India

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced February 5 as the date of voting for the 70-member Delhi Legislative Assembly and the results will be declared on February 8.

The date of the Issue of the Gazette Notification is January 10, the last date for making nominations is January 17, the date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is January 20.

The date before the elections should be completed is February 10.

Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioners of India, Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu addressed the press conference held in the Plenary Hall of the Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital.

As per the CEC, Delhi has 70 constituencies, including 58 general and 12 SCs, across 11 districts. There are 83.49 lakh male voters, 71.74 lakh female voters, and 25.89 lakh young voters, culminating in a total of 1.55 crore voters. He mentioned that the total number of polling stations is 13,033 in the national capital, out of which PwD and women-managed are 70 each.

He also mentioned that the Saksham App for the PwD voters, Home Voting facilities for the senior citizens, and CVIGIL for complaints will also be available to address the concerns of the people.

The term of the current Delhi Assembly ends on February 23, and the whole election process has to end before that.

Earlier on Monday, the ECI released a newly revised voter list for Delhi. According to the latest figures, Delhi's voter base has grown significantly over the past two months.

In October 2024, the total number of voters stood at 1,53,57,529. However, after a summary revision, this number has risen to 1,55,24,858, an addition of 1,67,329 new electorates by December 2024. The Commission has cautioned against the submission of false and fabricated documents for getting new voter ID.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 7 (IANS) As India embarks on its artificial intelligence (AI) journey, Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, on Tuesday announced $3 billion investment in the country for cloud and AI infrastructure over the next two years.

This investment aims to accelerate AI innovation in the country, which is pivotal for achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.

The tech giant also announced to train and skill 10 million people in AI by 2030. The company has already empowered 2.4 million Indians, including civil servants, college students and people with disabilities, with AI skills.

“India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly,” said Nadella.

On Monday, PM Modi met Nadella, saying he was glad to know about the tech giant’s ambitious expansion and investment plans in the country.

At an event here, Microsoft Research Lab launched an ‘AI Innovation Network’, a groundbreaking initiative designed to accelerate the transition from research to real, usable business solutions.

Furthermore, Microsoft and SaaSBoomi have joined hands to propel India’s AI and SaaS ecosystem towards a trillion-dollar economy, aiming to impact over 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs, creating over 200,000 new job opportunities.

In the last 12 months, Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers.

“Today’s announcement strengthens our belief in India’s potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace,” said Puneet Chandok, president, Microsoft India and South Asia.

The company will expand its cloud and AI infrastructure across data centre campuses in the country. Microsoft already has three data centre regions in the market, and the fourth ready to go live in 2026.

This investment aims to develop a scalable AI computing ecosystem to meet the growing demands of India’s rapidly expanding AI start-ups and research community, said the company.

Moreover, the company announced its next milestone, to equip 10 million more Indians with essential AI skills by 2030.

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said India’s vibrant youth and tech talent are key to shaping the future of AI.

“Through the ‘AI for India’ mission, we aim to empower citizens with cutting-edge AI skills, driving innovation, creating jobs, and bridging the digital divide. Collaborations with global leaders like Microsoft and similar companies are pivotal in this transformation,” the minister noted.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) In the last two Assembly elections in Delhi in 2020 and 2015, voters overwhelmingly backed the AAP, giving it 53.6 per cent and 54.3 per cent vote share respectively, a comforting fact for the ruling party which is hoping to clock a decent number of seats even in the upcoming polls on February 5, despite the pressure mounted by the BJP and the Congress.

The belief in the AAP ranks is that even in the worst scenario, the drop in their vote share can never be so drastic that the party will be vanquished. They hope to continue being a force in Delhi politics.

As pollsters have indicated repeatedly, the BJP’s tally in Delhi Assembly elections, partially, depends on the Congress' performance and its ability to cut into the AAP’s vote-bank that includes Muslims, slum dwellers, Purvanchalis and other residents of unauthorised colonies who vouch for former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s welfare schemes.

In 2020, the total turnout was 62.82 per cent and the AAP won 62 seats (vote share 53.6 per cent). The AAP won 67 seats in 2015.

