Connect with us
Thursday,16-October-2025
Breaking News

National News

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: AAP, Congress Hit The Delhi Poll Hump

Published

on

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress crossed swords on Wednesday over contesting the Lok Sabha elections together in the capital. Following an emergency organisational meeting presided over by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi with Delhi unit leaders, senior party leader Alka Lamba said, “We spoke on strengthening the organisation and preparing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. There are seven months and seven seats. Every leader has to start from today on all these seats with whatever responsibility is being assigned.” The statement drew a sharp reaction from AAP.

“If the Congress has decided that it will not come together for an alliance with us in Delhi, there is no point in attending the INDIA alliance meeting and wasting time,” AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said. “Our central leadership will decide this… Our political affairs committee and INDIA parties will sit together and discuss this,” AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said. AAP sources said senior party leaders will reach out to the Congress to get clarity on its stand regarding a tie-up for the 2024 polls.

Congress sources, however, said the only direction from the high command was that the party prepare organisationally in all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. “Today’s meeting was not on alliance formation in Delhi, nothing was discussed about it.

The AAP can make assumptions but decision on alliance will be taken by the AICC central leadership and it will be announced by them,” said Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary. “What a possible alliance with the AAP, if there is one, will look like is under the ambit of the high command, which will decide the way forward… There was no discussion regarding it today

We only discussed how to possibly give voice to issues being faced by the average citizen of the city,” said Deepak Barbaria, the AICC in-charge for Delhi and Haryana. “Our meeting today revolved around the party’s strategy for the 2024 parliamentary elections, the issues related to it and the way forward… Representatives from several sections of society were a part of the meeting and spoke unequivocally that the same Delhi which had prospered under Sheila Diskhit ji has now become directionless,” he said. “In view of the Lok Sabha elections, a consultation was held with the leaders of the Delhi Congress today.

Revitalisation of Delhi Congress is our priority, in which participation of all leaders and workers is necessary. We had made Delhi prosperous and happy, our struggle for the people of Delhi continues even further,” Kharge said after the meeting. “The Congress is dedicated to strengthening the voice of the people of Delhi and ensuring the progress of Delhi,” said Gandhi in a Facebook post, adding that a meeting of Delhi Congress leaders was held under the chairmanship of Kharge.

“We, as an opposition party here, will raise questions about corruptions,” Chaudhary said. It was the Congress that protested against liquor policy during ‘Pol Khol Yatra’, which led to the arrest of (former minister) Satyendar Jain, Chaudhary said. The Congress will always question Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal whenever it concerns the safety and protection of the people of Delhi, he said.

Crime

Navi Mumbai Crime: 2 Women Booked For Abetment To Suicide Of 15-Year-Old Ghansoli Student

Published

on

Navi Mumbai: Two women have been booked for abetment to suicide after a 15-year-old Class 10 student from Ghansoli allegedly died by suicide following humiliation and assault at the hands of her friend’s mother and neighbour.

The deceased, Shamika Nagesh Gawde, lived with her parents in Talavali, Ghansoli, and was preparing for her Class 10 board exams at a private tuition class.

Police said Shamika had a minor quarrel with a classmate during her tuition on Wednesday evening. Though the matter was settled, the classmate told her mother about it, after which Reshma Santosh Gavande (42) allegedly called Shamika to her home.

At her residence, Gavande, along with her neighbour Mayuri Somanath Naikwadi (40), allegedly humiliated the girl, used insulting remarks about her parents, and Gavande reportedly slapped her.

Deeply hurt and distressed, Shamika returned home and later hanged herself. Her mother found her unresponsive around 7:45 p.m. and rushed her to Airoli municipal hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

A two-page suicide note recovered from the house detailed the incident and contained an apology to her parents. Based on the note and initial inquiry, Rabale Police registered a case under Sections 107 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the two accused for abetment to suicide.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused women’s actions caused emotional distress to the minor, leading to her suicide. A detailed probe is underway,” said Senior Police Inspector Balkrishna Sawant of Rabale Police Station.

