Amazon mobile carnival: Great deals on iPhones, OnePlus 3T & other mobiles

The 2 day long mobile carnival started on 29 March and is expiring on 30 March, 2017

Amazon India is running a two day long mobile carnival that started on 29 March and is expiring on 30 March, 2017. In the mobile carnival, the e-commerce giant is offering deals, discounts, cashback and exchange offers on smartphones. The Amazon exclusive smartphones like OnePlus 3T, Xiaomi Redmi 4A, Coolpad Cool 1, Huawei Honor 6X etc. are also eligible in the mobile carnival.

Let’s look at the major deals currently running inAmazon Mobile Carnival

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

The latest from the stable of iPhone – the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus – are retailing at a discount of Rs 10,000. The iPhone 7 base model with 32 GB storage and premium model with 128 GB storage is currently available at Rs 49,999 and 59,979, respectively. The elder sibling, iPhone 7 Plus premium model with 128 GB storage is available at Rs 71,899, down from Rs 82,000.

OnePlus 3T

Oneplus 3T is one of the hottest selling smartphones on Amazon India. In Amazon mobile carnival, the online retailer is offering cashback of up to Rs 1,250 in the form of Amazon Pay balance. The cashback can be availed by purchasing the device using Credit Card EMI option. Also, there is Rs 500 Kindle ebook promotion credits available for all the buyers. The buyers are also eligible to get Rs 100 discount on Oneplus 3T Karbon or Sandstone case if they purchase the OnePlus 3T device through Rocket Kommerce LLP retailer on Amazon India. For Amazon Prime users, there is an additional cash scheme running that offers Rs 250 Amazon Pay balance if the user streams the Prime video using Amazon Prime Video app on the OnePlus 3T. Amazon is additionally running a contest, where a buyer stands a chance to win Rs 1 crore, and you can read full details of the contest Click Here.

Tigor launched at Rs 4.7 lakh: Tata eyes a seat in Swift Dzire's market

Upping the ante in the crowded compact sedan category, Tata Motors on Wednesday launched Tata Tigor, its third product in the tax-efficient sub-four metre sedan segment.

The biggest selling point for Tigor is its aggressive pricing. At Rs 4.7 lakh for the base petrol variant, Tigor is now the cheapest compact sedan in the country and even undercuts Tata’s existing models. For example, the largest-selling car in the segment - Swift Dzire - starts at Rs 5.27 lakh, while the base petrol version of Indigo CS, from the Tata stable, is priced at Rs 5.03 lakh.

Besides Indigo CS, Tata Motors also sells the Zest in the segment, but has not been able to break the dominance of Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire in the category. The compact sedan and hatchback category, accounted for over 40% of car sales in January 2017, at over 114,000 units.

Maruti accounted for 56,000 cars in the category, with Swift Dzire selling over 18,000 units in January 2017.

The Tata Tigor 1.2-litre petrol model comes in four variants in the price range of Rs 4.7 lakh to Rs 6.19 lakh, while the 1.05-litre diesel engine mounted models starts at Rs 5.6 lakh and goes up to Rs 7.09 lakh in Delhi. The Tigor is the second all-new launch by Tata Motors in 2017 after the sports utility vehicle Hexa in January, which, the company claims, has notched over 2,000 retail deliveries.

Launched in April last year, Tiago sold close to 60,000 units and has helped the company pull buyers back to its showroom. Tiago, which, too, was a price warrior like Tigor, was the first successful launch by Tata Motors after a series of lacklustre product launches. The company is now trying to build on Tiago’s success by launching a new series of stylish products to attract young buyers and expand its sales and service network.

“With Tiago, Tigor and Hexa, we now cover 51% of the addressable market. But I have 49% of the market unaddressed. But I am very sure we have made the right beginning with these models and are very much on track,” Mayank Pareek, president-passenger vehicles, Tata Motors, said after the launch. Read Article Source >>>

UP meat sellers on strike against Yogi's crackdown, restaurants to be hit

Operations have been disrupted completely for the past few days because of an atmosphere of fear

Meat sellers across Uttar Pradesh (UP) launched an indefinite strike from Monday against the Yogi Adityanath government's crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughterhouses.

