Page 1098 - Politics
K'taka assembly accepts ex-Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav's resignation
Karnataka legislative assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Monday accepted the resignation of former Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav.The MLA had submitted his resignation from the membership of the Assembly on March 4.On March 13, Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa said that Umesh Jadhav will contest elections from Kalaburagi against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. However, the former Karnataka chief minister also said the final decision will be taken by the party high command.Jadhav, a two-time legislator from Karnataka's Chincholi constituency, was among the three Congress MLAs who went "missing" last month. Subsequently, Congress had recommended their disqualification to the assembly speaker.Seven-phased elections in the country will begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. Counting of votes will be done on May 23.Karnataka will go to polls on April 18 and 23.
AIADMK accuses DMK of distributing money among people
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and Minister for Fisheries D Jayakumar on Monday alleged that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was distributing money among the public to get their votes in the Lok Sabha elections."What I said two days ago has come true now," said Jayakumar, while referring to the Income Tax (I-T) Department raid on the residence of DMK treasurer Durai Murugan in Vellore on March 30."DMK has done distributed money in 20 constituencies, amounting to Rs 100 crore. Will DMK chief MK Stalin would say that it's all a tissue paper," he asked."I-T Department and the Election Commission of India (ECI) should investigate the spending of all DMK candidates," he said.DMK has fielded Kadhir Anand from Vellore Parliamentary constituency against AIADMK's AC Shanmugam in the Lok Sabha elections.Thirty-nine Lok Sabha seats are at stake in Tamil Nadu, which goes to polls on April 18. The counting of votes of will take place on May 23.
Chandrababu Naidu's condition has become like 'Bhallaladeva': PM Modi
Launching a scathing attack on the TDP government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of taking 'U-turns' from his earlier promises and dubbed him as 'Bhallaladeva', the primary antagonist from the film 'Baahubali'."On the one hand, our government is working on understanding your expectations and fulfilling them. But, on the other hand, disappointment and u-turn have become the identity of the government here. Someone said that U-turn Babu's condition has become like 'Bhallaladeva' from Baahubali film. He is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that his power remains within his family and for that he is playing new games," Prime Minister Modi said at a public rally here.Accusing Naidu of backtracking from his earlier promises, the Prime Minister said, "Pick up newspapers around two years back and see what he (Naidu) was saying. And now, see what he is saying now. See, how he took U-turns."Asserting that the BJP's mission is .
SAD fields former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Atwal from Jalandhar parliamentary seat
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday announced the candidates for five Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur will contest from Khadoor Sahib constituency, while former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and former Speaker of Punjab Assembly Charanjit Singh Atwal will contest from Jalandhar reserved seat.The sitting member of parliament and senior SAD vice president Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra will contest from Shri Anandpur Sahib. Former Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra will contest from Patiala, while former IAS officer Darbara Singh Guru will contest from Fatehgarh Sahib reserved seat.Badal said that the candidates for remaining parliamentary constituencies will be declared shortly.Earlier on February 28, BJP and SAD sealed the poll deal under which they will contest three and 10 seats respectively. Punjab goes to polls on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May
Modi targets Pawar; NCP hits back with Advani jibe
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying there was infighting in his party, which was slipping from his control. Launching the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's poll campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally here, Modi said Pawar decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls after realising that the situation was not in his favour. "Pawar decided against contesting the polls sensing the situation was not favourable. There is infighting in the NCP...the party is slipping from Pawar's grip," he said. "There was a time when he (Pawar) would think he too can be the prime minister. He had also declared he would contest the poll. But suddenly, one day, he said he was happy in the Rajya Sabha, and that he would not contest," Modi said. "Sharad Pawar ji is also aware which way the wind is blowing. This time, the people of the country have forced big guns to run, leaving the (election) ground," Modi said. Pawar's "another problem" was that the NCP ...
Money under 'NYAY' scheme to be deposited in a/c of women;
Wooing the women and poor, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday said the money proposed to be given to the poor under 'NYAY' scheme would be deposited in the accounts of women. "This money would go to the bank account of the woman in the family. Every month, this money will directly go to the bank accounts of women. Crores of women will get power and India would stand on its own," he said, addressing an election rally at Wanaparthy under Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha constituency. NYAY scheme is part of the party's Lok Sabha election manifesto. Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made the false promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of the poor, he said Congress has announced the 'Nyuntam Aay Yojana' (NYAY) to ensure that the poor live with dignity. Congress feels that the income of any person in the 21st century should not be less than Rs 12,000 per month, he said. The scheme would jumpstart the country's economy as the beneficiaries would start ...
Independents no longer the flavour of Jharkhand's voters
Time was when independent legislators and MPs were the flavour in Jharkhand. Not any more as they have created instability in the state's politics.
Tripura BJP leader Dilip Sarkar passes away
Senior Tripura BJP leader and five-time MLA Dilip Sarkar died on Monday at a private hospital in Delhi after prolonged illness, family sources said here.
Harsimrat urges youth to highlight SAD's 'good work' on social media
Union minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday emphasised the need to use the social media to counter the "false propaganda" of rival parties, admitting that not using the platform might be one of the party's weaknesses. "During (the) meetings with party workers in the last few days, I have got feedback that we need to highlight (our work) more on social media. Our political opponents are into promoting false propaganda against us with the use of money power and having a full-fledged team," Badal said in a video message posted on her Facebook page. "Working at the ground level has been the Akali Dal's strength, but we do not want to showcase it. But, in today's social media era, maybe it is the weakness of the Akali Dal," the two-time parliamentarian from Bathinda, Punjab, said. The SAD leader urged the youth to use to social media to highlight the "good work" done by her party and expose the alleged wrongdoing of political opponents. "I want to request ..
