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Veteran leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who sided with Ajit Pawar during the split of the Nationalist Congress Party, is likely to quit, a report by Hindustan Times claims. Bhujbal is unhappy likely because of being denied a Lok Sabha ticket and furthermore being ignored for an RS seat in favour of Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra, who recently lost the LS polls from Baramati to Sharad Pawar's daughter and sitting MP Supriya Sule.
The report also claims that Bhujbal can join the Shiv Sena (UBT) since he had quit the undivided SS earlier to join the NCP.
"With Rahul Gandhi deciding to vacate the Wayanad seat and his sister to contest from there, it has become clear today that the Congress is not a political party but a company of the family," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonwala charged.
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On June 15, Musk, a top global serial entrepreneur, called for the abolition of EVM in a post on the micro-blogging site X owned by him. "We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high," said Musk.
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"Priyanka Gandhi is the most popular face in Congress. She should have been made the Congress president...By giving her a ticket to Lok Sabha in by-elections, attempts are being made to diminish the stature of Priyanka Gandhi. Still, she is starting a new inning, my best wishes to her. But Congress has proven one thing by making Priyanka Gandhi contest from Wayanad, that Congress doesn't trust Hindus. Had they trusted Hindus, she would have been made to contest from elsewhere," Krishnam told ANI.
-ANI
As controversy erupted over claims that Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar's aide had a mobile phone that could unlock EVMs, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has sharpened his attacks by saying that questions were raised not on the EVM but on the system.
"Ravindra Waikar was in Shiv Sena earlier but due to the fear of ED & CBI he left the party...He should first talk about the ED case against him. Why is that stopped?," Raut further added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "Ravindra Waikar was in Shiv Sena earlier but due to the fear of ED & CBI he left the party. He should first talk about the ED case against him. Why is that stopped? We have not raised a question on the EVM but on the system. We have raised questions with evidence against the Returning Officer. Ravindra Waikar will not reach the Lok Sabha."
On Priyanka Gandhi to contest from Kerala's Wayanad, BJP leader V Muraleedharan said, "It's an insult to the entire state of Kerala and especially for people of Wayanad. Now, instead of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi is going to contest from Wayanad. It means that the way Amethi and Raebareli are family constituencies, the same way Wayanad will be their family constituency. Why should Priyanka Gandhi who has no connection with Kerala contest from Wayanad?"
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "We were saying it for the day one that Rahul Gandhi will betray the people of Wayanad. It's not us only, Annie Raja of left party was saying that Rahul Gandhi will leave Kerala and Wayanad. It has been made clear today that the family heritage of a company named Congress can only be transferred to daughter and not son."
Wayanad District Congress Committee has passed a resolution to welcome party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Wayanad. Priyanka will be contesting for by-election from Wayanad constituency of Lok Sabha.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed that he is coming back with Mann ki Baat. He said, "Delighted to share that after a gap of some months due to the elections, #MannKiBaat is back!
"This month's programme will take place on Sunday, 30th June. I call upon all of you to share your ideas and inputs for the same. Write on the MyGov Open Forum, NaMo App or record your message on 1800 11 7800."
Mann Ki Baat is Narendra Modi's radio show where he interacts with the audience.
While addressing a press conference Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann along with the DGP said that starting from constables they have issued transfers of all police officials.
Moreover, the CM called for strict action and immediate dismissal of police officials involved in drug dealings.
PM Modi will be addressing a rally in Varanasi for the first time since the Lok Sabha Polls. Joining him on stage will be UP CM Yogi Adityanath
He released Rs 20,000 crore as part of income support scheme for over 9.26 crore farmers, reports PTI
Addressing a rally for the first time since coming back to power, PM Modi thanks the voters of Varanasi for giving him a chance. He claims, "It's like Ganga has adopted me"
Modi thanks the voters at Kashi and says, "This incident (of nominating a PM for the third time) occurred 60 years. Until now, no government was able to pull of a hat-trick. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
While addressing the public at the Kisan Samman Sammelan in Varanasi, Modi stated that the voter's trust is his 'biggest asset'.
He further added, "I have started my third term with their empowerment. As soon as the government was formed, the first decision was taken related to farmers and poor families. Whether it is building 3 crore new houses for poor families across the country or taking forward the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, these decisions will help crores of people."
Modi said, "PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has become the world's largest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. So far, Rs 3.25 lakh crore has been deposited in the bank accounts of crores of farmer families of the country.
"Here, Rs 700 crores has also been deposited in the accounts of farmers of Varanasi."
Credit: PTI photo
A separate meeting of Maharashtra BJP core group was also held at the party headquarters earlier in the evening. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present there.
After attending a meeting chaired by Amit Shah and J P Nadda, Fadnavis addressed the media and said, "Today the Maharashtra core team had a meeting with the central leadership. We especially discussed the results seen in Maharashtra. The difference between Mahayuti and MVA is just 0.3% so we discussed in detail where we lost votes, where we faced problems, and the corrective actions that need to be taken.
"In addition, we discussed the blueprint for our strategy ahead of the Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Soon we will prepare our roadmap for the Vidhan Sabha elections with our NDA partners."
Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi announced that he is giving up the Wayanad seat and has in turn chosen Raebareli. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will make her electoral debut in Wayanad.
While addressing the media, Union Minister Piyush Goyal dismissed rumours regarding a change in leadership saying "There will be no change."
Soon after the Lok Sabha result, Devendra Fadnavis offered to step down as the deputy chief minister which gave way to rumours that there will be a change.
After the conclusion of Jharkhand core meeting, chaired by Amit Shah and J P Nadda, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the media.
During his address he said," "We all know that Assembly elections will be held in Jharkhand in November. Therefore, BJP chief (J P Nadda), Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) and party leader B L Santosh held a meeting to prepare our strategy for the next five months.
"Due to our performance in Lok Sabha polls in Jharkhand, our team is confident that we will form the government in the state"