In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha has declared its decision to contest all 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 Assembly seats independently, dispelling rumours of a potential alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The announcement came from State BJP President Manmohan Samal, ending speculations that arose due to the historical alliance between the BJD and BJP, which lasted for 11 years until 2009, encompassing three Lok Sabha and two Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission against West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. The TMC alleges that the Governor has overstepped his bounds by intervening in the electoral process, akin to running a parallel electoral office, which they argue undermines the Election Commission’s authority and confuses voters.
On the national front, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has released its manifesto for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Among various promises, the AIADMK has pledged to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 to women heading economically disadvantaged households across the nation. Additionally, the manifesto outlines 113 electoral commitments, including the consultation of Chief Ministers for the appointment of governors and the establishment of a Supreme Court bench in Chennai.
In other election-related developments:
- Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and incumbent MP Ajay Tamta have filed their nominations as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates from Haridwar and Almora constituencies respectively.
- The BJP has urged the Election Commission to ban the display of films, advertisements, and billboards featuring actor Shivarajkumar, who is campaigning for the Congress in the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency.
- Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Member of Parliament Bhartruhari Mahtab has resigned from the party’s primary membership ahead of the general elections.
- Congress national spokesperson Rohan Gupta has resigned from all party posts and primary membership, citing “humiliation” and “character assassination.”
- The BJP has released the fourth list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, naming contenders for 14 seats.
- The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has unveiled its first list of candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh.
- The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Raijor Dal (RD) have staged protests in Assam against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with opposition parties condemning the action taken by the Enforcement Directorate.
- West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar has remarked that West Bengal might witness scenes akin to Delhi following Kejriwal’s arrest, drawing criticism from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
