Page 380 - Congress

FM deserves Phd: Congress on Sitharaman's 'dollar strengthening' statement

Taking a sideswipe at Nirmala Sitharaman over her statement that Indian currency is not sliding, the dollar is strengthening, the Congress on Monday said that the Finance Minister qualifies for a PhD

Kharge vs Tharoor: Voting begins for Congress party presidential polls

Voting began on Monday in the Congress presidential polls as senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor face-off for the post of AICC chief. Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot. Voting began at 10 am at the AICC headquarters here and at party's polling booths in state offices across the country. Veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram was the first to cast his vote at the AICC headquarters here, sources said. Kharge is considered the favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change. During the campaign, even though Tharoor raised issues of uneven playing field, both candidates and the party have maintained that the Gandhis are neutral and that there is no "official candidate". While party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to vote at the AI

History beckons as Cong gears up for 6th election contest for AICC chief

With the Congress set to vote to elect its new chief, it would be the sixth time in its nearly 137-year-old history that an electoral contest would decide who would take up the mantle of the party's president. Also, with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra not in the running for the party president's post, a non-Gandhi would be at the helm after over 24 years following the polling on Monday and counting on Wednesday. Senior party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are pitted against each other and have been crisscrossing various state capitals to woo the over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates who comprise the electoral college for electing the party chief. While Kharge is considered the firm favourite and the 'unofficial official candidate' with a large number of senior leaders backing him, Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change. During the campaign, even though Tharoor has raised issues of uneven playing field, both ...

Himachal Pradesh elections: Congress to release first list of 57 candidates

The Congress will release on Sunday the first list of 57 candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls slated for November 12. The remaining 11 candidates will be announced soon, AICC Himachal media in-charge Alka Lama in a statement. The voting for the 68 assembly seats in the hill state is scheduled to take place on November 12 while the counting will take place on December 8. In the Assembly, the BJP currently has 43 members followed by 22 of the Congress. There are two Independents and one CPM MLA in the Assembly. A direct contest between the BJP and the Congress is likely in the state, where the Aam Aadmi Party will also be trying its luck. A notification for the state elections will be issued on October 17 and the last date for the filing of nominations is October 25. Scrutiny of papers will be held on October 27 and the last date for the withdrawal of papers will be October 29. As many as 55,74,793 people are eligible to vote in the polls.

Gujarat polls: Dalit votes may get divided among BJP, Congress and AAP

At around eight per cent of Gujarat's population, Dalits are not a numerically dominant community in the state, but their votes are likely to get divided among the ruling BJP, opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party in the upcoming Assembly elections, say political observers. All political parties are trying their best to woo the community, because apart from 13 seats (out of the total 182 in the state) reserved for the Scheduled Castes, Dalit voters can also tilt the scales in a few dozen other seats, they feel. While the BJP says it is confident Dalits will vote for it in the state Assembly polls due this year-end, the Congress says it is paying attention to seats with 10 per cent or more Dalit population. The BJP has won a majority of the 13 seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes since 1995. In 2007 and 2012, it won 11 and 10 of these seats, respectively, while the Congress had won two and three seats. But in 2017, the BJP faltered and managed to win only seven seats, while

Govt living in denial: Congress on India's Global Hunger Index ranking

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP government, saying it is "living in denial" and is suppressing facts, after India was ranked 107 out of 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2022. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said India has slipped in the hunger index yet again, now ranking 107, lagging behind every South Asian country except Afghanistan. "BJP's living in denial and trying to suppress facts has led India to this massive crisis," he said on Twitter. "Are there anymore excuses still left, Modi ji," he asked, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress also put out a tweet alleging that the "Modi government is equal to disaster". "India ranks 107th in the Hunger Index, out of a list of 121 countries. Till last year the ranking was 101. "Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Rwanda. These countries are in a better position than us. Was this 'Acche Din' promised by the fake Vishwaguru," the Congress posted in Hindi on its official Twitter handle.

