EC appoints special expenditure observer for Jharkhand polls

The attached properties are in the form of land parcels situated in Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala are expected to set a benchmark for democratic practices, expressing confidence in the preparedness of the state's election machinery and cooperation from political parties.

The West Bengal government on Thursday provided officers of requisite seniority for being appointed as Returning Officers for the forthcoming Assembly Elections, on the insistence of the Election Commission of India.

In an 'X' post, TMC said the government has "ek hi naara, line mein rahe desh bechara," pointing to past governmental measures including demonetisation, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Special Identification Registration (SIR), and now the LPG shortage. The party described demonetisation as a "Tughlaqi farman" that forced ordinary citizens to wait in serpentine queues outside banks and ATMs for days to access their own money. The post also highlighted the 2020 COVID-19 oxygen crisis, when families stood in long lines outside hospitals and suppliers as the public health system collapsed.

Delhi police have alleged that Manish Sharma was the key conspirator behind the planning of the 'shirtless' protest at the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam on February 20. A Non-Bailable Warrant has also been issued against him.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday criticised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, saying he ignored special permission to speak on the LPG shortage and instead raised another issue.

A total of 128 opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha and 63 MPs in the Rajya Sabha have signed a motion seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources in the Trinamool Congress said on Thursday.

In a significant political move, TMC MP Saugata Roy told ANI that the party is preparing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner. He said, "We are preparing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner. More than 100 MPs are supporting us. We might submit it today. The Opposition will be seen united on this."

Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday said that he will "try to have a courtesy call" with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as the JMM is looking to make an entry into Assam's electoral politics ahead of the Legislative Assembly polls.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Kadakampally Surendran on Thursday refuted claims of the complaint made by Unnikrishnan Potti, Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple gold theft case prime accused, stating Surendran conspired with a woman to file a complaint before the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He said that the complaint is a result of a conspiracy running against him in view of the upcoming Assembly elections.