GHMC election LIVE: TRS emerges as single-largest party, BJP pips AIMIM

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1:51 AM

India has achieved replacement of single-use plastic, adopting alternative methods: Javadekar

India has already banned single-use plastic & categories have also been made. There have been people’s awareness movements built around this too, & the ban has achieved tremendous success & will be taken to the logical end. Replacement of single-use plastic items is important and India has practically achieved replacement and is adopting alternative methods: Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment

11:50 PM

TRS, AIMIM have lost morally in GHMC polls, says Bhupender Yadav

Stating that Bharatiya Janata Party is a party of everyone from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, BJP leader Bhupender Yadav on Friday said both the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have lost morally in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections. The BJP secured 48 seats in the GHMC elections, while AIMIM and Congress bagged 44 and 2 seats respectively.

"I would like to thank the people of Hyderabad for having chosen BJP based on a good governance model. The Hyderabad election results are a win for democratic politics and the politics of inclusive development that Prime Minister Narendra Modi espouses as opposed to the politics of family-run enterprises masquerading as political parties," Bhupender Yadav told ANI.


"People in Hyderabad have reposed their faith in the leadership of PM Modi and his vision of good governance for people everywhere in India by voting for BJP. Both TRS and AIMIM have lost morally in Hyderabad elections. Those who branded BJP as a party of the north must take note: BJP is a party of everyone from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," he said. Hitting out at the TRS government in the state, Yadav said these elections were "dynasty versus democracy".

10:37 PM

Kishan Reddy hails BJP performance in GHMC polls

With BJP winning 48 seats in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy on Friday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as a strong party in Telangana and party workers have blessings of people in their efforts to bring the party to power in the state in the 2023 assembly elections. Reddy, who is MP from Secunderabad, said Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) tally has come down to 55 seats.

"
We had four seats and we have won 48 as of now. The number of seats of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has also gone down, the same goes for TRS. BJP has today emerged as a strong party," Reddy told ANI. "Today's results indicate that we have blessings of the people in our efforts to bring BJP government in Telangana in 2023 elections. TRS has failed, people are against their dynasty rule and corruption. People have paved the way for a BJP government in Telangana in the days to come," Reddy added. BJP leaders, including G Kishan Reddy and the party's state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar, distributed sweets in Hyderabad following BJP's party's performance in GHMC elections.

10:31 PM

Confident people of Telangana will stop BJP from expanding: Owaisi

We have won on 44 seats in Hyderabad GHMC elections. I have spoken to all newly elected corporators and asked them to begin their work from tomorrow itself. We will fight the BJP in a democratic way. We are confident that people of Telangana will stop BJP from expanding its footprints in the state: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad

10:30 PM

Post-Covid world will be about re-learning, re-thinking and re-innovating: Modi at IIT Global Summit

Our govt fully committed to principle of reform, perform and transform; no sector left out of reforms. Post-COVID world will be about re-learning, re-thinking and re-innovating. In testing times of Covid, India has got record investment; clearly world sees India as a trustworthy and promising partner. India witnessing sea change; things we thought could never happen are being delivered at great speed: PM Modi at IIT 2020 Global Summit

10:20 PM

BJP's historic result in Hyderabad polls shows unequivocal support for PM Modi: Nadda

The historic result for BJP in Hyderabad GHMC elections shows people's unequivocal support towards PM Modi's development & governance model. I want to thank the people of Hyderabad. The people of Hyderabad have made it clear what will be the results of the Telangana assembly elections (2023). I can say with confidence that people of Telangana have decided to say goodbye to the corrupt KCR government: JP Nadda, President, Bharatiya Janata Party

9:50 PM

GHMC Election results 2020 LIVE: TRS wins 55 seats, BJP-48, AIMIM-44 and Congress-2

9:48 PM

BJP makes significant gains in Hyderabad polls, TRS falls short of majority

Signalling its emergence as a dominant force in Telangana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 46 seats in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls to deny the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) a clear majority. Though the TRS was heading to retain power in the 150-member municipal body with lead in 70 divisions at around 4 p.m., the scene changed dramatically with BJP racing ahead in divisions where it was locked in neck-and-neck battle with the TRS.

