In Chhattisgarh Polls, This Party Has Most Candidates With Criminal Cases

Chhattisgarh votes tomorrow in Phase 1 (the next phase of voting will be on November 17).

A total of 223 candidates will be contesting for 20 seats going to polls in this phase. Out of these candidates, 26 are facing criminal charges, says a report by the Chhattisgarh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The number makes up for 12% of the total candidates.  

Among the 26 candidates facing criminal cases, 16 are charged with serious crimes, says the report.  

Five (25%) out of the 20 candidates fielded by the opposition BJP are facing criminal cases. It is followed by Aam Aadmi Party with four (40%) of 10 candidates, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) with three (20%) of 15 candidates and Congress with two (10%) out of 20 candidates facing criminal cases among other parties.

While the BJP has the most number of candidates with criminal cases, AAP makes up for the highest percentage of such candidates.  

Out of the 16 candidates facing serious criminal cases, four are from the BJP, one from AAP and none from Congress.  

According to the report, five out of the 20 constituencies going to polls tomorrow are "Red Alert Constituencies". This means that three or more candidates fighting for these seats have declared criminal cases.  

Out of these 223 candidates in Phase 1, 25 are women. A total of 40,78,681 voters are expected to vote tomorrow and 5304 polling booths have been set up, an official told news agency PTI.  

In 2018, Congress won with a whopping majority, pocketing 71 seats out of 90.

The votes for the 90-member assembly will be counted on December 3.  

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A Chhattisgarh Village That 'Elects' Two Legislators

A village with a population of mere 5,000 is drawing a lot of attention ahead of the upcoming Chhattisgarh assembly elections, with candidates from two constituencies visiting the place to seek votes.

Anjora sits on the border between the Durg and Rajnandgaon districts in such a manner that one half of it is a part of the former, the second belongs to the latter.

The village is split between the two districts by streets. The houses on one side of the street fall under the Rajnandgaon constituency (Rajnandgaon), those on the other come under the Durg Rural constituency.

The village, located around 10 km from Durg town on the Mumbai-Howrah National Highway-53 between Durg and Rajnandgaon cities, is also governed by two panchayats -- Anjora village panchayat (Rajnandgaon) and Anjora 'kh (B)' village panchayat (Durg).

The interesting juxtaposition has led to candidates from Durg Rural and Rajnandgaon constituencies making trips to Anjora for canvassing ahead of the elections.

"Sometimes people get confused as candidates from both constituencies visit the village for campaigning. Posters and banners of candidates can be seen in the entire village irrespective of constituencies (among the two) from which they have been contesting. It is said the village elects two MLAs," quipped Anju Sahu, sarpanch of Anjora panchayat (Rajandgaon side).
Though the village is divided by streets, people here have coexisted peacefully and celebrate festivals and other functions together, said Ms Sahu, also a Congress leader.

She said her paternal home is in Anjora B area, which votes for the Durg rural seat, while her in-laws vote for the Rajnandgaon constituency.

Polling to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases this month.

While Rajnandgaon is among the 20 seats that will go to polls in the first phase on November 7, the remaining 70 constituencies, including Durg rural, will vote in the second phase on November 17.

Makhanlal Sahu, husband of Anjora B panchayat sarpanch Sangeeta Sahu, said Rajnandgaon district was formed in 1973 after being carved from Durg district (in erstwhile Madhya Pradesh). Since then, the village has been divided into two panchayats.

The delimitation for assembly seats was also done in such a manner that half of the village falls in one constituency and the other half in the other segment, he said.

There are also such families in the village whose half of the members had to vote for Rajnandangaon constituency and the other half for Durg Rural, he said.

Both Rajnandgaon and Durg Rural are prominent constituencies where high-profile candidates like former chief minister Raman Singh and the state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu are in the fray.

BJP has fielded Raman Singh from his incumbent Rajnandgaon seat, whereas Girish Dewanagn, current chairman of Chhattisgarh State Mineral Development Corporation, is the Congress nominee.

In Durg rural seat, the Congress has fielded minister Sahu, a prominent OBC leader of the ruling party in the state, while the BJP has fielded a new face, Lalit Chandrakar.

