Party patriarch Deve Gowda makes emotional appeal to 'save and nurture JD(S)'
Bengaluru, Oct 8: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Saturday appealed to JD(S) workers and people of Karnataka to "save and nurture his party" which he termed as a regional party that has worked for all sections of the society.
The JD(S) supremo, who has been ailing with age-related issues and severe knee pain for some time now, made a public appearance at the party's 'Janata Mitra' rally here.
Many JD(S) leaders expressing happiness about the 89-year-old leader's onstage appearance and address to party workers said it has enthused them ahead of the state assembly polls next year.
"I know who is doing what for this party's survival... I pray with folded hands, save this party. This party has done no injustice to any one and has worked for all communities," Gowda said.
"I pray to everyone with folded hands, save and nurture this party. People of this state have the strength to save a regional party," he said, amid loud cheer from the crowd.
Highlighting that it was the JD(S) that stood for all sections of the society including minorities and nomadic tribes, the veteran leader said, "Many have worked to save this party, similarly many abandoned it too...whatever they may think about me, everyone should unite and cooperate to save this party."
Promising to visit every district in the days ahead, Gowda said, "Don't have any doubts about it."
"I'm yet to recover completely...but there is spirit in me. Don't think that I will be at one place. After some days, I will visit various centres across the state and speak to people," he added.
The JD(S) leadership has set a target of winning at least 123 out of the total 224 seats, which will go for polls by April-May next year, and to form an independent government on its own strength.
Addressing the gathering, Gowda's son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, appealed to citizens to give JD(S) one chance to form an independent government in the state for a full five-year term.
"If you trust and give us an opportunity at least one time, we will work for the betterment of the state and its citizens with full potential, by providing jobs to youth, housing to the homeless... If I don't fulfill my promise, I will dissolve JD(S).This is my challenge to you, the people of the state and Bengaluru. Decision is yours," he added.
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UP SIR: Over 84 lakh voters added in final list, total electorate rises to 13.39 crore
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh's electorate grew by over 84 lakh to 13.39 crore after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to the final voter list published on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the Lok Bhawan Media Centre here, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said the SIR exercise was conducted from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, covering all 75 districts, 403 assembly constituencies and polling stations across the state.
He said the 166-day exercise was carried out with the contribution of 75 District Election Officers (DEOs), 403 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 12,758 Assistant EROs, 18,026 BLO supervisors and 1,77,516 Booth Level Officers (BLOs). In addition, 5,82,877 booth-level agents of recognised political parties and crores of voters extended cooperation.
Print, electronic and digital media also played a key role in awareness efforts, he added.
Rinwa said the draft electoral roll published on January 6, 2026, had a total of 12,55,56,025 voters, including 6.88 crore male voters, 5.67 crore female voters and 4,119 third gender voters.
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group stood at 3,33,981, while the gender ratio was 824 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
The final electoral roll published on April 10 shows the total number of voters at 13,39,84,792, he said.
Of these, male voters number 7,30,71,071 (around 54 per cent), female voters 6,09,09,525 (45.46 per cent) and third gender voters 4,206 (less than 0.01 per cent).
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group has risen to 17,63,360, accounting for 1.32 per cent of the total electorate. The gender ratio has also improved to 834 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
Comparing the draft and final rolls, Rinwa said the total increase in the number of voters is 84,28,767. This includes an increase of 42,27,902 male voters, 42,00,778 female voters and 87 third gender voters.
The 18-19 age group registered a rise of 14,29,379 voters, while the gender ratio improved by 10 points from 824 to 834, he said.
Among districts, Prayagraj recorded the highest increase in voters at 3,29,421, followed by Lucknow at 2,85,961, Bareilly at over 2,57,000, Ghaziabad at 2,43,666 and Jaunpur at 2,37,590.
The CEO said the successful completion of the revision exercise reflects coordinated efforts by election officials, political parties and voters across the state.
