Election News Digest: AAP’s Delhi Manifesto Promises to Secure Full Statehood

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday released the party's Delhi manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, with a promise to secure "full statehood" for the national capital.

Released at the party office here in the presence of other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Sanjay Singh, the 35-page manifesto was titled 'Le Kar Rahenge Purna Rajya' (We will secure full statehood).

In the manifesto, Delhi's ruling AAP said that only full statehood would give the Delhi Government control over land, law and order, police and over officials and decision making.

"With full statehood, several dreams of the people of Delhi will be realized. Women safety will considerably improve. Law and order in Delhi will improve. Youth will get jobs. Every child who has scored more than 60 per cent marks in 12th standard will get a college admission. Sealing will be stopped in Delhi. Every Delhi resident will have a house of his/her own. Unauthorized colonies will be regularized. Delhi will be a clean and beautiful city. Delhi will accelerate towards the path of development," the Delhi Chief Minister said in a message.

In the manifesto, the party said both the BJP and Congress have been avoiding the question of complete statehood for Delhi.

Kejriwal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before becoming the Prime Minister, demanded full statehood for Delhi.

"But both these parties have betrayed the trust of the people of Delhi," he said, adding that many other parties in Parliament had expressed support for the demand for complete statehood for Delhi.

AAP also highlighted its achievements in the fields of education, health, electricity and water.

"We fulfilled all the promises that we made. With full statehood, we assure you that we will fulfil all the above promises," Kejriwal's letter added.

Fewer police cases registered during LS polls in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: State Police chief Loknath Behera on Thursday said fewer police cases have been registered during the ongoing 2019 Lok Sabha polls, as compared to the 2016 Assembly elections.

"This time there were just 347 police cases as compared to the 613 cases registered during the 2016 Assembly polls. These cases have been registered from the time of the poll notification till the end of polling on April 23," Behera said.

Kerala went to the polls in the third phase of polling on April 23 to elect 20 Lok Sabha candidates.

"It was on account of the strong security measures taken that the state recorded a very high percentage of polling," he added.

IT raids ex-J&K Minister's properties in Srinagar

Srinagar: Income Tax (IT) officials on Thursday carried out raids in Srinagar city at the properties of former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Imran Raza Ansari, sources here said.

The I-T officials carried out raids at North Point Towers, a commercial complex in Karan Nagar area. The complex belonging to Shia leader Ansari houses several commercial offices

Similar raids were also carried out in Alamgari Bazaar area in the old city area at another property owned by Ansari, the sources added.

There has, however, been no official word so far from the I-T Department as to what led to the raids in Srinagar or whether any incriminating evidence was recovered.

Congress fields Ajay Rai in Varanasi

Lucknow: The Congress on Thursday announced the candidature of former MLA Ajay Rai from Varanasi to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the prestigious constituency.

The decision ends speculation that Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi may be fielded in Varanasi.

Rai had also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi and had ranked third with over 75,000 votes, behind AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal

A Bhumihar by caste, Rai wields considerable influence over his community in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress also announced Madhusdan Tiwari as its candidate from Gorakhpur.