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Attack On Entire Tribal Society: AAP After Party MLA's Wife Arrested In Gujarat

After the wife of Aam Aadmi Party MLA in Gujarat, Chaitar Vasava was arrested and a case was registered against him, party chief Arvind Kejriwal slammed the BJP and said that the BJP has not attacked Chaitar but the entire tribal society.

Chaitar Vasava is the tribal MLA from the Dediapada constituency and was appointed as the leader of the AAP's legislature in Gujarat.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to X and said "Yesterday, the BJP filed a false case against AAP MLA and senior tribal leader Chaitar Vasava. Even Chaitar Bhai's wife was arrested. The BJP never allowed the tribals to come forward. Just exploited them. When AAP promoted the son of a tribal community, the BJP was not able to tolerate it. The entire tribal community will take this into account. The BJP has attacked not Chaitra Vasava but the entire tribal society."

According to the officials, some bigots have encroached upon the forest land of the Dediapada sub-division of Narmada district. The concerned officials of the forest department rushed to the attention of the system that this land was being illegally occupied and used. Meanwhile, there was a dispute between Dedyapada MLA Chaitar Vasava and forest department employees over the tillage of the land.

Three people have been arrested so far in the case.

Police said that Chaitar Vasava had called the forest official to his house and thrashed him. One round of firing was also done. The MLA is on the run, and police teams are searching for him.

AAP National General Secretary (Organization) and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said that these are tactics to keep Chaitar out of the elections and to break him.

"Till date, BJP has not allowed any tribal leader to come forward, it has taken advantage of the tribal society only for elections. Now when Aam Aadmi Party has promoted the son of tribal community @Chaitar_Vasava and made him its leader, then BJP and Modi ji are not able to tolerate it. After all, why does BJP hate the tribal community so much? The entire tribal community and entire Gujarat will take account of this from BJP," Sandeep Pathak said on X.

In the Gujarat elections in 2022, AAP was able to open its account in the state on five seats.

The five AAP MLAs are namely, Bhupat Bhayani, Chaitarbhai Vasava, Hemantbhai Hardasbhai, Sudhir Baghani and Makwana Naranbhai.

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Matthew Perry Foundation To Help People Struggling With Addiction

The Matthew Perry Foundation has been established in the Friends star name to help individuals dealing with addiction. The actor died at the age of 54 on October 28 at his Los Angeles home, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times at the time. The L.A. coroner's office has not established the cause of death yet.

"In the spirit of Matthew Perry's enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible," the foundation said in a statement to news portal The Hollywood Reporter.

Perry, best known for starring as Chandler Bing on the popular sitcom Friends, was open about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. He became addicted to Vicodin and went to rehab in 2001. He later turned his former Malibu residence into a sober living facility called the Perry House, which operated until 2015.

The Matthew Perry Foundation is a donor-advised fund sponsored and maintained by National Philanthropic Trust.

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China Calls For Global Cooperation At AI Summit, Elon Musk Wants "Referee"

China said on Wednesday it wanted to work with international partners to manage the oversight of artificial intelligence as political leaders and technology executives gathered at an inaugural AI Safety Summit in Britain to plot the way forward.

Some tech bosses and political leaders have warned the rapid development of AI poses an existential threat to the world, sparking a race by governments and international institutions to design safeguards and regulation for the future.

In a first for Western efforts to manage the safe development of AI, a Chinese vice minister joined leaders from the United States and the European Union, alongside tech bosses such as Elon Musk and ChatGPT's Sam Altman.

"China is willing to enhance our dialogue and communication in AI safety with all sides, contributing to an international mechanism with global participation in governance framework that needs wide consensus," Wu Zhaohui said at the start of the summit, according to an official translation of his remarks.

"Countries regardless of their size and scale have equal rights to develop and use AI," he added.

Elon Musk, who has warned about the risks of AI, said the summit wanted to establish a "third-party referee" for companies developing the technology, so it could sound the alarm when risks develop, and so instil confidence in the public.

The meeting - held at Bletchley Park, home of Britain's World War Two code-breakers - is the brainchild of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He wants to carve out a role for Britain as an intermediary between the economic blocs of the United States, China and the EU.

