The brief monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh legislature starting on Monday, the first after the Lok Sabha polls, is expected to be stormy, with the principal opposition Samajwadi Party trying to gain political mileage inside the assembly after its Lok Sabha victory.
Political observers interpret this as a signal of the potential return of the coalition era.
As per the ECI, Jharkhand is leading the voter turnout charts at 60.14 per cent till 3 pm.
Raju Bista, who has contested Lok Sabha Polls from Darjeeling for the second time on a BJP ticket, is still working to stop illegal mining in Kalimpong, where a private company has caused environmental damage.
Voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 96 Parliamentary Constituencies across nine states and one Union Territory began on Monday at 7:00 am.
It has been decided that Rahul Gandhi would contest from Wayanad and KPCC President K Sudhakaran from Kannur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday suggested that the model of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls would come into force in March and appealed to first-time voters to participate in the electoral exercise in record numbers.
Earlier, there was speculation that the Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) would join the Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), who are also part of the INDIA.
In yet another setback for the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Vibhakar Shastri resigned from the party on Wednesday.
Now with the hike, a beneficiary will be entitled to receive a minimum monthly pension of Rs 1000.
