SHAH: WE ARE CROSSING 400, CONG IS FALLING BELOW 40 PAGE 5 26 MAY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd Facebook.com/thestatesman CHALLENGES TO WEST FROM THE CHINA-RUSSIA SUMMIT PAGE 7 IPL 2024 FINAL: CUMMINS FACES GAMBHIR TEST PAGE 12 India’s National Newspaper since 1818 PAGES 12 | `5.00 | LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER EC releases polling nos for first 5 phases of poll MAINLY CLEAR SKY. HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS AT MANY PLACES WITH SEVERE HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS AND WARM NIGHT AT ISOLATED PLACES. STRONG SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 2030 KMPH) OCCASIONALLY IN GUSTY DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 44 AND 31 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY Any alteration in number of votes polled not possible: Poll panel RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 25 MAY Max. 64 % Min. 26 % Max: 43.4 °C (+3) SUN RISES 05:25 hrs MOON RISES 22:13 hrs Min: 30.6 °C (+4) SUN SETS 19:12 hrs MOON SETS 08:24 hrs TEMPERATURE THUMBNAILS Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes a selfie with his mother and CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi as they leave after casting their votes in New Delhi on Saturday.  ANI Chhattisgarh factory blast kills at least 12: At least 12 people feared dead and many injured in a massive explosion at an ammunition factory in Bemetara district, Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The blast occurred at the Special Blast Limited factory in Borasi village, Berla block. The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the explosion. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced the investigation and declared financial assistance of 5 lakh rupees for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured. T he Election Commission of India on Saturday said that they have decided to further expand the format of the release of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency as it announced these figures for the five phases completed so far. "The Commission feels duly strengthened by the Supreme Court’s observations and verdict on the process of release of turnout data by the Election Commission of India. This brings upon the Commission, a higher responsibility to serve the cause of electoral democracy with undeterred resolution,” the commission stated. "The Commission has therefore decided to further expand the format of the release of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency, which of course is discernible Parliamentary Constituency wise by all citizens themselves by applying the turnout percentage to total electors, both already made available in the public domain," it said. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote in Bhubaneswar. ANI They have acknowledged the truth. An attempt is made to create an atmosphere of doubt. We will discuss this with everyone one day for sure CEC RAJIV KUMAR The absolute number of voter turnout for the first five phases is 507,297,288. In the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the turnout was 110,052,103, the second phase witnessed a turnout of 105,830,572 voters, the third phase 113,234,676, the fourth phase 122,469,319 and the fifth phase a 55,710,618 turnout. Amid allegation of discrepancies on voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls by the Congress, the ECI categorically said that any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible. “Any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible. The process of collection and storage of votes polled is rigorous, transparent, and participative. The Commission and its officials across the states have been dissemi- ‘India needs a PM who can assert its strength’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 MAY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the current Lok Sabha election is not for just electing MPs; it is to elect the nation’s PM, and India needs a PM who can assert this strong country’s capacity and strength before the world with full force. Addressing a BJP election rally in Patna, he told the crowd: “Your vote is no ordinary vote, it has weight that it will decide India’s PM. You may be in Pataliputra, but you will decide Delhi’s fate.” The Prime Minister said: “While Modi is working 24 hours for you, the INDI alliance is speaking lies to you 24 hours. Modi is working 24x7 for developed India by 2047, for an atmanirbhar India, and enhancing India’s security, along with construction of modern roads and railways.” The INDI alliance, on the other side, “has no work; some are relaxing in jail or outside, and day or night, busy abusing Modi, and trying to appease their vote-bank. The Prime Minister said the INDI alliance is planning to have five PMs in five years. What will happen to the country if this system is really implemented, he asked. “And who are claimants for the PM’s post, they include the son of the Gandhi fami- ly, Samajwadi Party family’s son, National Conference family’s son, NCP family’s daughter, TMC family’s nephew, AAP chief’s wife, Nakli Shiv Sena family’s son and RJD family’s sons or daughters. They want to play musical chairs with the PM’s post,” he said. The Prime Minister said the INDI alliance people are severely communal, they have nothing to with the Constitution; they are severely casteist and severely family-first people. Can such people do any good for Bihar or Patna, or to anybody’s family, he