Maharashtra Congress MLA suspended

Aurangabad: In a poll-eve embarrassment, the Maharashtra Congress on Saturday suspended its Sillod legislator Abdul Sattar A Nabi for alleged anti-party’ activities. State Congress president Ashok Chavan made the announcement after Sattar openly declared his support to rebel Shiv Sena legislator Harshvardhan Jadhav, who is contesting against the official Sena nominee,

Chandrakant Khaire. “Sattar has been suspended for anti-party activities as his actions would have affected the prospects of the Congress candidate from Aurangabad, Subhash Zambad,” said a state MPCC official. iaNS

119 candidates in Odisha face criminal cases             

New Delhi: As many as 119 (34 per cent) of 354 candidates contesting in the third phase of Odisha Assembly elections have declared criminal charges against themselves while 101 (29 per cent) are charged with serious cases, according to Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR). Among the major parties, 20 (48 per cent) out of 42 candidates from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), 30 (71 per cent) out of 42 candidates from BJP, 19 (46 per cent) out of 41 Congress candidates and five (17 per cent) out of 30 candidates from the BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, said the election watchdog. When it comes to serious criminal charges, the BJD has 13 (31 per cent), BJP 25 (60 per cent), Congress 18 (44 per cent) and BSP five (17 per cent) cases. IANS