Page 7 - Political Parties

HC asks govt, political parties to respond to plea against use of INDIA

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a response from the Centre, Election Commission of India, and 26 political parties on a petition seeking to restrain opposition parties from using the acronym INDIA for their alliance. Opposition bloc INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) comprising 26 parties was announced at a meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka on July 17-18 to take on the ruling NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Amit Mahajan issued notices to the ministries of Home Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, ECI and 26 political parties on the petition, saying that the matter needs to be heard. "It has to be heard. It requires hearing. Notice issued," the bench said. It, however, refused to grant any interim relief at this stage and said that no order can be passed without hearing the respondents. "We can't pass any order like this. Let the response of the other side come. We will definitely look in

CIC verdict can't be referred to bring political parties under RTI: Centre

An order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) cannot be used to seek a writ from the Supreme Court to bring recognised political parties under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Centre told the apex court on Tuesday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made the submission while appearing for the central government before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, which is hearing two PILs seeking a direction to bring political parties under the transparency law. The CIC order cannot be used to seek a writ of mandamus (a judicial order to the government to fulfil official duties) to bring political parties under the RTI, the law officer told the bench, which also comprised Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), represented by lawyer P V Dinesh, said the party has no objection to RTI with regard to ensuring financial transparency. But there cannot be requests (under RTI) on why a candidate has been selecte

TMS Ep481: NDA and INDIA, tech layoffs, healthcare stocks, Oppenheimer

Is the era of political alliances back? Is there an end in sight for tech layoffs? Why are healthcare stocks gaining muscle? Who was J Robert Oppenheimer? All answers here

38 parties have confirmed participation in NDA meeting Tuesday: J P Nadda

Leaders of 38 parties have confirmed their participation in a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to be held in the national capital on Tuesday, BJP president J P Nadda said. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Nadda said NDA's reach and scope have increased over the years. He said the NDA constituents are upbeat due to the positive impact of the Narendra Modi government's schemes and policies. The meeting of the BJP-led coalition is scheduled to be held on a day several opposition parties are set to hold deliberations in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The NDA meeting here will see the presence of a host of existing and new BJP allies as the ruling party has worked overtime in recent weeks and months to seal fresh alliances and win back those who had quit the ruling combine.

J-K govt announces enhanced ration quota, praised by political parties

Local residents also expressed their happiness and appreciation for the enhanced ration quota, praising the LG administration for this decision

CPI(M) excluding Cong from seminar on UCC aimed at creating conflict: IUML

Key Congress ally in Kerala, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Sunday rejected the ruling CPI(M)'s overtures to take part in its seminars on the hotly debated Uniform Civil Code (UCC), claiming that the Left party was trying to create "conflict" and "division" by not inviting the grand old party. The IUML said it was implied from the CPI(M)'s invite that it had "no good intentions" and there was no need for a seminar which divides people -- a response that comes as a blow to the Left party which was optimistic of seeing the League take part in its first seminar to be held on July 15 in Kozhikode district of the state. Throwing its weight behind the Congress, the League said without the grand old party's leadership and support, it would not be possible for anyone to fight against the UCC at the national level as it was an issue concerning everyone in India and not just the Muslims. The IUML announced its decision after a meeting of the party leadership at Panakkad here followi

Restoration of political process, statehood key to normalcy in J-K: Cong

The political process has to be restored in Jammu and Kashmir, veteran Congress leader Karan Singh said as he batted for early assembly elections in the Union Territory as well as reinstating its statehood. He also acknowledged that the law and order situation is "better" in Jammu and Kashmir, saying there has been a cessation of shutdown calls and "Hurriyat fatwas". But it cannot be claimed that there is "100 per cent complete control", Singh told PTI in an interview. The Congress leader said that "at some point in time, the political process has to be restored". "Statehood has to be restored. Only then (when statehood and political process is restored), we can say, that total normalcy has set in (Jammu and Kashmir)," Singh said. He highlighted that panchayat elections have already taken place, and now it is imperative to hold assembly elections as soon as possible. "It is assembly elections that are to be held now. They should be held as soon as possible. It is for the government

Former Mizoram minister Beichhua to join BJP ahead of assembly polls

: Former Mizo National Front (MNF) leader K Beichhua, who resigned as a minister last year, will join the BJP ahead of the Mizoram assembly polls later this year, a BJP leader said. The veteran Mara politician said he will formally join the saffron camp after poll dates are announced, BJP media convener Johny Lalthanpuia told PTI on Friday. Beichhua said he will contest the polls from Siaha in south Mizoram on a BJP ticket. Beichhua, who had held multiple portfolios including social welfare, excise and animal husbandry, resigned from Zoramthanga's ministry on December 13 last year, a day after he was allegedly told to do so by the chief minister. The ruling MNF expelled him as primary member of the party on January 25 along with the chairman of the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) N Viakhu for 'anti-party activities'. Beichhua had been elected from Siaha on a MNF ticket for two consecutive terms since 2013. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the poll