"We have decided to intensify our strike from tomorrow. All shops will remain closed. Fish sellers too have joined us and are extending support to us," Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vypar Mandal office bearer Mubeen Qureshi had said on Sunday.

He said, in the wake of the crackdown, there was no question of the strike being called off anytime soon. "It will go on indefinitely," he added.

Industry fears being butchered

Several butcher shops and slaughterhouses across the state have complained that they are being targeted under the new dispensation. “Authorities are even closing down chicken shops,” a shop owner in Noida told NDTV. Another said even legal abattoirs were asked to hang curtains in front of their stores, while others alleged that the new administration was not willing to issue fresh licenses or renew the old ones.

Meat ban to Anti-romeo squad: Yogi Adityanath's governance model for UP

As reported earlier, operations have been disrupted completely for the past few days because of an atmosphere of fear across the supply chain, since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government in the state after winning a historic mandate, with Yogi Adityanath as chief minister. One of the party’s election promises was shutting down illegal slaughterhouses.

So far, allegedly illegal meat shops have been shut down in Lucknow, Varanasi and Ghaziabad. Last week, three meat shops owned by Muslims were burned down in Hathras.

Eateries hit

Due to the strike, non-vegetarian food outlets, including the famous Tunday and Rahim's have shifted to mutton and chicken dishes after buffalo meat became scarce.

As the mouth-watering kebabs went off the platter, the owner of another famous eatery said the situation might force hoteliers to get mutton from Delhi. "But there will be no compromise on the quality of the food," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Read More

Apple to start making iPhone 6 and 6S models in India over next two months

Contract manufacturer Wistron will manufacture iPhones at its Bangalore plants

Apple Inc. will soon start assembling iPhones in India for the first time, say government officials familiar with its plans, boosting the company’s chances of gaining a foothold in the fast-growing market.

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron Corp. will likely start making iPhone 6 and 6S models here in the next four-to-six weeks at its plant in Bangalore, said an official of the southern state of Karnataka where the tech hub is located. It will add Apple’s cheapest iPhone model, the SE, to its assembly line in about three months, the official said.

“Almost all preparations have been done for launching Apple’s first phase project in Bangalore through Wistron,” the official told The Wall Street Journal.

“We’ve been working hard to develop our operations in India,” an Apple spokeswoman said. “We appreciate the constructive and open dialogue we’ve had with government about further expanding our local operations.” A Wistron spokeswoman said the company doesn’t comment on “rumor or speculation.”

With sales cooling in China, long an engine for Apple’s growth, manufacturing iPhones locally would help Apple address what analysts say is its biggest problem in India: its smartphones are simply too expensive for the vast majority of people.

Smartphone shipments in India grew 18% last year, compared with 3% globally, according to Counterpoint Research, but the majority of phones sold here cost less than $150.

The iPhone SE, which some online retailers now sell for as low as $330, is still out of reach of most Indian consumers. (read more…)

Yogi Adiyanath bans pan, gutka in UP offices, allocates portfolios

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday banned chewing of 'paan' (beetal leaves), and consumption of tobacco and its products in all state government offices, hospitals and educational institutions and directed for ban on use of polythene.

The Chief Minister also allocated portfolios to his ministerial colleagues, keeping several key departments like home, revenue, mining and jails with him.

Adiyanath inspected the Shastri Bhavan (annexe) here during his first full working day here after taking oath as the Chief Minister on Sunday. He inspected various floors and sections of the building to get a first-hand account of cleanliness and work ethos.

According to an official release, Adityanath gave a stern message that "old work style and lax attitude towards work" will not be tolerated and stringent action taken against those found wanting in discharge of their duties.

Adityanath asked Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar to ensure a proper system for upkeep, maintenance of files and records within a week and to ensure cleanliness in the Shastri Bhavan premises within the period.

He hoped that similar mechanism will be adopted in subordinate offices and noted that departmental presentations and reviews will be conducted in the fifth-floor conference room between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The BJP Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to fix a time table for presentations and review meetings and said the meeting room should be properly maintained.

Noting that cleanliness pledges should not remain mere formalities and officials need to set an example for others to emulate, Adiyanath laid emphasis on cleanliness and called upon officials to encourage their subordinates to maintain it.

The Chief Minister said he will continue to conduct inspections to ensure his directions were complied with.

