Election Results 2012 Civic Poll Delhi,UP,Gujarat & Himachal Pradesh Live Trends , Candidate Name & Winner

Lucknow: The high stakes battle for power in Uttar Pradesh entered the last lap on Tuesday with 60 per cent peaceful voting in the sixth and penultimate round of the assembly elections that end next week.

The turnout among the 2.11 crore voters was in keeping with the high percentage in the last five rounds. Polling in 68 constituencies across 13 districts in western Uttar Pradesh had begun at 7 am and ended at 5 pm.

“Today appears to be more like the first phase when polling crossed the 60 per cent mark”, chief electoral officer Umesh Sinha told IANS at the close of balloting.

“The highest turnout was reported from Saharanpur district, where it touched nearly 65 per cent, while the lowest was reported from Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida) at about 56 per cent,” he added.

In Agra too, there was high voting with the polling percentage crossing 51 per cent at 3 pm, two hours before polling ended.

“Polling started at 7 am and it is heartening that about 60 per cent of the 2.17 crore voters responded to echoing appeals of the Election Commission to exercise their franchise”, Sinha said, adding: “This is way ahead of the turnout of barely 46 per cent at the last assembly election,” Sinha said.

The fate of 1,103 candidates was sealed in some 30,000 electronic voting machines installed at 21,317 polling stations across the districts of Saharanpur, Prabudh Nagar, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat. Ghaziabad, Gautam Buidh Nagar, Panchseel Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mahamaya Nagar, Mathura and Agra.

Though the belt is notorious for its feudal traditions, this phase had 9,391,585 women listed as voters, the highest, besides 712 eunuchs.

Except for two minor incidents, polling remained peaceful all over the otherwise volatile belt of western UP. According to reports, police used mild force to disperse a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and his supporters who were creating a ruckus at a polling centre at Singhani Gate area of Ghaziabad because of a delay in issuing voter slips.

Some people attempted to create some ruckus at a polling centre at Ahmadia Hameedia College in Man-Tola locality of Agra over alleged inconsistencies in the electoral rolls.

While the elections were proceeding peacefully, there were some glitches as well. Key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was on his way to Goa but returned from the airport to vote from Ghaziabad only to find his name missing from the voters list.

Among the candidates testing their luck in the sixth phase was Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chaudhury.

The impact of the Congress-RLD combine on the Jat and the Muslim voters, who dominate large parts of the 13 districts, was on test. While the Samajwadi Party (SP) vied desperately for the Muslim vote, the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) tried hard to retain its chunk of 35 seats won in 2007.

Four of the 13 districts witnessing the poll have a substantial Muslim population ranging between 25-39 per cent, while the remaining nine districts have 18-22 per cent Muslims.

Counting of votes for this high stakes battle will be done March 6.

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/up-poll-60-pc-turnout-reported-in-6th-phase/234579-37.html

Lakhimpur: Senior BJP leader L K Advani Tuesday said his party would prefer to sit in the Opposition if it failed to secure an absolute majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

If the BJP was voted to power in the state, it would provide a people-friendly government like in Gujarat and MP, he told an election rally here.

Attacking the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre on the corruption issue, Advani said never before any Union minister had been sacked after the court verdict.

Listing achievements of the NDA-led government at the Centre, he appealed to the electorate to vote for the BJP for good governance in UP.

Addressing a rally in Pallia, BJP veteran Rajnath Singh reminded the people about the achievements of the BJP-led governments in UP.

He said the development work in UP would be set on right track if the party was voted to power.
Singh said the BJP was the only party which could provide corruption-free and people-friendly governance in UP.

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/state-elections-2012/up/bjp-to-sit-in-oppn-if-it-gets-no-majority_761242.html

Lucknow: After creating a controversy by indicating a surge in favour of the Samajwadi Party in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi Tuesday said the statements attributed to him were “incorrect and mischievous.”

In a signed statement, Varun Gandhi, the MP from Pilibhit, said that he never said that the Samajwadi Party would form the next government in the state but had merely said that the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was in for a major drubbing and that opposition parties would gain at its cost.

