Bengal Assembly elections results: Kolkata Police warn of legal action for sharing fake social media posts

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, alleging large-scale voter bribery through cash, gifts, liquor and other inducements by major political parties and accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to ensure free and fair polls.

The writ petition, filed by Tamil Nadu resident K.K. Ramesh, seeks a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer to cancel the 2026 Assembly election in the state on the ground that the electoral process has been “vitiated” by rampant vote-buying.

In the plea, the petitioner alleged that major political parties, including the DMK, BJP, AIADMK, TVK, and the Congress, were indulging in bribing voters through distribution of cash and freebies such as laptops, colour televisions, grinders, mixers, fans, goats and cows.

Claiming that the ECI had failed to curb such practices despite being aware of the situation, the petition stated: “Bribery in elections destroys the very basis of a democracy. It is necessary to protect the purity and sanctity of the polls, which can be ensured only by taking stringent action against those indulging in such bribing activities.”

The plea contended that Tamil Nadu has been categorised by the ECI as an “expenditure-sensitive State” due to recurring high-value seizures during elections, but alleged that the poll body has not taken adequate preventive steps to stop vote-for-cash practices.

Referring to past election seizures, the petition said that during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, enforcement agencies seized cash, precious metals, drugs and liquor worth Rs 1,324.83 crore in the state, while seizures during the 2021 Assembly polls stood at around Rs 1,000 crore.

Alleging systemic voter inducement, the petitioner claimed that in several constituencies, voters were paid between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per vote and that political parties had devised methods to distribute cash in a manner making refusal difficult.

“The atmosphere in Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies is seriously vitiated due to the use of money,” the plea said, adding that candidates elected through such a process “would not be true representatives of the electors”.

Seeking judicial intervention, the petitioner has prayed for directions to “cancel the Assembly Election of Tamil Nadu” and grant any other relief deemed fit in the interest of preserving democratic values.

The petition further sought any other appropriate orders or directions that the Supreme Court may deem fit in the interest of justice.

Notably, the broader issue of poll freebies is already under consideration before the apex court in a pending petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

In its 2013 judgment in the Subramanian Balaji case, the top court had held that the distribution of free colour television sets by the DMK government after winning the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls could not be treated as a “corrupt practice” under the Representation of the People Act.

–IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Jan 12 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched premium bus services from four cities — Puri, Sambalpur, Bhawanipatna and Berhampur — for Ayodhya via Varanasi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh Mela.

The special pilgrim buses to the holy places have been started by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), the state-owned public transport operator, under the Transport & Commerce Department of Odisha.

More than 200 devotees from different parts of Odisha on Sunday left for the Maha Kumbh Mela on these special buses equipped with all advanced amenities.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Majhi said that Ardha Kumbha is held every six years while the Purna Kumbha is observed every 12 years at Prayagraj. However, the Maha Kumbh Mela is going to be celebrated at the Prayagraj this year after a gap of 144 years.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is going to be held at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh from January 13 to February 26. Lakhs of devotees and saints will throng Prayagraj to attend the grand fair this year.

“Thousands of devotees from Odisha also go on pilgrimage to Prayagraj and take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam (the holy confluence of rivers — Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) whenever Kumbh Mela takes place. As this holy Maha Kumbh Mela fair is going to be held for a long period between January 13 and February 26, I request all to go to Prayagraj on the holy pilgrimage,” stated the CM.

CM Majhi said that the Odisha government has made several arrangements to ensure a safe journey for the pilgrims using the premium bus services offered by OSRTC. Two buses will run up and down on each route. All the necessary arrangements for short-term accommodations at designated places on the routes have also been made by the OSRTC.

CM Majhi also informed that the bus fare has been halved for women pilgrims. He said that a live vehicle tracking system, panic buttons, and an advanced driver assistance system have been set up in the pilgrim buses. Managers are deployed on each bus to ensure the travellers do not face any problems during the journey.

This apart, tents have been erected at the Prayagraj for the pilgrims and tour guides have been engaged to guide the pilgrims there.

A 24×7 help desk has been opened at the OSRTC office here for the pilgrims visiting Maha Kumbh Mela. The pilgrims can also seek assistance by calling 1800 345 1122 or reaching out via WhatsApp at 78490 52205.

Additionally, OSRTC staff have been deployed in Prayagraj to provide all support to the devotees there. Pilgrims can book tickets in advance through the OSRTC website (osrtc.org), mobile app, or at OSRTC ticket counters. The Chief Minister also said that the OSRTC is starting the long-distance journey of over 2,500 km for the first time.

–IANS

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Chennai, Aug 18 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s Water Resources Department (WRD) on Monday issued a flood warning to 11 districts in the state’s Cauvery delta region following a sharp increase in water discharge from Karnataka’s reservoirs into the Mettur dam.

In its advisory, the Water Resources Department said that the combined discharge from the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini dams has been stepped up to 95,000 cusecs, causing heavy inflow into the Mettur reservoir.

With the dam rapidly filling up, officials expect it to reach its full capacity of 120 feet soon. Once this level is attained, surplus water will be released into the Cauvery River.

The department has warned that between 50,000 and 70,000 cusecs of surplus water may initially be discharged from Mettur, with the quantum likely to rise further depending on inflows.

Residents living along the banks of the Cauvery and in low-lying areas of Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Ariyalur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore districts have been advised to move to safer areas and take precautionary measures to safeguard life and property.

On Monday, the water level at Mettur dam stood at 117.56 feet against its full capacity of 120 feet. The storage stood at 89.63 TMC, close to the maximum capacity of 93.47 TMC. The inflow rose to 7,435 cusecs, up from 6,223 cusecs on Sunday.

Officials said that the water discharge into the Cauvery for delta irrigation was raised to 35,000 cusecs from 22,000 cusecs the previous day. For canal irrigation, 500 cusecs continue to be maintained.

“Discharge will be gradually increased depending on inflows, and once the dam touches full capacity, the entire inflow will be let out,” a senior Water Resources Department official said.

The state government has also directed district administrations to be on high alert and ensure that relief and evacuation measures are ready in case of flooding.

With heavy rains predicted in Karnataka and the catchment areas of the Cauvery, authorities are closely monitoring the situation to avoid loss of lives and damage to crops in the delta region.

–IANS

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