Expressing displeasure at wires dangling in the office, Adiyanath called for immediate steps for improvement. He said clean environment in offices will lead to enhanced productivity and also stressed on the need to work with a team spirit. Read Full Story >>>

Apple releases red iPhones, cuts prices on lower-end iPads

The iPad Air 2 is replaced by a new model simply called the iPad costing $329

Apple is refreshing and cutting prices on two of its iPads, but held back on updating its higher-end tablets.

A much-speculated 10.5-inch iPad didn't materialise, nor did new versions of iPad Pros aimed at businesses and creative professionals.

Apple unveiled the new iPads through a press release rather than a staged event, the opposite of the process reserved for bigger product releases, which typically are unveiled in September or October, in time for the holiday shopping season.

The tablet market is in an extended decline after a few years of rapid growth. According to IDC, tablet shipments fell 20 percent, to 53 million in the final three months of 2016, compared with the same period in 2015.

The iPad Air 2 is replaced by a new model simply called the iPad. It retains a 9.7-inch screen, but the display is brighter and the processor faster. Its price starts at $329 for 32 gigabytes of storage, down from $399.

The smaller, 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4 now comes with 128 gigabytes of storage starting at $399, down from $499. It's eliminating 32-gigabyte model, which used to sell for $399. Read More

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Not just Cognizant: Other IT firms may hire 40% fewer engineers this year

Even if there were no Brexit or US Elections, hiring by IT firms would have been the same

Fresh graduates out of engineering colleges may find getting a job tougher at large IT services firms this year as India's IT industry struggles with new business models.

Technology services firms have traditionally hired thousands of fresh engineering graduates and trained them to build capacity to handle projects of their global clients. Now most of these entry level jobs can be automated, forcing IT firms to reduce their campus hiring.

So Indian information technology (IT) services firms are likely to hire 40 per cent fewer engineering graduates this year. Tech firms have been witnessing a dip in traditional software services and maintenance business, which earns them a major chunk of revenue, as clients are demanding services on digital technology and cloud. This is freeing up people from repetitive tasks such as testing and low-end maintenance.

Infotech companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant and HCL Technologiescontinue to go to campuses, but have offered jobs to 60,000 engineers this year against 100,000 last year.

“Campus hiring dropped by at least 40 per cent from 2015-16,” said Kris Lakshmikanth, chairman and managing director of The Head Hunters India, a recruiting agency for the infotech sector. Industry body National Association of Software and Services Companies last month said growth in overall job creation by the sector was 5 per cent this year.

Infosys, India’s second-largest infotech firm, said it had hired 5,000 people in April-December 2016 against 17,000 in the same period a year ago. Over 9,000 employees were released to other projects because of automation, it added.

Cognizant is likely to ask around 10,000 people to leave as it shifts its business towards digital and consulting, which require skills different from those in traditional services. Read Article Source

Modi's message after Yogi Adityanath's elevation as UP CM- Hindus will rule

Adityanath has in the past accused Muslim men of waging 'love jihad'

A saffron-robed Hindu holy man was sworn in on Sunday to lead Uttar Pradesh, sealing what appears to be a shift in course by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that could redefine the world's largest democracy as a Hindu nation.

The choice as Uttar Pradesh chief minister of Yogi Adityanath, a firebrand Hindu ascetic with a history of agitation against minority Muslims, stunned observers who said it marked a departure from the platform of development for all on which Modi rose to national power in 2014.

"Modi is saying India is a Hindu country and shall remain so," veteran journalist and commentator Shekhar Gupta told Reuters.

"Hindus will rule, so you had better behave."

A spokesman for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) however said the government did not make any distinction between citizens on the basis of religion.

Adityanath, 44, was elected by state lawmakers on Saturday, a week after the BJP won a landslide victory in India's most populous state by mobilising the Hindu vote. The BJP won the biggest majority for any party in the state legislature in 40 years.

He took the oath of office at an open-air ceremony in the state capital Lucknow on Sunday, before shaking hands with Modi and other BJP elders who attended.

After the ceremony, Modi said in a tweet: "Our sole mission and motive is development. When UP develops, India develops."

