FIRST PHASE OF POLLING ON OCT 28 l Seats going to polls: 71 constituencies in 16 dists. l Candidates in fray 1,066. Male: 952, Female: 114. l Total electors: AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 332 2,14,84,787. l No of polling stns: 31,380 BIHAR SET FOR FIRST PHASE OF Top politicians in Bihar were busy with their last rallies as the campaign for 71 constituencies across 16 districts that will vote on October 28 in the first phase of the Assembly elections ended on Monday evening. The second l Seats being contested: POLLING IN ASSEMBLY ELECTION JDU-35, BJP-29, RJD-42, and third phases of polling will take place on November 3 and November 7. Results will be declared on November Congress-21, Left-8. AS CAMPAIGN CONCLUDES 10. The opposition RJD is contesting 42 seats - the most number of seats in the first phase of polling by any party. OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD 21°C - 35°C www.firstindia.co.in | www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia | instagram.com/thefirstindia Controlling lawfully! Centre plans law to tackle air pollution —PHOTO BY ANI —PHOTO CENTRE ASSURES SC OF LAW ON AIR QUALITY AIR POLLUTION MAY HINDER INDIA’S New Delhi: The Cen- ing for Centre, said that submit a report on air FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: EXPERTS tral government sub- the government will pollution, including mitted before the Su- bring new legislation in stubble burning. New Delhi: Causal link between air pollution and preme Court on Mon- three to four days and “It is good that the Covid-19 cases is yet to be established conclusively but long-term exposure will certainly make people day that it is contem- asked the top court to govermment is coming more vulnerable to lung infections, warn scientists plating the creation of a keep in abeyance ‘Jus- up with a law. This is an as the skies over large parts of north India, includ- permanent body by en- tice Lokur Committee’. issue that anyway should ing Delhi, turn smoky and the air quality deterio- acting legislation to On request by the Cen- have been looked into by rates rapidly. A study by researchers at Harvard in deal with the annual air tral government, a bench the government. Every- September showed that an increase of only one pollution issue in the headed by Chief Justice one in this city is chok- microgram per cubic metre in PM 2.5 is associated national capital region SA Bobde kept in abey- ing due to bad air,” the with an 8 per cent increase in the Covid-19 death arising from stubble ance the operation of it’s bench said. rate.The air quality in north India is expected to burning in Punjab, Har- October 16 order, which Mehta also apprised deteriorate further from November to February due yana and Uttar Pradesh. had appointed its former the court that the draft to several factors such as stubble burning, festive Solicitor General judge Madan B Lokur as law will be ready in a fireworks and low wind speed etc. An anti-smog gun deployed outside a construction site to tackle pollution, in New Delhi on Monday. Tushar Mehta, appear- one-man commission to matter of a few Turn to P6 3 PDP leaders quit LAHDC POLL: BJP WINS 15, CONG 9 Jammu: Bharatiya Ja- BJP winners. seats won by the inde- nata Party on October Constituencies won pendent candidates. 26 won the majority of by BJP included Tur- “BJP’s victory in after Mufti ‘hurt’ seats in the Ladakh Au- tuk, Panamik, Tegar, Leh Autonomous Hill tonomous Hill Devel- Hunder, Diskit, Tangtse, Development Council, opment Council, Leh Kungyam, Sku Markha, Leh election is histor- (LAHDC-Leh) polls, by Thiksey, Korzok, ic. BJP has won 15 out capturing 15 out of 26 Lingshed, Lamayuru, of 26 seats. I congratu- patriotic feelings constituencies, fol- Martseylang, Khaltse late Shri Jamyang lowed by the Congress and Chuchot while Con- Tsering Namgyal and Srinagar: People’s with nine seats. A voter shows her inked finger after casting her vote for LAHDC gress won Lower Leh, all karyakartas of Democratic Party (PDP) The BJP managed to polls, in Leh. —FILE PHOTO Upper Leh, Igoo, Saspol, Ladakh unit of BJP. leaders TS Bajwa, Ved win most of the far off Basgo, Sakti, Phyang, Gratitude to the people Mahajan and Hussain A seats outside the Leh remote Nubra valley. Turtuk, and Mirza Skurbuchan and of Ladakh for their Waffa resigned from the town, including six out Two Muslim faces, Hussain from Chu- Temisgam. Chushul faith in BJP,” tweeted party on Monday stating of seven seats of the Ghulam Mehdi from chot, were among the and Nyoma were two BJP prez JP Nadda. that they feel quite un- comfortable over some of party