“I have never stated that the SP would form the next government in UP. I merely predicted the complete meltdown of the BSP and further theorized that, by implication, the seats of other parties may rise,” he said.
He also asserted that the BJP would fare impressively while the SP would increase its tally over the 2007 figures.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/state-elections-2012/up/remarks-on-samajwadi-party-twisted-varun_761210.html

Lucknow: Polling picked up in the sixth phase of UP assembly elections covering 68 seats with about 24 per cent of the over 2.17 crore voters exercising their

franchise in the first four hours.

“Polling started at 7 AM and 23.88 per cent votes were polled in the first four hours,” Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said.

Maximum 28.87 per cent polling was recorded in Hathras district. Among other districts, 27 per cent votes were polled in Saharanpur, 24 per cent each in Agra and Aligarh, 23.5 per cent in Bulandshahr, 22.6 in Gautam Buddha Nagar, 21.5 in Muzaffarnagar, 22 per cent in Panchsheel Nagar and 24.5 per cent in Meerut.

Polling in Noida, Dadri and Jewar assembly seats in Gautam Budhh Nagar was going on peacefully.

In Bhatta Parsaul, which was the centre of the land acquisition row, farmers were seen coming out to vote. Their leader Manvir Singh Tevatia, who had spearheaded the farmers’ agitation, is fighting election from jail. The area falls under Jewar Assembly seat.

Congress has fielded Dhirendra Singh from Jewar. He was the man on whose bike Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had reached Bhatta Parsaul last year.

In Chief Minister Mayawati’s native Badalpur village, farmers had lined up to cast their vote. BSP has fielded Satvir Gujjar, sitting MLA from here, while Congress has fielded Samir Bhatti.

Bhatti had once served as MLA from Dadri and his father Mahinder Singh Bhatti was twice MLA from here. BJP has fielded Nawab Singh Nagar, who was twice elected MLA from here in the past. Samajwadi Party has fielded Raj Kumar Bhatti as candidate.

In Noida, which has become an assembly seat for the first time, a good turnout is expected. Earlier Noida was part of Dadri assembly seat and rural voters used to decide the winning pattern here.

Mahesh Sharma is BJP candidate from Noida while VS Chauhan is Congress candidate. Om Dutt Sharma is BSP candidate while Sunil Choudhary is the SP candidate.

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/crucial-6th-phase-of-polling-in-up-today/234328-37.html

Panaji: BJP on Sunday dared Congress to make public the Justice M B Shah Commission’s report on illegal mining in Goa.

BJP’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gopinath Munde, claimed here today that the report was ready, but ruling Congress feared its possible impact ahead of the March 3 assembly polls.

“There is no other reason for them to keep the report on the back burner,” said Munde, here to address campaign rallies.

Justice Shah Commission has been investigating the multi- crore illegal mining, involving illegal extraction as well as evasion of export royalties.

Munde said that the Commission, it was understood, had already submitted its final report. “Some parts of the report were aired on a private channel. Union government will have to either accept or refute what was aired,” he said, alleging that several Congressmen from the state were involved in illegal mining rackets.
Saying that illegal mining had become a major poll issue, he said, “Congress cannot escape responding to the allegations levelled against its leaders in the scam.”

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/state-elections-2012/goa

Ghaziabad: A BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday addressed a rally here over his mobile phone after his helicopter could not land at the venue due to lack of space.

BJP state president Surya Pratap Shahi addressed the rally at Nand Ram over his mobile phone and his voice was amplified through speakers placed below.

The helicopter could not land due to lack of place, said officials.

Addressing the gathering, Shahi alleged farmers were killed during the previous Samajwadi Party regime and their land was handed over to industrialists, while the same was done under the current BSP regime as well.

“Now farmers have no option left but to kick out both for the security of their family and land,” he said.
Congress was not spared of Shahi’s diatribe either. “Congress is riddled with scams and fraud. The people have already rejected the party. They have no other option left now but the BJP,” he said.

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/state-elections-2012/up/up-polls-bjp-leader-addresses-rally-over-mobile_760781.html

HOLLYWOOD: Silent movie “The Artist” crowned its spectacular awards season success by winning five Oscars including the coveted Best Picture prize at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday.

The French-directed black-and-white movie earned Oscars for best director for Michel Hazanavicius and best actor for Jean Dujardin, who played a silent movie era star whose career was torpedoed by the arrival of the “talkies.”

Martin Scorsese’s 3D adventure “Hugo” — which had the most nominations, with 11 compared to 10 for “The Artist” also ended the evening with five prizes, but all of them came in technical categories.

