New Delhi: Voters across India, barring the northeast, will be given 11 hours — from 7am to 6pm — to cast their ballot for the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission said yesterday. In the most of the northeast region, people will get 10 hours — between 7am and 5pm — to vote, while in Manipur and Nagaland — where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is in force — polling would take place till 4pm due to security reasons. The general election will be held in nine phases - starting April 7 and ending on May 12. Counting of votes will take place on May 16.
‘Shoot at sight’ orders in Bihar
Patna: Fearing violence during the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, the state administration said it has issued “shoot at sight orders” against trouble-makers. State Chief Secretary A K Sinha said that the government has made up its mind to act against trouble-makers who try to disrupt peaceful polling during Lok Sabha polls. Rigging, booth-capturing, violent clashes between rival groups on party and caste lines and killings to create terror were reportedly rampant in Bihar during past polls. According to him, more than 3,000 people have so far been identified as suspected trouble-makers. The government has identified 1,196 villages as “sensitive” during Lok Sabha polls.
BJP sews up its Tamil Nadu front
Chennai: The BJP finalised its alliance formation in Tamil Nadu with DMDK, MDMK, PMK and two other small parties. According to the BJP official, DMDK has been allotted 14 seats, the BJP and PMK eight each, the MDMK seven and one each for two minor parties.
3.5 lakh first-time voters in Kashmir
Jammu: As many as 3.5 lakh first-time voters would exercise their right to franchise in the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief electoral officer Umang Narula gave this information to the poll panel’s director general Akshay Raut during a video conference here.
IANS
