Politics

"49.86 per cent polling was recorded in this seat, reserved for tribals," Joint Chief Electoral Officer DD Singh said.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sunil Gupta said that at 6 PM the polling percentage at Basirhat Dakshin constituency was 79.59 per cent and just 47.13 per cent at Chowringhee seat in the city.

Questioning Manmohan Singh's actions, the BJP asked the reason for his silence during the scams under the UPA regime.

Meanwhile, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna leader Raju Shetty, an ally of the Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra, has written to Maharashtra Governor to stay the decisions of the state government.

Downplaying the matter, however, party spokesman Salman Khurshid said in a lighter vein that "I would have to see the calendar for myself". Khurshid is 61.

The three NCP MLAs, Imtilemba Sangtam, Dr TM Lotha and Mmhonlumo Kikon, had switched sides to the BJP on June 16 last claiming to have fulfilled all the laid down provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Anti-Defection Law of the Constitution.

Javadekar assured that he is speeding up the decision making process and added that the word delay has been deleted from their systems.

The court was hearing a plea by Vinita Singla, wife of a public servant and working with an IT company, who opposed the Lokapal provisions contending that they were violative of her Fundamental Rights.

Sources said polling for state Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra are likely to be held in one phase.

Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay, who is known to be favouring formation of government by the party, indicated a decision on the issue in a day or two.

Modi said like in Jammu and Kashmir, the people in PoK region too were bearing losses due to the floods.

Amit Shah also condoled the loss of lives caused by the raging floods and said all efforts would be made to help the people affected by the crisis, BJP said in a statement.

In a stern message, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told both the seniors and juniors in the party to refrain from giving advice publicly through the media.

This was Shah's first visit to Mumbai after taking over as BJP president.

Rao was elected to Lok Sabha three times on Congress ticket from Kakinada in 1970s and 80s and was a member of the Indira Gandhi Cabinet.

Vijayawada in Krishna district of coastal Andhra Pradesh has traditionally occupied a prominent place in the history of Telugus.