Meryl Streep won best actress for her powerful turn in “The Iron Lady.” It was the third Oscar for the 62-year-old Streep and her first in three decades, underscoring her status as the pre-eminent actress of her generation.

“I love your country,” Dujardin told the audience as he accepted his Oscar, the first for a Frenchman in an acting category.

Octavia Spencer took home the prize for best supporting actress for her role as a black maid in the civil rights drama “The Help,” receiving a standing ovation for her powerhouse performance.

Veteran Canadian actor Christopher Plummer crowned a six-decade acting career with a long-overdue Oscar, a best supporting actor trophy for his role in “Beginners” as an ailing widower who embraces his homosexuality.

Hollywood’s biggest and most glittering night had long been expected to be a battle between “Hugo” and “ The Artist,” two odes to film-making.

Other winners included the Johnny-Depp voiced “Rango,” which won the best animated feature prize, and Woody Allen, who was honored for best original screenplay for “Midnight in Paris.”

In the foreign language category, Iran’s “A Separation” beat films from Belgium, Canada, Israel and Poland as expected.

Its director Asghar Farhadi dedicated the award to Iranians “who despise hostility and resentment,” and referred to current tension between Tehran and the West over the Islamic republic’s suspect nuclear program.

Scorsese was not the only legendary director in the mix — Allen was in the running for best picture honors for his comeback hit “Midnight in Paris,” and Steven Spielberg gunned for the top prize with “War Horse.”

Buddies George Clooney and Brad Pitt both lost out to Dujardin, who had already won a slew of awards for his turn as suave George Valentin.

Clooney had downplayed his hopes of winning best actor before the show, saying on the red carpet: “I have a feeling in the best actor race you’re going to hear someone speaking French.”

Streep, who was honored for her powerful portrayal of former British premier Margaret Thatcher, said “Oh, come on!” as she was given a standing ovation by the star-studded Hollywood audience.

She said that when her name was called out, “I had this feeling I could hear half of America going, ‘Oh no … her, again.’ But whatever!”

The show was presented by a galaxy of stars, including last year’s best actress and actor Natalie Portman and Colin Firth, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie.

Highlights included a breathtaking cinema-themed performance by Canadian dance troupe Cirque du Soleil, including rapid-fire acrobatics and tumbling across the stage and ceiling of the auditorium.

“Wow,” said veteran host Billy Crystal, presenting the show for the ninth time. “I pulled a hamstring just watching that.”

The spectacle had begun even before the curtain went up, with the usual procession of glamour gowns on the red carpet leading into the Oscars, the climax of Hollywood’s annual awards season.

British comic Sacha Baron Cohen also pulled a colorful stunt, coming dressed as the star of his latest movie, “The Dictator” — and pouring the faux ashes of late North Korean leader Jim Kong-Il onto the red carpet.

List of the 84th Annual Academy Award winners announced Sunday:

1. Best Picture: “The Artist.”

2. Actor: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.”

3. Actress: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady.”

4. Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

5. Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help.”

6. Directing: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist.”

7. Foreign Language Film: “A Separation,” Iran.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, “The Descendants.”

9. Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”

10. Animated Feature Film: “Rango.”

11. Art Direction: “Hugo.”

12. Cinematography: “Hugo.”

13. Sound Mixing: “Hugo.”

14. Sound Editing: “Hugo.”

15. Original Score: “The Artist.”

16. Original Song: “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets.”

17. Costume Design: “The Artist.”

18. Documentary Feature: “Undefeated.”

19. Documentary Short: “Saving Face.”

20. Film Editing: “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”

21. Makeup: “The Iron Lady.”

22. Animated Short Film: “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.”

23. Live Action Short Film: “The Shore.”

24. Visual Effects: “Hugo.

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment/entertainment/

Lucknow: Coming as a surprising twist in India’s chaotic political scene, chief of regional party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lalu Prasad on Saturday lauded Nehru-Gandhi family scion, Rahul Gandhi, for his stellar efforts in reversing the fortunes of the federal ruling Congress party in poll-bound northern Uttar Pradesh state.

Gandhi has staked his political reputation on reviving the Congress party in a state it has not ruled for 22 years. The Congress party won a miserable 22 seats out of 403 in the state’s last polls.