said. Bihar has shown a direction to the whole country on social justice, he said, but these the RJD, Congress and INDI alliance parties are doing a great betrayal with the SCs, STs, and OBCs. The Indian Constitution does not provide for reservation on the basis of religion. But these parties want to end the reservation quota of the existing beneficiaries and transfer it to their vote bank on the basis of religion, he said. Mr Modi said the Congress-RJD cannot deny that they want to change the Constitution to give reservation on the basis of religion in the whole country.The Prime Minister said the INDI alliance parties have looted reservation rights of the existing beneficiaries and given them to the “votejihad” people. nating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, taking into account statutory considerations," the EC said in a statement. It claimed that the whole exercise of the release of turnout data from the date of commencement of polls on 19 April has been accurate, consistent and in accordance with election laws and without any discrepancy whatsoever. "The Commission has informed in the public domain and also to individual political parties the detailed process of recording and release of turnout data and the manner of custody and usages of form 17C," it said. It underlined that there has been no delay in the release of voter turnout data. Voter turnout data was always available 24X7 on the facilitative Voter Turnout App from 9.30 a.m. on the poll day of each phase. "The EC publishes estimated voter turnout on two hourly basis till 1730 hrs (5.30 p.m.). After 1900 hours (7 p.m.) when the polling parties start arriving, data is continuously updated. By midnight on the poll day, the Voter turnout app will show the best estimated 'Close of Poll (COP)' data in percentage form," it added. The ICG is also issuing alerts to mariners besides coordinating with its Bangladeshi counterparts for proper handling of the situation. KOLKATA, 25 MAY The depression which lies between Central and East Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression and formed a cyclone, according to the Meteorological department, which predicted landfall of between 11 p.m and 1 a.m on 26 May night between Sagar Island and Khepupara of Bangladesh. The Met department said the wind speed of Cyclone Remal during its landfall will likely to be around 100-120 kmph and with a gusting speed of around 135 kmph. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecast in South and North 24-Parganas on Sunday accompanied with thunderstorms, whose wind speed has been predicted at around 100 kmph. The two 24-Parganas districts apart, East Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, East Budwan and West Midnapore too are likely to bear the brunt with heavy to very Kolkata police conduct a public awareness campaign about Cyclone Remal at Nimtala Ghat in Kolkata on Saturday.  SNS heavy rainfall predicted for tomorrow and Monday. On Monday, heavy rains are likely in Howrah, Hooghly. Kolkata, Murshidabad , Malda and South Dinajpur while light and moderate rainfall has been predicted in West Midnapore, Burdwan, Birbhum, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur. The situation is expected to be at its worst between 6 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. On Saturday morning, the formation was around 420 km south of Khepupara in Bangladesh and at an equal distance from the Sagar Islands in a South-South East direction and was moving northwards. With landfall expected between Sagar Island and Khepupara of Bangladesh, the closer the landfall is to Sagar, the more Bengal and Kolkata will be affected. Both North and South 24Parganas are under red alert for Sunday and Monday, while Kolkata and four other districts are under orange alert. The Bengal administra- tion as well as Central and state agencies associated with disaster management are gearing up to tackle the cyclone. While a control room has been set up at the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar for the state agencies, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are heading for the districts that are likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is also issuing alerts to mariners besides coordinating with its Bangladeshi counterparts for proper handling of the situation. The NDRF, meanwhile, has deployed 12 teams with equipment in seven districts. While one team will be STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 MAY An estimated 59.06 per cent voter turnout was recorded on Saturday in the sixth phase of voting in Lok Sabha elections in 58 constituencies spread across eight States and Union Territories. The polling was reported to be by and large peaceful. Of the 58 Lok Sabha seats in the sixth phase, 14 were in Uttar Pradesh, 10 in Haryana, eight each in Bihar and West Bengal, seven in Delhi, six from Odisha, four in Jharkhand and one in Jammu and Kashmir. The fate of a total of 889 candidates was sealed in the EVMs. Prominent among the candidates from the BJP are Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Sambalpur, Odisha), former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal), Manoj Tiwari (North East Delhi) and Bansuri Swaraj (New Delhi); those from the Congress included Kumari Selja (Sirsa, Haryana), Deepender Singh Hooda (Rohtak, Haryana), JP Agarwal (Chandni Chowk), Kanhaiya Kumar (North East Delhi). Another prominent candidate is senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP ) leader Somnath Bharti (New Delhi). According to the data issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) West Bengal recorded the highest turnout at 78.19 per cent, followed by Jharkhand 62.74 per cent and Odisha 60.07 per cent.  