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Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Damaged public image': Congress leader Vasoya sends defamation notice to MLA Italia over bribery allegations
Congress leader and former MLA from Rajkot's Upleta, Lalit Vasoya, on Tuesday sent a defamation notice to newly-elected AAP MLA from Visavadar assembly, Gopal Italia, alleging that the leader 'damaged his public image' by sharing a purported sting operation video showing Vasoya bribing an AAP leader, even as the Gujarat unit of AAP has slammed Vasoya stating that they are 'ready to face the legal battle'. The Congress leader has sought an apology and Rs 10 crore in damages while giving Italia 10 days to respond, as per the defamation notice, a copy of which is with The Indian Express. The notice has been sent to Gopal Italia through a registered post. Rajkot district Congress president Vasoya, in his notice, alleged, 'While campaigning for the Visavadar bypolls, you (Italia) and your party leaders damaged my public image, through a fake stunt, stating that I bribed an AAP worker. My public image has been damaged as you shared the fake video on social media platforms. To compensate for such an act, Rs 10 crore should be paid within 10 days, and if you fail to do so, legal action will be taken against you in the court.' Hitting back at the Congress leader, AAP State General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya said, 'We are ready to face legal battle. We have all the evidence, including the CCTV footage showing Congress leader Vasoya bribing AAP leaders to work against the party in the Visavadar assembly bypolls'. 'We have also filed a complaint about the bribe incident with the State Election Commission and submitted all the necessary evidence,' Sorathiya added. Sharing details about the incident, Sorathiya alleged, 'Initially, the Congress was not even active in the Visavadar bypolls. There was a direct fight between BJP candidate Kirit Patel and AAP candidate Gopal Italia. The Congress, however, played as the B team of the BJP and was bribing our leaders to do anti-party activities'. Sorathiya claimed, 'The Congress leaders bribed AAP president of Visavadar taluka, Mahendra Dobariya, and told him to stay within the party while engaging in anti-party activities. Later, based on Vasoya's instructions, Dobariya called AAP leader Hardev Vikma and offered him a bribe of Rs 2 lakh'. 'Dobariya also asked Vikma to come to a private hotel in Visavadar town on June 18 afternoon, a day before the Visavadar bypolls. Vikma informed us about the call. Acting on our instructions, Vikma went to the hotel and reached room number 205, where he received cash Rs 2 lakh from Vasoya. During the meeting, he was also told Vikma to make a video against Gopal Italia and the party,' Sorathiya alleged. 'We have got the CCTV footage of the entire operation and even the hotel room. Lalit Vasoya and Manoj Dobariya were present in the room. Following this incident, we complained to the State Election Commission. Our party leader Hardip Vikma also gave his statements to the Election Commission, but no action has been taken so far,' he added. 'After Manoj Dobariya's anti-party activities came to the fore, the AAP suspended him from the party', sources said. Sorathiya added, 'We have got enough material against Lalit Vasoya… so we are ready to face all the legal battles. We will submit all the evidence in the court against him. We will not apologise,' he added further Expressing his support for Vasoya, Congress party spokesperson Manish Doshi told The Indian Express, 'Lalit Vasoya is a strong leader of our party… He is a former MLA and was also part of the Patidar movement. He was one of the in-charges of the Visavadar assembly seat'. 'He has served a defamation notice to Gopal Italia after finding that the latter damaged his public image. We support Lalit Vasoya… he is our leader,' Doshi added. Despite repeated attempts, Congress leader Lalit Vasoya and MLA Italia did not respond to the phone calls for their remarks over the issue.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bihar becomes first state to conduct e-voting via app
Patna: Bihar on Saturday became the first state in the country to conduct municipal elections using cellphone voting through the e-SECBHR and C-DAC apps, in 42 municipalities across 26 districts. Vibha Devi and Munna Kumar from Pakridayal in East Champaran became the first woman and man, respectively, to cast their vote through the mobile app. Elections were held in six municipal councils and byelections took place in 36 wards for vacant posts. According to the State Election Commission, 69.49% of the 2,94,719 eligible voters exercised their franchise through e-voting at 489 polling booths across 26 districts. The last date to register for app-based voting was June 22. Only those who registered in advance were eligible to vote. Reports confirmed participation from migrant voters living in Dubai and Qatar. "This facility is meant for those unable to reach polling stations due to physical or locational reasons," said state election commissioner Deepak Prasad. Meanwhile, training workshops were held in Bettiah for all booth level officers (BLOs), their supervisors, and district-level officials to support the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The revision is intended to verify the eligibility of every elector ahead of the assembly elections.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana HC tells state government to explain delay in Nirmal civic polls
