Jammu:

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday night appointed four officers from the J&K Police Services (JKPS) as new Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) for Srinagar, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts, and as Superintendent of Police (SP) of Handwara, in accordance with approval from the Election Commission of India.

As per an order issued by the Principal Secretary Home, Chandrakar Bharti, seven police officials, including two IPS officers, have been transferred and given new assignments across three districts and one police district.

The Election Commission on Wednesday directed the transfer of senior police officials from Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara districts, and Handwara SP, instructing the administration to submit a panel of IPS officers for their replacement.

JKPS officer Imtiyaz Hussain Mir has been appointed as SSP Srinagar, Mohammad Zaid as SSP Baramulla, Ghulam Jeelani Wani as SSP Kupwara, and Ifroz Ahmad as SP Handwara, the order stated.

IPS officers Gurinderpal Singh and Shobhit Saksena have been reassigned from their roles as SSPs of Baramulla and Kupwara districts to Incharge Director Police Telecommunications and SSP CID (Headquarters) respectively. Dawood Ayoub, SP Handwara, has been appointed as SSP CID, headquaters, order added.

In a communique sent to the J&K Chief Secretary, the Commission approved the postings of Mohammad Zaid as SSP Baramulla, Ghulam Jeelani Wani as SSP Kupwara, Ifroz Ahmad as SP Handwara, and Imtiyaz Hussain Mir as SSP Srinagar.

On Wednesday, the Commission directed the Union Territory administration to submit a panel of IPS officers for the positions of SP and SSP in Srinagar, Baramulla, Handwara, and Kupwara by Thursday evening.

The Commission’s actions are seen as a measure to ensure a fair electoral process ahead of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

To encourage young voters to participate in the democratic process, the Election Commission of India on Saturday posted a new meme featuring the popular character ‘Munna Bhaiyya’ from the Amazon Prime series Mirzapur.

‘Munna Bhaiyya’, played by actor Divyenndu Sharma, is known for his stern yet memorable dialogues in the hit show. 

The Poll Body has now creatively repurposed a famous meme template associated with the character. In the original meme, ‘Munna Bhaiyya’ advises, “Padhai Likhai Karo, IAS YAS Bano”. The Election Commission, however, has given this meme a civic twist. 

In their version, ‘Munna Bhaiyya’ says, “Ye kya reels mein time barbaad kar rahe… jao vote do, loktantra ko mazboot karo [Why are you wasting time on reels…go vote and strengthen democracy].” 

“’Munna Bhaiyya”s blunt words appeal to youth to vote,” the caption read.

See here-

मुन्ना भैया की दो टूक….!
युवाओं से वोट करने की अपील #YouAreTheOne#ChunavKaParv#DeshKaGarv#LokSabhaElections2024pic.twitter.com/pTBqiIoBoN

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) May 25, 2024

Today, India is voting in the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. So far, 428 of the 543 constituencies across 25 states and Union Territories have voted.

In the penultimate phase, all seven seats in Delhi and all 10 in Haryana are going to polls. Besides them, 8 of 20 in Bihar, 14 of 80 in Uttar Pradesh, one of five in Jammu and Kashmir, six of 20 in Odisha, eight of 42 in West Bengal and four of 14 in Jharkhand are up for grabs.

As of 3 pm, the voter turnout across India stood at 49.2%. West Bengal led with 70.19%, while Uttar Pradesh trailed at 43.9%. Jharkhand was at 54.34% and Odisha at 48.44%. Haryana and Bihar hovered around 46.26% and 45.21%, respectively. Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir recorded 44.58% and 44.41% each.

Only 57 constituencies are left for the final polling on June 1, followed by vote counting on June 4.

Chandigarh:

The Election Commission has issued a strict warning to Congress candidate from Jalandhar Charanjit Singh Channi for violating the Model Code of Conduct, an official said.

Former Punjab chief minister Channi had called the Poonch terror attack, in which an IAF soldier was killed and four others were injured, a “poll stunt” meant to make the BJP win the Lok Sabha elections.

A spokesperson from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab said Mr Channi was asked to explain by the district election officer-cum-deputy commissioner of Jalandhar.

