FP FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. XXXX NO. 282 | INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 19, 2024 | PAGES 16 `3 - r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; WEATHER EDIT WORLD’S LARGEST ELECTORAL EXERCISE 30.80c. 17.90c Sunrise : 06.48 Sunset : 06.30 GUJARAT, UP, BIHAR, J’KHAND, HP & U’KHAND OFFICERS IN DOCK NEWS BRIEF Raj Thackeray to join BJP-Shinde alliance NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is gravitating towards the BJPShiv Sena (Eknath Shindeled) alliance in Maharashtra, ahead of Lok Sabha elections, sources told India Today TV on Monday. He is on his way to Delhi, where Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule are expected to be present. Indian student dies in US NEW YORK: In yet another tragic incident, an Indian student died in Boston and initial investigation has ruled out any foul play. "Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of Mr. Abhijeeth Paruchuru, an Indian student in Boston," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X. Paruchuru's parents are based in Connecticut and are in direct touch with detectives. WB DGP was removed during 2016 Assembly & 2019 LS polls too NEW DELHI Seeking to ensure a levelplaying field in the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and it also directed the shunting out of West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar. Also, the secretary of the Seat deal final in NDA Bihar NEW DELHI The NDA on Monday finalised its seat-sharing formula in Bihar for Lok Sabha elections, announcing the BJP will contest 17 constituencies, the JD(U) 16 and Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) five, while rebuffing the claims of the LJP faction led by Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras. general administrative departments of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have been removed. The decision to shift the West Bengal DGP was taken as the officer was removed earlier too from active election managementrelated duty during the 2016 assembly election in the state and in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the sources pointed out. The EC has asked the state chief secretary to post Rajeev Kumar to a "non-election" related assignment, and, as an interim arrangement, post an officer immediately junior to him as DGP. THE POLL panel usually takes such action during parliamentary and assembly polls when an issue of conflict of interest arises The state has been asked to send a panel of three officers who would be posted as the DGP. The home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were removed as they were found to be holding dual charges in the offices of the chief minister in the respective states. This may potentially compromise or be seen to be compromising the impartiality and neutrality required during the electoral process, especially in matters relating to law and order and deployment of forces, they noted. Ahead of elections, the EC always directs states to transfer officers connected with election related work, who have completed three years or are in their home districts. If such officers are not transferred by the states, the EC orders their removal. CONTD. ON P10 Lok Sabha election. Soundararajan, 62, was sworn in as the then-fledgling Telangana state's second Governor in November 2019, and was given additional charge as Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry in February 2021. CONTD. ON P10 President Vladimir Putin has warned the US-led NATO military alliance against the deployment of troops in Ukraine, saying such a move would "be one step shy of a full-scale World War III". It is no secret that fighters from NATO nations are present on the ground in Ukraine, he claimed while speaking to his supporters and the media on early Monday after his landslide presidential election victory. T-Guv quits may contest LS polls HYDERABAD: Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned as Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor on Monday morning. She was the leader of BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit before her governorship - is expected to contest the 2024 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE EC removes home secys of six states, Bengal top cop ROHIT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY GUIDING FORCE: HARDIK SPORTS r RNI No. 38281/83 Putin’s dire warning MOSCOW: Russian SEQUEL ON ITS WAY SC blow to 6 Himachal MLAs NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the disqualification of six Congress leaders of Himachal Pradesh who had cross voted for the BJP candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections in the State and issuing notice to the respondents on their petition challenging the decision of the Legislative Assembly Speaker. "We are not going to stay the disqualification," the apex court said. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta also denied the six MLAs permission to vote or participate in proceedings of the House. The top court listed the matter for the second week of May . The court was apprised of the fact that date of the general elections has been announced and that the date of filing of nomination has been notified for this May . On February 29, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified six Congress MLAs Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal under the anti-defection law. After the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress had 40 MLAs, while the BJP had 25 in the 68-member state assembly. The remaining three seats are held by independents. CONTD. ON P10 CINEMA Make complete disclosure of all details on electoral bonds: SC to SBI Apex court berates SBI for 3rd time NEW DELHI In a third tongue-lashing to the State Bank of India, the Supreme Court on Monday told it to stop being "selective" and make "complete disclosure" of all details related to the electoral bonds scheme by March 21. The apex court said the details to be disclosed include the unique bond numbers that would reveal the link between the buyers and the recipient political parties. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said there is "no manner of doubt that the SBI is required to make complete disclosure of all the details" which are in its possession. The bench, also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B R Gavai, Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, said the Election Commission shall forthwith upload on its website the details received from the SBI. In a landmark verdict, a five-judge constitution bench had done away with the scheme, calling it "unconstitutional", and or- 'DON'T SHOUT AT ME' During dramatic exchanges between advocate Mathews Nedumpara and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, the latter said, "One second, don't shout at me." On the defensive, Nedumpara responded, "No, no, I am very soft." The CJI then said, "This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting, you are in the court. dered disclosure by the Election Commission of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients by March 13. On March 11, the SBI, which unsuccessfully sought an extension of time till June 30 to disclose electoral bonds details, faced searching questions from the top court which wanted to know about the steps taken to comply with its directions. Last Friday, the SC admonished SBI for furnishing incomplete information and issued a notice to the bank to explain the reasons for the non-disclosure of unique alphanumeric numbers. CONTD. ON P10