 

Performing beyond its own expectations and making big inroads in the state capital, the BJP has won 46 seats and was leading in four seats as per the results and trends available till 7 p.m. TRS, which bagged 53 seats and was leading in two others, emerged as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark. It may have to seek the support of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which won 42 seats and was leading in two divisions. The Congress finished a distant fourth with just two seats

9:32 PM

LIVE: Delhi govt raises monthly dearness allowance for its unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and other category workers: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia

9:00 PM

GHMC polls LIVE: BJP leaders celebrate in Hyderabad after party's performance

8:50 PM

I thank people of Hyderabad who chose TRS as single-largest party: K T Rama Rao

8:43 PM

GHMC election LIVE: TRS leads but short of majority, BJP gains

Signalling its emergence as a dominant force in Telangana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 46 seats in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls to deny the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) a clear majority. Though the TRS was heading to retain power in the 150-member municipal body with lead in 70 divisions at around 4 p.m., the scene changed dramatically with BJP racing ahead in divisions where it was locked in neck-and-neck battle with the TRS.

 

Performing beyond its own expectations and making big inroads in the state capital, the BJP has won 46 seats and was leading in four seats as per the results and trends available till 7 p.m. TRS, which bagged 53 seats and was leading in two others, emerged as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark.

 

It may have to seek the support of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which won 42 seats and was leading in two divisions. The Congress finished a distant fourth with just two seats.

 

The newly elected corporators and 52 ex-officio members elect the Mayor. Since TRS has majority ex-officio members, it required 65 corporators to have its Mayor. The party may now have to negotiate power sharing agreement with the MIM if the latter doesn't extend unconditional support. In 2009, when GHMC polls had thrown a similar verdict, the Congress had shared power with the MIM, leaving the post of Mayor to MIM for two years. The post of Mayor this time has been reserved for woman.

8:42 PM

Gratitude to people of Telangana for reposing faith in PM Modi-led BJP's Politics of Development: Amit Shah

8:26 PM

BJP has today emerged as a strong party: MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy

8:09 PM

Air quality 'severe' in Ghaziabad, Noida; 'very poor' in Gurgaon, Faridabad

The average air quality plunged to "severe" level in Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida, while it was "very poor" in Faridabad and Gurgaon in the national capital region, a government agency data said on Friday. The presence of pollutant PM 2.5 and PM 10 also remained high in the five immediate neighbours of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

 

According to the index, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The average 24-hour AQI at 4 pm on Friday was 440 in Ghaziabad, 414 in Noida, 415 in Greater Noida, 383 in Faridabad and 318 in Gurgaon, according to CPCB's Sameer application.

 

On Thursday, it was 377 in Ghaziabad, 360 in Noida, 358 in Greater Noida, 336 in Faridabad and 316 in Gurgaon. On Wednesday, it was 421 in Ghaziabad, 406 in Greater Noida, 394 in Noida, 326 in Faridabad and 324 in Gurgaon. On Tuesday, it was 424 in Ghaziabad, 388 in Greater Noida, 387 in Noida, 335 in Faridabad and 311 in Gurgaon.

7:47 PM

ED moves court to get Iqbal Mirchi's family declared as fugitive economic offenders

The Enforcement Directorate has moved a Mumbai court to get three family members of late gangster Iqbal Mirchi declared as fugitive economic offenders followed by confiscation of their assets, the agency said on Friday. It said an application has been filed under section 4 (read with) section 12 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018 before the court "with a prayer to declare Junaid Iqbal Memon, Asif Iqbal Memon (sons of Mirchi) and Hajra Memon (wife) as fugitive economic offenders".

 

The central probe agency said in a statement that the application also seeks confiscation of their assets as envisaged under the law.

 

"In the first phase, prayer has been made for confiscation of 15 Indian properties including the 3rd and 4th floor of Ceejay House (in Mumbai) having market value of about Rs 96 crore and six bank accounts having balance of Rs 1.9 crore." "Prayer has also been made for allowing ED to file supplementary applications under the fugitive economic offenders law," it said.

7:41 PM

Moral victory, party only alternative to ruling TRS in Telangana: BJP on Hyderabad local polls

BJP's performance in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls is a "moral victory" for the party and it has emerged as the "only alternative" to the ruling TRS in Telangana, its general secretary Bhupender Yadav said on Friday. Counting of votes is underway, and as per the latest trends, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has either won or was leading in over 60 seats, while the corresponding tally for the BJP was 43 and the AIMIM 42.

