MC Election Update Today February 7: UP polls: SP fields Subhavati Shukla against Adityanath

A man's inked marked finger is seen as he leaves a polling station on his bike after casting his vote. (Representative image: Reuters)

Highlights:

-- PM Modi addresses virtual rally in UP's Bijnor

-- Honest govt can be formed in Uttarakhand for the first time, says Arvind Kejriwal

-- AAP leaders want to loot Punjab, alleges Charanjit Singh Channi

-- Rahul Gandhi's virtual rally watched by over 11 lakh people: Congress

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UP polls: SP fields Subhavati Shukla against Adityanath in Gorakhpur Urban

Samajwadi Party's Subhavati Shukla will take on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the Gorakhpur Urban constituency in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Shukla's name figured in the list of 24 candidates released by the party on Monday.

The Gorakhpur Urban constituency will go to the polls in the sixth phase of the elections on March 3. Shukla is the widow of a former senior BJP leader from Gorakhpur, Upendra Shukla, who was UP BJP's vice-president.

He had unsuccessfully contested the by-election from the Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency in 2018 after the seat was vacated by Yogi Adityanath on becoming the chief minister. He passed away in May 2020. Upendra Shukla was a popular leader and was seen as BJP's Brahmin face in Purvanchal region.

SP, BSP, Cong doing politics of appeasement: Rajnath Singh 

Accusing the SP, the BSP and the Congress of doing the politics of appeasement and spreading hatred among Hindus and Muslims, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the BJP followed the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is a family). He also advised the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party to do politics of humanity instead of politics based on caste or creed.

Praising Corona management in the country, he said in 100 years there has not been such an epidemic. Even today countries like Australia and France are battling it, but India not only controlled it but also made its vaccine and gave it to many countries. Seeking a response from the people gathered, Singh asked who among them were beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Yojana, or have got pucca houses and got people to raise their hands.

Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel: We are ideologically different from BJP. People are trying to ask me questions on Hindutva & all those issues, I dissociate myself from all those issues & my party doesn't do religious politics. We stand for social justice. (PTI)

PM Narendra Modi: When you go to cast your vote, remember that you are not only voting for UP but also for the country. You are the voter of UP, without the development of UP the development of the country cannot happen.

PM Narendra Modi: During CM Yogi's tenure, criminals themselves ran to jails and demanded that they be locked up. They have been waiting for these elections for years. They have just one hope, that the elections come soon and there is a change of govt so that they can come out of jail. They are hoping for the old 'mafia raj' government to come back. Criminals who had run out of UP, are hoping for government to change so that they can come back. These criminals want reimbursement from the people of UP for their dacoity and loot business, which is shut for the last five years.

PM Narendra Modi: Earlier, molestation of women was very common. The situation was so bad that after incidents of chain snatching, people were thankful that they were still alive. CM Yogi Adityanath's government freed women from that fear. We gave women their true honour.

PM Narendra Modi: In the next 25 years, when the nation would complete 100 years of independence, we want UP to make a mark with its development story. Our government is making continuous efforts to see that the businessmen, industrialists, and farmers here get all possible help.

Assembly elections 2022 roundup: SP makes a spirituous promise, Manipur CM’s son-in-law raises eyebrows and Punjab Congress settles on CM

PM Narendra Modi: This area is going to get a big gift in the form of Ganga Expressway. Work is also going on to complete the 4-lane highway from Bijnor to Moradabad. With this, the entire district will be connected to all the major places in the vicinity.

PM Narendra Modi: It has been the endeavor of Yogi Adityanath's government in the last five years that development should not be confined to a few areas. With this thinking, our government is also increasing connectivity in cities like Moradabad, Bijnor and Amroha.

PM Narendra Modi: The water in the river of development in Uttar Pradesh was stagnant. It was stagnating among the fake 'Samajwadis' and their close ones. These people never had anything to do with the thirst for the development of the common man, the thirst for progress, the thirst for freedom from poverty. All they did was to keep quenching their own thirst and that of their close ones. They kept quenching the thirst of their own coffers. This selfish thirst soaks all streams of the river of development.

PM Narendra Modi: First of all, I'd like to apologise to you. After some relaxation by the Election Commission, I had thought of beginning my campaign by coming to Bijnor (UP) in person. But due to weather conditions, my helicopter couldn't leave and I could see you only through video conferencing once again.

