ELECTIONS

This article is part of our special series on Delhi Elections 2020 In 2014, when the World Health Organisation declared Delhi as the world’s worst polluted city, the national capital became the face of air pollution for India. Since then, Delhi has been branded as a “gas chamber” by its own ruling government. Courts have called out the Delhi government for committing “genocide,” allowing a public health emergency of such mass scale. Every year since then, from Diwali and stubble burning season till the end of winter, politicians announce a slew of measures which fail to address the root cause of…

This article is part of our special series on Delhi Elections 2020 Elections to Delhi's legislative assembly are just around the corner with voting scheduled to take place on February 8th. Results will be announced on February 11th. The highly charged elections are a three-way contest between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC). The assembly has 70 seats in total. If you are preparing to case your vote this Saturday, the 8th, here is a quick guide for you that will answer most of the questions that you may be…

This article is part of our special series on Delhi Elections 2020 It was a dark December night, when Balvinder Singh, a 36-year old insurance advisor, returned from work and emptied his trouser pockets as usual only to find that his wallet was missing! There was not much money lost, but a credit card and a debit card, which he blocked immediately. But what annoyed him most was that his driving licence and car registration certificate were lost. Getting duplicates was a hassle he was not looking forward to. His wife suggested he call 1076. The couple live with Balvinder’s senior citizen…

Translated by Sandhya Raju மூன்று ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் உள்ளாட்சி தேர்தல் நடத்த தமிழகம் தயாராகி வரும் நிலையில்,  உள்ளாட்சி செயல்பாட்டில் அதிரடி மாற்றத்திற்கான அவசியத்தை வலியுறுத்துகின்றன தன்னார்வ அமைப்புகள். இந்த மாற்றம் நகர்புறம் மற்றும் கிராமப்புறத்தில் தேவை என மேலும் அவை தெரிவிக்கின்றன. என்ன மாற்றங்கள் தேவை என்பதையும், தன்னாட்சி இயக்கம் தலைமையிலான கூட்டணி அமைப்புகள் பட்டியலிட்டுள்ளன. வாய்ஸ் ஆப் பீப்பிள், சட்ட பஞ்சாயத்து இயக்கம், அறப்போர் இயக்கம், தோழன், இளைய தலைமுறை, எச் ஆர் ஆஃப் ஆகிய அமைப்புகள் ஒன்றிணைந்து,  முக்கிய அம்சங்கள் அடங்கிய கொள்கை விளக்க அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட்டுள்ளன. சீர்திருத்தங்களின் அவசியம் மற்றும் பொதுமக்களின் ஆதரவின் அவசியம் குறித்தும், வாய்ஸ் ஆப் பீப்பிள் இயக்கத்தின் உறுப்பினர் சாரு கோவிந்தன் பேசினார். "இந்த கொள்கை அறிவிப்பை எல்லா தரப்பினரிடமும் கொண்டு சேர்ப்பது நம் கையில் தான் உள்ளது. ஆட்சியாளர்கள் கவனத்திற்கு மட்டுமல்லாமல் பொது மக்களுக்கும் இதன் அவசியம் குறித்து…

Elected on a Congress ticket from Yeshvanthapura in the Karnataka Assembly polls 2018, MLA S T Somashekar was among the 17 legislators disqualified by former Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, under the anti-defection law. Since Supreme Court allowed these MLAs to contest the bypolls, Somashekar is now contesting as the BJP candidate from Yeshvanthapura. Know your candidates Twelve candidates are contesting from Yeshvanthapura constituency. The nominations of two other candidates had been rejected. Following are the major candidates: P Nagaraj Indian National Congress Family: Spouse and one dependant Educational qualification: SSLC (discontinued) Profession: Self-employed Pending criminal cases: Nil Net worth…

On December 5th, by-elections will be held in four assembly constituencies in Bengaluru - Yeshwanthpur, KR Puram, Mahalakshmi Layout and Shivajinagar. In the first three of these, disqualified MLAs are returning as candidates, albeit from a different party. Former Congress MLAs S T Somshekar and Basavaraj Byrathi, and former JD(S) MLA K Gopalaiah, are now contesting as BJP candidates. They are coming back to you one and half years after you elected them. I wish I could tell you what development plan they have for your constituency. But I just couldn’t find anything on it except political statements. Yes, these…

The MLA seat in Mahalakshmi Layout constituency had become vacant after K Gopalaiah, the Janata Dal (Secular) MLA here, resigned to join the BJP. This had been a rude shock to the ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance, which had considered this a 'safe' seat in Bengaluru. K Gopalaiah had wrested the constituency from INC in 2013 and won again in 2018. This by-election, he's contesting from the constituency as the BJP candidate. Know your candidates Twelve candidates are contesting from Mahalakshmi Layout constituency. Three other candidates had withdrawn their nominations, and three others' were rejected. Following are the major candidates: M Shivaraju…

The MLA of KR Puram constituency, Basavaraj Byrathi, had resigned from the Congress party this July, after 'Operation Kamala 2.0'. He was said to be a loyalist of the Siddaramaiah faction, but apparently resigned as he had been denied a minister's post in the INC-JD(S) government. He is now contesting as the BJP candidate from the constituency. Know your candidates Thirteen candidates are contesting from KR Puram constituency in the bypolls. Two other candidates had withdrawn their nominations, and two others' were rejected. Here are the major candidates: M Narayanaswamy Indian National Congress Family: Spouse and three dependants Educational qualification:…

The Shivajinagar seat had become vacant after incumbent MLA Roshan Baig was suspended from the Indian National Congress this year for 'anti-party' statements and activities. Baig, a seven-time legislator, was charged with slamming state leaders as well as being involved in the multi-crore IMA scam. Know your candidates Nineteen candidates are contesting from Shivaji Nagar constituency in the bypolls. Seven other candidates had withdrawn their nominations, and three others were rejected. Following are the major candidates: Rizwan Arshad Party: Indian National Congress Family: Spouse and two dependants Educational qualification: B Com Profession: Business, MLC (Member of Legislative Council) Online: Facebook…

On Monday, October 21st, Maharashtra will be voting to elect the members to its Legislative Assembly. Take a look at the profiles of candidates in the fray in the four key constituencies of Kurla, Kalina, Vile Parle and Wadala. Constituency: Kurla Incumbent MLA: Mangesh Kudalkar, Shiv Sena Name, Education & Profession Party Assets Pending Court Case Ratings* Agenda Ratnakar Daware LLB Advocate All India Majlis E-Ittehadul Muslimeen 9.09 Lakh None Will work with the Vidhi mandal in making and improving policies for better employment, education. Slum rehabilitation, improving the drainage system, local road transport Ganesh Shinde SSC Business Ambedkarite Party…