Headlines from today's papers.
Modi seen as leading pack in many exit polls
Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is likely to be named India's next prime minister, according to the results of four major exit polls declared on Monday. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is estimated to win 270-282 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, according to an exit poll conducted for news channel CNN-IBN. Another released by ABP News showed the NDA touching 281 seats. A third, by the India Today group, predicted the alliance would take between 261 and 283 seats, while the C-Voter poll predicted a tally of 289. Many exit polls have previously overestimated the BJP's seat share in the last two general elections in 2004 and 2009, even as the Congress party went on to form coalition governments on both occasions. The results for the 2014 elections will be announced on Friday, May 16.
India records all-time high voter turnout as Lok Sabha polls wind up
India recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 66.4% for the general elections in 2014, according to data released by the Election Commission after the final day of voting of the nine-phase polls on Monday. The country passed the previous high of 64% registered in the 1984-85 elections, which followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The EC estimated that 551 million people turned up at the poll booth across the nine phases, although the figures were provisional and could marginally increase. The final phase of polling on Monday saw votes being cast in 41 constituencies spread over the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Election Commission allows government to name new Army chief
The Election Commission on Monday gave the Centre permission to appoint a new Army chief, following which the government reportedly decided on current vice chief of Army staff Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the successor to current incumbent General Bikram Singh. According to reports, Lt General Suhag's name has already been forwarded by the defence ministry to the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, whose approval is seen as a mere technicality. Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party had protested against the appointment of the new Army chief before the election results, saying that the decision should be left to the next government.
FIR filed against Ajay Rai for violating model code of conduct
A First Information Report was filed against Ajay Rai, the Congress candidate contesting from the Varanasi constituency in the Lok Sabha elections, on Monday for allegedly violating the Election Commission's model code of conduct. Rai reportedly wore a kurta displaying his party's election symbol while casting his vote on Monday. A report filed by the Varanasi constituency's special election observer asked for Rai be booked for the offence under sections 126 and 130 of Representation of Peoples Act and section 171 (H) of the Indian Penal Code, relating to poll code. The decision elicited strong responses from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party, whose leaders, Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal, are standing against Rai in the general elections.
Sensex, Nifty surge again ahead of Friday's election results
Both of India's benchmark stock market indexes, the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty, surged to all-time highs on Monday, ahead of the declaration of the results of the general elections on Friday. The Sensex closed at 23,551, up 557 points while Nifty crossed the 7,000 mark for the first time ever and closed at 7,014, up 155 points. Meanwhile, when trading opens on Wednesday, Indian shares are expected to hit record highs, while the rupee and bonds could hit new multi-month highs, as major exit polls showed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance winning the elections. The Narendra Modi-led BJP is seen as an investor-friendly political party.
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Modi seen as leading pack in many exit polls
Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is likely to be named India's next prime minister, according to the results of four major exit polls declared on Monday. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is estimated to win 270-282 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, according to an exit poll conducted for news channel CNN-IBN. Another released by ABP News showed the NDA touching 281 seats. A third, by the India Today group, predicted the alliance would take between 261 and 283 seats, while the C-Voter poll predicted a tally of 289. Many exit polls have previously overestimated the BJP's seat share in the last two general elections in 2004 and 2009, even as the Congress party went on to form coalition governments on both occasions. The results for the 2014 elections will be announced on Friday, May 16.
India records all-time high voter turnout as Lok Sabha polls wind up
India recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 66.4% for the general elections in 2014, according to data released by the Election Commission after the final day of voting of the nine-phase polls on Monday. The country passed the previous high of 64% registered in the 1984-85 elections, which followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The EC estimated that 551 million people turned up at the poll booth across the nine phases, although the figures were provisional and could marginally increase. The final phase of polling on Monday saw votes being cast in 41 constituencies spread over the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Election Commission allows government to name new Army chief
The Election Commission on Monday gave the Centre permission to appoint a new Army chief, following which the government reportedly decided on current vice chief of Army staff Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the successor to current incumbent General Bikram Singh. According to reports, Lt General Suhag's name has already been forwarded by the defence ministry to the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, whose approval is seen as a mere technicality. Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party had protested against the appointment of the new Army chief before the election results, saying that the decision should be left to the next government.
FIR filed against Ajay Rai for violating model code of conduct
A First Information Report was filed against Ajay Rai, the Congress candidate contesting from the Varanasi constituency in the Lok Sabha elections, on Monday for allegedly violating the Election Commission's model code of conduct. Rai reportedly wore a kurta displaying his party's election symbol while casting his vote on Monday. A report filed by the Varanasi constituency's special election observer asked for Rai be booked for the offence under sections 126 and 130 of Representation of Peoples Act and section 171 (H) of the Indian Penal Code, relating to poll code. The decision elicited strong responses from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party, whose leaders, Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal, are standing against Rai in the general elections.
Sensex, Nifty surge again ahead of Friday's election results
Both of India's benchmark stock market indexes, the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty, surged to all-time highs on Monday, ahead of the declaration of the results of the general elections on Friday. The Sensex closed at 23,551, up 557 points while Nifty crossed the 7,000 mark for the first time ever and closed at 7,014, up 155 points. Meanwhile, when trading opens on Wednesday, Indian shares are expected to hit record highs, while the rupee and bonds could hit new multi-month highs, as major exit polls showed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance winning the elections. The Narendra Modi-led BJP is seen as an investor-friendly political party.