A key plank of Gandhi’s outreach efforts is to convince the poor, once a loyal support base for the Congress, but now increasingly fragmented into supporting regional parties seen as amplifying their specific concerns.

However, Prasad’s comments come as a surprise, considering the firebrand federal lawmaker has often criticised the Congress party over a range of issues-such as the Ombudsman Bill-in the national Parliament as well as the media.

At this particular rally held in the Bulandshahr town, Prasad was seen enthusiastically campaigning for his son-in-law, Jitendra Yadav– a Congress candidate-and urging locals to vote for the Congress in the polls.

Addressing the rally amid thunderous applause, Prasad went on to heap showers of praise on Gandhi, stressing the Congress general secretary had single-handedly revived and strengthened the position of the party in the state.

“Rahul Gandhi has worked really hard in Uttar Pradesh to strengthen the position of the Congress party. He has carved a niche and created a unique identity for the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh through his efforts. Now, you (people of Uttar Pradesh) must give him your support and power,” said Prasad.

The RJD chief also extended support to Justice Markandeya Katju, chairman of the Press Council of India, who had recently stirred a hornet’s nest by suggesting there was an acute lack of media freedom in eastern state of Bihar.

“The state government of Bihar has gagged freedom of the press and suppressed the voices of mediapersons. Justice Katju’s observations are completely true and valid. It is a factually correct finding. He has even setup a commission to look into the matter. The government of Bihar is trying to humiliate Justice Katju for his expose. We will do anything to ensure the freedom of the press. Justice Katju has done the right thing by bringing out the truth,” said Prasad.

A few days ago, Justice Katju said although law and order had improved as compared to the regime of the earlier RJD government in Bihar, the press was still not allowed to function freely in the state. The comment sparked a fierce political outcry.

Meanwhile, political mercury continued to soar in Uttar Pradesh as contesting parties went on a campaigning overdrive in a bid to gain maximum public support.

Not one to be left far behind, Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of state’s main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), flexed his political muscle at a massive rally in Saharanpur town, urging voters to exercise caution while casting their franchise.

“The state government is about to complete its five years in power. The Bahujan Samaj Party ruled the state during the last five years. This is a large gathering of people, and everybody knows the ground reality here. Can you name even one thing that the BSP government has done for the common man of Uttar Pradesh during the last five years? It has done nothing,” said Yadav.

The provincial polls in Uttar Pradesh are being viewed as an opportunity for India’s major parties to re-establish or strengthen their footholds in the country’s fifth largest and most populous state.

Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state and provides the biggest single bloc of seats in the Indian parliament. Ironically, it is also one of the country’s worst performers in several socio-economic indices.

The state has voted for five out of seven phases, with the last two phases scheduled for February 28 and March 03 respectively. The results will be declared on March 06.

source: http://zeenews.india.com

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday sent a notice to Union minister Shri Prakash Jaiswal over his remark that if the Congress did not win elections in Uttar Pradesh this time, then President’s rule must be imposed on the state.

The remark drew ire from all sides, including his own. He, later, withdrew his comments saying he was just talking about constitutional alternatives.

This is not the first time the Congress, especially its ministers, has rubbed the Election Commission the wrong way. Salman Khurshid recently raked up a controversy when he promised at a rally in Farroukhabad in UP that the Congress would raise the Muslim quota to 9 per cent if it was voted to power.

Another Congress leader, Beni Prasad Verma, followed him, with similar remarks during an election rally in the state.

Both were forced to retract their statements. However, both the ministers claimed that the Muslim sub-quota was a part of the Congress manifesto.

Things came to a head when it was claimed that the government was considering removing the model code of conduct from the Election Commission’s purview.

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-sends-notice-to-jaiswal-over-prez-rule-remark/233357-37.html

Bulandshahr: Slamming Congress over providing reservation to minorities, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on Friday said his party will never allow the “nefarious designs” of Congress in tampering with OBC quota.

Opposing a sub-quota for minorities within the 27 percent reservation for OBCs, Gadkari, at an election rally here, alleged that the Congress is exploiting Muslims for political gains.

He said the promises for separate reservation to minorities are a fraud against the Muslims.
On the Ram Temple issue, he said, the BJP is committed to remove all hurdles in the path of construction of the temple at Ayodhya.

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/state-elections-2012/up/congress-exploiting-muslims-for-political-gains_760479.html