Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) As the Election Commission announced the schedule for the much-awaited Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the BJP-led NDA seeks people's "blessings again".

"Guided by sabka saath, sabka vikas', NDA seeks your blessings again. We spent the last five years fulfilling basic necessities that were left unfulfilled for 70 long years," he tweeted from his personal handle.

He said, now, time has come to "build on that and create a strong, prosperous and secure India".

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Delhi government has issued global tenders for engagement of 375 of the 1,000 electric buses it has decided to procure to combat high levels of air pollution and boost public transport in the national capital.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said the 375 e-buses will form the first phase of the procurement of the 1,000 buses.

Nagpur, Mar 10 (PTI) IPS officer Sandeep Tamgadge Sunday claimed the rise of a "new kind" of nationalism, which he said is based on subjective perceptions.

Speaking at the 'Madhukarrao Tamgadge memorial' scholarship programme 2019-20 here, Tamgadge, who serves as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Nagaland, also questionned "silence" of a section of Dalits on the issue of the freedom of speech.

Srinagar, Mar 10, 2019: Three Kashmiri separatists have been killed in an alleged encounter with by Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, an Indian defence spokesman said.

It is alleged that Indian security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pinglish in the Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of separatists in the area.

Muzaffarnagar, Mar 11 (PTI) In a suspected case of honour killing, a woman was shot dead allegedly by her cousin in Haiderpur village here, police said Monday.

Shivani was killed on Sunday, after her cousin, Sumit Kumar, found that she was in an illicit relationship with another cousin of hers, Anuj, and that she along with him had killed her husband, Happi, they said.

New Delhi; 10 March 2019: The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 and the results will be announced on May 23, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced on Sunday.

Assembly polls will also be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha, making this one of the biggest electoral exercises to be held across the country in decades.

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and polling would be held over seven phases through May 19, followed by counting of all votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced on Sunday.

Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Odisha and Sikkim will also be held simultaneously, the Election Commission (EC) said. However, elections for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, which was dissolved after the ruling coalition between the BJP and the PDP fell apart, will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

NEW DELHI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- India's election commission has directed political parties to advise their candidates and leaders to desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel in advertisements as part of their election campaign.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) in an advisory to presidents of all political parties in country has sought their strict compliance.

Patna, Mar 9; PTI/GANASHAKTI: RJD chief Lalu Prasad will have the final say on the selection of candidates and choice of alliance partners for the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly bypolls, his party said Saturday.

The decision was made at the RJD's central parliamentary board meeting which was preceded by another meeting of state units of Bihar and Jharkhand at former chief minister Rabri Devi's 10, Circular Road residence here.

New Delhi, Mar 9 (PTI) Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir will visit India on Monday, days after his trip to Islamabad.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Jubeir will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during his trip.

The Saudi minister met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday in Islamabad, and delivered a "special message" from Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, according to Pakistani media reports.