The BJP won 8 seats in 2020 and 3 in 2015. The saffron party’s vote share in 2020 was 38.5 per cent. The Congress got a 4.26 per cent vote share in 2020.

In 2015, the total voter turnout was 67.47 per cent with the AAP’s vote share at 54.3 per cent, rising by 24.8 per cent from the previous outing in 2013, and its seats increased from 28 to 67, a gain of 39.

In the same election, the BJP’s vote share dipped by 0.8 per cent to 32.3 per cent and its seats reduced to 3 from 32 in 2013. The Congress vote share was 9.7 per cent, down 14.9 per cent, and it failed to open its tally – a loss of eight seats.

This election was a defining outing for the Congress which lost all its voters to the new outfit. The Congress’ loss of a vote share of 14.9 per cent was AAP’s gain.

The Modi Effect: Between 2015 and 2020 elections, the BJP’s vote share increased from 32.3 per cent to 38.5 per cent. The 2020 Assembly election was the first time that the BJP supporters, along with other voters in Delhi, were voting after seeing the performance of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre after a full tenure of five years.

Ahead of the 2015 elections, the Modi government was just one-year-old and Delhiites hadn’t seen his performance over a long period.

If previous results are any indication, the BJP support and vote share in the upcoming elections are likely to rise as voters are now aware of the 'Modi Magic' and his reputation to deliver on guarantees.

The possibility of Delhiites voting on Modi’s face value, just as voters did in Haryana and Maharashtra, is very high, especially, after the Prime Minister has guaranteed the continuation of all free welfare schemes being offered in the national Capital by the AAP and promising to make Delhi a global-level Capital.

Pollsters believe that if the AAP and the BJP promise the same free welfare services, the differentiating factor that might impact the voter decision could be the clean image of the top leaders of both the parties that is, Arvind Kejriwal for the AAP and PM Modi for the BJP.

“Such a Modi versus Kejriwal clash in Delhi could give an edge to the BJP due to the corruption allegations against the AAP leader,” said a political science teacher from Delhi University, cautioning that the BJP will have to counter Kejriwal’s ability to extract voter sympathy by claiming victimisation by the Centre and slapping of “false” corruption cases.

Voter turnout: A high voter turnout, a good performance by the Congress, in terms of vote share, and a restriction on bogus voting could still be the key factors that may influence the fate of both the AAP and the BJP in the upcoming elections.

An improved performance by the Congress may only keep the grand old party alive in the city where its identity is gradually getting eroded.

Among Delhi districts, the highest turnout in the 2015 Assembly elections was reported from North West at 68.58 per cent followed by Shahdara district at 65.81 per cent and 64.26 per cent in East district.

The high turnout in trans-Yamuna area, in a way, reflects the high expectations of the residents of unauthorised colonies and unplanned areas in terms of free water, power, health, sewer and roads – which the AAP has promised time and again.

The lowest turnout was in New Delhi district at 56.24 per cent, reflecting the voter apathy in more developed colonies whose residents already enjoy good infrastructure and, largely, are not eligible for free power and water. The district is home to constituencies like Patel Nagar, Delhi Cantonment, Rajender Nagar, New Delhi, R.K. Puram and Greater Kailash.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the Delhi Assembly election on Tuesday. The national capital will have a single-phase polling on February 5 and the counting on February 8.

The term of the 70-member Assembly ends on February 23, and elections have to be held before that to constitute a new House. The national capital has traditionally seen Assembly polls in a single phase.

The Assembly election in the national capital will witness a three-cornered fight between the ruling AAP, and opposition BJP and Congress.

The Aam Aadami Party (AAP) is aiming to win the polls for the third consecutive term. It won 62 seats out of the total 70 in the Assembly. The rest were taken by the BJP.

The AAP, which is finding its ground shaken after several leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were arrested in corruption cases, has been trying to woo the Delhiites with several promises. From playing religious cards to trying to shower women and senior citizens with specific welfare schemes, the AAP is trying everything to secure its base and another term in office.

