over 10 crore 60 lakh electors will decide the fate of contestants. A total of 201 international border check posts and 906 inter-state border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies.
“This concluding phase holds great significance for both ruling and opposition parties. In this phase, political fate of prominent leaders including Prime Minister and Senior BJP leaders Narendra Modi, Anurag Thakur, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Congress leader Manish Tewari, and Vikramaditya Singh, RJD leader Misa Bharti, and Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee will be sealed in the EVMs. This seventh phase will mark a grand finish to the world’s largest polling marathon that began on 19th of last month and already covered 486 Lok Sabha seats. As the nation braces for the end of this electoral marathon, anticipation mounts for the momentous day of reckoning when the fate of political leaders will be determined on 4th June.
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In Odisha, voting will be held in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies tomorrow. Our correspondent reports that Polling will also be held in the fourth and last phase of the assembly elections in 42 assembly segments coming under these Lok Sabha constituencies.
“After two months of fervent electioneering and high-decibel campaign for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha, the final phase of polls is going to be held tomorrow in 6 Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly constituencies. As many as 99,61,057 voters will decide the fate of 460 candidates by exercising their franchise in 10,882 polling booths. Prominent figures in the fray include BJP’s former Union minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and national vice-president Baijayant Panda, as well as BJD stalwarts Sudam Marndi, Lekhasri Samantsinghar, Manjulata Mandal, and Ansuman Mohanty. Former Union Minister Srikant Jena of Congress and JMM’s Anjani Soren are among the notable contenders among the 66 Lok Sabha candidates competing for victory.
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In Jharkhand, elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polls tomorrow. Polling in three constituencies, Godda, Dumka, and Rajmahal, will be held from 7 AM to 5 PM. Over 53 lakh 24 thousand electorates will decide the political fortune of 52 candidates. Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar told Akashvani that a number of measures have been taken at each booth in view of the intense heatwave.
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In Bihar, polling will be held in eight parliamentary constituencies of Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Sasaram, Arrah, Karakat, Buxar, Jehanabad, and Nalanda tomorrow.
“Union Minister and BJP candidate R.K. Singh from Arrah parliamentary seat and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat are among prominent candidates in the seventh phase. The electorates will also decide the political fate of former Union Minister and NDA candidate Upendra Kushwaha. Famous Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh BJP nominee and former Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav and daughter of RJD Chief Misa Bharti. Presently all seats of this phase are held by BJP and constituents of NDA.
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In Punjab, 328 candidates including 169 independents, are in the fray in this phase. State Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C has said that elaborate arrangements have been made for free and fair voting.
“All polling stations will be monitored by CCTV cameras and there will be 100 % live webcasting. ASHA workers will be deputed at polling stations to handle emergency medical situations. Polling stations will be equipped with first aid kits, ORS and other necessary medicines. Additionally, to combat the heat wave, ‘Chabeel’ facility is also being provided at the polling stations. Even though voting is to be held tomorrow, out of 13 thousand 769 disabled voters and voters above 85 years of age who availed themselves of the facility of voting from home, 12 thousand 843 had exercised their franchise until yesterday.
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India’s real GDP is estimated to grow by 8.2 percent in the Financial Year 2023-24 as compared to the growth rate of 7 percent registered in Financial Year 2022-23. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, real GDP or GDP at constant prices is estimated to attain a level of over 173 lakh crore rupees in the year 2023-24.
In a statement, the Ministry said, nominal GDP or GDP at current prices is estimated to attain a level of over 295 lakh crore rupees in the year 2023-24, against 269.50 lakh crore rupees in 2022-23, showing a growth rate of 9.6 percent.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that today’s GDP data showcases robust economic growth with a growth rate of 8.2 percent for the Financial Year 2023-24 and 7.8 percent for Quarter-4 of the Financial Year 2023-24. She added, this remarkable GDP growth rate is the highest among the major economies of the world.
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In Karnataka, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna has been sent to six days Special Investigation Team, SIT custody by 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Bengaluru today over charges of sexual harassment. The SIT appointed by the state government to probe these cases had arrested Revanna at midnight when he reached Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Munich. He is facing charges of sexual abuse and video graphing the act.
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A Delhi court today sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar to 14 day judicial custody in the alleged Swati Maliwal assault case, stating that the investigation is still at a nascent stage and completing it would require time. Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava submitted an application seeking judicial custody for Bibhav for conducting a proper investigation and to prevent the accused from tampering with evidence or making any threat or inducement to the witnesses. The FIR against Bibhav was registered on May 16th.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has reserved its order on maintainability of Bibhav Kumar’s plea challenging his arrest.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the natural disasters in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. In a social media post today, Mr. Modi said, his thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected there. The Prime Minister said, he took stock of the prevailing situation and the Central Government has assured all possible support to the states.
Home Minister Amit Shah has said that he has also spoken to the respective state Chief Ministers and taken stock of the situation. He assured them of all possible help. Mr. Shah said, the situation is being closely monitored and authorities are providing all possible assistance to the affected.
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The flood situation in Assam’s nine districts remained grim, with the water levels of major rivers rising and inundating vast tracts of land, following incessant rainfall in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. Our correspondent reports that rescue operations have been intensified in flood-affected districts.
“In Assam around two lakh people have been affected in 386 villages in the districts of Nagaon, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Cachar, Hojai, Golaghat, Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong District due to flood and rain. Over 35000 people have taken shelter in 95 relief camps. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority Two persons have died so far in the devastating floods across the state. Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm. Rescue operations have been intensified in flood-affected districts. Various agencies including SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, local administration and civil defense are engaged in rescue operations.
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In Manipur, flash flood continues to wreak havoc and Imphal City has been badly affected by the flood. Three persons have died in different flood related incidents so far while one person is missing. Army and central forces have been engaged in rescue works and affected families have taken shelter in relief camps.
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In Uttar Pradesh, six home guards on election duty have died in Mirzapur, due to heat stroke today. A total of 23 home guards had gathered at Polytechnic Ground for the departure of the polling party. Suddenly, their health started deteriorating, and they were immediately admitted to the trauma center. Unfortunately, six home guards died, while the remaining are undergoing treatment.
In Bihar, 29 people have died due to heat stroke while In Odisha, 14 people died of suspected heat stroke in Sundergarh district. Officials sources said these deaths have occurred in the last 48 hours.
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Many regions, including northwest and central parts of the country, are still reeling under the heatwave condition. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Dr. RK Jenamani said that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed over many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
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Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra has stressed that tobacco poses a severe threat to public health. Addressing the gathering at the event organized to mark World No Tobacco Day in New Delhi today, Mr. Chandra highlighted that in India, tobacco-related diseases cause 13 lakh preventable deaths annually, which leads to significant economic burden on the country’s healthcare system.
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The world championships bronze medalist Nishant Dev has become the first Indian male to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Nishant booked the Paris Olympic ticket after defeating Moldova’s Vasile Cebotari in a unanimous 5-0 decision in the men’s 71 kg category quarterfinal at the World Boxing Qualifiers in Bangkok today.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
⦁ All arrangements in place for 7th and final phase of Lok Sabha polling tomorrow; 57 Parliamentary Constituencies across seven states and one Union Territory to go to polls in this phase.
⦁ Prominent candidates include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Congress leader Manish Tewari and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
⦁ India’s real GDP estimated to grow by 8.2 percent in Financial Year 2023-24.
⦁ Prime Minister expresses concern over natural disasters in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal; Assures all possible support to affected states.
⦁ And in Sports: Nishant Dev becomes first Indian male boxer to qualify for Paris Olympic Games.