The EC has advised and warned Mr Channi against repeating such violations in the future and emphasised the importance of adhering to the MCC guidelines in letter and spirit, the spokesperson said.

The commission found his response “unsatisfactory”, deeming it a violation of the MCC clause which provides – “Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, record and work… Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.” 

One soldier was killed in action and four others were injured as terrorists ambushed an IAF convoy in the Poonch district on May 4.

Replying to a question on the attack, Mr Channi had said, “Yeh stuntbaazi ho rahi hai, hamle nahi ho rahe (These are all stunts, not attacks). Whenever elections are near, such stunts are performed to make the BJP win.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

 The decision to lift the ban on exports of onion was on the recommendation of the Department of Consumer Affairs, which monitors the availability and price situation of onion in the country. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Centre has taken permission from the Election Commission of India to lift the onion export ban as the Model Code of Conduct is in effect due to the Lok Sabha elections, sources said.

The government lifted the ban on onion exports, a decision that can help boost farmers’ incomes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in key producing regions, including Maharashtra.

The government has imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $550 per tonne (around ₹46 per kg) and 40% export duty. Taking duty into account, the shipments will not be allowed below $770 per tonne (around Rs 64 per kg).

The decision to lift the ban on exports of onion was on the recommendation of the Department of Consumer Affairs, which monitors the availability and price situation of onion in the country.

According to government sources, the Department of Revenue under the Finance Ministry took permission from the ECI to lift the ban on onion exports.

The decision assumes importance as it comes before the crucial Lok Sabha polls in key onion belts like Nashik, Ahmednagar and Solapur in Maharashtra. Farmers of this region have been demanding a lifting of the ban so that they can get a better price for their produce.

Impact on prices

On December 8 last year, the Centre had banned onion exports in early December to control retail prices amid concerns over likely fall in production. During the last 4-5 years, the country annually exported between 17 lakh and 25 lakh tonnes of onions.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on May 4 said the lifting of the ban would not lead to any price rise in retail markets. “Prices will remain stable. If at all there is any increase, it should be very marginal,” she said, while asserting that the government is committed to protect the interests of both consumers and farmers.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a notification on May 4, said that “the export policy of onions is amended from prohibited to free subject to MEP of USD 550 per metric tonne with immediate effect and until further orders.” On May 3, the Finance Ministry imposed a 40 per cent export duty.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Ms. Khare said the “ban on onion exports has been removed from today (Saturday) because the supply situation is comfortable and prices are stable in both mandies as well as retail markets.” The modal price at Lasalgaon mandi in Nashik was Rs 15 per kg in April.

She said the decision has been taken after considering the latest estimates of onion production in rabi season at 191 lakh tonnes, which is comfortable. Availability and prices of onion in global markets were also factored in while taking this decision.

The Secretary said the monthly domestic demand for onion is around 17 lakh tonnes. “Lifting the ban would also encourage the farmers to put more area under onions. The monsoon forecast is above normal,” she said.

She noted that the decision was taken after wider discussions with stakeholders. A high-level team also visited key onion-producing belts in Maharashtra to assess the ground situation.

Ms. Khare also pointed out that the shelf life of onions is less and therefore a need was felt to export onions. She said that the government is procuring 5 lakh tonnes of onions as buffer stock, and it can intervene in the market in case of price rise.

“We are continuously monitoring the prices of all essential food items. We will continue to keep a watch on the availability and price situation,” she said.

A senior government official explained that there is an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) which reviews the prices, production, availability and exports of essential food items, including onions. “So do not think of this as an isolated instance of decision making by IMC,” the official said, when asked whether the decision has been made in view of general elections.

The official said the IMC has been taking a series of steps in various commodities including wheat and rice to boost domestic supply and keep prices under check.

In March, the Union Agriculture Ministry released the data for onion production. As per the data, onion production in 2023-24 (First Advance Estimates) is expected to be around 254.73 lakh tonnes compared to around 302.08 lakh tonnes last year. This is due to a decrease of 34.31 lakh tonnes output in Maharashtra, 9.95 lakh tonnes in Karnataka, 3.54 lakh tonnes in Andhra Pradesh and 3.12 lakh tonnes in Rajasthan, the data showed.

