2 3 5 * 6 6 6 ;*#-;"68%0 4-004% 64"7*(( -4"5( * 9 21,,:+!+"1 ),1<1,?>:33:22$# ?)?!!+!+,1 12"!2)$#+:- ":*2")+1,-3 3+$"!3!*)3 $"+!;3" ;<+=*!$,1 !+!3+,+$!:+, 3>,"+3:<2,!+!*2 1"3)+ "<13=!><- 2 $ !&'7.;;< ''/ 8, 1 1 2'1:':6= 602 Q ,- & ' ( In Assam, the India Today- Axis My India voter survey has ) ) predicted a return to power for the BJP with 75-85 seats vis-a- vis the Congress 40-50 seats and others getting 1 to 4 seats in 126 strong Assembly. ! ) ) *+ Republic-CNXE indicates NDA winning 78-84 seats in 2)$#+:- Issuing the guidelines in er continue. Public transport staff strength. All industrial and Assam and Congress collecting Lucknow, Chief Secretary RK like railways, metro, buses and scientific establishments, both 40-50 seats. s the number of Covid- Tiwari said that wedding cer- cabs would operate with a government and private, will Times Now-C voter says related deaths and fresh emonies with a minimum of maximum of 50 per cent capac- work in accordance with phys- NDA (BJP plus) will win 65 Acases rose to a record 50 persons and cremation ity. There will be no restriction ical distancing norms and seats in Assam, less of nine seats high in Uttar Pradesh, Chief with 20 persons would be on operations of inter-state employees will be periodically he exit polls on Thursday from last time and UPA Minister Yogi Adityanath on allowed. and intra-state buses along made to undergo rapid antigen Twith varying degrees gave (Congress plus) gaining a close Thursday announced to “Necessary services like with transportation of essential tests. As per the guidelines, as an edge to the TMC for cross- 59 seats with others taking two increase the weekend curfew by health care, police, fire, bank, commodities,” he said. the virus transmission is ing the half-way mark in the seats. 24 hours as it will now com- electricity, water and irrigation, All offices, government through human contact, there West Bengal while predicting a TMC collecting only 112 seats Opposition. Chanakya predicts 80 seats mence from Friday 8 pm and scheduled operation of com- and private, will work with a is a need to prevent more cases win for BJP in Assam, LDF in West Bengal. The saffron party will mas- to the NDA in Assam. will end at 7 am on Tuesday. mon transport would howev- maximum of 50 per cent of not only by curbing the virus retaining Kerala and DMK On the contrary, the ABP- sively increase its tally from In Kerala almost all exit- Earlier, the curfew was spread but also reducing ousting AIADMK with a big C-Voter exit poll survey has pre- only three seats in the 2016 polls polls, predict return of LDF with from Friday night to Monday human contact. bang sweep in Tamil Nadu. dicted a return to power for the to 115 in the Bengal 2021 elec- a clear majority with greater morning. People with symptoms of Exit polls saw the Congress TMC for a third consecutive tion, said Times Now-C voter strength in 126-seat state assem- The decision was taken Lucknow: A record single-day rise of 298 COVID-19 fatalities the viral infection should be getting marginalised in every term in West Bengal with 152- which predicted 2.5 per cent bly with the Conress-led UDF during the routine Team 11 in Uttar Pradesh pushed the death toll to 12,241 on Thursday, quarantined to ensure that the State and UT of Puducherry. 164 seats in the 294-seat drop in Muslim votes for the getting considerably reduced meeting chaired by the Chief while the infection tally mounted to 12,17,955 with 35,156 fresh infection did not spread and all Though pollsters see the Assembly with the BJP scoring TMC. numbers. Minister on Thursday. cases, officials said. A total of 25,613 people have recovered from persons who come in contact return of the BJP and the LDF 109-121 seats in the state. Times Now-C voter also India Today indicates LDF The Chief Minister said, the disease in the past 24 hours, while the active cases stand at with them should be quaran- in Assam and Kerala, they are Left plus (Congress-ISF), suggested a “close contest” in to win 104 to 120 seats, UDF 20- “Despite more and more peo- 3,09,237. Of the fresh cases, Lucknow reported 4,126 cases, tined, isolated and tested. still a little divided in predict- according to the ABP-C voter, Nandigram where Mamata is 36, BJP two and others two only. ple getting cured we have to be Kanpur 1,896 cases, Varanasi 1,598 cases, Gautam Buddh Nagar “During the night curfew, ing a clear third-time success will be left with the crumbs with contesting against her one-time Some of the survey has more