UP: Congress workers in Amethi celebrate Priyanka Gandhi's birthday
Amethi (UP) (PTI): Congress National General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's birthday was celebrated at the party's office in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi on Monday.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala's Wayanad, turned 54 on Monday.
The party workers on the occasion exchanged sweets and wished her a long and healthy life. Her leadership and dedication to public service were also praised.
Lok Sabha MP from Amethi, Kishori Lal Sharma, congratulated Priyanka Gandhi on her birthday.
In a post on Facebook, Sharma wrote, "Heartfelt birthday wishes to Congress General Secretary and popular Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Ji, a leader with an unwavering commitment to public service, and a dynamic and influential leader who stands with the common people in every situation."
Calling her struggle and dedication are an inspiration to party workers, District Congress unit President Pradeep Singhal said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has always championed the voices of the common people, women, youth, and farmers.
District spokesperson of the Congress, Anil Singh, said that the "MGNREGA Bachao Sangram," against the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Grameen) Act, which will run from January 12 to 29, was also launched on Monday.
From today onwards, Congress workers will go to villages and expose the truth about the central government's scheme, formerly known as MGNREGA, and how the government is violating people's rights, attempting to erase Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, and promoting communalism.
The VB-G RAM G Act replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, enacted by the UPA government in 2005.
Warm birthday wishes to AICC General Secretary and MP, @priyankagandhi ji. I wish her good health, happiness and a bright future ahead.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 12, 2026
Her compassion and courage, steadfast commitment to the Constitution, and strong voice, both inside and outside the Parliament, fighting for…
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K'taka bypolls: Bagalkot records 43.75 per cent turnout till 1 pm, 37.17 pc in Davanagere South
Bengaluru (PTI): At least 43.75 per cent of voters in Karnataka's Bagalkot, where polling for a by-election is underway, exercised their franchise by 1 pm on Thursday.
Davanagere South recorded a turnout of 37.17 per cent, the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office said.
The bypolls were necessitated due to the demise of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
While the ruling Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP is aiming to wrest them and deliver a setback to its rival, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
A total of over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.
In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh eligible voters are expected to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.
The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Samarth's father, S S Mallikarjun, is a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet and in charge of Davanagere district, while his mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, is a Member of Parliament from the region.
The BJP is looking to make gains in the bypolls and energise its cadre ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. For the Congress, retaining both seats is crucial, as a loss could be seen as a negative verdict on the performance of the Siddaramaiah-led government.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, H Y Meti defeated BJP's Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in Bagalkot, while Shivashankarappa defeated BJP's B G Ajay Kumar by 27,888 votes in Davanagere South.