chief Mehboo- ba Mufti’s actions and undesirable utterances India, US to ink especially which hurt ARE BJP & BSP AGAIN patriotic sentiments. “We... are feeling quite defence pact today uncomfortable over COMING TOGETHER? some of your actions BJP surprises and undesirable utter- ances especially which PRAKASH JAVADEKAR everyone by hurt patriotic senti- @PRAKASHJAVDEKAR ments,” read a letter to I condemn the remark of Mehbooba leaving 1 RS Mufti signed by three Mufti. Disrespect for the tricolour is unacceptable. seat for BSP leaders. “Instead of over- The tricolour is our honour and the identity of India. coming the challenges Ahtesham Siddiqui from within and outside by a process of broader THERE WON’T BE ‘DO NISHAN, Lucknow: In what consultations and trust, DO PRADHAN’: RAVI PRASAD could be termed as per- Yogi Adityanath Mayawati some elements within Aurangabad (Bihar): Union Minister Ravi Shankar Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secy Dr Mark T haps the biggest devel- the party pulling the Prasad on Monday raised the issue of abrogation of Esper meeting in New Delhi on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI opment in one of the one seat to the BSP ly coalition. With the party and leadership in Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and building most politically charged which can also ferry its BJP having 304 mem- a particular direction, Ram Temple in Ayodhya New Delhi: India and ways to further deepen state of India—Uttar candidate without any bers in the Uttar thus deviating from the at the election rally held the US will ink a land- cooperation in the Indo- Pradesh—the ruling problem. Pradesh Assembly, the basic principles, agenda in Aurangabad. “A grand mark defence pact on Pacific region, enhance BJP has given a berth to The late night devel- November 9 election for and philosophy, making Ram Temple is being Tuesday that will pro- military-to-military Mayawati’s BSP in the opment has raised curi- 10 Rajya Sabha seats it difficult to face the built. Some people have a vide for sharing of high- ties, and reviewed key run up to the Rajya Sab- osity as to if there is an from the state may turn saner voices in the soci- problem with it. They also end military technology, regional security chal- ha elections. understanding between out to be a nearly one- ety,” it said. have issues with Article logistics and geospatial lenges including in In- On Monday, the Saf- the BJP and BSP since sided affair for the par- The three leaders 370 (abrogation). I’d maps between their mili- dia’s neighbourhood, fron party announced at present BSP has ty, feel poll analysts. said that some of the ac- like to say clearly, there taries, officials said after officials said. its 8 candidates for the merely 14 MLAs and in The BJP’s all eight tions and utterances won’t be ‘do nishan do Defence Minister Ra- The sources said, RS poll, whereas it is the run up to Assembly nominees for Rajya Sab- are unpardonable and pradhan’. There’ll be Tiranga everywhere,” Prasad jnath Singh held wide- while deliberating on re- firmly placed in the polls, which is approxi- ha from Uttar Pradesh unforgettable by the said. He further lashed out at the Rashtriya Janata ranging talks with his gional security challeng- state to make 9 candi- mately two years from are likely to win as the people, for the party, to Dal (RJD) over the photos of former chief ministers US counterpart Mark T es, the two sides briefly dates win for the upper now and with Congress party has the three- emerge out and move in Lalu Yadav, and Rabri Devi missing from its posters Esper in New Delhi. touched upon India’s bor- house. Political pundits harping on the votes, it fourth majority in the the direction of its fun- during the campaigning phase. During the talks, Sin- der row with China in believe that this is a appears that this would state assembly. damental Turn to P6 gh and Esper explored eastern Ladakh. Turn to P6 strategic move to give be once again be a time- Turn to P6 CAMPAIGN SHOCKER ‘State released fewer funds for Kaprada since it had a Congress MLA’ Sitting minister makes explosive against Patkar. revelation has alarm- under Section 123 of the position party is con- Addressing a public ing implications for People’s Representative trary to the Constitu- admission during bypoll campaign meeting in Nana Pond- democracy itself, Act 1951 for corrupt tional scheme and in ha, Patkar said, “Earli- since it implies that practices. violation of the mod- for BJP candidate Jitu Chaudhary —FILE PHOTO er, as a Congress MLA, the ruling party is es- Doshi said, “The el code of conduct.