Breaking News LIVE, October 28:
6:40 PM| Union Minister Smriti Irani has been tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday. Irani shared the information on Twitter.
It is rare for me to search for words while making an announcement; hence here’s me keeping it simple — I’ve tested positive for #COVID and would request those who came in contact with me to get themselves tested at the earliest ?
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 28, 2020
3:00 PM| BJP files complaint to EC against Congress leader @RahulGandhi over his tweet posted today asking for votes in the first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 from voters today.
11:45 AM| PM Modi mentions Ram Mandir of Ayodhya in his rally in Darbhanga. Modi said after years and years of wait, finally the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has begun.
10:55 AM| BJP leader and Agriculture minister Prem Kumar on Wednesday seemed to have violated the model code of conduct as he enetred the polling station with scarf and mask displaying party’s election symbol. Prem Kumar is contesting the assembly election from Gaya Town.
10:45 AM| BJP president JP Nadda appealed to Bihar voters on Wednesday to participate in “grand festival of democracy” while adhering to coronavirus guidelines.
बिहार विधानसभा चुनावों के लिए आज पहले चरण का मतदान हो रहा है।
आप का मत ही लोकतंत्र में आपकी सबसे सबसे बड़ी ताक़त है। मेरा सभी मतदाताओं से अनुरोध है कि कोविड सम्बन्धी सावधानियों का ध्यान रखते हुए लोकतंत्र के इस महापर्व में जरूर हिस्सा लें।पहले मतदान, फिर जलपान!
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) October 28, 2020
Polling is underway in 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the first phase of three-phase elections amid tight security and COVID-19 guidelines in place. The fate of over a thousand candidates across these assembly segments will be decided Wednesday by more than two crore voters. Of the nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise the franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore female and 599 are from the third gender.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday, “If Mehbooba Mufti, Farooq Abdullah and others want to impose Article 370 in Kashmir with help of China then the central government should take strict steps. If any person who wants to unfurl tricolour in Kashmir is stopped, then I consider it as ‘rashtra droh’.”
With 43,893 new cases, infections in India are now close to 8 million. As many as 508 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,20,010. Of the 79,90,322 cases, 6,10,803 are active infections, while 72,59,509 patients have been discharged. Kerala is the largest contributor to cases for the fifth consecutive day.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement on Tuesday said the Unlock 5.0 guidelines that last month allowed for the reopening of cinemas, theatres, and multiplexes with up to 50 percent of their seating capacity will remain in force till November 30. The order further said that lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till November 30, 2020. Earlier, the guidelines for reopening activities issued on September 30 were to be in force till October 31.