 

The Congress has managed two seats, as per the latest results.

 

The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS had swept the elections four years ago, winning 99 of the 150 wards, whereas the BJP had won only three seats. The BJP's performance has confirmed the trend that it is replacing the Congress as the main challenger to the TRS, Yadav said. The saffron party had won four seats in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and then dealt a surprise defeat to the ruling party in Assembly bypoll in Dubbaka.

 

"The results are very encouraging and a moral booster for the BJP, and in a way, it is a moral victory of the party. The results reaffirms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and his model of good governance has acceptability across regions," Yadav, who was deputed as in-charge for the local elections in Hyderabad, told PTI.

7:36 PM

LIVE: BJP leaders celebrate party's performance in GHMC elections

7:32 PM

N Uttam Kumar Reddy resigns from the post of President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee

7:12 PM

National Education Policy to transform India into knowledge superpower: Ramesh Pokhriyal

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Friday said that the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP) will transform India into a 'knowledge superpower' and a global leader in learning as it links the past with the future. The NEP, unveiled by the Centre amid the COVID-19 crisis in July, will pave the way for holistic and multidisciplinary education, Pokhriyal said while speaking at the 9th convocation of IIT Bhubaneswar through video conference.

 

Scholars from across the world once travelled to India to study in the seats of learning at Nalanda and Takshila due to excellence in the country's education system, he said.

 

"Armed with the New Education Policy, India will once again emerge as a global leader in learning and a knowledge superpower as it connects our past with the future. Our diversity and ability to blend ancient and modern systems will again take us to the top," the minister said.

 

Pokhriyal said that the new policy will enable Indian students to grow and excel in all spheres of life and the country will emerge as a provider of employment and no longer remain a job seeker.

6:55 PM

Vijay Mallya's property in France worth Rs 14 crore seized: ED

Businessman Vijay Mallya's property worth Rs 14 crore located in France has been seized under the anti-money laundering law, the Enforcement Directorate said on Friday. It said the action was undertaken by French authorities "onthe request of the Enforcement Directorate" and the property is located at 32 Avenue FOCH in France. The value of the seized asset is Euro 1.6 million that is worth about Rs 14 crore, the central probe agency said in a statement.

 

Investigations conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act revealed that a large amount was remitted abroad from the bank account of Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. (KAL) for creation of the asset, it said.

 

Mallya, an accused in a bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, is in the UK since March 2016. He is on bail on an extradition warrant executed three years ago by Scotland Yard on April 18, 2017.

 

The Centre had on October 5 told the apex court that Mallya cannot be extradited to India until a separate secret legal process in the UK, which is judicial and confidential in nature, is resolved.

6:35 PM

BREAKING: Enforcement Directorate seizes Vijay Mallya’s asset in France worth 1.6 Million Euros

6:24 PM

Lakshadweep administrator Dineshwar Sharma passes away, PM recalls his contribution to policing

Administrator of Lakshadweep Dineshwar Sharma passed away on Friday at the age of 66 at a Chennai hospital due to a lung-related ailment, Lakshadweep Resident Commissioner Asarpal Singh said. PM Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Sharma and recognised his contributions in strengthening the security of the country during his policing career.

 

"Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made long-lasting contributions to India's policing and security apparatus. He handled many sensitive counter-terror and insurgency ops during his policing career. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled Sharma's demise. He tweeted: "Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He served the nation with utmost devotion as a dedicated officer of the Indian Police Service. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

 

President Ram Nath Kovind had on October 23, 2020 appointed former interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma as the Administrator of Lakshadweep.

 

A 1976-batch retired IPS officer of Kerala cadre, Sharma served as chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) from December 31, 2014 to May 2017. He was appointed as the interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 during the first term of the Narendra Modi-led government.

6:10 PM

GHMC polls: BJP's numbers will further decline, heavy support for TRS will surface, says Kalvakuntla Kavitha

As the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election vote counting is underway, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Friday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) number will further decline and heavy support for TRS will surface in Hyderabad.

 

"TRS is winning in most seats. As voting was by paper ballot we have to wait 3-4 hours to get exact numbers. I believe BJP numbers will further decline and heavy support for TRS will surface. We will have our mayor and do public works uninterrupted," said Kavitha, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter, while speaking to ANI.