Both accused, who are neighbours residing in Radha Apartment, Ghansoli, are being investigated further.

The incident comes close on the heels of another Class 10 student’s suicide in Airoli last week, wherein the girl died by suicide after the principal allegedly insulted her in the class.

Continue Reading

National News

Navi Mumbai Weather Update: Heavy Rains, Thunder, Lightning As Temperature Dips By 8°C

Published

on

Mumbai: Residents of Navi Mumbai witnessed a spectacular weather event on Thursday evening, as intense thunderstorms and lightning strikes lit up the skies over Koparkhairane. X user Athreya Shetty shared videos of the dramatic weather, writing, “Exactly as per forecast, an amazing cracking thunderstorm hits Koparkhairane with loud lightning strikes and heavy Mumbai rains.”

The storm brought a welcome respite from the heat, with temperatures dropping by nearly 8°C within just 15 minutes. Many parts of the city reported heavy rain and gusty winds, adding to the pre-festive chill.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Thane and Palghar districts have been placed under a Yellow Alert, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds. The IMD has forecast maximum temperatures around 35°C and minimums near 24°C for the next few days.

Additionally, all districts of Maharashtra (except Vidarbha) are under Yellow Alert for varying days between October 15 and 17, as light to moderate rain is expected due to an upper air cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea.

Meteorologists have attributed the sudden showers and drop in temperature to the Northeast Monsoon (NEM), which set in around 15 October. The shift is bringing fresh moisture from the east, making weather conditions more humid and muggy across the state.

This marks the first rainfall spell after the IMD officially declared the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from Mumbai on October 10 — the earliest in seven years.

For the season, the Colaba observatory recorded 2,263.0 mm of rainfall, while Santacruz saw 3,112.0 mm, signalling another intense monsoon season despite the early exit.

As Mumbai braces for humid conditions and patchy rains through the week, residents are advised to stay updated on local weather alerts and plan their travel accordingly.

Continue Reading

National News

ECI to enforce TN Seshan’s 1994 guidelines on Burqa-clad women in Bihar polls

Published

on

New Delhi, Oct 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday affirmed that it is strictly enforcing the landmark decisions introduced by former CEC T.N. Seshan in 1994 regarding ‘Pardanasheen’ (Burqa-clad) women voters during the next month’s Bihar assembly elections.

Referring to the ECI order dated 1994 with the subject line – “General elections to State Legislative Assemblies-1994-Special facilities in polling stations for women electors”, the commission highlighted that the poll panel is “implementing Ex CEC TN Seshan decisions of 1994 on Pardanasheens in Bihar.”

The term ‘Pardanasheen’ refers to women who, due to cultural conventions, do not appear before male officials or the public spaces without veils.

In 1994, T.N. Seshan issued specific guidelines directing polling officials to make arrangements that respect such sensitivities while ensuring these women are able to cast their votes without intimidation or identity challenges.

According to the 1994 order issued by the former CEC, “Chief Electoral Officer, District Election Officer, Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer, and Presiding Officer are responsible for ensuring special arrangements are made for women electors to exercise their franchise in the presence of Lady staff.”

“Where the number of female electors is significant (say, 50 per cent or above) and the system of Burqa or purdah is observed as a social custom, at least one Polling Officer must be a lady Polling Officer in each such polling station,” it noted.

It further added that, “If women officials are not available in the required number, the Returning Officer or Presiding Officer has the authority under Rule 34(2) to appoint ‘any woman to serve as an attendant’ at the polling station.”

Ahead of the Bihar elections scheduled for next month, the assertion by the Election Commission reflects the poll panel’s commitment to ensure the value of every voter, irrespective of gender.

With Bihar witnessing a two-phase voting schedule, the Election Commission’s renewed emphasis on inclusive polling arrangements is expected to significantly boost female voter turnout, especially in rural and conservative regions.

Continue Reading

Trending