The fate of a total of 889 candidates was sealed in the EVMs. on its voter turnout app, the voter turnout was recorded at 59.06 per cent. West Bengal recorded the highest turnout at 78.19 per cent, followed by Jharkhand 62.74 per cent and Odisha 60.07 per cent. Delhi registered 55.16 per cent turnout, Uttar Pradesh 54.03, Jammu and Kashmir 52.28 percent, as per the data. Elections also took place for the 42 Assembly constituencies of the Odisha Assembly (third phase) simultaneously. The voter turnout was recorded at 60.07 per cent, as per the voter turnout app. For the convenience of voters, the poll panel made arrange- ments of assured minimum facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers and wheelchairs. The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases between 19 April and 1 June. The first phase of polling was held on 19 April, second phase on 26 April, third phase on 7 May, fourth phase on 13 May and fifth phase on 20 May. The first phase recorded 66.14 per cent voter turnout, second 66.71 per cent, third 65.68 per cent, fourth 69.16 per cent and fifth phase 62.2 per cent. The seventh phase of voting is scheduled to take place on 1 June. Raging inferno at gaming zone in Rajkot leaves 24 dead SUMMER RIDE Rescue operation underway after a massive fire broke out at the TRP game zone, in Rajkot on Saturday. ANI NEW DELHI, 25 MAY A labourer transports goods on a camel cart during a hot summer afternoon, in Bikaner on Saturday.  ANI Bengal braces for Remal, landfall expected at midnight STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE 59.06 pc turnout recorded in sixth phase of polls, 55.16 pc voting recorded in Delhi deployed in Kolkata, there will be two each in the districts of North 24-Parganas, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore. Three teams have been deployed in South 24Parganas which is expected to be hit the hardest. The remaining teams will be stationed at Howrah and Hooghly. Senior officials of the National Crisis Management Committee held a meeting with Bengal chief secretary BP Gopalika on Friday to assess the preparations of the state administration in meeting the cyclonic disaster. In South 24-Parganas, District Magistrate Sumit Gupta held an emergency meeting with BDOs to discuss advance preparations for the natural disaster. The District Magistrate stated: "Control rooms have been opened in the district and blocks due to the disaster. Additionally, residents will be relocated from Ghoramara and other places to safe locations by Saturday evening. There is a risk of tidal waves in coastal areas on Sunday." Poll remark: Kejriwal tears into ex-Pakistan minister STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MAY Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday came down heavily on former Pakistan minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry over his remarks on the Lok Sabha elections and said India will not tolerate interference from the biggest sponsors of terrorism in its internal matters. Mr Kejriwal, who is also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said the situation in Pakistan is very bad and Mr Chaudhry should take care of his country. The Delhi Chief Minister made the statement after Mr Chaudhry quoted a post of him on voting on X and wrote: “May peace and harmony defeat forces of hate and extremism. #MorePower #IndiaElections2024.” In his response, Mr Kejriwal said: “Chaudhry sahib, I and the people of my country are fully capable of han- dling our issues. Your tweet is not needed. The situation in Pakistan is very bad right now. You take care of your country.” “The elections taking place in India are our internal matter,” the AAP leader said. The former Pakistan minister in response to Mr Kejriwal’s statement, posted on X: “CM Sahab indeed electioneering is your own issue but hope you will appreciate extremism be it in Pakistan or India is a borderless phenomenon and dangerous for everyone be it BD (Bangladesh), India or Pakistan so everyone with some conscience must be concerned ... situation in Pakistan is very far for ideal but individuals must strive for better society wherever they are...” SEE PAGE 02 At least 24 persons were reportedly killed in a massive fire at a gaming zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Saturday. The fire broke out inside the gaming zone in a shopping mall when it was teeming with children. Police teams and fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the fire. Sources said the owner of the gaming zone has been arrested. The shopping mall was inundated with crowds because of the weekend. The intensity of the fire was so fierce that smoke was seen billowing from the shopping mall from a long distance. A couple of people are believed to be trapped inside the gaming zone where a rescue operation is on in full swing. Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has instructed the officials to prioritise the rescue operation and ensure immediate treatment for the injured. "Instructions have been given to the municipal corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident in the game zone in Rajkot.Instructions have also been issued to prioritise arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured,” the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel AGENCIES said.