Last month, in an official statement, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said the government has allowed export of 99,150 tonnes of onion to six neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, UAE, Bhutan, Bahrain, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

The Congress last month accused the Narendra Modi government of “callously neglecting” Maharashtra’s onion farmers affected because of the ban on onion exports. In its manifesto, the party promised a predictable import-export policy to prevent such catastrophic last-minute policies being imposed on farmers.

Twelve of the 20 new companies which bought electoral bonds were from Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit: Akash Dhage/Unsplash

Despite companies in existence for less than three years not being allowed to make political contributions — even through the electoral bonds route — data shows that at least 20 such newly incorporated firms purchased poll bonds worth about ₹103 crore (Table 1).

At the time when they purchased their first electoral bonds, five of these firms were in existence for less than a year, seven of them were a year old and the eight others had only completed two years. Notably, many of these firms were started in 2019 when the Indian economy went through recession or during the middle of the pandemic and bought electoral bonds worth crores of rupees just months after incorporation.

Also read: Electoral bonds data | Full list of donors and recipient political parties

The ban on companies making political contributions within three years from incorporation has been in existence for nearly four decades. In 1985, the Parliament amended Section 293A, lifting the ban on political contributions by firms subject to a few conditions. One of the conditions was that the firms should not be owned by the government and should not be less than three years old. This clause was retained under Section 182 of the Companies Act, 2013. When Section 154 of the Finance Act, 2017, amended Section 182, just before the introduction of electoral bonds, this clause was again retained. However, the amendment deleted the first proviso by which the amount donated by a company was capped at 7.5% of its average net profit during its previous three financial years. The prohibition on companies making donations to political parties in their first three years continued. According to Section 182 of the Companies Act 2013, if a firm makes a donation in contravention to the provisions, “the company shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five times the amount so contributed and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and with fine which may extend to five times the amount so contributed”.

Table 1 | The table shows the names of the 20 firms which purchased the electoral bonds (EBs), within three years of their incorporation. The date of incorporation of these companies, the date on which they purchased their first poll bond, the difference between the two dates along with the total worth of bonds purchased by these firms is mentioned in the table. 

Table appears incomplete? Click to remove AMP mode

Also read: Electoral bonds data | 55 firms’ purchase exceeded 7.5% cap in 2022-24, lion’s share went to BJP

12 of these 20 companies were headquartered in Hyderabad (Table 2). Together these 12 companies donated ₹37.5 crores, and close to 75% of which was encashed by the BRS, with the rest divided among the TDP, the Congress and the BJP. Two companies in Hyderabad — Tsharks Infra Developers Private Limited and Tsharks Overseas Education Consultancy Private Limited — both incorporated in 2023 — purchased ₹7.5 crore worth of bonds within months of getting incorporated and donated it to the BRS. Among the rest, HH Iron and Steel Private Limited, headquartered in Coimbatore, gave ₹15 crores to the BJP and five crores to the BJD. Their first electoral bond purchase was done just days short of turning three years old. Askus Logistics Private Limited, incorporated in November 2021, bought its first electoral bond within 1.5 years of its incorporation and donated ₹22 crores. This was encashed by the DMK, AITC and the RJD. Besseggen Infotech LLP, incorporated in May 2018, bought bonds worth ₹11.5 crores, with their first purchase done two years and ten months into their existence.

Table 2 | The table shows the city-wise split of the 20 companies.

Table 3 | The table shows the party-wise split of the encashments of the EBs purchased by the 20 companies.

Electoral bonds data | New firms bought crores of electoral bonds within months of formation

The three-year rule was retained to prevent shell companies from making political contributions. When the first proviso, which prescribed the 7.5% cap, was removed in 2017, the Election Commission of India had warned that this may lead to the use of “black money through shell companies”. The RBI had also flagged the possibility of firms misusing bearer bonds for money laundering.

