Congress, BJP Announce Candidates; Electoral Bond Controversy, AAP Office Blockade

Congress, BJP Announce Candidates; Electoral Bond Controversy, AAP Office Blockade

Congress, BJP Announce Candidates for Lok Sabha Polls; Electoral Bond Controversy Rages

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have released their fourth and third lists of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, respectively. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh will contest from Rajgarh, while Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai will run from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Varanasi seat.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) is investigating allegations that electoral bonds were used to influence project clearances in Telangana. The report submitted to the EC suggests a link between bond purchases and the award of contracts to donor companies.

The Congress has also accused the BJP of legalizing bribes through electoral bonds, claiming that they facilitate “prepaid, postpaid, and post-raid bribes.” An analysis of State Bank of India data reveals that 38 corporate groups received government contracts worth ₹3.8 lakh crore after donating electoral bonds to the BJP.

In other developments, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised concerns with the CEC over the Delhi Police blocking access to its office after the arrest of party chief Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP has sought a meeting to present their grievances.

Munnar, known for its misty mornings, has experienced an unusual lack of frost this winter, marking a departure from its usual pattern. Data from the United Planters Association of South India tea research center shows that no sub-zero temperatures were recorded in Munnar town this year.

In Bihar, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has shortlisted candidates for its 16 constituencies, with several incumbents being repeated. The party president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has opted to retain many candidates, barring a few seats.

The Karnataka government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Centre for denying financial assistance for drought management in the state. The move is expected to trigger a political debate ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar has maintained an ambivalent stance towards forging an alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The VBA will announce its decision on March 26 on whether it will contest the elections independently or join the MVA.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will deploy women members from the Muslim community as agents on minority-dominant polling booths to prevent bogus voting. The BJP Minority Morcha has planned this initiative, focusing on areas where the party claims to have received reports of bogus voting in previous elections.

Para-Athlete Suvarna Raj's Inspiring Journey: Overcoming Polio to Achieve Sporting Glory

Para-Athlete Suvarna Raj’s Inspiring Journey: Overcoming Polio to Achieve Sporting Glory

Para-athlete Suvarna Raj, a beacon of resilience and determination, has overcome immense challenges to achieve remarkable success in her sporting career. Diagnosed with polio at the tender age of two, Raj faced societal stigma and limited opportunities. However, her unwavering spirit and unwavering support from her family propelled her to defy expectations.

Raj’s journey to the pinnacle of para-sports was arduous and filled with obstacles. It took her 33 years to prove her worth, a testament to her indomitable will. Her perseverance paid off when she clinched two medals at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Korea and two more at the Thailand Para Table Tennis Open in 2013.

At the NDTV Indian of the Year 2024 award ceremony, Raj shared her inspiring story, highlighting the challenges faced by disabled individuals in society. She emphasized the need for a more inclusive and supportive environment, where people with disabilities are not marginalized but celebrated for their abilities.

Raj’s achievements have not only brought her personal glory but have also inspired countless others. Her story serves as a reminder that with determination and support, anything is possible. She has become a role model for aspiring para-athletes, proving that disability is not a barrier to success.

Meanwhile, the Indian women’s cricket team was honored with the ‘Sports Performance of the Year’ award at the same ceremony. The team, represented by Shreyanka Patil, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav, has made significant strides in recent years, thanks to the support of the BCCI.

Shreyanka Patil expressed her gratitude for the recognition and acknowledged the positive changes in women’s cricket in India. She credited the BCCI for providing equal opportunities and financial support, which has empowered the team to achieve greater heights.

Verstappen Grabs Pole in Melbourne, Targets Record 10th Consecutive Win

Verstappen Grabs Pole in Melbourne, Targets Record 10th Consecutive Win

Max Verstappen, the reigning three-time world champion, continued his dominance by securing his third consecutive pole position of the season at the Australian Grand Prix. The Dutch driver’s blistering lap time of 1 minute 15.915 seconds at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit put him 0.270 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Sainz, who returned to the cockpit just two weeks after undergoing appendicitis surgery, put in a valiant effort to secure second place on the grid. He will join Verstappen on the front row, setting the stage for an intense battle on Sunday.