Congress youngsters with me, seniors backing Kharge: Shashi Tharoor

Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor on Saturday claimed that youngsters and people in lower levels of the party are supporting him, while seniors are backing his rival Mallikarjun Kharge. He also asserted that no Congress president can function keeping a distance from the Gandhi family as their DNA runs through the party's blood. "I am getting support from the young voters. I am getting good feedback from the lower levels. The seniors are going with Kharge. We have been talking about change and older people resist it," Tharoor told a press conference as part of his campaign trail here. While conceding that many party office bearers have been campaigning for his rival candidate openly, he pointed out that the election will be held through secret ballots and weightage of the vote of a senior leader and a lower rank member is the same. It would be foolish on the part of any Congress president to distance himself from the Gandhis as the Gandhi family is popular and their DNA

BJP govt failing to give security to Kashmiri Pandits, says Congress

The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP government of failing to provide security to Kashmir Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir after another youth was murdered in Shopian. "Very sad! Another Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishna Bhat was murdered in Jammu and Kashmir. The killing of Kashmiri Pandits is not stopping and the Modi government has failed to provide them security. "There is information that the administration is pressuring the family to perform the last rites early. Shameful," the Congress said in a tweet in Hindi. Deputy Inspector General of Police Sujit Kumar said the Kashmir Freedom Fighter (KFF) group, the proxy name of a militant outfit, has claimed responsibility for Bhat's killing. Bhat was attacked near his residence in the south Kashmir district. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, they said. Less than a couple of months ago, another another Kashmiri Pandit named Sunil Kumar Bhat was shot dead by terrorists at an apple orchard in Shopian. His broth

LIVE: Congress only party that wants everyone included, says Tharoor

LIVE news updates: Doesn't matter if Kharge Sahab wins or I win - Congress should win as it's a party of inclusive India, said Shashi Tharoor

Try to hold an election of your own first: Tharoor slams BJP's Malviya

Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor on Saturday slammed BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya over his dig at the AICC chief elections, saying "we are perfectly capable of resolving our own internal differences" and don't need his involvement in the polls. Tharoor also took a swipe at the BJP and said try to hold an election of "your own first". Taking a dig at the Congress, Malviya had tweeted, "It is finally dawning on Tharoor that the CP (Congress president) election, with no level playing field, is a farce. He hasn't been provided a list of delegates with proper details." "State presidents are enthusiastic about Kharge but don't even turn up for him! Gandhis will soon have MMS 2.0 version," the BJP leader had said. Hitting back at Malviya, Tharoor tweeted, "We are perfectly capable of resolving our own internal differences within @incIndia, @amitmalviya. We don't need your involvement in our party's election (sic)." "Try to hold one of your own first," he said. Tha

Nation facing challenges from fascist forces, Gehlot slams RSS-BJP

The Congress party on Saturday slammed the BJP-led governments at the Centre and state and the ruling party's parent outfit the RSS and alleged that the nation is facing challenges from fascist forces. Addressing the Bharat Jodo Yatra here, Congress leader Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the nation is facing challenges from "fascist" forces. Condemning what he called the "communal forces," Gehlot claimed that people are suffering due to unemployment and price rise. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah blamed the BJP and RSS for "disturbing peace" in the country by indulging in "communal" politics.

Congress re-launching a 'failed missile' through Bharat Jodo Yatra: Bommai

Ahead of the Congress 's mega rally in Ballari, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday dubbed the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' as another attempt to relaunch a 'failed missile' called Rahul Gandhi. As a galaxy of Congress leaders from across the country descended on Ballari to celebrate Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' reaching a milestone, covering 1,000 kms, Bommai said it is meaningless as the country is united and has full faith in federalism. There is no meaning to this Bharat Jodo Yatra when the country is strong enough. As I have said in the past, the missile called Rahul Gandhi had failed earlier. Now, he is being relaunched. Apart from this, there is no meaning to the Yatra, Bommai told reporters. He sought to know the purpose behind the yatra, when the nation is unitedly progressing with faith in federalism. There is no occasion now for uniting India' when the country is marching ahead globally in a robust way. At a time when all the countries including ..

Congress will get full majority in Himachal assembly polls, says Alka Lamba

Congress leader Alka Lamba expressed confidence of the party winning the forthcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh

Jharkhand HC declines stay of proceedings against 3 suspended Congress MLAs

The Jharkhand High Court on Friday declined to stay proceedings against three suspended Congress legislators, who were arrested from Kolkata in July, for their alleged involvement in ferrying cash. The court of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi after hearing the matter of Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachhap and Naman Viksal Kongari, accused of laundering cash to the tune of around Rs 48 lakh, refused to put a stay on the investigation. However, it directed that chargesheet in the case may not be filed until orders of the court are passed. The Congress had in July suspended the three Jharkhand MLAs, who were allegedly caught with huge amount of cash in West Bengal's Howrah, and accused the BJP of attempting to topple its coalition government in the state. Acting on a tip-off, the West Bengal Police had intercepted a sports utility vehicle in which the legislators were travelling, and allegedly found nearly Rs 50 lakh in cash in the car. Congress MLA Anup Singh had filed a case against the thre

