Breaking LIVE: 14 Polling Centres, 2 Schools Torched In Bangladesh Ahead Of General Elections

<p><strong>Breaking News Live:&nbsp;</strong>Hello and welcome to the live blog of ABP Live. Please follow this space for all the breaking news and latest updates from India and around the world.</p> <h3><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Bangladesh General Elections Amid Opposition Boycott, PM Hasina Expected To Secure Fourth Term</strong></span></h3> <p>Bangladesh is gearing up for general elections scheduled for Sunday, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina poised to secure a historic fourth consecutive term. The elections are marked by the notable absence of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which commenced a 48-hour nationwide strike on Saturday, decrying the government as illegitimate amidst sporadic incidents of violence.</p> <p>The Election Commission has declared that preparations for voting in all 300 constituencies have reached an advanced stage, with stringent security measures in place. The election will witness participation from 27 political parties, fielding over 1,500 candidates, alongside 436 independent candidates. To ensure transparency, over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, will monitor the electoral process.</p> <p>Voting is scheduled to commence at 8 am and conclude at 5 pm, with preliminary results expected to emerge on January 8. Prime Minister Hasina's ruling Awami League is anticipated to secure a fourth consecutive term, given the boycott by the BNP, whose leader, former premier Khaleda Zia, remains under house arrest on corruption charges.</p> <h3><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Lok Sabha polls preparations: EC to visit states from today</strong></span></h3> <p>The Election Commission (EC) of India is set to review the preparedness of states for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The EC delegation, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, will visit Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from January 7 to 10. The tour includes meetings with political parties, senior police, and administrative officials, PTI reported.</p> <h3><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>JP Nadda in JK to discuss BJP's LS poll strategy with leaders</strong></span></h3> <p>BJP President J P Nadda is embarking on a daylong tour to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday to discuss and finalize the party's Lok Sabha poll strategy for the region. Nadda will engage in discussions with senior party members, including Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma, to shape the party's approach for the upcoming elections. The focus will also be on countering the INDIA bloc, which has hinted at fielding joint candidates against the BJP.</p> <p>PTI quoted an unnamed BJP leader as saying, "The meeting is likely to finalize the party's candidates for the Lok Sabha elections based on an internal survey report which was recently submitted to Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah. The focus of the meeting would be to finalize the party strategy to counter the INDIA bloc which has hinted of putting up joint candidates against the BJP."</p>

from 'Contempt Of Court': Pak Political Parties Voice Dissent Over Senate Resolution Seeking Delay In Feb 8 Polls https://ift.tt/baDTuqO