Uttar Pradesh

Asim Raja, the SP candidate in Rampur, was trailing behind Ghanshyam Lodhi of the BJP. Counting of votes in Azamgarh was delayed following a dispute between the district administration and Yadav over allowing entry into the strong room where EVM machines were kept. BJP spokesman S.N. Singh said that this was the initial trend and the BJP would win both seats.

Issuing notice to the state, the apex court bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and Vikram Nath orally remarked that the demolitions can't be a retaliatory measure. "Everything should look fair, we expect the authorities to act only in accordance with the law. Ensure safety so that nothing untoward happens," noted the top court. The matter will be further heard next week.

The Agniveers will get priority in recruitment to police and related services in the state. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had unveiled the 'Agnipath scheme' of short-term contractual recruitment, extending maximum of four years, of soldiers in the tri-services that include the Army, the Navy and the Air force. The Chief Minister also tweeted: "The double-engine government of BJP is dedicated and committed for the upliftment of the youth and to secure their future."

The elected candidates include nine from the BJP and four from the Samajwadi Party. Seven ministers of the Yogi Adityanath government are among the elected candidates. They include Maurya, Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, Daya Shankar Mishra 'Dayalu', J.P.S. Rathore, Narendra Kashyap, Jaswant Saini and Danish Azad Ansari and two others - Lucknow BJP chief Mukesh Sharma and Banwarilal Dohre.

Lal Bihari Yadav has been booked under sections 153A and 153B of the IPC. The case was registered after the Bajrang Dal workers complained about the remarks made by the SP leader. It was alleged that the SP MLC made objectionable remarks against Shivling and Lord Shiva in an alleged video.

According to party sources, the photograph is apparently recent since Hashmi is seen felicitating Pratapgarhi with a bouquet. Imran Pratapgarhi's candidature has already drawn protests in the Congress circles with most party veterans claiming him to be an undeserving candidate. Pratapgarhi had earlier waded into controversy when an audio clip of a function went viral on the social media in which he is heard singing paeans to mafia don Mukhtar Ansari.

According to the government spokesman, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission in Uttar Pradesh, women of self-help groups (SHG) are being given free sewing training and under the Mission Shakti Abhiyan, women's special protection teams are working to sensitise women and daughters.

Talking to reporters, Azam Khan said, "Meri tabahi mein mera apna haath thi (My downfall was by my own hand. Who were those who filed cases against me initially?" The statement was loaded but the veteran leader refused to thrown more light on it.

On May 11, the Supreme Court had told the Uttar Pradesh government that a pattern was emerging in the case of Samajwadi Party leader -- whenever he gets bail, he is sent to jail in some other matter. The top court directed the state government to file its response on a plea filed by Khan over the delay in hearing of his bail application in a land grabbing case.

The idea is to project and promote the pro-welfare policies of the Modi government and project him as a man of the masses. This is a direct rebuttal to the opposition charge of crony capitalism being practiced by the BJP. Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh said, "We will take the campaign to the grassroots for connecting with the people. We will highlight the good governance and initiatives of the Modi government, especially for the poor when the pandemic was at its peak.