Page 25 - Indian National Congress

Cong's Maharashtra poll performance shocking, worst-ever: Prithviraj Chavan

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday said his party's defeat was "shocking" and dubbed it as the "worst-ever" loss in the state assembly polls. Talking to PTI, Chavan said the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin Yojana, for providing financial assistance to women, clicked with voters in rural areas while polarisation hit the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) prospects in urban parts of the state. "It is difficult to say whether there was a wave or tampering," said Chavan, who lost from his Karad South seat. The results of the November 20 polls to the 288-member state assembly were announced on Saturday. Several bigwigs from the MVA, including Chavan, were defeated. The Congress, which contested 101 seats as part of the MVA, posted its worst-ever defeat by managing to win only 16 seats. Chavan said he was expecting to win his Karad South seat in Satara district by 5,000 to 6,000 votes. But, all MVA nominees in the district lost

Congress govt in Telangana to mark first anniversary from Dec 1-9

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed officials to make arrangements on a grand scale for the Congress government's first anniversary celebrations from December 1 to 9. During a meeting with ministers and officials on Saturday, Reddy instructed ministers to present a progress report on their respective department's work and explain the future plans by holding press conferences. The CM will inaugurate a statue of 'Telangana Thalli' (mother) at the Secretariat complex on December 9 (coinciding with the birthday of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi). About one lakh women from across the state would be invited for the event, an official release said. As part of the celebrations, a public meeting of unemployed youth would be held in Peddapalli district on December 4. As many as 9,000 youth, newly recruited for government jobs, would be handed over appointment letters at the venue. A 'farmers convention' would be organised at Mahabubnagar on November 30. Reddy also ordered t

Big names that fell short: Shockers from Jharkhand & Maha poll results

The Maharashtra Assembly elections witnessed some surprising results, with seasoned politicians and prominent leaders failing to secure their seats

Maharashtra results: NDA leads comfortably in 229 seats - show 4 pm trends

At 9 am, counting trends showed the Mahayuti-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leading on more than 153 of the 288 seats. Meanwhile, the Opposition was ahead on 86 seats

Need to learn from results: Robert Vadra on MVA's show in Maharashtra polls

Regarding the Jharkhand elections, Robert Vadra expressed his happiness in the JMM-led mahagathbandhan and said that he hopes the BJP will not 'disturb the ruling party' using ED

Cong hits back at Nadda's letter to Kharge on Manipur, calls it '4d'

The Congress on Friday slammed BJP president J P Nadda over his allegation that the opposition party was pushing a politically motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur, saying his letter to Mallikarjun Kharge is a "4D exercise -- denial, distortion, distraction, and defamation". Nadda on Friday accused the Congress of pushing an "incorrect, false and politically" motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur unrest, as he hit back at Kharge for seeking President Droupadi Murmu's intervention and alleging the Centre's complete failure in defusing the crisis. In a rejoinder to Kharge, Nadda claimed the repercussions of the Congress's "abject failure" in dealing with local issues in Manipur when it was in power are being felt even today. Hitting back at Nadda, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Congress President Kharge ji wrote to the President of India on Manipur. Apparently to counter that letter, the BJP President has now written to the Congre

Maharashtra polls: Pilot says MVA will decide on CM's name within a day

Confident of an MVA win in Maharashtra, Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot on Friday said there would not be any issue among alliance constituents in deciding on the CM post after getting a majority and it would not take more than a day to "figure out who will get what position". Pilot, who was given the charge by the party in the Marathwada region and campaigned extensively in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and in constituencies where bypolls are taking place, dismissed indications by exit polls that the BJP alliance in the two states would get a majority. In an interview with PTI a day before the results, Pilot said the results of the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand as well as to the bypolls in various states will provide a "reality check" to the BJP and the NDA. On the party's prospects in the recent round of assembly polls after the Haryana defeat, the Congress general secretary said Haryana was a setback and a very surprising one but Maharashtra and Jharkhand were

Unreliable, chronic liar: BJP's CR Kesavan lashes out at Rahul Gandhi

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, BJP's Kesavan said that Rahul Gandhi was exposed in the HAL matter that he raised during the previous Lok Sabha elections as the company's revenue has been increased

JP Nadda accuses Congress of failure in Manipur, hits back at Kharge

BJP president J P Nadda on Friday accused the Congress of pushing an "incorrect, false and politically" motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur unrest, as he hit back at Mallikarjun Kharge for seeking President Droupadi Murmu's intervention and alleging the Centre's complete failure in defusing the crisis. In a rejoinder to Kharge, Nadda claimed the repercussions of the Congress's "abject failure" in dealing with local issues in Manipur when it was in power are being felt even today. What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur, he told Kharge. He said Kharge seemed to have forgotten that not only did his government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, the then home minister P Chidambaram had signed treaties with them. These known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts, Nadda .