JUST IN | PM Modi addressing virtual rally in Bijnor

यूपी के बिजनौर, मुरादाबाद और अमरोहा के मतदाताओं के साथ पीएम श्री @narendramodi की जन चौपाल। #यूपी_में_मोदी_योगी https://t.co/myr0Tb5u7o

— BJP (@BJP4India) February 7, 2022

Deep in debt, Punjab can’t afford any new populist schemes, data shows

Punjab’s electorate is no stranger to being wooed with freebies ahead of elections or being handed out generous subsidies by the government of the day. The state’s farmers, for instance, have been getting free power for years, which led to indiscriminate use of tube wells to extract water. Vulnerable households such as those below the poverty line or belonging to scheduled castes and backward classes have been getting 200 units of free power and industry subsidised power. Read more here

BJP chief JP Nadda addresses public meeting in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda is addressing a public meeting in poll-bound Uttarakhand's Bageshwar.

भाजपा राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @JPNadda बागेश्वर, उत्तराखंड में जनसभा को संबोधित करते हुए। https://t.co/tPaRRj2AuX

— BJP (@BJP4India) February 7, 2022

JUST IN: Due to weather issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t be able to travel to Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor to address the 'Jan Chaupal' rally. He will now address the people of UP virtually at 12:30 pm today.

Honest govt can be formed in Uttarakhand for the first time, says Arvind Kejriwal

This is a historic election wherein a major change is possible. For the first time, an honest government can be formed in Uttarakhand. Corruption can be ended, said Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Haridwar.

Charanjit Singh Channi offers prayers at Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on February 7 offered prayers at Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

#WATCH | Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi offers prayers at Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/JuuQTMiiGV

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to campaign in Goa tomorrow

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will visit Goa on February 8 to interact with citizens throughout the day.

Smt. @priyankagandhi will be in Goa tomorrow to interact with citizens throughout the day.

Stay tuned to our SM platforms to watch her LIVE.

FB: https://t.co/NPOcx4pW6n

YT: https://t.co/g2POk6TV2t

Insta: https://t.co/C0Mr9TibFF

TW: https://t.co/NGgQ2sFTl9 pic.twitter.com/m668f8jh8f

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 7, 2022

PM Modi to address 'Jan Chaupal' In UP's Bijnor today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the voters of Bijnor, Moradabad and Amroha in Uttar Pradesh through 'Jan Chaupal' at 11.30 am today. It will be the prime minister's first physical rally after the election commission relaxes COVID-19 curbs.

Rajnath Singh to address public meetings in UP's Katra, Sikandrabad today

Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh will address public meetings in Uttar Pradesh's Katra (Shahjahanpur) and Sikandrabad (Bulandshahr) assembly constituencies today.

Won't let any 'MLA's son' get chairmanship in Congress, says Sidhu

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has said that he would not let any ‘MLA’s son’ get the chairmanship in the party and that only workers would be valued for their work.

#WATCH | I promise that if I continue as PCC chief, no MLA's son will get the chairmanship, workers will get...will resign if someone privileged gets it...: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu (06.02) pic.twitter.com/ZcWtpGVU1k

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022

Sonia Gandhi not in Congress' star campaigners list for 4th phase of UP polls

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who represents the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, does not figure among the party's star campaigners for the fourth phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

AAP leaders want to loot Punjab, alleges Charanjit Singh Channi

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi attacked the AAP, alleging that its leaders have come from Delhi to loot Punjab. He also hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying how can he call himself an 'aam aadmi' (common man) while staying in expensive hotels whenever he visits Punjab for the February 20 state assembly elections.

Rahul Gandhi's virtual rally watched by over 11 lakh people: Congress

The 'Awaaz Punjab Di' virtual rally addressed yesterday by Rahul Gandhi from Ludhiana was watched by more than 11 lakh people, said the Congress. The rally had gone live on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and was telecast live on LED screens installed across Punjab.

Sidhu humbled, Channi declared Congress CM face for Punjab polls

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi yesterday declared Charanjit Singh Channi as his party's chief ministerial (CM) face for the high-stakes Punjab assembly polls, a recognition that was also coveted by state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. Gandhi made this announcement addressing a virtual rally, where Sidhu also hailed the party's decision to make Channi the CM face following the unceremonious exit of Amarinder Singh last September. As soon as Gandhi declared the CM face, Sidhu rose from his seat, held Channi's hand and raised it, in a rare show of unity.

Congress candidate in UP polls joins BJP

Savita Pandey, Congress candidate from the Tarabganj constituency in the Gonda district in upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, has joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a statement, the Uttar Pradesh unit of BJP said Pandey, along with her supporters, joined the party at its state headquarters in Lucknow. She said she joined the BJP after being influenced by the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.