The BJP, on the other hand, is playing up the corruption charges against the AAP and its convenor Arvind Kejriwal. It is trying to make inroads into the AAP base and win the required number to form the government. The BJP has been out of power in Delhi since 1998 and now is looking at ending this drought.

The Congress party is keen on making a comeback in the national capital. After being rejected by the voters in Delhi in the previous two Assembly elections, the Congress is desperately trying to register its presence in the upcoming polls. It has targeted the women electorate for whom it has announced the ‘Pyari Didi Yojana' promising Rs 2,500 financial assistance to those eligible.

In the Delhi Assembly, the magic number is 36.

The ECI has released a newly revised voter list for Delhi. According to the latest figures, the voter base has grown significantly over the past two months. In October 2024, the total number of voters stood at 1,53,57,529. However, after a summary revision, this number has risen to 1,55,24,858, an addition of 1,67,329 new electorates by December 2024.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon, who will be on a three-day state visit to India, beginning on Wednesday.

During the talks on Wednesday, the two leaders will review various facets of bilateral defence cooperation including training, regular exercises, defence projects, workshops and seminars to enhance the capability of the Maldives National Defence Forces as well as the supply of defence equipment and stores, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence.

"The Maldives occupies a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, which aims to bring stability and prosperity to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Also, both nations are key players in maintaining the safety and security of IOR, thus contributing to India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)," it said.

During his stay, he will also be visiting Goa and Mumbai.

Last week, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Khaleel who was on a three-day visit to India, said: "Our partnership dates back to centuries. Our partnership is built on mutual understanding, respect and a shared commitment. Rooted in decades of trust and friendship, it will continue to thrive... As a beneficiary of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, the government of Maldives deeply values the significant importance India placed in its relationship with the Maldives. We have many examples where the Government of India has consistently stood by the Maldives as an immediate responder in times of need."

"We always appreciate India for timely assistance, particularly through grant and concessional loans. On the development front, assistance from India has been transformative. The Greater Male Connectivity Project is a shining example that is set to transform the economic landscape of the Maldives," Khaleel added.

--IANS

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Prayagraj, Jan 7 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the impeachment motion moved against its judge, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, in the Rajya Sabha over his alleged controversial remarks at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event on December 8.

Justice Yadav had reportedly said that the "country would function as per the wishes of the 'bahusankhyak' (majority) living in Hindustan" and used "unpardonable and unconscionable slurs” against a particular community.

Thereafter, members of several opposition parties moved a notice in the Rajya Sabha for the impeachment of Justice Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad HC.

Questioning the locus of the PIL litigant, a bench of Justices Attau Rahman Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi held that the plea was not maintainable as it did not raise a cause relating to a vulnerable section of the society.

The plea challenged the impeachment motion moved by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal and 54 other members praying the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to admit the motion and forward it to the President in accordance with the Judges (Enquiry) Act, 1968. It also sought an inquiry committee to investigate the charges of hate speech, communal disharmony and violation of judicial ethics and further to initiate appropriate proceedings against Justice Yadav.

“Whatever Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav has said in this meeting of VHP (legal cell) was in the capacity of a Hindu who has gone to participate in a meeting of an organisation to which he belongs. Whatever he said in this meeting was in the capacity of the follower of the Santan Hindu Dharma, not as a judge sitting on the chair in the courtroom," the PIL argued.

It called upon the Allahabad HC to decide as to whether a person has no right to speech and expression because he has become a judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court.

"The right to speech and expression which is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution, is available to the judges also and so some speech made by the judge outside the courtroom can not be the ground to remove him from office," the petition said.

Two days after Justice Yadav delivered the controversial speech, the Supreme Court said that it had taken note of his remarks and called for details from the Allahabad High Court.

"I have no hesitation in stating that this is Hindustan, and this country will function according to the wishes of the majority living here. This is the law. It is not about speaking as a High Court Judge; rather, the law operates in accordance with the bahusankyak (majority). Consider this in the context of a family or society - only what ensures the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted," Justice Yadav had reportedly said while addressing the provincial convention of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's law Cell (Kashi Province).