Vindicates demand for JPC probe: Congress on charges against Adani in US

With billionaire Gautam Adani charged in the US with alleged bribery and fraud, the Congress on Thursday said it "vindicates" its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the various "scams" involving his conglomerate. The opposition party also called for "a new and credible" SEBI head to be appointed to complete the securities law investigations into the "Adani Mega Scam". Adani has been charged by US prosecutors over his role in an alleged years-long scheme to pay USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts. US prosecutors charged Adani, 62, his nephew Sagar and other defendants for paying over USD 250 million in bribes between 2020 and 2024 to Indian government officials to win solar energy contracts on terms that could potentially bring in more than USD 2 billion in profit. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the US Securities and Exchange Commission's actions also c

Congress workers attack car transporting EVM after polling in Nagpur

Congress workers ransacked a car transporting an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to a strong room in Nagpur after polling concluded for the Maharashtra assembly elections, police said. The police clarified that the EVM in question, which escaped damage in the attack, was not used in polling and it was kept on standby. The incident took place in the Killa area of Central Nagpur constituency on Wednesday when polling officials were transporting the EVM from booth number 268 to the designated strong room in a car. Workers of the opposition Congress claimed the EVM was being taken to a photocopy shop to print a document and they started questioning poll party officials over violation of protocols in handling the machines. According to the police, the vehicle was intercepted by a group of individuals, who raised concerns that EVM protocols were being violated. Tensions escalated when Congress workers began pelting stones at the car. Reports suggested officials inside the car were ...

Maharashtra polls: From vandalism to cash seizures, key highlights of the day

Exit polls present a mixed picture, with some predicting a win for the Shinde-led Mahayuti alliance and others favouring a majority for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)

Maharashtra polls: BJP charges Supriya Sule with Rs 235 crore crypto fraud

In a press conference, the BJP accused National Congress Party leader Supriya Sule and Congress MLA Nana Patole of allegedly using Bitcoins illegally to fund elections

Cong, BJP asks more time from EC to respond to poll code complaints

The Congress and the BJP have sought seven more days from the Election Commission to respond to poll code violation complaints filed by them against each other in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, sources said Monday. In the wake of the BJP and the Congress lodging complaints against each other with the EC for poll code violations, the election panel on Saturday had asked the presidents of the two parties to comment on the charges levelled against their leaders. The EC wrote separate letters to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, asking them to comment on the complaint of the other. The Commission exchanged the complaints between the two parties while seeking their responses. The EC has sought formal responses from both the party presidents by 1 pm on Monday (November 18). Now the two parties have sought from the EC seven more days to send their respective responses. While the Congress had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home

BJP launches 'Say No to Congress' ad campaign ahead of Maharashtra polls

The ad also included the phrase Say No to Congress alongside the MVA logo, with the 2007 Mumbai terror attacks in the background when the party was in power

MVA to get majority in Maharashtra, won't need crossovers: Chennithala

Congress' Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday asserted the MVA will get a "clear majority" on its own and there would not be any need for anyone to crossover from the other side. He also claimed that the ruling Mahayuti was plagued by "internal dissensions" with the BJP looking to "finish off" allies. In an interview with PTI, Chennithala also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'ek rahoge toh safe rahoge' and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' slogans have "failed" as they were against the ethos and culture of Maharashtra. He also asserted that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP), was absolutely united and there would not be any problem in deciding on the chief minister's post after the elections. Chennithala, however, questioned why the Mahayuti had not declared Eknath Shinde as the CM face despite him being the incumbent. On Modi's 'ek rahoge toh safe rahoge' and Adityanath's 'baten

Maharashtra lost jobs as key projects moved to Gujarat: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday criticised the ruling BJP for its policies and claimed Maharashtra has been deprived of jobs due to the shifting of some big projects to Gujarat. Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district ahead of the November 20 state assembly polls, she claimed the ruling alliance leaders were trying to divert the attention from real issues and making attempts to polarise the society. Targeting the Mahayuti government in the state over its flagship Ladki Bahin scheme, Vadra said women should vote for a better life and not because they are getting Rs 1,500 a month. The Congress leader also said if the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comes to power, it will give Rs 7,000 per quintal MSP to farmers for soybean crop. Vadra claimed there were more than 2.5 lakh vacant posts in Maharashtra. The state has been deprived of jobs due to the shifting of Foxconn, Airbus projects to Gujarat, she added. "People are making efforts, ..

Manipur burning, PM Modi hasn't visited and Amit Shah not acting: Venugopal

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday said Manipur is burning but it is painful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not even visited the state and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is not taking any action to resolve the issue. Manipur has been on the boil since May last year due to ethnic strife between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups, leaving more than 200 dead and largescale arson damaging property worth several crore rupees. In an interview with PTI Videos, Venugopal said, "What is happening in Manipur? (Union) Home Minister is busy campaigning (for elections), our PM is abroad and one state of ours is burning." "The situation of Manipur is painful for every Indian. The PM has not even visited the state, (Union) Home Minister is not taking any action. Rahul Gandhi is talking about the real issues of this country," he added. Speaking about BJP slogans like 'batenge toh katenge' (divided we perish), Venugopal said his party did not .

BJP leaders trying to polarise, people shouldn't fall for it: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday claimed that divisive slogans raised by some BJP leaders was an attempt to polarise the society and asserted it should not be allowed. Addressing a rally at Umred in Nagpur ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, Kharge said the BJP leaders have already been trying to divide the society, and raising slogans like 'batenge to katenge' (divided we fall) to further polarise it. "But, there is no unanimity among the Mahayuti leaders on such slogans. Such polarisation shouldn't be allowed," he said. Kharge also said categorising Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr B R Ambedkar to a particular community is not right. The Congress and its leaders laid down their lives for the country's unity, unlike the BJP and RSS which have made "no contribution" to the country, Kharge claimed. "The Maharashtra assembly elections are important as there is a need to defeat the incumbent government which has come to power by theft and intimidatio

Kharge slams BJP govt over violence in Manipur, calls it unsafe and divided

These individuals were arrested from Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur districts of the state. Additionally, the police officials have recovered one .32 pistol, seven rounds of SBBL