The list of 20 firms is not exhaustive as it does not include the firms which were newly incorporated after mergers and amalgamations. The list also does not include firms that are not in the MCA

With inputs from Rebecca Rose Varghese

Watch our Data video:Electoral bonds banned: Which party benefitted the most while it existed?

New Delhi:

The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered the transfer of nine District Magistrates, 25 senior police officials including Commissioners of Police, SPs, additional SPs and four Secretaries and Special Secretaries across five poll-bound states due to “unsatisfactory performance”, sources said.

The poll panel’s action came two days after the election schedule was announced in five states – Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Mizoram and Rajasthan.

The sources said the poll panel has given directions for immediate handover of charge of officers transferred to immediate juniors and directed respective states to send the panel by 5 pm on October 12.

They said there would be zero-tolerance for any kind of “partisan behaviour” by officials.

“The Commission during the review meetings found that the performance of some officers was unsatisfactory and were found complacent, if not complicit. The Commission has ordered the transfer of nine DEOs or DMs and 25 Commissioner of Police, SPs, Additional SPs in these five polls going states,” a source said.

Those whose transfer has been ordered include three Commissioners of Police in Telangana – Warangal, Hyderabad and Nizamabad.

The sources said the Election Commission ordered transfer of non-cadre SPs in Telangana and Secretary Transport, Director Prohibition and Excise and Commissioner of Commercial Tax have been transferred from their present posts.

They said SPs of Hanumangarh, Churu, Bhiwadi have been transferred in Rajasthan

Special Secretary, Food Civil and Supplies Department, Chhattisgarh has also been removed from the present post, the sources said.

They said the poll panel, during the exhaustive reviews in the five poll going states, had clearly directed all the enforcement agencies and district administration for an increased vigil and no tolerance towards the distribution of inducements during the electoral process.

CEC Rajiv Kumar had said during the press interactions that the Commission has called for steps against the movement and distribution of liquor, cash, drugs and freebies.

“These four are our top priority for free fair and inducement-free elections,” Rajiv Kumar had said during the press conferences held in these states.

Intense review of sensitive routes and zones for the transport of these illicit items was done by the Commission and enforcement agencies were directed to function in a coordinated manner with joint operations.

The Commission gave clear directions for strict vigil on inter-state border check posts to dry up the inflow of cash, liquor, freebies and drugs and keep strict vigil over 940 border check posts in these five states.

Those ordered to be transferred include DMs, who also function as District

Election Officers in RangaReddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Yadadri Bhuvangiri and Nirmal in Telangana; DEOs of Ratlam and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh and DEO of Alwar in Rajasthan.

Those transferred also include two DEOs in Chhattisgarh (Raigarh and Bilaspur).

Sources said among the “25 CPs, SPs, Additional SPs” transferred there are “ten SPs (non-cadre police officers) from Telangana, three Commissioner of Police from Telangana (Warangal, Hyderabad & Nizamabad, two from Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur, Bhind), three SPs (Korba, Rajnandgaon, Durg) and two Additional SPs from Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur and Durg), two from Mizoram (Champhai and Saiha) and three from Rajasthan (Hanumangarh, Churu, Bhiwadi)”.

The sources said as per inputs, illegal liquor from Haryana and Punjab enters Rajasthan through Hanumangarh, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Alwar which reaches the hinterland districts as well as neighbouring Gujarat.

“After assessing the performance of officials in sensitive districts, the Commission has transferred the SPs of Hanumangarh, Churu, Bhiwadi and DEO Alwar in the state of Rajasthan,” a source said.

“Similarly, during the review meeting in Telangana, the Commission noted that several non-cadre officers are posted as district incharge while officers from administrative and police services were given non-significant postings. The Commission ordered the transfers of 13 SPs/CPs in the state,” the source added.

The sources said there were large-scale complaints regarding blatant misuse of money power during the recently-held bye-election to Munugode assembly seat.

The Commission also ordered the transfer of the Secretary Transport, Director Prohibition and Excise and Commissioner Commercial Tax in Telangana.