"Lekin yeh jo kathmullah hai jo...yeh sahi shabd nahi hai...lekin kehne mein parhez nahi hai kyunki woh desh ke liye bura hai...desh ke liye ghatak hai, khilaaf hai, janata ko bhadhkane wale log hai...desh aage na badhe is prakar ke log hai...unse saavdhaan rehne ki zaroorat hai (But these kathmullah... this may not be the right word... but I won't hesitate to say it because they are harmful to the country...they are detrimental, against the nation, and people who incite the public. They are the kind of people who do not want the country to progress, and we need to be cautious of them," he had said.

--IANS

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Ranchi, Jan 7 (IANS) The Jharkhand Health Department has issued an alert following the detection of Human Metapneumo Virus (HMPV) cases in four states and Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari said that the state government is closely monitoring the situation and has directed officials to assess potential scenarios and remain prepared.

"We have not yet received any guidelines from the central government. However, once issued, we will take necessary actions promptly," he added.

Meanwhile, state Health Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh has instructed civil surgeons, medical colleges, and district health officials to stay vigilant.

The department has also issued an advisory based on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. As a precaution, hospitals across the state have increased bed capacity and ensured adequate oxygen supply systems.

Officials emphasised that the virus is not new and typically emerges during winter, as they urged the public not to panic.

The advisory recommends wearing masks in crowded areas, frequent hand sanitisation, and avoiding large gatherings. "There is no need to panic," it said.

Dr Manoj Kumar, Head of Microbiology at RIMS Medical College, Ranchi, reviewed the preparations and noted that HMPV testing is not currently available in the state.

"However, test kits have been ordered, and a request has been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for supply," he said.

He assured that while the virus is not fatal, vigilance is crucial. Preparations are also underway to initiate HMPV testing at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur.

Dr Pooja Sahay, a microbiologist at RIMS, explained that HMPV symptoms resemble those of Covid-19, and most patients recover within five to six days.

World Health Organisation's former Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan has said there is nothing to worry about the HMPV. "It’s a known virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly mild," Swaminathan said in a post on X.

"Rather than jump at detection of every pathogen, we should all take normal precautions when we have a cold: wear a mask, wash hands, avoid crowds, consult a doctor in case of severe symptoms," the noted scientist said.

HMPV was first discovered in 2001 and is part of the Pneumoviridae family along with the RSV. The symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 7 (IANS) As the 813th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti Garib Nawaz is underway in Ajmer, a group of pilgrims from Pakistan came to Ajmer on Tuesday morning to present a 'chadar' on behalf of the Pakistani government.

The pilgrims have also brought special offerings, including famous Pakistani sweets and bouquets of flowers, as a mark of reverence.

On Monday, 89 pilgrims entered India through the Wagah Border (Amritsar, Punjab) and travelled to Ajmer via a special train, arriving early on Tuesday at 2:56 am.

Accompanying them are two officials from the Pakistan Embassy.

Upon their arrival at the Ajmer railway station, many pilgrims raised their hands in prayer, expressing gratitude for reaching the sacred city.

Some sang devotional songs such as "Mere Khwaja Piya, Dar Par Bulwa Liya."

Nearly all members of the group carried a chadar to offer at the shrine of Garib Nawaz.

Syed Abdul Wahab Qadri, one of the pilgrims, expressed his sentiments, saying, "We have come to the land of Khwaja Saheb. May your country prosper. We will pray at the shrine for unity between India and Pakistan."

Another pilgrim remarked, "Masha Allah, relations between the two countries are very good. We will pray for even better ties."

Ajmer GRP CO Ram Avatar confirmed the group's arrival, stating, "There are 91 members in the group, including two officers. They were received at the station amid tight security and escorted to Central Girls School in Ajmer, where arrangements for their stay have been made."

Given the heightened security concerns, the administration, police, GRP, and other security agencies were on high alert.

Prior to the train's arrival, security checks were conducted at the Ajmer railway station by CID and GRP teams.

Armed soldiers, commandos, and police personnel were stationed across the area to ensure safety.

The pilgrims were then transported to their accommodation under tight security via roadways buses.