“A bit unexpected today, but very happy — both (Q3) laps felt very nice,” said Verstappen, who is aiming to repeat his 2022 victory in Australia. “A bit of a tricky weekend so far, Ferrari seem very quick in the long runs so that makes tomorrow exciting.”

Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, will start third, while Lando Norris of McLaren surprised with a fourth-place finish. Charles Leclerc, the 2022 Melbourne winner, qualified fifth in the second Ferrari, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in sixth.

Mercedes’ George Russell secured seventh place, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull and the Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. However, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered a setback, failing to make it into Q3 and starting in 11th position.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks, a lot of days in bed waiting to see if I could be here today,” said Sainz, expressing relief at his performance. “To put it on the front row after leading through qualifying, I was almost not believing it.”

Despite Sainz’s efforts, Verstappen remains the favorite for victory. The Dutchman has won the opening two races of the season and is chasing a record-breaking 10th consecutive win. Red Bull, meanwhile, is aiming for its third straight 1-2 finish.

Sainz topped Q2 ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc, while Hamilton’s elimination was a major upset. Tsunoda, the only driver outside the top five teams to make it into Q3, benefited from Hamilton’s misfortune.

Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Valtteri Bottas of Sauber also missed out in Q2, along with Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Alex Albon of Williams. Sainz was also fastest in Q1, followed by Perez and Verstappen.

Zhou Guanyu of Sauber finished last, while Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Pierre Gasly of Alpine, and Nico Hulkenberg of Haas failed to progress beyond Q1. Logan Sargeant was absent after his Williams was given to teammate Albon, who crashed on Saturday. With no spare chassis available, Williams opted to field only one car.

Capitals Rally for Shootout Win, Milano Nets Hat Trick

Capitals Rally for Shootout Win, Milano Nets Hat Trick

In a thrilling encounter that could shape the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Washington Capitals rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 7-6 in a shootout on Friday night.

Sonny Milano stole the show with his first NHL hat trick, including a remarkable goal where he juggled the puck on his stick and batted it into the net. Alex Ovechkin continued his scoring tear with his 846th career goal, moving him closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.

The Capitals’ comeback was sparked by John Carlson’s goal early in the third period, followed by Connor McMichael’s tally minutes later. Dylan Strome sealed the victory with the lone goal in the shootout.

Carolina, who had won five straight games, was led by Sebastian Aho’s hat trick. Jaccob Slavin, Brady Skjei, and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes.

Goaltender Charlie Lindgren was a key factor in the Capitals’ victory, making seven saves in the third period and overtime after replacing Darcy Kuemper. Pyotr Kochetkov allowed six goals on 25 shots for Carolina.

The win moves the Capitals one point behind Detroit for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and two points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division. They have played one fewer game than both teams.

Carolina, a potential first-round playoff opponent for Washington, suffered only their second loss since acquiring Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov at the trade deadline.

Kuznetsov, who was traded from Washington to Carolina two weeks ago, received a standing ovation during and after an emotional video tribute.

The Capitals were without injured forwards T.J. Oshie and Aliaksei Protas and played their first game without winger Tom Wilson, who is serving a six-game suspension.

Tom Wilson Suspended Six Games for High-Sticking Incident

Tom Wilson Suspended Six Games for High-Sticking Incident

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson has been suspended for six games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for a high-sticking incident involving Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor. The suspension, which is tied for the longest handed out this season, stems from an incident late in Wednesday’s game between the two teams.

Wilson swung his stick in a “reckless fashion,” striking Gregor in the face and drawing a double-minor penalty. The league’s video announcing the suspension emphasized that Wilson’s actions were “not related to any sort of legitimate hockey action” and that he is “accountable for the dangerous result of the play.”

This is the sixth time Wilson has been suspended since 2017, and his first since a seven-game ban for boarding in 2021. He has also been fined three times for various offenses. The suspension will cost Wilson $161,458 in salary and will sideline him for upcoming games against Winnipeg, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, and Buffalo.

