Maharashtra LS Poll Profile
Over seven crore voters will exercise their franchise in Maharashtra in the coming general elections, registering a substantial rise of one crore in the number of voters since 2004.
Maharashtrahas become an important campaign ground for top leaders of the country. BJP's Lal Krishna Advani, BSP leader Mayawati and Congress general Secretary Rahul Gandhi recently paid visits to the state to highlight their party's agendas.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is visiting Vidharba region in Maharashtra.
Apart from the two major coalitions of Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena-BJP, the Bahujan Samaj Party is also strengthening its footing in the state.
The BSP is contesting all 48 seats in Maharashtra and has given tickets to candidates from all castes and communities extending its social engineering model in Maharashtra.
If it is the election heat that is catching up with the candidates a more literal rise in temperature has ensured that the issue of energy will play a key role in six constituencies in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
With naxalite groups threatening to disrupt elections the government has sought additional forces from the centre.
Over seven crore voters will exercise their franchise in Maharashtra in the coming general elections, registering a substantial rise of one crore in the number of voters since 2004.
Maharashtrahas become an important campaign ground for top leaders of the country. BJP's Lal Krishna Advani, BSP leader Mayawati and Congress general Secretary Rahul Gandhi recently paid visits to the state to highlight their party's agendas.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is visiting Vidharba region in Maharashtra.
Apart from the two major coalitions of Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena-BJP, the Bahujan Samaj Party is also strengthening its footing in the state.
The BSP is contesting all 48 seats in Maharashtra and has given tickets to candidates from all castes and communities extending its social engineering model in Maharashtra.
If it is the election heat that is catching up with the candidates a more literal rise in temperature has ensured that the issue of energy will play a key role in six constituencies in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
With naxalite groups threatening to disrupt elections the government has sought additional forces from the centre.
Uttar Pradesh LS Poll Profile
In Uttar Pradesh all major political parties have intensified their poll campaign especially for the first and second phases of Lok Sabha elections. Senior leaders of the parties including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi LK Advani, Raj Nath Singh, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav etc have been addressing election rallies in the state. A total of 271 candidates including 12 women are in fray for 16 constituencies spread in 13 districts of eastern part of the state where voting will take place on 16th of this month. Ruling BSP and main opposition Samajwadi party have fielded their candidates in all segments for 1st phase of elections. Bharatiya Janata Party has left one seat Salempur for its ally JDU. The Election Commissioner Navin Chawla has reviewed the poll arrangements being done for this phase and has instructed for full proof security arrangements in naxal hit districts Mirzapur, Sonabhadra and Chandauli and effective communication system involving near by residents of polling booths.
Nomination process has been over for 2nd phase of elections and battle lines have been drawn after withdrawal of candidature for17 segments spread in 20 districts where polling will take place on 23rd of this month. Totally 306 candidates are left in fray for this phase. Several prominent candidates including Rahul Gandhi Beni Prasad Verma, Dr. Sanjay Singh, Vinay Katiyar and several sitting MPs and MLAs are in contest in this phase.
Delimitation of parliamentary and assembly seats has affected the most of the segments going for poll in 1st and 2nd phases. It has not only changed the areas and status of the segments but equations of the votes were affected and it has forced several candidates to shift their battle grounds.
The election Commission has taken several measures to implement model code of conduct and has issued notices and lodged FIRs against candidates and their supporters. The commission has asked the poll officials to identify dummy candidates and take actions against them. Commission has removed principle secretary home of the state for his alleged partial behavior. For the 1st phase of elections nearly two crore fifty lakhs eligible voters are registered in all 16 segments and nearly 26 thousand polling stations are being set up to facilitate them. Similarly for the 2nd phase of elections nearly more than 27 thousand polling stations are being set up for the two crore fifty lakh voters. Massive security arrangements are being made to instill sense of confidence among voters. Administration has initiated preventive measures against the anti social elements and criminals to ensure peaceful electioneering and polling.
Nomination process has been over for 2nd phase of elections and battle lines have been drawn after withdrawal of candidature for17 segments spread in 20 districts where polling will take place on 23rd of this month. Totally 306 candidates are left in fray for this phase. Several prominent candidates including Rahul Gandhi Beni Prasad Verma, Dr. Sanjay Singh, Vinay Katiyar and several sitting MPs and MLAs are in contest in this phase.
Delimitation of parliamentary and assembly seats has affected the most of the segments going for poll in 1st and 2nd phases. It has not only changed the areas and status of the segments but equations of the votes were affected and it has forced several candidates to shift their battle grounds.
