"2024 Election"

#13161370

6 January 2026

Posters from the Election Commission of India outline election rules in a small village in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024.

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#13031735

27 November 2025

Former Nepali House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara is escorted in a police van from the central jail in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the district court following a court order to release him on bail in a gold smuggling case on November 27, 2025. Former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-chair Krishna Bahadur Mahara is arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in connection with a gold smuggling case. The Patan High Court orders his release on a bail amount of NRs 2 million. Mahara is arrested on October 12, 2025, following fresh instructions from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which conducts an inquiry into his alleged involvement in smuggling gold concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes) in collaboration with a Chinese organized group. According to police, the CIAA seeks his detention to move forward with a renewed probe into his role in facilitating the entry of smuggled gold through the vape-import channel. Mahara is questioned by the CIAA only days earlier, on October 9, 2025. Although his name surfaces in the gold smuggling case three years ago, both the District Government Attorney's Office and Nepal Police previously free him during earlier rounds of investigation. Authorities now allege that Mahara uses his political influence to help a smuggling racket bring gold into Nepal in 2022, an operation that also leads to the arrest of his son, Rahul Mahara, on suspicion of involvement. In March 2024, Mahara is arrested from Kapilvastu and brought to Kathmandu for questioning related to the case. The Kathmandu District Court later remands him to custody, but he is allowed to stay at Norvic Hospital citing health complications. A high-level government commission led by former High Court Chief Judge Dilli Raj Acharya earlier criticizes the CIB for ''intentionally avoiding'' a full investigation into Mahara and other senior officials allegedly linked to large-scale gold smuggling.

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#13031738

27 November 2025

Former Nepali House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara is escorted in a police van from the central jail in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the district court following a court order to release him on bail in a gold smuggling case on November 27, 2025. Former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-chair Krishna Bahadur Mahara is arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in connection with a gold smuggling case. The Patan High Court orders his release on a bail amount of NRs 2 million. Mahara is arrested on October 12, 2025, following fresh instructions from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which conducts an inquiry into his alleged involvement in smuggling gold concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes) in collaboration with a Chinese organized group. According to police, the CIAA seeks his detention to move forward with a renewed probe into his role in facilitating the entry of smuggled gold through the vape-import channel. Mahara is questioned by the CIAA only days earlier, on October 9, 2025. Although his name surfaces in the gold smuggling case three years ago, both the District Government Attorney's Office and Nepal Police previously free him during earlier rounds of investigation. Authorities now allege that Mahara uses his political influence to help a smuggling racket bring gold into Nepal in 2022, an operation that also leads to the arrest of his son, Rahul Mahara, on suspicion of involvement. In March 2024, Mahara is arrested from Kapilvastu and brought to Kathmandu for questioning related to the case. The Kathmandu District Court later remands him to custody, but he is allowed to stay at Norvic Hospital citing health complications. A high-level government commission led by former High Court Chief Judge Dilli Raj Acharya earlier criticizes the CIB for ''intentionally avoiding'' a full investigation into Mahara and other senior officials allegedly linked to large-scale gold smuggling.

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#12987805

14 November 2025

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi shows his ink-marked finger after casting his ballot at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12987806

14 November 2025

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi is pictured at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978297

11 November 2025

People arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978298

11 November 2025

A man leaves after casting his ballot at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978300

11 November 2025

Women voters leave after casting their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978301

11 November 2025

Women voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978302

11 November 2025

Women voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978306

11 November 2025

An Indian Paramilitary Soldier stands guard at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978307

11 November 2025

Women voters leave after casting their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978308

11 November 2025

People arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978309

11 November 2025

Kashmiri women look on after casting their ballots at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978310

11 November 2025

Indian security personnel guard at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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#12978311

11 November 2025

Indian security personnel guard at a polling station during the Budgam Assembly constituency bypoll in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 11, 2025. Budgam votes today in a key by-election where around 1.26 lakh voters decide the fate of 17 candidates. The main contest is between the National Conference's Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The bypoll is held after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacates the Budgam seat he won along with Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections. Omar earlier defeats Mehdi by more than 18,000 votes.

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