THE HEADLINES:
- Over 33 percent Voter turnout recorded till 1 pm for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi.
- Political fate of 699 candidates including Aam Aadmi party leader Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, BJP’s Pravesh Verma and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit to be decided.
- Bye-polls in Erode-East assembly seat in Tamil Nadu and Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh also taking place today.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Mahakumbh.
- President Donald Trump withdraws US from United Nation Human Rights Council.
- And in Cricket, Ranji Trophy quarterfinal between defending champions Mumbai and Haryana moved from Lahli to Kolkata.
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Voting is underway for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi amid tight security. 33.31 percent voter turnout was recorded till 1 PM. A total of 699 candidates are in the fray. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling in the National capital. Over 13 thousand seven hundred polling booths have been setup across the assembly constituencies. Out of these, 70 polling stations are being managed by women, while 70 others, are being managed by divyangjans. The Election Commission has deployed more than one lakh and eighty thousand polling personnel to ensure smooth conduct of election. Assured minimum facilities have been put in place for the voters including ramps, wheelchairs, medical teams and creche services.
Prominent leaders whose political fate will be decided today include – Aam Aadmi Party National convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai, BJP’s Vijender Gupta, Pravesh Verma, Ramesh Bidhuri, and Kailash Gahlot. Congress leaders Sandeep Dikshit, Haroon Yusuf and Alka Lamba are also in the political battlefield.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Union Ministers Dr S Jaishankar, and Hardeep Singh Puri, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi were among the first to cast their vote for the Delhi Assembly Polls. After casting his vote Former President Ram Nath Kovind appealed to every voter to cast their vote.
Former Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud after casting his vote said it’s an extraordinarily important event in the life of every citizen. He added that Our constitution is one of the few constitutions which gave a right to vote at its very birth to every citizen who attained the voting age.
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Poling began at 7 AM today and will continue till 6 PM. The highest poll percentage so far was recorded in North East Delhi with 39.51 percent followed by Shahdara which recorded 35.81 percent. New Delhi district registered 29.89 percent of voting, North Delhi recorded 32.44 percent and North West with 33.17 percent.
In South Delhi district, 32.67 percent, in South East 32.27 percent, in South West 35.44 percent, and West Delhi recorded 30.87 percent of voter turnout.
The Central Delhi district recorded the lowest voter percentage with 29.74 percent till now while in East Delhi registered 33.66 per cent of voter turnout.
Voting for bye-polls in Erode-East assembly seat in Tamil Nadu and Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh is also underway. Till 1 PM, over 42.41 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Erode-East and around 44.59 percent in Milkipur.
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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that voting is the oxygen and base of democracy. Addressing the media after casting his vote for the Delhi Assembly Elections at the North Avenue polling booth in New Delhi, Mr Dhankar said that voting is fundamental to all the rights, and there is no bigger right than this. He highlighted that India is the oldest and the most vibrant democracy in the world where regime changes through voting only. The Vice-President also lauded the management of the election commission. He urged all the voters to exercise their right.
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Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar today lauded the efforts of polling officials, security forces, and others involved in the smooth conduct of Delhi Assembly Polls. Talking to media after casting his vote in Delhi’s New Moti Bagh area, CEC Kumar said that more than 12 thousand to 13 thousand rallies were done peacefully in Delhi in the past one month, due to the hardwork of all Returning Officers and DCPs. Mr Kumar highlighted that the commission has given strict orders to ensure level-playing field and fairness.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah is holding a security review meeting on the second consecutive day on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi today. The meeting chaired by the Home Minister yesterday was attended by Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior officials.
In the review meeting held last month, the Union Home Minister had directed all security agencies to adopt a zero tolerance policy against terrorism and work in a coordinated manner to eliminate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He had emphasized on the implementation of Area Domination Plan and Zero Terror Plan in mission mode. In that meeting, Mr. Shah appreciated efforts of the security agencies for a significant decline in terrorist incidents, infiltration and recruitment of youth in terrorist organizations.
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And now news from Mahakumbh;
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took a holy dip in Triveni Sangam at Mahakumbh, Prayagraj. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, the Snan at the Sangam is a moment of divine connection. He said, like the crores of others who have taken part in it, he was also filled with a spirit of devotion. Mr Modi hoped that Maa Ganga will bless countrymen with peace, wisdom, good health and harmony. Our correspondent has filed this report:
“Prime Minister Modi took a boat ride with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to reach Triveni Sangam. Mr Modi performed aarti and Puja at Triveni Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati river. In line with the government’s commitment to promote and preserve India’s spiritual and cultural heritage, the Prime Minister has consistently taken proactive steps to enhance infrastructure and facilities at pilgrimage sites. Earlier, during his visit to Prayagraj in December, last year, Prime Minister Modi had inaugurated 167 development projects worth five thousand 500 crore rupees, improving connectivity, amenities and services for the general public. The Mahakumbh 2025, which commenced on Paush Purnima, 13th January, is the world’s largest spiritual and cultural gathering, attracting devotees from across the globe. It will continue until Mahashivratri on 26th February. More than 39 crore devotees have taken holy dip in the Triveni Sangam so far. With Dipendra kumar, Aman Yadav, Akashvani News Delhi.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also took a holy dip in Prayagraj, Mahakumbh this morning.
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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC), prohibiting any future funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. President Trump has also directed the US to review its participation in the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the body that uses culture and history as a bridge-building mechanism between nations.
The Executive order said that the United States helped found the United Nations after World War II to prevent future global conflicts and promote international peace and security. However it said that some of the UN’s agencies and bodies have drifted from this mission and instead act contrary to the interests of the United.
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In Cricket, the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal between defending champions Mumbai and Haryana has been moved from Lahli to Kolkata. The match will now be played at Eden Gardens from February 8 to 12. No official reason has been given for the change of venue. Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik confirmed that they had received communication from the BCCI about the venue change.
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In the Rosario Challenger Tennis, star Indian player Sumit Nagal will face Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien in the pre-quarterfinals of Men’s Singles in Argentina tonight.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Over 33 percent Voter turnout recorded till 1 pm for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi.
- Political fate of 699 candidates including Aam Aadmi party leader Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, BJP’s Pravesh Verma and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit to be decided.
- Bye-polls in Erode-East assembly seat in Tamil Nadu and Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh also taking place today.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Mahakumbh.
- President Donald Trump withdraws US from United Nation Human Rights Council.
- And in Cricket, Ranji Trophy quarterfinal between defending champions Mumbai and Haryana moved from Lahli to Kolkata.
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