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court questioned the state government over the delay in conducting municipal elections, particularly for the Nirmal Municipality, where the governing body's term ended on March 25. The court has directed the government to submit complete details regarding the delay and has scheduled the next hearing for July 11. The matter came up for hearing before Justice B Vijaysen Reddy on Friday, following a petition filed by Samundar Pelli Rajender, an agriculturist from Natarajnagar in Nirmal. The petitioner challenged the inaction of the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC), arguing that the continued delay in holding elections is illegal and unconstitutional. Senior advocate Prabhakar, representing the petitioner, argued that the failure to hold timely elections violates Articles 243U and 243ZA of the Constitution, as well as provisions of the Telangana Municipalities Act, 2019. He urged the court to direct the authorities to initiate the election process without further delay. In response, senior advocate Vidyasagar, representing the SEC, said the commission is preparing to begin the election process but needs to complete necessary procedures such as ward reservations.
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Bihar first to launch mobile app voting for urban polls: Here's how to register
Bihar is the first state in India to permit citizens to vote through a mobile app. On Friday, State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said e-voting will occur today, i.e. June 28, 2025, during the municipal polls in six councils, three in Patna, and two in Rohtas and East Champaran. It is seen as enhancing elections' availability and accessibility for individuals who cannot make it to the polling booths. Reports claim the system is based on emerging technologies, including blockchain and face recognition, to ensure security and new e-voting facility is designed based on the definitions stated by the State Election Commission to serve senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and migrant voters who are unable to reach polling stations for physical or locational reasons. The voters will be able to cast their vote through the new e-SECBHR mobile app or the State Election Commission prevent misuse and fraud, the e-voting system uses advanced technology like blockchain, face matching, and scanning. Only two registered voters can log in from a single mobile number, and every vote cast will be cross-verified with individual voter IDs to confirm its validity. According to reports, this system has been designed to keep the democratic process fair and TO REGISTER FOR E-VOTING IN BIHAR If voters want to vote from their phone, they download the e-SECBHR app (available only on Android devices as of now), and once downloaded, they link the app to their phone number on their electoral roll. Once the connection is ensured, voters will be able to vote on the official site or through the app on polling day. This process aims to be easy enough so that even a first-time user has no issue with the municipal elections, mobile-based voter access is taking place for the first time, but whether the same system will be adopted for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls is uncertain. Officials say the progress on the pilot project will inform future use of the voting process.- Ends
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nainital HC lifts stay on Uttarakhand Panchayat elections, seeks govt reply on quota irregularities
DEHRADUN: The Nainital High Court on Friday lifted the stay on panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, allowing the electoral process to proceed. However, it has directed the state government to respond to public interest litigations (PILs) alleging irregularities in the reservation roster. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Alok Mahra removed the stay after hearing multiple petitions challenging the reservation roster for the state's panchayat elections. The bench instructed the State Election Commission to issue a revised election schedule, extending the previous one by three days. The state government has also been granted three weeks to submit its response to the issues raised in the petitions. The petitioners have raised concerns about the allocation of reservations for Block Pramukh and Zila Panchayat President posts. They allege that several seats have been continuously reserved for the same category over an extended period, which they argue contravenes Article 243 of the Constitution and various Supreme Court rulings.