The BJP fielded no candidates from the Muslim minority that makes up 19 percent of the population in a state with a population of 220 million that is home to 15 percent of the world's poor. If it were a country, Uttar Pradesh would be the world's fifth-most populous.

India's 1.3 billion people are about 80 percent Hindu and 14 percent Muslim, with the rest made up of Christians, Sikhs and other minorities. It is officially a secular nation, but the BJP has for years fought elections on a Hindu nationalist agenda, with party members in the past being accused of making anti-Muslim statements to polarise Hindu voters. Read Full Story >>>

Also Read About Yogi Adityanath

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Before Bahubali 2, makers to release Bahubali 1 again

Rana Daggubati and Prabhas are overwhelmed with the response to the trailer of Bahubali 2

Director S S Rajamouli wants the audiences to revisit the world of "Bahubali" before the release of "Bahubali 2: The Conclusion".

Rajamouli today said they are planning to show the first part a week before the second edition hits theatres on April 28.

"We are planning to release part one maybe one or two weeks before the release of part two in southern states so people can get back into the narrative," Rajamouli said at the trailer launch of the Hindi version here.

Both Rana Daggubati and Prabhas are overwhelmed with the response to the trailer.

"The fans are happy with it. It's overwhelming to be a part of the film," Rana said.

The Tamil version of the trailer had leaked online hours before its official release and the makers called it "technical glitch".

"This particular thing is neither due to leakage or piracy, it is due to some technical glitch on Facebook. The video which was to be on private mode went on public mode. But fans are happy that we came early. All is well that ends well," Rajamouli said.

"Baahubali: The Beginning" is one of the highest grossing Indian films, which reportedly earned Rs 650 crore at the box office.

Karan Johar, who is presenting the Hindi version of the film, joked that presenters made all the money.

"The presenters make money, the one who put their hard work, blood, sweat and tears don't make money always. But the equity the film has made is beyond monetary," he added.

Watch the trailer here.

Motorola launches Moto G5 Plus in India, priced at Rs 14,999

Motorola today launched the fifth generation of its best-selling Moto G series - Moto G5 Plus

Motorola today launched the fifth generation of its best-selling Moto G series -- Moto G5 Plus -- in the Indian market at a price of Rs 14,999 onwards.

Motorola will make available two versions -- 3GB RAM/16GB memory and 4GB RAM/32GB memory -- for Rs 14,999 and Rs 16,999 respectively. These will go on sale from tonight on Flipkart.

Equipped with a full metal design, faster processor and better camera functionality, the Moto G5 will compete with handsets from Xiaomi, Micromax as well as those from the stable of its parent -- Lenovo.

"This is our biggest franchise and the fastest selling as well. India is one of the first markets globally where we are launching the Moto G5 Plus," Motorola Mobility India Managing Director, Sudhin Mathur, told reporters here.

The Moto G series cumulatively has so far sold 6 million units in India, he added.

He said that the company will introduce Moto G5 -- the base model -- in India in the coming weeks.

The device was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month. The Moto G5 Plus features a 5.2-inch display, 2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor, up to 4GB RAM, removable storage of up to 128GB, 12MP rear and 5MP front cameras and 3,000 mAh battery.

At the end 2016, Lenovo and Motorola had 8.9 per cent share of the Indian smartphone market, as per research firm IDC. Read More

Restructuring: Tata Motors rolls out VRS, moves to a flat five-level hierarchy

So far, less than 500 executives have been offered VRS, which roughly includes one year's salary

Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile maker, has started rolling out a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for its employees as part of its organisational restructuring exercise.

This is part of a human resources (HR) restructuring drive that is expected to transform the organisation into a much leaner company with a flat hierarchical structure. The new structure will be in place from April 1.

So far, less than 500 executives have been offered VRS, which roughly includes one year’s salary, among other benefits, sources said. The company, however, did not confirm the details of the VRS package or how many were offered VRS.

A company spokesperson said: “Tata Motors confirms that as part of the ongoing organisation effectiveness project, where we have already finalised the top two levels of our management structure, a proposal on VRS package has been presented and approved by the board. Since the exercise for selecting L3-L5 is still underway, it is premature for us to comment on any other specifics at this point in time.”

From a 15-16-level hierarchy, the organisation is moving to a flat five-level hierarchy.