The election Commission has taken several measures to implement model code of conduct and has issued notices and lodged FIRs against candidates and their supporters. The commission has asked the poll officials to identify dummy candidates and take actions against them. Commission has removed principle secretary home of the state for his alleged partial behavior. For the 1st phase of elections nearly two crore fifty lakhs eligible voters are registered in all 16 segments and nearly 26 thousand polling stations are being set up to facilitate them. Similarly for the 2nd phase of elections nearly more than 27 thousand polling stations are being set up for the two crore fifty lakh voters. Massive security arrangements are being made to instill sense of confidence among voters. Administration has initiated preventive measures against the anti social elements and criminals to ensure peaceful electioneering and polling.
Meghalaya LS Poll Profile
In the election run up to fifteenth Lok Sabha this time there would be direct contest between the Congress and the NCP-UDP alliance for the two seats in the state.
There are also others, like MDP, HSPDP, and independents key players. All most all political parties have brought up their election manifesto.
Congress has taken up instability and development as its core issue while the NCP-UDP is selling out the current political crisis as their main agenda.
On 16th April, a total of 12 lakh 77 thousand 736 voters will decide the fate of eleven candidates.
A total of 2117 polling stations are being setup across the state.
In the 14th general election 52.69% polling was registered.
Eleven thousand polling personnels are being pressed off for the single phase polling. Security has been tighten in the along side of India Bangladesh international boarder of Meghalaya .
Mizoram LS Poll Profile:
In the run up to the General Elections, we now bring you profile of Mizoram. Our correspondent takes a look at the election scenario in the state:
AIR correspondent J. L. Hnamte reports from Aizawl that just after the scrutiny which took place on the 31st of March all the four candidates for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the State have kicked off their campaigns. The candidate of Indian National Congress Mr. C. L. Ruala has toured all the three southern districts of the state. An Independent, Dr. H.Lallungmuana, who is supported by Mizo National Front and Mizoram Peoples Conference is also campaigning in Kolasib, Sakawrdai and Suangpuilawn areas. Two other candidates Mr. Lalawmpuia Chhangte of Nationalist Congress Party and Mr. Rualpawla, Independent have also started their campaign in and around Aizawl town.
In Lunglei District, preparations for the Assembly bye-election in South Tuipui constituency is going on in full swing. As many as 13 thousand two hundred and 54 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this assembly bye-election. Altogether, 22 polling stations are being set up for them. Two candidates Mr. John Siamkhunga of the Congress and Mr. K. Lalsanga, an Independent are locked in a straight fight.
AIR correspondent J. L. Hnamte reports from Aizawl that just after the scrutiny which took place on the 31st of March all the four candidates for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the State have kicked off their campaigns. The candidate of Indian National Congress Mr. C. L. Ruala has toured all the three southern districts of the state. An Independent, Dr. H.Lallungmuana, who is supported by Mizo National Front and Mizoram Peoples Conference is also campaigning in Kolasib, Sakawrdai and Suangpuilawn areas. Two other candidates Mr. Lalawmpuia Chhangte of Nationalist Congress Party and Mr. Rualpawla, Independent have also started their campaign in and around Aizawl town.
In Lunglei District, preparations for the Assembly bye-election in South Tuipui constituency is going on in full swing. As many as 13 thousand two hundred and 54 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this assembly bye-election. Altogether, 22 polling stations are being set up for them. Two candidates Mr. John Siamkhunga of the Congress and Mr. K. Lalsanga, an Independent are locked in a straight fight.
Jammu and Kashmir LS Poll Profile
While battle lines are being drawn for five phase Lok Sabha elections, preparations are going on in full swing across the 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Coming shortly after the land mark 2008 Assembly elections in the state, a good voter turn out and keen contest is expected in all the six Lok Sabha seats.
The election campaign is in full swing in Jammu division where the two seats are going to polls in first two phases on April 16 and 23.
In Jammu-Poonch constituency, sitting Congress MP, Madan Lal Sharma is logged in a multi-cornered contest with BJP's Lila Karan Sharma and PDP's T.S.Baswa. In all 21 candidates are in fray.
Udhampur constituency too is poised for a multi-cornered contest though the final picture will emerge on 8th of April, the last date for withdrawal.
The poll scene in the valley is yet to concretize but a keen fight is expected between ruling National Conference and opposition Poeples' Democratic Party.
Coalition partners Congress and National Conference are fighting the election jointly and it remains to be seen how this is going to affect the voter turn ourt and poll out come.
Due to recent attempts of infiltration, security is a concern for these elections as many as 183 companies of CRPF and 66 companies of BSF are being deployed in the state to foil any attempts of militant to cause disruption.
While battle lines are being drawn for five phase Lok Sabha elections, preparations are going on in full swing across the 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Coming shortly after the land mark 2008 Assembly elections in the state, a good voter turn out and keen contest is expected in all the six Lok Sabha seats.
The election campaign is in full swing in Jammu division where the two seats are going to polls in first two phases on April 16 and 23.