Meeting to select new Delhi Congress chief held at DPCC office: Report

Two separate meetings have been held to seek suggestions on selecting new chief of the Congress' Delhi unit and discuss ways to mobilise the party workers in the national capital, party sources said on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by AICC incharge for Delhi Deepak Babaria at the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) office here on Wednesday. He also met Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the same day. The meeting to seek suggestions on the new party chief was a one-on-one meeting with the party's district and block-level leaders and workers, sources said. "Delhi Congress' district and block level leaders and workers were called individually to seek suggestions about a new party president. The meeting on Wednesday lasted for more than eight hours," a source in the party told PTI. "Suggestions were also sought on how to mobilise the party workers in every district of Delhi and strengthen the party further ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," the source

NCP factional war reaches EC, Ajit Pawar files over 40 affidavits

The factional fight of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has reached the doorstep of the Election Commission with the group led by Ajit Pawar filing over 40 affidavits of MLAs and MPs in his support. The Sharad Pawar camp has filed a caveat with the poll authority urging it to hear them first before passing any directive in connection with the factional fight, Election Commission sources said. The Election Commission is likely to process applications in the coming days and ask both the sides to exchange the respective documents submitted before it. The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, witnessed a split on Sunday with Ajit Pawar, claiming support of over 40 MLAs and joining the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra. Nine NCP MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, were sworn-in as ministers in the Maharashtra government at a surprise cabinet expansion on Sunday. Ajit Pawar, with senior party leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil by his side, asserted to b

ECI opens web portal for political parties to file financial accounts

Political parties will have to provide written justification to the Election Commission of India if they want to continue filing hard copies of their financial reports

Key NCP leaders to take call on Ajit's desire for party role: Sharad Pawar

Days after Ajit Pawar appealed that he be assigned a role in the NCP organisation, party president Sharad Pawar on Monday said such a decision cannot be taken by one person and key party leaders will sit to take a call on it. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who is the nephew of Sharad Pawar, recently appealed to the party leadership to relieve him of the responsibility as Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly and assign him any role in the party organisation. Notably, Sharad Pawar recently entrusted the responsibility of Maharashtra to his daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule by appointing her as a working president. Praful Patel is another working president for other states. Asked about Ajit Pawar's desire to have a position in the party organisation, the NCP chief said such decisions are not taken by any one person. "Key leaders including him (Ajit) will sit together and they will take a decision on this. Today, everyone in the party has the sentiment to work i

J&K completes 5-year central rule, political parties demands early polls

Jammu and Kashmir on Monday completed five years without an elected government, prompting a scathing attack from the mainstream National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party over the delay in restoration of democracy in the Union Territory. On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the state into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the post of the chief minister on June 19, 2018 after alliance partner BJP withdrew support to her coalition government. In a sarcastic tweet, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday said democracy in India ends where Jammu and Kashmir begins. "Democracy is in our veins, it is in our culture'; India is the mother of democracy'; India is the temple of democracy'. Great sounding words that the international community lap up & regurgitate ad-nauseam. Meanwhile J&K completes 5 years under ...

Ex-Pakistan PM Imran faces isolation as defectors form new political party

Jahangir Khan Tareen, one of Khan's closest aides, will lead the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, he announced at a news conference

Regional party income from unknown sources was Rs 887.55 cr in 2021-22: ADR

The income of regional political parties from unknown sources in the financial year 2021-22 amounted to Rs 887.55 crore, accounting for 76 per cent of their total earnings, according to the Association of Democratic Reform (ADR). The figure indicates a rise in parties' income from unknown sources in comparison to 2020-21 when the total income of regional parties accounted for Rs 530.70 crore, of which Rs 263.93 crore or 49.73 per cent came from unknown sources. According to the report, donations over Rs 20,000 are defined to have come from "known" sources as their donor details are available through contribution reports as submitted by regional parties to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The "unknown" sources are income declared in the annual audit report by these parties but without giving the source of income. At present, political parties are not required to reveal the name of individuals or organisations giving less than Rs 20,000 and those who donated via electoral ...

Political party, legislature party not the same, former appoints whip: SC

"In a contentious situation such as this, the Speaker should have conducted an independent inquiry based on the rules and regulations of political party to identify whip authorised by the Shiv Sena

PIL seeks ban on party names with religious connotation, Delhi HC asks govt

The Delhi High Court granted time to the Central govt to file its response on a petition seeking a ban on political parties with names having caste, religious, ethnic or linguistic connotations

K'taka polls: ECI issues advisory to parties to get clearance for print ads

ECI on Sunday also held all major local newspapers in the state responsible for all matters including advertisements published in their newspapers

Harmful power concentration

Personality- or family-based parties prevent strong alliances

Though not a poor state, Karnataka can ill-afford election freebies

The state's committed liabilities are projected to rise to 60% in FY'24 from 55% in the previous year