Wilson’s absence is a significant blow to the Capitals, who are currently battling for a playoff spot. He is the team’s All-Star representative and has 17 goals this season, third-most among remaining players after the trade deadline.

“Huge absence in our lineup,” said Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “I don’t need to go into length about what he provides our team from a leadership standpoint, veteran presence standpoint, what he does on the ice.”

Wilson, who signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension that begins next season, is considered a potential successor to Alex Ovechkin as captain and face of the franchise. He will not be eligible to return until April.

Savita Punia: Indian Women's Hockey Captain Grapples with Olympic Qualifiers Heartbreak

Savita Punia: Indian Women’s Hockey Captain Grapples with Olympic Qualifiers Heartbreak

The Indian women’s hockey team’s failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics has left a profound impact on captain Savita Punia. The team’s fourth-place finish in Tokyo just three years ago had raised hopes, but the recent setback has shattered those dreams.

Punia, known as the “Great Wall” of Indian hockey, has been grappling with the disappointment. “Losing the Olympic qualifiers is such a bad moment that we will probably not be able to forget our entire life,” she said. “I haven’t been able to get over it yet.”

In the aftermath of the qualifiers, Punia sought solace in yoga and meditation. She also returned to the field quickly, competing in the FIH Pro League and the ongoing Nationals in Pune. “The good thing about sports is that you have to forget the past and move forward very quickly,” she explained.

Despite her efforts to move on, Punia admits that the pain of missing out on the Olympics lingers. “We were confident and well-prepared, but you cannot predict anything in sports,” she said. “We all did our best and our preparation was very good. It’s a lot about luck also.”

Punia’s husband has been a source of support during this difficult time. “He said that we could not change what happened but can look ahead and play as long as you want to play,” she said.

The Indian team will now focus on the upcoming Pro League matches in Belgium in May-June. Punia believes that a new core group will emerge after the Nationals, and she is prepared for the changes. “Now a new core group will be formed and some new players will also come,” she said. “The focus will be on fitness and drag flicks.”

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics, Punia remains committed to hockey. “Hockey is my passion and the more I stay away from the field, the more it will bother me,” she said.

Murali Sreeshankar Adopts Strategic Approach for Paris Olympics

Murali Sreeshankar Adopts Strategic Approach for Paris Olympics

Murali Sreeshankar, India’s star long jumper, is embarking on a strategic approach for the upcoming season, prioritizing the Paris Olympics over extensive travel and competition. After a grueling schedule last year, Sreeshankar has opted to start his season later and focus on targeted events.

Last season, Sreeshankar competed in 10 events over seven months, including training stints in the US and Greece. Despite impressive performances, including a personal best of 8.41m and medals at the Asian Athletics Championships and Asian Games, the rigorous schedule took its toll.

This season, Sreeshankar’s father and coach, S Murali, has devised a plan to conserve energy and optimize performance for the Paris Olympics. The season will begin with the Shanghai Diamond League on April 27, followed by the Doha Diamond League on May 10. Sreeshankar will then train in Cyprus for 40 days before returning for the Inter-state competition in June.

In addition to reducing travel and competition, Sreeshankar is also experimenting with a new runup technique. He will transition from a static start to a running start, which is expected to increase his speed on the runway and potentially lead to longer jumps.

“If you want to go big at the Olympics, you have to do something extraordinary,” said Murali. “The target is to go beyond the 8.50m mark, and for that, we have to do something different.”

Sreeshankar’s training conditions in Palakkad have been favorable, and he is confident in his preparation. “Training conditions are very good here now,” said Murali. “We have almost all the facilities here.”

With the Paris Olympics as his primary focus, Sreeshankar is determined to make the most of his opportunities and deliver a memorable performance on the world’s biggest stage.

Swiss Skiing Stars Odermatt and Gut-Behrami Dominate World Cup

Swiss Skiing Stars Odermatt and Gut-Behrami Dominate World Cup

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria – Swiss skiing sensation Marco Odermatt continued his remarkable season by securing the World Cup super-G crystal globe on Friday, adding to his already impressive haul of overall and giant slalom titles.