 

The counting of votes for the GHMC election began on Friday morning. After campaigning by regional and national political parties, voting for the GHMC elections was held in 150 wards on December 1.

 

The mayor's post is reserved for a woman this time. Elections were conducted with ballot papers in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Hyderabad city commissionerate, 817 new polling stations have been set up as compared to 2016. There are 2,146 normal polling stations, 1,517 sensitive polling stations, and 167 hypersensitive polling stations.

5:48 PM

DBS Bank India gets Rs 2,500-crore capital support from parent for LVB merger

DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL) on Friday said it has received capital infusion of Rs 2,500 crore from DBS Bank Limited, Singapore to support its amalgamation with Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB). The scheme of amalgamation came into effect on November 27, 2020. DBIL said it is well-capitalised, and its capital adequacy ratios (CAR) remains above regulatory requirements after the amalgamation.

 

"The amalgamation provides stability and better prospects to LVB's depositors, customers and employees following a period of uncertainty," it said in a release.

 

Once the integration is complete, customers will be able to access a wider range of products and services, including access to the full suite of DBS digital banking services which have won multiple global accolades, DBS Bank India added. Earlier last month, the RBI placed crisis-ridden LVB under a moratorium and announced its merger with DBIL.

 

LVB was looking to raise capital for a long time and had also entered into an agreement with non-banking lender Clix Group for an amalgamation in June this year, but the deal could not get through. Before this, LVB had tried to forge a merger with realty player Indiabulls Housing Finance, which was rejected by the RBI. LVB is the second private sector bank after Yes Bank which has run into rough weather during this year.

5:35 PM

India beat Australia by 11 runs in first T20 in Canberra to take 1-0 lead in three-match series

5:22 PM

ED moves court to get Iqbal Mirchi's family declared as fugitive economic offenders

The Enforcement Directorate has moved a Mumbai court to get three family members of late gangster Iqbal Mirchi declared as fugitive economic offenders followed by confiscation of their assets, the agency said on Friday. It said an application has been filed under section 4 (read with) section 12 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018 before the court "with a prayer to declare Junaid Iqbal Memon, Asif Iqbal Memon (sons of Mirchi) and Hajra Memon (wife) as fugitive economic offenders".

 

The central probe agency said in a statement that the application also seeks confiscation of their assets as envisaged under the law.

 

"In the first phase, prayer has been made for confiscation of 15 Indian properties including the 3rd and 4th floor of Ceejay House (in Mumbai) having market value of about Rs 96 crore and six bank accounts having balance of Rs 1.9 crore." "Prayer has also been made for allowing ED to file supplementary applications under the fugitive economic offenders law," it said.

4:35 PM

GHMC election result 2020 LIVE: TRS leading in 70 divisions

The opposition BJP in Telangana on Friday seemed unable to build on its initial leads in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls, with the ruling TRS putting up a quick catch-up act to possibly upset the saffron party's dreams of capturing the civic body. Ruling TRS and the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM bagged seven wards each while the TRS was leading in about 50 seats and BJP in around 40, as per the latest trends following the counting of votes, polled on December 1.

 

The SEC said Congress bagged one ward. AIMIM was leading in another 25 seats.

 

The BJP's performance, if the present trend holds, leading to the saffron party possibly netting a significant number of seats, will be seen as a massive improvement against its 2016 show of winning just four seats, in alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) then.

 

The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samiti swept the elections four years ago, winning 99 of the 150 wards. Ballot papers were used in the election to the 150- ward GHMC pollson Tuesday. Counting of votes began at 8 AM with postal ballots being counted first and BJP was ahead of its rivals in the postal ballot votes in about 80 wards.

4:33 PM

Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma passes away

4:27 PM

NGT directs all municipal corporations to sprinkle water before sweeping roads

The National Green Tribunal has directed all municipal corporations and local bodies in NCR and other cities where air quality is 'poor' to ensure that water is sprinkled on roads before sweeping them. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kunar Goel said the water used should be from sewage treatment plants and not fresh water.

 

We direct all the Municipal Corporations/Local Bodies in NCR where air quality levels are normally non-compliant and other cities with the air quality 'poor' and above to take necessary steps to ensure sprinkling of water before sweeping of roads, the bench said.

 

It also directed them to take further steps of planting of grass/raising small herbs and shrubs on the sides of the pavements/road shoulders and on open dusty areas, including the areas on the sides of the pavements/right of way.