Smriti Irani's learning curve creates a fuss; RaGa speaks in TN

Here are the latest updates from various states across the country:

Delhi

The Supreme Court on April 12 directed all political parties to furnish receipts of electoral bonds and details of identity of donors in a sealed cover to the Election Commission. In an interim order, the apex court also directed all political parties to provide details of the amount and bank account of donors by May 30 to the poll panel. The BJP on April 12 said it will wait for the final judgement of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds and noted that the Union government has already placed its stand before the apex court.

The Congress on April 12 welcomed the Supreme Court judgement on electoral bonds, saying the party has always maintained that transparency in political funding and governance must be adhered to.

Former union minister Krishna Tirath quit BJP and rejoined the Congress.

Tamil Nadu

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on April 12 slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he runs his government for 15 of his friends and wondered why no big-ticket defaulters of bank loans like Vijay Mallya were not in jail. Addressing a poll rally, the Congress chief said the ones like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, after taking bank loans, failed to return it and ran away from the country. During the past five years, Modi ran a government for 15 people and you know the names, he said. “These are Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi and they are Modi’s friends,” he said.

Maharashtra

Harping on his resolve to work for the benefit of farmers in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public rally at Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar on April 12, said the BJP’s resolve to form a new ministry for water management, if voted back to power, will put an end to farmers’ misery once and for all.

Uttar Pradesh

Union minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani on April 11 submitted to the Election Commission that she did not complete her graduation from Delhi University. In her affidavit filed during her nomination, Irani, who is contesting against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, said she passed secondary school examination in 1991 and senior secondary school examination in 1993. She has said she did not complete her Bachelor of Commerce (Part-I) a three-year degree course from Delhi University’s School of Open Learning in 1994. In her affidavit for 2014 polls, she had reportedly said she graduated from the university in 1994, triggering a row over the veracity of her claim, with opposition parties alleging she was not a graduate. This year, she has declared assets worth over ₹4.71 crore.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said: “Tomorrow I’m meeting Election Commission, I’m going to discuss the anomalies and technical problems the EVMs are facing. Nobody knows what is happening with the EVMs.”

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh Power Minister Anil Sharma tendered his resignation as minister.

Gujarat

Re-elections to be held in Dwarka Assembly after Gujarat HC on April 12 cancelled the Assembly membership of BJP MLA Pabubha Manek. The Congress candidate had raised an issue against Manek in the Gujarat HC that Manek made mistakes in his nomination form for 2017 Gujarat Election.