In Jammu-Poonch constituency, sitting Congress MP, Madan Lal Sharma is logged in a multi-cornered contest with BJP's Lila Karan Sharma and PDP's T.S.Baswa. In all 21 candidates are in fray.
Udhampur constituency too is poised for a multi-cornered contest though the final picture will emerge on 8th of April, the last date for withdrawal.
The poll scene in the valley is yet to concretize but a keen fight is expected between ruling National Conference and opposition Poeples' Democratic Party.
Coalition partners Congress and National Conference are fighting the election jointly and it remains to be seen how this is going to affect the voter turn ourt and poll out come.
Due to recent attempts of infiltration, security is a concern for these elections as many as 183 companies of CRPF and 66 companies of BSF are being deployed in the state to foil any attempts of militant to cause disruption.
Assam LS Poll Profile
The State of Assam is going for two-phased polls on 16th and 23rd of this month to elect 14 members for the 15thLok Sabha. Nearly 2.75 crore electorates of the State are eligible to exercise their franchise. More than ten thousand polling stations, out of the total of 18829, have been identified as highly sensitive. The authorities have made elaborate security arrangements to conduct the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
The first phase of election will cover three constituencies of Silchar, Karimganj and Autonomous District.
AIR Guwahati Correspondent Ramani Kanta Sharma reports on the poll scenario in these three constituencies going to polls on 16th of this month.
The first phase of election will cover three constituencies of Silchar, Karimganj and Autonomous District.
AIR Guwahati Correspondent Ramani Kanta Sharma reports on the poll scenario in these three constituencies going to polls on 16th of this month.
The electorates of Assam are going to exercise their democratic rights for the first phase of election on 16thof this month amidst the enthusiasm of the Rongali Bihu celebration. The most popular Rongali Bihu celebrations are to begin in the State in the middle of this month. At a time when people will be dancing and singing to the tunes of the natural changes, they are going to vote to elect their popular leaders in the democracy.
The first phase of election will cover three Lok Sabha constituencies of Silchar, Karimganj and Autoniomous District, spread over the entire Barak Valley and two hill districts of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong. Of these, the Karimganj seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste and the Autonomous District for the Scheduled Tribes. 20 Assembly segments, comprising an electorate to the tune of 27 lakh 36 thousand, have been covered in this phase of election. Polling for the remaining 11 Lok Sabha constituencies, spread over 22 districts of the Brahmaputra Valley will be held in the second phase on 23rd of this month.
75 companies of Additional Central Forces have been deployed to oversee the security aspects in view of increased pre-poll violence by ultras in different parts of the State. Helicopters are being put in place to supervise the overall security. Country boats and elephants, besides other manual means have been requisitioned for smooth conduct of polling in remote, hilly and river side localities.
There have been no changes in the periphery of the Lok Sabha and Assembly segments in Assam in this election due to non-exercise of the delimitation of the constituencies.
The ruling Congress in the State is contesting in 13 of the total 14 Lok Sabha seats. It has left the Kokrajhar ST seat to its alliance partner- Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). The BJP and the Asom Gana Parishad has formed an electoral alliance for the first time in this election. Accordingly, the BJP will fight in eight constituencies and the AGP in the remaining six. After failing to form a Third Front in the State, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), CPI, CPI (M) and the NCP have fielded their own party candidates for a friendly contest in some of the constituencies.
In the prestigious Silchar Lok Sabha seat, dominated mostly by Bengali speaking people, the main electoral battle will be among the Congress, the BJP and the AUDF. The Congress has re-nominated its sitting member and Union Heavy Industries Minister Mr. Santosh Mohan Dev in the constituency. Mr. Dev represented this constituency for seven successive terms, except the 12th Lok Sabha. This time, he will face a tough battle with the BJP candidate and the former Union Minister Mr. Kabindra Purkayastha and the AUDF supremo Mr.Badaruddin Ajmal.
The main electoral battle in Karimganj constituency will also confine among the Congress, the BJP and the AUDF. However, in Autonomous District constituency, the main battle line is expected to be limited to the Congress and the BJP.
The first phase of election will cover three Lok Sabha constituencies of Silchar, Karimganj and Autoniomous District, spread over the entire Barak Valley and two hill districts of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong. Of these, the Karimganj seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste and the Autonomous District for the Scheduled Tribes. 20 Assembly segments, comprising an electorate to the tune of 27 lakh 36 thousand, have been covered in this phase of election. Polling for the remaining 11 Lok Sabha constituencies, spread over 22 districts of the Brahmaputra Valley will be held in the second phase on 23rd of this month.
75 companies of Additional Central Forces have been deployed to oversee the security aspects in view of increased pre-poll violence by ultras in different parts of the State. Helicopters are being put in place to supervise the overall security. Country boats and elephants, besides other manual means have been requisitioned for smooth conduct of polling in remote, hilly and river side localities.