Every year, a lottery system organised by the Pakistan government determines the pilgrims allowed to participate in the Ajmer Urs.

The list of selected pilgrims is sent to the Indian government, which decides the final number of participants permitted entry.

Traditionally, the pilgrims stay in Ajmer’s Chudi Bazar, where the district administration manages their arrangements.

A specific date is coordinated with the Pakistani group for the ceremonial presentation of the chadar.

On this occasion, the pilgrims form a colourful procession, singing and dancing as they present the chadar at the shrine, continuing a long-standing tradition of devotion and unity.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday unveiled its campaign song, 'Phir Layenge Kejriwal' (We Will Bring Kejriwal Again), ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

The song highlights the party's key electoral promises, including its two recently launched welfare schemes -- Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, which provides Rs 2,100 per month to women in Delhi, and Sanjeevani Yojana, which ensures free treatment for senior citizens across all hospitals.

The launch event witnessed the presence of prominent AAP leaders, including party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and other senior members.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal described elections as a festival for Delhi's people.

"People eagerly wait for AAP's campaign songs. We launched one in 2015, then another in 2020, and now this one in 2025. I know you were all waiting for it. Play this song everywhere -- at birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations -- and promote it widely," he said.

Taking an indirect dig at the BJP, he added, "Even the leaders of the abusive party should listen to it and dance to its tunes."

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed the party's readiness for the election campaign.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "We have fielded 70 candidates. Today, the campaign song has been launched, and it will drive our election efforts."

Highlighting the party's achievements, Rai noted, "The people know who kept their promises and delivered. We promised electricity, water, better schools, women's clinics, improved travel facilities for women, and pilgrimage tours -- and we fulfilled them all. That's why 'Phir Layenge Kejriwal' resonates with the people of Delhi."

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The updated electoral rolls announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) give a detailed break-up of the electorate including men, women and young voters. A closer look at the ‘new voters base’ goes on to show women’s increased participation in the electoral process, particularly after the sops promised by political parties.

On December 16, former Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal promised to raise the monthly allowance for women from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,100 while the Congress has recently promised Rs 2,100 per month to women voters under the ‘Pyari Didi scheme’. The BJP is also expected to announce sops for women in its 'Sankalp Patra'.

The Chief Electoral officer (CEO) told the press that the poll body has seen an ‘unprecedented rush’ for new voter registrations particularly after December 16, 2024 and added that women voters have outnumbered men in new registrations.

According to the EC's data, more than 5.1 lakh new voter applications have poured in after December 16 and the verification process for the same is currently underway.

The numbers are small in terms of the electoral roll but this does indicate the growing interest and participation of women in the polling process and eventually their potential to influence the city's poll outcome.

Compared to this, about 1.67 lakh new voters were added in Delhi’s electoral rolls in the past two months, from October to December 2024.

“In October 2024, the total number of voters stood at 1,53,57,529. This number got revised to 1,55,24,858, marking an addition of 1,67,329 new electorates by December 2024,” the EC said in its statement.

According to the data released by the ECI through Delhi CEC, the past two months witnessed a rise of about 1.09 per cent (1.67 lakh) in the draft electoral roll while the number of voters rose by 5 per cent from 2020 (from 1.48 crore to 1.55 crore voters).

As per the EC's electoral roll, the total electorate in the national Capital stands at 1,55,24,858, out of which 83,49,645 are male, 71,73,952 female and 1,261 third gender voters.

The rise in voter registrations remains scattered across all the constituencies. As per the EC, Vikaspuri constituency in West Delhi has the highest numbers of 4,62,184 voters while Delhi Cantt in South West Delhi has the lowest numbers at 78,893.

New Delhi, the most high-profile seat of Delhi has about 1,09,000 voters and is the second-smallest constituency in Delhi. The seat is witnessing a hotly-contested battle between the AAP's National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former BJP MP Parvesh Verma and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.

Iconic locations of Old Delhi like Chandni Chowk and Matia Mahal seats also have smaller voter bases, with 1,26,000 and 1,29,000 voters, respectively.

--IANS

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