Karnataka Electoral Roll Out: 1.08 Cr Voters Deleted, 4.55 Cr Left After SIR
The final electoral roll for Karnataka has been published following the Special Intensive Revision exercise, reducing the electorate to 4.55 crore names. The revision saw over 1.08 crore deletions, which include around 65 lakh permanently shifted electors, 19 lakh marked as absent, over 16 lakh deceased persons, and seven lakh duplicate registrations, while 10 lakh new electors were added during claims and objections. Addressing concerns regarding Form 7 deletion requests, the Karnataka Election Commission Chief Electoral Officer assured that no names were removed without due verification or a speaking order by the concerned District Returning Officer, urging all excluded eligible voters to apply via Form 6.
Amit Shah To Lead UP Poll Charge; Key Lucknow Meet, Regional Tours Planned
Home Minister Amit Shah is set to spearhead the Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign preparations in Uttar Pradesh. The campaign roadmap begins with the BJP State Executive Committee meeting scheduled in Lucknow on October 30 and 31, bringing together approximately 3,000 leaders from across the state. Following the conclave, Amit Shah will make frequent visits through November, holding six major review meetings covering Uttar Pradesh's organizational regions: Western UP, Braj, Kanpur, Awadh, Kashi, and Gorakhpur. The sessions aim to take ground-level feedback, assess party preparedness, gauge the pulse of party workers, and formulate an aggressive electoral strategy for the upcoming assembly elections.
Sonia Gandhi Hints At Storm Over Book Belonging, Recalls Opposition To Rajiv Becoming PM
Speaking about her forthcoming book Belonging, Sonia Gandhi addressed the widespread narratives surrounding her life, stating that much of what has been written was either invented or exaggerated. Explaining her decision to tell her own story and put facts on record, she reflected on key moments in public life, including her outright opposition when her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was asked to assume the prime ministership. Acknowledging the public scrutiny that accompanies such a release, she remarked that there is bound to be a tamasha once the book comes out, noting that while some people might change their perspectives about her, others might view her more unfavourably. The special report highlights how the personal account spans her early journey and entry into the Gandhi family, anticipated to trigger significant political debate across party lines.
Moderna Cancer Vaccine Trial, 42% Recurrence Drop & Key Reality Check
Merck and Moderna have tested an experimental personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran, on melanoma patients following tumour resection surgery. Administered alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, the combination regimen cut the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 42 percent after two years, with 82 percent remaining recurrence-free compared to 70 percent on Keytruda alone. Marking the first time a personalised cancer vaccine has passed a phase three trial, the shot is custom-built from a patient's individual tumour mutations. However, mature overall survival data remains pending, and the therapy is not designed to prevent cancer in healthy individuals. The custom vaccine also lacks regulatory approvals globally and is not yet available in India.