Results for: Election Campaigning

Political leaders across India are actively campaigning ahead of upcoming elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address election meetings in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, while Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda will campaign in West Bengal. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will participate in rallies in Haryana and Panchkula, and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will address a rally in Yamunanagar district. In a notable development, the Election Commission has barred BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay from campaigning for 24 hours due to his remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Security has been beefed up in parts of Delhi in anticipation of two separate rallies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Approximately 3,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure law and order is maintained. Multi-layered security arrangements will be implemented, including personnel from SPG, Delhi Police, and local law enforcement.

Major political parties in India, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, have been found to have violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the 48-hour silence period preceding the first phase of the country’s general elections. Despite clear rules prohibiting political campaigning during this time, the parties spent substantial money on advertising campaigns on social media platforms like Google and Meta. The BJP was particularly active, posting over 60,000 ads on Google and 6,808 on Meta during the period from April 17 to 19, 2024. The Congress, in contrast, posted 1,882 and 114 ads on the same platforms, respectively. Notably, the BJP targeted its digital campaigns with precision, focusing on specific localities and constituencies that voted in the first phase of elections. In contrast, the Congress avoided constituency-level targeting, excluding several poll-bound constituencies from its ad campaigns. The findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of the MCC in ensuring free and fair elections in India.

In response to reports that he appeared to be sleeping during recent legal proceedings, the former President has released a statement addressing his body language in court. He expressed frustration at the conditions in the courtroom, claiming that he was kept in a freezing environment for an extended period while his political rival was out campaigning. He also criticized his opponent’s ability to communicate effectively. Newsweek remains committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding common ground.