vigilant. Corona curfew 1,478 cases, Allahabad 984 cases, Meerut 965 cases and the movement of persons will for TMC leader Mamata only 14-25 seats. protege Suvendu Adhikari and maintained that shift of is very useful in reducing infec- Ghaziabad 898 cases, a health bulletin issued here said. be strictly prohibited except Banerjee. The ABP-C voter suggests now her opponent in the VIP Christian and Muslim voters to tion prevalence and it will be The state capital recorded the highest 37 fresh deaths followed under appropriate provisions of India Today-Axis, interest- the TMC collecting 42.1 per cent constituency on a BJP ticket. LDF for its credible perfor- implemented across the State.” by Allahabad with 19 fatalities, Kanpur 16, Ghaziabad 12 Gautam the law and the decision will be ingly has given a slight edge to votes vis-a-vis BJP’s vote share of BJP general secretary and mance in Kerala. He said during the weekend Buddh Nagar 11 and Varanasi nine, among other districts, it said. taken by the local administra- the BJP in West Bengal which, 39 per cent. CNN-18 survey Bengal-in-charge, Kailash MK Stalin-led DMK is set to curfew only essential services tions to determine the duration according to it, will win 134-160 predicts a clear win for the Vijayvargiya, however, insisted sweep the State and is expected will operate. Industrial activities of night curfew in areas falling seats as against TMC’s 130-156. TMC with 162 seats as against that his party will win 190 seats to win anywhere between 140- and vaccination work will con- under their jurisdiction,” the It gives Left only two seats BJP’s 115 seats. and form the Government in the 173 seats, while the AIADMK tinue during this period. Lucknow: Polling for the panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh guidelines said. to the left and one to “others”. Times Now-C voter puts State saying there are “silent vot- and its allies are predicted to win Meanwhile, the state gov- ended Thursday with an over 60 per cent turnout till 5 pm in Community volunteers, Republic-CNXE exit survey TMC tally at 158, BJP 115 and ers” in the state who will 58 seats. ernment issued fresh guidelines the final phase, marred by a group clash in Mathura and the deaths civil society organisations, ex- again predicted the BJP ahead in the Congress-plus 19 seats and ‘revealed’ on May 2, the day of Times-C voter gives UPA banning any kind of social, cul- of two workers who fell ill while on poll duty. servicemen and local the poll in West Bengal with thus predicts a third-term for results. (DMK plus) in Tamil Nadu 174 tural or religious gatherings Lakhs of candidates were in the fray for over 7.32 lakh seats NYK/NSS centres should be 138-148 seats (halfway mark) Mamata. Most of the exit-polls have and NDA (AIDMK plus) 56. and ordering closure of cinema in gram panchayat wards, 58,176 in gram panchayats. 75,852 in included for sustainable man- while the TMC gets 128 to 138. The Times Now-CVoter predicted a win for the BJP-led Actor-turned politician Kamal halls, gyms, spas and shopping kshetra panchayats and 3,050 in zila panchayats in the state-wide agement of containment areas It gives Left plus only 11-21 seats. poll foresees the BJP to emerge NDA in Assam and also a Hassan to gain only 4 per cent complexes from Thursday. The elections, held over four phases amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. and people should be encour- A lesser known survey by as a potent force in the West thumping win for LDF in Kerala of votes in Tamil Nadu. new restrictions will remain in In Thursday’s fourth phase alone, over 5.27 lakh candidates aged to go for vaccination. “Jaan ki Baat” maintains that the Bengal political scenario and and for the DMK in Tamil Puducherry is predicted to force for the next 14 days. contested for about 2.10 lakh seats in 17 districts. Also see Pages 2, 3 BJP will win 174 seats with the would become the main Nadu. go the BJP way. P !! O ! " # +1-12"! " #$%& the infection in the district. As updates on the hospital avail- Designated and private hospi- day after Pune-based .(/ many as 270 more deaths in the abilities for a better under- tals, it would become much ASerum Institute of India 00*01 last few days from across the standing of the public. The more transparent and easier for (SII) lowered the price of #'!( state were linked to Covid-19, court repeatedly expressed dis- the patients and their atten- Covishield for States to 300 said the Department of Health pleasure with Solicitor General dants.