The summit is focused on highly capable general-purpose models called "frontier AI"

Participating governments produced a "Bletchley Declaration", with 28 countries and the EU agreeing the need for transparency and accountability from actors in frontier AI technology, including how they will measure, monitor and mitigate potentially harmful capabilities.

A collective plan

British digital minister Michelle Donelan said it was an achievement just to get so many key players in one room.

"For the first time, we now have countries agreeing that we need to look not just independently but collectively at the risk around frontier AI," she told reporters.

China is a key participant, given the country's role in developing AI technology. However, some British lawmakers have questioned whether it should be there given the low level of trust between Beijing, Washington and many European capitals when it comes to Chinese involvement in technology.

The United States made clear on the eve of the summit that the call to Beijing had very much come from Britain, with its Ambassador to London, Jane Hartley, telling Reuters: "This is the UK invitation, this is not the US".

US Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke in London on Wednesday, away from the summit, setting out her government's response to AI, after US President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Monday.

The timing and location of her speech has raised eyebrows among some in the UK's governing Conservative Party who suggest Washington is trying to overshadow Sunak's summit - a charge denied by British officials who say they want as many voices as possible. Kamala Harris will meet Rishi Sunak later on Wednesday and attend the summit's second day on Thursday.

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo used the summit to announce the launch of a US. AI Safety Institute, and said it would cooperate with Britain's recently announced institute.

Canada's minister of innovation, science and industry Francois-Philippe Champagne said AI would not be constrained by national borders, and therefore interoperability between different regulations being put in place was important.

"The risk is that we do too little, rather than too much, given the evolution and speed with which things are going," he told Reuters.

On the agenda are topics like how AI systems might be used by terrorists to build bioweapons and the technology's potential to outsmart humans and wreak havoc on the world.

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Karwa Chauth 2023: Parineeti Chopra And Raghav Chadha's Celebrations Are All About Love

Newlywed Parineeti Chopra shared the images from her first Karwa Chauth celebrations and they are absolutely aww-dorable. For the occasion, Parineeti wore a red sharara. She matched it with her pink chooras, jhumkas and a small bindi. Raghav Chadha was dressed in his traditional best. In the first picture, Parineeti and Raghav Chadha can be seen smiling for the camera. In the second picture, Parineeti can be seen laughing out loud while Raghav looks at her with a smile. In a candid shot, Raghav can be seen drawing mehendi on Parineeti's palm. Parineeti can be seen observing the ritual in one shot. In another, Raghav can be seen helping her drink water after the completion of the ritual. Sharing the images, Parineeti wrote in the caption, "Happy first karwa chauth my love...@raghavchadha88." Take a look:

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A post shared by @parineetichopra

Sharing the similar set of images, Raghav Chadha wrote, "Happy Karwa Chauth, my Paru. Love you to the MOON and back." Take a look:

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A post shared by Raghav Chadha (@raghavchadha88)

Earlier, Parineeti shared her mehendi on Instagram story. She wrote in the caption, "waiting" and dropped an emoji of a moon.

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha got married in Udaipur in September in the presence of friends and families. Sharing the first pictures from their wedding, Parineeti wrote in the caption, "From the very first chat at the breakfast table, our hearts knew. Been waiting for this day for a long time .. So blessed to finally be Mr and Mrs! Couldn't have lived without each other .. Our forever begins now." Take a look:

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A post shared by @parineetichopra

Manish Malhotra, the official couturier of Parineeti Chopra, shared the details of their reception look. Sharing a bunch of pics featuring Parineeti (in solo) and with Raghav, Manish wrote, "Creating the Rosette Blush crystal sequin Saree for the gorgeous @parineetichopra was a thought that came up in our discussions at my mumbai Atelier .. All along we are talking about a Red saree for the cocktail after wedding celebrations and then came in the thought of going chic and yes the new #mmveil incorporating with the saree and the necklace with uncut diamonds and light coloured unique emeralds and the statement Ring to complete the look .Classic , Regal on Gorgeous #parineetichopra and the perfect look with @raghavchadha88 making them a dreamy beautiful couple ... Take a look at the post here:

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A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

The couple shared a special thank you note for their friends and followers. It read, "Raghav and I wanted to take a moment to say Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. We are bursting with gratitude for the outpour of love and warm wishes. While we may not have had the chance to respond to each and every message personally (life's been a whirlwind, as you can imagine). Please know that we've been reading everything with joy in our hearts. As we embark on this beautiful journey together, it means the world to us knowing that you're all standing by our side. Your love and blessings are truly priceless and we couldn't have been more thankful. Love, Parineeti and Raghav."