Earlier, Tata Motors had three levels in the supervisory grade, five in the managerial grade and around six or seven in the executive grade. Now, there will be five grades, L1 to L5, with L1 being the highest. Above these levels, there will be executive directors, presidents and the managing director. The exercise has been completed only for the L1 and L2 levels.

“As part of the restructuring, we have also identified roles, which are best located in a central, common service structure, providing service across the company through optimised and efficient processes. To facilitate this, the number of roles distributed currently across the company is being relocated in the Global Development Centre in Pune. We expect significant benefits in cost, service quality and process efficiencies,” the spokesperson said.

Tata Motors is aiming to become a lean and agile organisation by empowering its business units with clear accountability, strengthening functional leadership and oversight, ensuring faster and effective decision-making, and improving customer focus, the company had said earlier.

Senior employees were made to undergo tests through an assessment centre, and sources indicate there has been considerable realigning of officers in different grades. Read More

Airtel launches 4G in Jammu and Kashmir, completes national rollout

Airtel 4G service is now available in all 22 telecom circles of the country

Bharti Airtel, India's largest telecommunications services provider, announced the launch of its 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir, completing a national rollout.

With the latest launch, Airtel 4G service is now available in all 22 telecom circles of the country.

Raveendra Desai, COO — J&K, Bharti Airtel said, "We are pleased to launch our 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir and look forward to delighting customers with best-in-class services on India's best smartphone network."

"We invite customers to avail the exciting data offers and get on to the digital superhighway.

We remain committed to the government's digital vision for the state and will continue to invest in expanding our services," he said.

The company plans to expand its 4G footprint to over 100 towns across J&K, he said adding that Airtel 4G has been rolled out in the state using FD LTE technology in the 1,800 MHz band.

Airtel 4G will allow customers to experience uninterrupted HD video streaming, superfast uploading and downloading of movies, music and images, he said.

Airtel 4G services are available at 3G prices, he said adding that the customers can upgrade to 4G SIM for free and choose from a range of exciting prepaid and postpaid plans that offer generous dollops of high speeds data. Read More

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6 ways to secure your mobile phone against attackers in 2017

Cyber attacks are a real threat to businesses and individuals alike.

Cyber attacks are a real threat to businesses and individuals alike. In 2015, CNN reported that nearly 1 million new malware threats are released daily. In 2017, these types of cyber attacks are still a threat. Today, most people spend more time browsing the Internet on their phones than they do on their desktop computers, but many people still fail to secure their mobile devices. Keep your phone safe from hackers and cyberattacks with these six security tips.

Keep Your Software Updated

Software updates can be a pain, but there’s a good reason to ensure your operating system and apps are all up to date. One of the ways hackers get into mobile devices is through holes or bugs in old software programs. Software updates help patch these holes and make it harder for hackers to get in. To keep your phone’s software up-to-date, enable automatic app updates, and be sure to take advantage of any operating system updates your service provider offers.

Install an Antivirus App

It sounds like a no-brainer, but according to CNBC, only 14 percent of people actually install antivirus apps on their phones. There’s no reason your phone shouldn’t be protected. Free apps like Avast Antivirus and Security will scan your apps and URLs for malware and even allow you to PIN protect private apps. You can also scan Wi-Fi to improve security. The pro version offers more features, as will paid versions of other antivirus apps, but if money is the main factor in going without protection, the least you can do is download a free security app and utilize the simple features it offers.

Lock Your Phone

It’s another no-brainer when it comes to mobile phone security, but still half of Android users opt out of using a password, PIN, pattern, or fingerprint to secure their mobile devices. You may not think it matters much. Any attacker is going to get in through malware or other types of wireless attacks, right? Wrong. Read More

Internet post says sexual harassment at TVF

Firm denies charges, says will find anonymous author, bring her to justice

In an anonymous post on Medium, a person calling herself an ex-employee of The Viral Fever accused TVF founder and chief executive Arunabh Kumar of molesting her. TVF is backed by Tiger Global.

She accused Kumar of multiple sexual advances, and said she was asked to walk out when she complained to her bosses at TVF. She added that complaints made to co-workers got cold answers and, in one instance, someone laughed off the matter. In a Facebook post, independent contractor Reema Sengupta said she, too, was a victim of Kumar’s inappropriate overtures during a shoot. In a comment on the Medium post, “ex-TVF employee” Aayushi Agarwal said she too had a similar experience.

