Latest news with #AITC
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
West Bengal: Mock-polling held ahead of bypolls in Kaliganj
Kaliganj (West Bengal) [India], June 19 (ANI): Mock polling was held at a polling booth in the Kaliganj assembly constituency ahead of voting for the Kaliganj bye-elections, which began at 7 AM. The visuals show election officials casting a vote and conducting a mock-polling drill before the actual polling begins. Pradyut Mallick, Presiding Officer at Booth No 171, Debagram DK Girls High School, in the Kaliganj Assembly Constituency, told ANI, 'Good arrangements have been made by the Election Commission. Security is also good... Seeing everything, we are confident that voting will take place peacefully... Mock poll is going on currently, and everything is going on smoothly... There are 1174 voters in this polling station...' The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has fielded Alifa Ahmed, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Ashish Ghosh, and the Congress has fielded Kabil Uddin Shaikh as candidates for the by-elections. On Saturday, the BJP announced Ashish Ghosh as the candidate for the upcoming Kaliganj assembly constituency bypoll. Meanwhile, the TMC announced Alifa Ahmed as their candidate for the Kaliganj shared a post on their official 'X' handle and informed about the development. 'AITC, under the inspiration and guidance of Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, we are pleased to announce the candidate for the upcoming West Bengal Legislative Assembly By-election scheduled for 19th June, 2025', the 'X' post read. Bye elections in Kaliganj will be held on June 19, and the results will be counted on June 23. The seat became vacant following the death of TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed. On May 25, the Election Commission of India announced dates for by-elections on five assembly constituencies across four states. These include Gujarat's Kadi and Visavadar, Kerala's Nilambur, Punjab's Ludhiana West and West Bengal's Kaliganj. Bye-election will be held in Gujarat's constituencies Kadi and Visavadar to fill the posts of Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki, who passed away in February this year, and the resignation of Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai. In Kerala, the bye-election will be held in Nilambur to fill the post of PV Anvar, an LDF-backed MLA who resigned in January this year. He was appointed convener of the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). In Punjab, the bye-election will be held in Ludhiana West to fill the post of Gurpreet Bassi Gogi after his demise in January. (ANI)
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Queens Of The Stone Age: Alive In The Catacombs - Audio Release Set For June 13
By popular demand, Queens of the Stone Age are releasing the audio of their spellbinding Alive in the Catacombs performance. Appropriately, the music arrives this Friday the 13th across all digital platforms via Matador Records. The band has also announced a limited vinyl edition of the AITC audio. Only 5,000 copies will be pressed of this special one-sided vinyl edition. Housed in a gatefold jacket with foil print inside and out, the AITC vinyl edition contains an exclusive 24-page booklet of behind the scenes photos taken by long-time collaborator Andreas Neumann. Each copy will be individually stamped and numbered. Pre-orders are available now at for a release date of August 22nd. The AITC film and subsequent audio release is QOTSA distilled down to their most elemental form — Joshua Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore augmented by a three-piece string section, employing chains and chopsticks as makeshift percussion instruments. Entirely unfiltered, as every song was recorded live in a complete take with no overdubs or edits. The audio was recorded by Mark Rankin, François-Xavier Delaby, Henri d'Armancourt and Alban Lejeune, and was produced by Mark Rankin. Final mixes by Mark Rankin, Joshua Homme and Michael Shuman. The tracklisting is as follows: Running Joke/Paper Machete Kalopsia Villans of Circumstance Suture Up Your Future I Never Came Queens of the Stone Age have released Alive in the Catacombs, the film, and an accompanying behind the scenes documentary, Alive in Paris and Before. Both films are available now to purchase or rent via Queens of the Stone Age: Alive in the Catacombs was produced by La Blogothèque and directed by Thomas Rames, and was filmed and recorded in July 2024 in Paris, France.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Anvar continues tirade against Satheesan
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) State convener P.V. Anvar continued his tirade against United Democratic Front (UDF) chairman V.D. Satheesan on Thursday (June 5), reiterating that the UDF would not win the Nilambur byelection as long as Mr. Satheesan remained at the helm. He said 'two Pinarayi Vijayans' were facing the election in Nilambur. 'Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M. Swaraj is the spokesperson of Pinarayism, and the UDF candidate is a supporter of Pinarayism,' he added. Mr. Anvar credited himself with highlighting the problems and sufferings of the settler farmer communities living in the hills of Kerala, particularly Nilambur. Anvar claimed he was convinced by the people of Nilambur to enter the fray. 'Unlike transient politicians, I will stay with the ordinary people of Nilambur. That is why they want me by their side,' he said.