Will take everyone along if elected Congress president, says Tharoor

Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday said if elected Congress president, he will take everyone along and maintained the Gandhi family can not be kept away from party affairs. Addressing a press conference here, Tharoor said he was gladdened by the reception he has received from party workers in Madhya Pradesh and admitted he did not get such a welcome in other states which he toured as part of his election campaign for the top party post. The Thiruvananthapuram MP is pitted against veteran Congressman Mallikarjun Kharge for the polls to the party's highest post scheduled for October 17. Poll results will be declared on October 19. The diplomat-turned-politician said he has no enmity with Kharge, adding on the latter's 80th birthday, he penned a tribute listing achievements of his senior party colleague. "Even after elections we are going to work together like in the past," the former Union minister said. Queried on suggestions that he may start taking unilateral decisions if ele

Himachal goes to polls on November 12; announcement for Gujarat later

A new actor in Himachal Pradesh is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Kharge taunts Tharoor, says he will implement only Udaipur declaration

Taking a swipe at his contender, Shashi Tharoor, in the AICC presidential poll, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said here on Friday that he has no separate manifesto but only a single-point agenda to implement the party's Udaipur declaration. Tacitly referring to the Thiruvananthapuram MP Sashi Tharoor, who threw down the gauntlet at him in the race for the top position in the party, Kharge said, "I don't have any manifesto like others. I have only one manifesto that is the Congress manifesto. That is the Udaipur declaration made 4 months ago will be implemented if I am elected." Earlier this month while launching his election campaign for Tamil Nadu at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress State headquarters, Tharoor released his manifesto and said his message was to revive the party, re-energise it, empower workers, decentralise authority and be in touch with the people. "This, I believe, will make Congress politically fit to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP in the

Rahul Gandhi briefly touches AP border villages during 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'

: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday evening passed through a few villages in Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh during the course of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra. AP Congress president Sake Sailajanath, working president N Tulasi Reddy, former minister N Raghuveera Reddy and other senior leaders accorded a rousing reception to Rahul as he entered Kanukuppa village under D Hirehal mandal from neighbouring Karnataka. Scores of Congress workers and villagers lined up to greet Rahul as he walked about 12-km through Jajarakallu, Madenahalli, Lakshmipuram, D Hirehal and Obulapuram villages that fall in AP on the borders of Karnataka. From Obulapuram checkpost, Rahul returned to Bellary in Karnataka for a night halt. The Congress leader will once again enter Andhra Pradesh in Kurnool on the 18th. According to Tulasi Reddy, the Bharat Jodo Yatra would continue in AP till the 21st as per the current schedule. Rahul would then enter neighbouring Telangana.

Multiple paper leaks in Gujarat, BJP playing with youths' future: Congress

There have been at least 22 paper leaks in the state in the past seven years, the Congress claimed on Friday, accusing the BJP government of playing with the future of youths in the state it is ruling for 27 years. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also took potshots at the BJP's Gaurav Yatra in Gujarat, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will find it hard to face the youths suffering due to the alleged paper leaks in their home state. "How do you ask for votes from them when you have put their future at stake and strangled their aspirations?" On the contrary, he said, during the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi is welcoming and meeting people from all walks of life, especially the youths who are sharing their concerns on unemployment and other issues. "On one hand, the BJP is taking out Gaurav Yatra in Gujarat and on the other hand 22 cases of paper leaks have taken place there. The BJP government is destroying the future of the youths," Khera

Gujarat poll dates not out along with HP to give PM more time: Congress

The Congress on Friday alleged that dates for Gujarat assembly polls were not announced along with Himachal Pradesh so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets more time to make "mega promises and inaugurations". Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said his party is not surprised over the development after the Election Commission announced poll dates only for the hill state and not for Gujarat. "Obviously, this has been done to give more time to the PM to make some mega promises and carry out more inaugurations. Not at all surprising," Ramesh said. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission announced that elections to the Himachal Pradesh assembly will be held on November 12. On not announcing the dates for Gujarat assembly polls, it said various factors, including convention, gap in qualifying dates, and weather had been considered before taking a decision. The poll panel also said announcement of multiple state elections leads to longer wait in declaration of results.