Under the warm Austrian sun, Odermatt skied cautiously in the final super-G race, finishing fifth to clinch the season-long title. The victory was particularly sweet as three other Swiss skiers swept the podium places, with Stefan Rogentin claiming his maiden World Cup win.

Rogentin, Loïc Meillard, and Arnaud Boisset finished 1-2-3, showcasing the depth of Swiss skiing talent. Odermatt, who started immediately after his closest challenger Vincent Kriechmayr, praised Rogentin’s performance.

“Roggy deserved his first victory,” Odermatt said. “I watched from the start and they skied amazing.”

Odermatt’s super-G triumph marks his third consecutive overall World Cup title at the age of 26. He now has a commanding lead in the overall standings with 1,947 points, putting him in contention to break his own record for the highest points total in a single season.

Earlier in the day, Lara Gut-Behrami, another Swiss skiing star, secured the women’s super-G season title by finishing seventh in the race. Gut-Behrami, who also holds the overall and giant slalom titles, leads the downhill standings going into Saturday’s season-ending race.

Both Odermatt and Gut-Behrami have been dominant forces in the World Cup this season, showcasing the strength of Swiss skiing. With the downhill races remaining, they have the opportunity to further extend their impressive records.

Leclerc Leads Verstappen in Australian GP Practice 2, Sainz Impresses

Leclerc Leads Verstappen in Australian GP Practice 2, Sainz Impresses

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc emerged as the pacesetter in the second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap time of 1 minute 17.277 seconds. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull trailed Leclerc by 0.381 seconds, while Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secured third place.

Sainz’s performance was particularly impressive considering he underwent appendicitis-related surgery just two weeks ago. His return to the track and strong showing dispelled any concerns about his physical condition.

Verstappen, who won the Australian Grand Prix last year, faced a setback in the first practice session when he damaged the floor of his car after running over a kerb. The Red Bull team worked diligently to resolve the issue, but Verstappen missed the first 22 minutes of the second session.

Despite the delay, Verstappen emerged as a formidable challenger, narrowly missing out on the top spot. He is aiming to extend his record-breaking streak of 10 consecutive victories, while Red Bull seeks its third straight 1-2 finish.

The Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finished fourth and fifth, respectively, ahead of George Russell of Mercedes. Russell’s teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, struggled to find pace and finished 18th.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Sergio Perez of Red Bull, and Lando Norris rounded out the top 10. The top 10 drivers were separated by less than one second, indicating the intense competition in Melbourne.

The first practice session was marred by an incident involving Williams’ Alex Albon, who crashed into the wall at turn 8. The impact caused significant damage to his car and forced him to miss the second practice session.

The Australian Grand Prix circuit has a reputation for being challenging, and the practice sessions served as a reminder of the dangers it poses. Several other drivers experienced mishaps, highlighting the need for caution and precision.

Ram Baboo Qualifies for Paris Olympics, Inspiring Underprivileged Athletes

Ram Baboo Qualifies for Paris Olympics, Inspiring Underprivileged Athletes

Ram Baboo’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to Olympic qualification is a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent. The 25-year-old race walker has etched his name in Indian sporting history by becoming the seventh Indian male walker to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Baboo’s rise to prominence has been meteoric. After transitioning from marathon to race walking six years ago, he quickly mastered the intricate technique, showcasing his natural aptitude for the sport. His bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in the 35km race walk further solidified his credentials.

In Slovakia, Baboo faced challenging conditions, including cold temperatures and wet surfaces. Despite these obstacles, he displayed remarkable resilience and determination, clocking a personal best time of 1:20:00 and securing a podium finish. This achievement not only earned him a spot in the Paris Olympics but also boosted his confidence ahead of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya.

Baboo’s success is not merely a reflection of his athletic prowess but also a testament to his unwavering spirit. Growing up in a financially disadvantaged family, he witnessed firsthand the struggles his father faced as a laborer. Determined to break the cycle of poverty, Baboo embraced sports as a path to a better future.

With his Olympic qualification, Baboo has not only achieved his personal dreams but also inspired countless others from underprivileged backgrounds. His story serves as a reminder that with hard work, dedication, and a belief in oneself, anything is possible.

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