Telangana government has been directed to also appoint a separate Principal Secretary for the Excise and Commercial Tax Department in view of the rigorous work required during the elections. Earlier, Chief Secretary Telangana was holding the additional charge of the department.

From the international borders at Mizoram to the international border at Rajasthan, concerned agencies including BSF and Assam Rifles have also been directed to keep a strict watch. Proximity to “the golden triangle” makes the state of Mizoram vulnerable to trafficking of drugs and arms, the sources said.

They said four districts in Rajasthan namely Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Sriganaganagar share international border and are prone to narcotics smuggling.

The Election Commission’s thrust on “inducement-free” elections in the last six state assembly elections in Gujarat, HP, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Karnataka led to seizures worth more than Rs 1400 crore, a significant over 1000 pc increase from previous elections in these states.

“The Commission has significantly raised the bar for ensuring inducement-free elections and the continuum of stepping up efforts and increase in seizures witnessed during recently held Assembly Elections in five States, would continue in these five polls going states also” CEC Kumar had said announcing the schedule for the elections in these five states.

The Commission also introduced a tech-based platform in these elections for real-time updates on seizures by enforcement agencies.

The sources said that the Integrated Election Seizure Management System would facilitate seamless coordination and intelligence sharing amongst different agencies.

The online availability of data would facilitate in assessing trends, red flagging any specific routes and methods being followed for illicit trafficking of cash, liquor, drugs and freebies, they said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The appointment of Ajit Pawar as the Nationalist Congress Party’s National President is “illegal”, the Sharad Pawar-led faction fumed Friday in its reply to the Election Commission of India. The Pawar side of the NCP was responding to a plea by Ajit Pawar’s half staking claim to the NCP’s symbol. The plea was filed “to pre-emptively avoid inevitable disqualification (of the rebel leaders)”, the response said.

The Pawar camp has told the top poll body the Constitution of the party does not allow legislators to appoint a party boss, and that Ajit Pawar had “unilaterally sought to appoint himself as the boss on basis of signatures of some legislators”; the contentious resolution had Ajit Pawar as ‘Signatory No 1’.

The Sharad Pawar faction has also stressed that “there is no split in the NCP” – which was divided earlier this year after the nephew rebelled against the uncle and joined hands with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is itself propped up by a rebel faction of the Shiv Sena.

READ | Sharad Pawar Makes Massive Claim, Says “No Split” In NCP. Explains Why

The Pawar faction further argued that Ajit Pawar held a National Convention – without issuing notice or appointing a Chief Returning Officer – where his “appointment” was ratified.

Ajit Pawar, 63, was restored as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister – a post he held in the former government too – after he walked out of the NCP, taking over 40 lawmakers with him.

Pawar senior’s response also said disqualification petitions had been moved against “nine delinquent MLAs (on July 2) and 20 MLAs (on September 5) on grounds of anti-party activities”.

READ | As NCP Factions Fight, Sharad Pawar Says “No Split, Just Democracy”

“It is submitted… affidavits of MLAs against whom disqualification petitions are pending cannot be taken into account for purpose of deciding the majority. Therefore, affidavits of 29 MLAs… cannot be taken into account for purpose of ascertaining majority of petitioner,” the Sharad Pawar camp said.

“Of the remaining 24 MLAs, it is submitted the respondent continues to enjoy support of 12…”

NCP boss Sharad Pawar’s faction underlined its stance on this issue in August too; in which Mr Pawar, 82, said “a few” had left to “take a different political stance (but) this does not constitute a split”.

“It’s not like a majority of the people from the party are going out. Some people have taken a different stand, democracy allows them to do so. It’s not a split in the party,” he had said.

Also in August, the Sharad Pawar camp told the Election Commission that Ajit Pawar’s demand for the NCP symbol is “premature”, “malafide” and should be rejected.

READ | Ajit Pawar’s NCP Symbol Claim “Malafide”: Sharad Pawar Camp To Poll Body

“Ajit Pawar has not been able to demonstrate, even prima facie, there exists a dispute (within the) NCP… Election Commission has also not made any prima facie determination there is any dispute between NCP, led by National President Sharad Pawar, and former members (led by Ajit Pawar).”