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Enforcement Directorate Will Arrest Arvind Kejriwal On November 2: Atishi

The Aam Aadmi Party claimed today that there are apprehensions that the Enforcement Directorate, or ED, will arrest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 2 after questioning him in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Delhi's ruling party also alleged that the BJP is trying to finish it off by jailing its top leaders.

Arvind Kejriwal has been issued the summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and according to sources, the ED will record his statement once he deposes at the probe agency's Delhi office at 11 am on November 2.

This is the first time that Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED. He was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case in April.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Minister Atishi claimed the BJP is using these tactics to target the AAP as the party knows that it cannot defeat Arvind Kejriwal in the elections.

"According to various sources, the ED will arrest Arvind Kejriwal and put him in jail on November 2. Today, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi want to eliminate the Aam Aadmi Party. This is why, one after another, AAP leaders are being arrested in false cases and sent to jail," she said.

Atishi said Mr Kejriwal will be arrested not because there is a case or any evidence against him but because he has spoken out against the BJP.

"He will be arrested only because Prime Minister Modi is afraid of him. They know that if there is one leader in this country who openly speaks against the BJP and fights against the party, it is Arvind Kejriwal. Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, he has been most troubled by one person and that is Arvind Kejriwal," she said.

In 2015, the BJP had been winning one state election after another but Arvind Kejriwal managed to confine the BJP to just three seats in Delhi, while the AAP won 67 of the 70 seats, she said.

In 2020 again, Atishi said, the BJP put all its efforts into the Delhi elections, fielding its leaders and creating a charged atmosphere across the country.

"However, the people of Delhi showed their love for their son Arvind Kejriwal, and made him the chief minister of Delhi once more.

"When the MCD elections came, the BJP knew that the people of Delhi would elect Arvind Kejriwal and throw the BJP out of the MCD. They delayed the MCD elections, imposed restrictions, and conducted elections along with the Gujarat elections. However, despite all this, the people of Delhi still elected Arvind Kejriwal in the MCD elections," she said.

Referring to the arrest of the AAP's top leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Satyendar Jain, Atishi claimed it only means that the BJP wants to "finish off the AAP".

Mr Jain has been granted interim bail in a money laundering case.

"After Arvind Kejriwal is arrested, the BJP will target other leaders of the INDIA bloc and its Chief Ministers using the CBI and the ED.

"Next they will target Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren since they have been unable to defeat him. Then they will target Tejashwi Yadav since they have not been able to break the alliance in Bihar. Then Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will be targeted," Atishi claimed.

"I want to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party are not afraid of going to jail nor are they afraid of false cases. They will fight till the last breath to protect the Constitution of this country," she said.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed Atishi's views and asserted the party has only grown stronger in the face of opposition.

"The BJP fears Mr Kejriwal's popularity and honesty. Every time an attempt is made to end the AAP, it emerges stronger with double force.

"In the history of Independent India, the AAP has been the most-preyed-upon party by the Centre. Approximately, 170 fabricated cases have been registered against the AAP and its leaders. Forty-eight of these fabricated cases are registered against Sanjay Singh alone by the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP's other governments. Dozens of cases have also been registered against Mr Kejriwal," he claimed.

Addressing a press conference, the AAP's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai said the AAP will keep working for the common man.

"Liquor policy is just an excuse. The BJP's goal is to eliminate the AAP. If it were only about the liquor policy, there wouldn't have been CBI raids at Chief Minister's office before and the Shunglu Committee wouldn't have scrutinised every single file. In the liquor policy case, even the CBI had called Arvind Kejriwal and he answered all their questions," he added.

Gopal Rai also said the BJP's ouster is certain in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"I want to tell the people of Delhi that we will confront their tyranny head-on and continue development work in Delhi," he said.

AAP MLA Dilip Pandey said they are disciples of Bhagat Singh and are ready to sacrifice their lives but will not bow before the BJP.

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