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Nilambur bypoll to be four-cornered contest
The June 19 bypoll in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala is shaping up to be a fierce four-cornered contest with the addition of PV Anvar and Mohan George as the Trinamool Congress (AITC) and BJP candidates, respectively, in the fray. Anvar, whose resignation in January as a Left-backed Independent lawmaker had forced the bypoll, said on Sunday that he would file his nomination papers on June 2 as an AITC candidate after his persistent efforts to be inducted into the Congress-led UDF proved to be unsuccessful. He said he was forced to take the decision as the UDF 'closed its doors' on him. At a press conference at his home, the former MLA lashed out at Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, terming him 'autocratic' and accusing him of blocking the path for him to be brought into the UDF. 'This bye-election is an opportunity for the common people of Nilambur to register their protest and grievances against the current LDF dispensation and the chief minister. Particularly, there are hardships being faced by the migrant settlers in hilly areas. We are fighting to win. We will get the anti-incumbency votes against the CM,' Anvar said. Anvar added that the UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath would not succeed in the bypoll as he does not have the strength to counter the politics of Pinarayi Vijayan. The businessman-politician, who won from Nilambur in 2016 and 2021 as an LDF-backed Independent, broke ranks with the LDF last year after levelling a series of allegations against top cop MR Ajith Kumar and senior CPI(M) leader P Sasi. Once seen as a close confidante of CM Vijayan, Anvar gradually made his opposition to the chief minister the bulwark of his politics. After resigning as MLA, Anvar signalled his support to the UDF and had even said that he would not contest the bypoll. Though he tried relentlessly through talks with various UDF leaders to enter the alliance, it is widely assessed that his personal rivalry with Shoukath, a man he had defeated in 2016, proved to be the sore point in the discussions. Satheesan told reporters on Sunday, 'We closed the door for talks with Anvar because he keeps repeating the same allegations against our candidate Aryadan Shoukath.' Meanwhile, on the eve of the last day for filing nominations, the BJP fielded Mohan George, a lawyer who accepted the party's membership on Sunday and was long associated with the PJ Joseph-led Kerala Congress and Kerala Congress (B). George, a native of Nilambur, is a council member of the Mar Thoma Sabha, a prominent Church in the state, and the vice-president of the Mar Thoma Church in Chungathara. George told reporters after his nomination, 'There will be a strong fight here, no doubt. The BJP has a good influence in Nilambur and we seek the votes of every community. I decided to leave the Kerala Congress party because it is not strong here in Malappuram district.' The BJP, through George's candidacy, is seen as building a bridge with the Christian community in the constituency who are a strong vote-bank and hold influence particularly in the high-range areas. While the bye-election in Nilambur is scheduled on June 19, the votes will be counted on June 23. Swaraj a candidate with 'clean image': Kerala CM CM Pinarayi Vijayan, addressing his first LDF election convention in Nilambur on Sunday, exhorted voters and LDF cadres to back M Swaraj stating that he is a candidate with a clean image. 'He (Swaraj) is known to everyone. You have received the news of his candidacy with a lot of is a candidate with a clean image. He can always ask for votes from anyone with his head held high. Such large public attendance at this convention attests to it,' said the CM. At the same time, the CM also trained his guns on Anvar, saying that his 'betrayal' to the Left forced the bypoll. In his convention speech, the CM listed the achievements of his administration and claimed that the state has become a model for good governance.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Anvar announces his candidature, more drama to Nilambur byelection
Kozhikode: Adding to the political drama surrounding the Nilambur assembly byelection, former MLA and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) state convenor P V Anvar announced his candidature as the party candidate in the June 19 poll. He said he would file his nomination on Monday. Soon after Anvar's declaration, the AITC announced his candidature and allotted him the party's "two flowers plus grass" symbol. The byelection was necessitated by Anvar's resignation in Jan after breaking ranks with the ruling LDF. He wrested the constituency for the LDF as an independent candidate in 2016 by ending 29 years of Congress dominance. Anvar announced his candidature after days of pressure tactics and confrontation with the Congress and UDF to accept AITC in the front with the assurance of a sure seat for him, even while refusing to withdraw his remarks against UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath. Justifying his candidature, Anvar said Shoukath lacked the ability to defeat "Pinarayism" and a UDF defeat would allow the LDF to return to power in 2026. "If Shoukath loses, all the slogans I raised against Pinarayi Vijayan will go in vain. Should I merely remain a spectator?" he asked, vowing to secure at least 25,000 votes by raising the concerns of the settler farmer community. Anvar further alleged a tacit alliance between opposition leader V D Satheesan and the LDF. "Satheesan is part of a larger political nexus. It was under Pinarayi Vijayan's diktat that I was sidelined by Satheesan from the UDF. Vijayan has said that Satheesan won't win another time from Paravoor if this was not complied," he claimed. He also didn't drop his habit of coining 'isms', saying what was unfolding in the UDF was nothing short of 'Hitlerism' and warning that the front would not win the 2026 election if it moved ahead under the current leadership. Targeting Satheesan, Anvar said he urged the Cong leader to strongly oppose the move to promote ADGP Ajith Kumar as DGP, but he remained silent. Even when former Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das was reinstated, Satheesan kept mum, which he said was proof of a broader nexus involving Satheesan. He alleged that Satheesan once said that giving a fifth ministerial berth to the Muslim League would spell the end of UDF in Kerala. "Will League workers accept such a leadership?" Anvar asked. He also blamed the environmental stance taken by 'Green MLAs' under Satheesan's leadership in support of the Gadgil committee for destroying UDF's prospects in the high-range regions. Anvar also trained his guns at the UDF candidate, saying Shoukath, despite being a Muslim, acted against the community through his films. He also alleged that Shoukath disparaged Panakkad Thangals, which the community would not forget. He also criticised LDF candidate M Swaraj for his stands on the entry of women into Sabarimala and Operation Sindhoor. Before breaking ranks with the LDF, Anvar was Vijayan's trusted lieutenant in Malappuram and a key element in CPM's strategy to make inroads into UDF strongholds in the district. He wrested Nilambur, which elected Aryadan Mohammed for six straight terms from 1987 to 2016, by defeating Shoukath by a margin of 11,504 votes. In 2021, he retained the seat by defeating the late DCC president V V Prakash by a margin of 2,700 votes. The Nilambur byelection falls just ahead of the upcoming local self-govt polls and assembly election, turning it into a high-stakes political fight. Sensing the significance of the battle, the CPM dropped its post-2006 practice of fielding independents in Nilambur and put up its state secretariat member M Swaraj.