The post titled 'The Indian Uber - That is TVF' looks to be modelled on ex-Uber employee Susan Fowler's post alleging sexual harassment at the US-based company. Fowler's claims are now being investigated by board member Arianna Huffington and an independent legal team.

'The Indian Uber - That is TVF' author says 21 days into the job, she was sexually harassed the first time; after which, sexual advances by Kumar got routine.

Kumar did not respond to calls for comment. The company denied all allegations made against it and its team. "We take a lot of pride in our team and in making TVF a safe workplace that is equally comfortable for women and men," the company said in an email.

It would "find the author of the article and bring her to severe justice" for "false allegations". The person has written that Kumar knows her identity.

Aditi Singh, communications manager at TVF, said the TVF statement dismissing allegations was not based on an investigation and no one matching the person’s profile in the post was ever employed at the company. Later, she said the company was investigating the issue and would not like to comment immediately. Read Full Story

Election Results 2017 LIVE: BJP leads big in UP & Uttarakhand, Cong leads Punjab, close fight in Goa

Get live election result 2017 of Assembly elections for UP, Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Manipur

UP Election result 2017: The exit polls on Thursday predicted a hung assembly in the key Hindi heartland state of Uttar Pradesh, where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would emerge as the single largest party, winning anywhere between 164 and 210 of the 403 seats. A victory for Narendra Modi's BJP in Uttar Pradesh, which is home to 220 million people, would boost his chances of winning the 2019 general elections and underscore his popularity after he made himself the face of the party's campaign in the state.

Punjab election result 2017: Most polls forecast a close fight between the Congress, which is seeking to return to power in Punjab after a hiatus of 10 years, and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), making its debut in the Punjab Assembly election. Stay with us for LIVE updates on Assembly Elections 2017.

Uttarakhand election result 2017: Most exit polls have projected that BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Uttarakhand election 2017, ending the Congress Party's hope to retain its Harish Rawat-led government in the state.

Goa election result 2017: In Goa, too, BJP is seen as the largest party with 15-20 of the 40 Assembly seats. The Congress could be a close second, while AAP, a debutant in the state, could get 2-4 seats.

Manipur election result 2017: Exit polls for Manipur have a split verdict. While some show BJP forming government in the state, others expect the Congress' Okram Ibobi Singh returning for a fourth term. Iron Lady Irom Sharmila, contesting her first election, is expected to have a weak debut.

Results of Assembly elections 2017 in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will be declared on March 11. Join us on Business Standard for election result 2017 updates today.

Read our full coverage on Assembly Elections 2017

Assembly Polls 2017: Exit polls suggest Modi-led BJP clearly ahead in UP

BJP may retain power in Goa, wrest power in U'khand; consolation prize for Cong in Punjab

Election Results 2017 : If the predictions of several of the exit polls, made public on Thursday, for the five states that had Assembly elections in February-March turn out to be true, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to emerge as the most influential leader of India since Indira Gandhi, who had held sway over the country’s political landscape 40 years back.

Findings of at least four exit polls suggested that Modi’s blitzkrieg of public rallies in Uttar Pradesh (UP) could help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) either comfortably cross the majority mark of 202 in the 403-seat UP Assembly, or come close to it.

The BJP, along with ally Apna Dal, had bagged 73 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2014, winning a staggering 337 of the 403 Assembly segments. At least two exit polls — India Today-Axis and Today’s Chanakya — could come close to that tally by winning up to 285 seats. However, two other exit polls predicted a hung Assembly with the BJP as the single-largest party but the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Congress alliance not far behind and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in third place. As for other states, most exit polls said the BJP was likely to retain power in Goa and wrest power from the Congress in Uttarakhand.

One exit poll, however, predicted a dead heat between the BJP and Congress in Uttarakhand, predicting that both were likely to win 35-seats each in the 70-member Assembly.

In Lucknow, Modi said: “Woh kahate hain Modi hatao; main kehta hoon kaladhan hatao, bhrashtachar hatao (they say remove Modi; I say end black money, end corruption).” (read more...)