Election Commission officials said polls in Nizamabad would be conducted through paper ballots.

With 185 candidates in the fray, Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in Telangana will use ballot papers in the upcoming Parliamentary polls. Sticking to their guns, over 170 farmers remained in the fray in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency from where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election with the withdrawal of nominations coming to an end Thursday.

The Election Commission said polls in Nizamabad would be conducted through paper ballot as there are 185 valid candidates.

Election officials said 60 nominations were withdrawn out of the 503 valid nominations.

A total of 443 candidates remained in the fray with Nizamabad topping the list with 185 candidates, a top state Election Commission official said.

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told reporters there are 185 valid contesting candidates in Nizamabad.

Here is why 170 farmers are contesting against K Kavitha, forcing the poll panel to conduct the polling through ballot papers: (With PTI inputs)

1. TRS MP K Kavitha, KCR's daughter, seeking re-election


Sitting TRS MP K Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, is seeking re-election from Nizamabad. There are over 170 farmers in the fray from the seat.

The Election Commission said polls in Nizamabad would be conducted through paper ballot as there are 185 valid candidates.

2. Why EVMs can't be used in Nizamabad


Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) cannot be used if there are more than 64 candidates since there is a provision of a maximum of 4 units - with each unit carrying 16 candidates - for polling.

Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar said there are 185 valid contesting candidates in Nizamabad. As many as 203 candidates filed nominations in the election to Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency and 191 have been found to be valid after scrutiny, officials said on Tuesday.

"In Nizamabad, we have to go (conduct polls) by ballot paper. This will be also referred to ECI to take approval for what kind of ballot paper we will use. Symbols have to be allotted. ECI will give guidelines for the design of ballot paper and we will print it," Kumar said.

The Election Commission would carry out awareness programmes in this regard, he said.

3. Why 170 farmers are contesting Lok Sabha polls in Nizamabad


The farmers had filed their nominations protesting the alleged failure of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce. Turmeric and red jowar farmers have been demanding an increase in the MSP for their produce.

Farmers have been seeking MSP of Rs 15,000 per quintal for turmeric and Rs 3,500 MSP per quintal of red sorghum.

They are also demanding setting up of a turmeric board.

A farmer leader said they have been seeking a remunerative price for turmeric and red jowar crops and for ensuring MSP for their produce for the past several days.

Raghupathy Reddy, a turmeric farmer who filed his nomination, said he was going ahead and contesting the elections over the demands.

4. Only TRS government cared for farmers: K Kavitha


On the turmeric farmers issue, Kavitha had earlier said that she had worked hard for setting up of a turmeric board.

"I have introduced private member bill (in Parliament). No government cared for turmeric farmers. Only the TRS government cared for turmeric farmers. The TRS government gave Rs 2 lakh subsidy on boilers worth Rs 4 lakh. KCR (as Telangana CM is referred to) worked for the welfare of farmers but Prime Minister Narendra Modi never cared for them," she said.

5. 443 Lok Sabha candidates in Telangana


There are 443 candidates in Telangana, Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told reporters.

A total of 648 nominations were filed in the State of which 145 were rejected and 503 nominations were found to be in order after scrutiny, a release from Telangana Election Commission said on Wednesday.

Election officials said 60 nominations were withdrawn out of the 503 valid nominations.

Telangana, with 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, goes to the polls in the first phase on April 11.




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Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and using it as their best chance, the NDA Government today announced a cash dole for small farmers, the mega pension scheme for the unorganized sector and tax benefits to the middle class, covering the crucial part of India's electorate. 

Tax benefits

- Salary earners, pensioners to get the ax benefit. No income tax for annual income up to Rs 5 lakh

- Salary earners of up to Rs 6.5 lakh income to not pay tax if they make tax-related investments

- Standard deduction to be raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000

- No tax if you own the econd house

- No TDS on post office savings up to Rs 40,000

- No TDS on rental income up to Rs 2,40,000 per year

- No tax on notional rent on the second house

- Capital gains tax exemption under Section 54 raised to Rs 2 crore

- Tax on notional rent on unsold inventory to not be paid for 2 years

Bounty for farmers, unorganised labour

- All farmers affected by natural disasters to get 2% interest subvention upfront for the entire loan period

- Farmers up to 2 hectares of land to come under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. Poor farmers to get Rs 6,000 per year in 3 instalments of Rs 2,000 each (with effect from December 2018)

- Government to implement mega pension scheme for unorganised labour. Unorganised labour to get Rs 3,000 per month after the age of 60 under the mega pension scheme.

- Government to contribute 14% under New Pension Scheme

- A National Programme for Artificial Intelligence covering 9 areas to be promoted

- Government projects to source 25% material from SMEs

- SME loans of Rs 1 crore to get 2% interest subvention

- Single window clearance to be made available to Indian film makers

- National education mission to get Rs 38,572 crore (in FY20)

-Integrated child development scheme to get Rs 27,584 crore (in FY20

- SC, ST welfare to get Rs 76,800 crore (in FY20)

- North-east states to get 21% higher budget allocation at Rs 58,166 crore (in FY20)



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Triple Talaq Bill was cleared by Lok Sabha on Thursday. This bill criminalises the old practice of instant Triple Talaq followed by the Muslims.

Opposition Parties including Congress, TMC, RJD and AIADMK staged a walkout opposing the Triple Talaq Bill. They demanded that the Triple Talaq Bill should be referred to a joint select committee.

The Muslim Women (Protection Of Rights On Marriage) Bill 2018 was passed in Lok Sabha with 245 votes in favour of it. 11 Parliament Members voted against the Legislation. Now, The Triple Talaq Bill will go to the Rajya Sabha for clearance. If the Upper House passes the bill, Triple Talaq will attract a jail term of three years for the Husband who abandons his Wife.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad maintained Triple Talaq bill isn't against any community, but about humanity and justice. He accused Opposition Parties of creating hurdles for the passage of bill because of vote bank politics.



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