There have been no changes in the periphery of the Lok Sabha and Assembly segments in Assam in this election due to non-exercise of the delimitation of the constituencies.
The ruling Congress in the State is contesting in 13 of the total 14 Lok Sabha seats. It has left the Kokrajhar ST seat to its alliance partner- Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). The BJP and the Asom Gana Parishad has formed an electoral alliance for the first time in this election. Accordingly, the BJP will fight in eight constituencies and the AGP in the remaining six. After failing to form a Third Front in the State, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), CPI, CPI (M) and the NCP have fielded their own party candidates for a friendly contest in some of the constituencies.
In the prestigious Silchar Lok Sabha seat, dominated mostly by Bengali speaking people, the main electoral battle will be among the Congress, the BJP and the AUDF. The Congress has re-nominated its sitting member and Union Heavy Industries Minister Mr. Santosh Mohan Dev in the constituency. Mr. Dev represented this constituency for seven successive terms, except the 12th Lok Sabha. This time, he will face a tough battle with the BJP candidate and the former Union Minister Mr. Kabindra Purkayastha and the AUDF supremo Mr.Badaruddin Ajmal.
The main electoral battle in Karimganj constituency will also confine among the Congress, the BJP and the AUDF. However, in Autonomous District constituency, the main battle line is expected to be limited to the Congress and the BJP.
Chattisgarh LS Poll Profile
The electoral spectacle of the state does brim with a political radiance emitted by at least 6 sitting MPs of the BJP, and one of the Congress besides three sitting MLAs of the Congress and one of the BJP trying their luck in different constituencies across the state. In addition to this, there are also half a dozen former MLAs who have queued themselves up on the path that leads to the 15th Lok Sabha. As on the first of this month, a total of 214 candidates had filed their nominations for 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state. However the number finally settled at 178, when at least 36 of them chose to withdraw their candidature. The rest of the candidates who belong to a wide spectrum of political parties together with the independents, are now busy convincing the voters that only they could be their best bet. Coming to the issue of delimitation, Chhattisgarh retained all its 11 seats with minor relocations of some pockets. One major change however is the dereservation of the Bilashpur constituency while the erstwhile Janjgir-Champa general seat got reserved for the scheduled caste. There are also 4 seats namely Sarguja, Raygarh, Bastar and Kanker which are reserved for the ST. The electoral battle that is to be fought on the 16th of this month beckons a bipolar contest between the congress and the BJP though BSP is also visible in all the Lok Sabha seats this time. Apart from this, while the CPI is eying the Bastar seat of the southern Chhattisgarh, the CPM is vying for the Sarguja seat of the northern Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, electoral arrangements in the state are being fine tuned along with adequate security measures especially in the naxal affected divisions. As a precautionary measure, the polling time in these regions has been squeezed down to 3 pm from the normal 5 pm on the day of polling. The BJP candidates flaunt the Raman-card, the Congress candidates are seeking to encash the achievements of the UPA government. Yet some others are busy milching the anti-incumbency syndrome, thanks to the absence of any palpable electoral wave this time. Together they are raising much dust as well as expectations of the voters even as the campaign barometer in the state shoots up and up. But only those can find a place in the elegant eleven who can make sure that the expectations of the voters that they have raised, do not settle down along with the dust of the election campaign. This is Girish Chandra Dash, for AIR News Raipur/
In Andhra Pradesh, a total of 180 nominations have been filed so far in 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. Simultaneously 1205 nominations have also been filed till yesterday in the 140 Assembly seats that are going to polls on 23rd of this month.
"With the nomination process for the second phase of elections in Andhra Pradesh coming to a close in another one hour, several leaders have filed their nomination papers today. The Praj Rajyam Party President and film actor Chiranjeevi, who is also contesting from Palakollu in West Godavari district, has filed his nomination papers from the Temple town Tirupathi this morning. Former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam President Chandra Babu Naidu’s nomination papers have been filed by his son at Kuppam Assembly constituency in Chittoor district. A total of 305 candidates are in the fray in 22 Lok Sabha seats while 1833 candidates are contesting from 154 Assembly seats in the first phase of election.
In Andhra Pradesh, a total of 180 nominations have been filed so far in 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. Simultaneously 1205 nominations have also been filed till yesterday in the 140 Assembly seats that are going to polls on 23rd of this month.
"With the nomination process for the second phase of elections in Andhra Pradesh coming to a close in another one hour, several leaders have filed their nomination papers today. The Praj Rajyam Party President and film actor Chiranjeevi, who is also contesting from Palakollu in West Godavari district, has filed his nomination papers from the Temple town Tirupathi this morning. Former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam President Chandra Babu Naidu’s nomination papers have been filed by his son at Kuppam Assembly constituency in Chittoor district. A total of 305 candidates are in the fray in 22 Lok Sabha seats while 1833 candidates are contesting from 154 Assembly seats in the first phase of election.