Chhattisgarh BJP government let voters down: ADR
The previous BJP government in Chhattisgarh, led by Raman Singh, performed "poorly and underwhelmingly" on almost all governance parameters, including employment, public transport, agricultural infrastructure, and law and order, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Kim may be invited to South Korea-Asean leaders' meet
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be invited to a special South Korea-Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders' (Asean) summit set to take place in Busan in November, the media reported on Monday.
Union minister Ashwini Choubey booked for violating election
Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey was on Monday booked for violating the Model Code of Conduct by forcibly entering a public park here a couple of days ago in a cavalcade comprising more than a dozen vehicles and allegedly misbehaving with a government official who tried to stop him. According to Superintendent of Police, Buxar, Upendra Nath Verma, an FIR was lodged at model police station of the district in connection with the incident that took place on Saturday night. Choubey who is the Minister of State for Health besides being the local BJP MP and candidate for the ongoing elections had muscled his way through to enter the Kila Maidan where he was to address a public meeting. Choubey was accompanied by district BJP president Rana Pratap Singh, who has been booked alongside the Union minister, and a large number of party supporters. The duo allegedly misbehaved with Sub Divisional Magistrate Krishna Kumar Upadhyay when he tried to stop them from entering Kila ...
Hardik Patel moves SC against Guj HC order rejecting his plea to stay conviction in riot case
Congress leader Hardik Patel Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Court order rejecting his plea to stay his conviction in the 2015 Vispur rioting case. His petition is likely to be mentioned Tuesday for urgent hearing and his lawyers would seek stay of the March 29 order of the high court which is coming in the way of his contesting the Lok Sabha election. Patel had started preparations to contest from Jamnagar on a Congress ticket after joining the party on March 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is April 4. Polling for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held on April 23.
CBSE to hire retired govt officers for conducting departmental inquiries
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to form a panel of retired senior government officers from where officials can be appointed as enquiry officers for conducting departmental inquiries, a senior board official said on Monday. The panel will be valid for a period of three years and the number of disciplinary cases assigned to an inquiry officer will be restricted to eight cases in a year with not more than 4 cases at a time, the official said. "CBSE proposes to prepare a panel of retired officers of the central government, state government and PSUs who retired from the post of Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary or equivalent rank, to be appointed as inquiry officer for the purpose of conducting departmental inquiries in CBSE," a senior board official said. The board is seeking applications from the retired officers who are willing to serve and pay honorarium as per prescribed rates. "A review of every empanelled inquiry officer
JKPCC president says no power can revoke Article 370, 35-A
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir Monday said no power can revoke Articles 370 and 35-A of the Constitution and the provisions were a bridge between the people of the state and the Union of India. Mir was reacting to the reported remarks of BJP president Amit Shah underscoring his party's commitment to abrogating theses special provisions. Asked about what the Narendra Modi government had done to meet the BJP's promise to repeal Articles 370 and 35-A, Shah had told a news channel on Sunday that his party remains firm on its commitment, but cited lack of majority in the Rajya Sabha as the reason behind not fulfilling it so far. Mir, the chief of the Congress's state unit, said, "This is just an election 'jumla' (jingoism) and people of the country are not giving them mandate again and so. It is their desperation." He said the constitutional provision was a strong bridge between Jammu and Kashmir and the Union of India. "No power in the world can ...
Patnaik rejects Modi's claim, says BJD will perform very well
Rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that BJP will repeat Tripura-like result in Odisha, ruling BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday said the regional party will perform "very well" in the coming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. "We(BJD) will do very well in the elections. I have said it before ... you will see," Patnaik said replying to a question on the prime minister's statement on Sunday that Odisha will have poll results like Tripura. Modi had said on Sunday that Odisha will be the second Tripura, where BJP had won a comfortable majority in the last assembly elections and formed the government dismantling the 25 years of Left Front rule. "Odisha will surprise everybody in the country this time ... It will be a second Tripura," Modi said, implying that BJP is poised to post an impressive show in Odisha against BJD which has been in power in the state for the past about two decades in the elections this ...
Shivraj Chouhan accuses Congress of deceiving people of MP over farm loan waiver
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday accused the Congress government in the state of deceiving people over farm loan waiver, a promise made by the Congress during the Assembly polls held last year.Addressing a press conference here, Chouhan said, "Rahul Gandhi had promised to waive loans of farmers of Madhya Pradesh within 10 days of the formation of the Congress government. It has been more than 3 months but farmers' loans have not been fully waived off."While campaigning in Madhya Pradesh in the run-up to the polls held on November 28 last year, Rahul had promised to waive loans up to Rs 2 lakh of all the farmers if his party came into power in the state."The Congress has promised to waive loans worth Rs 48,000 crores. A total of Rs 5,000 crores were sanctioned in the budget, of which only 1,300 crores have been released to banks. This is how Congress is fulfilling its promise," Chouhan said.Singh said farmers whose loans have been waived are ...
Cong should learn governance from BJP: Rajnath
The Congress should learn from the BJP how a government should be run, Union minster Rajnath Singh said Monday while asserting that India was among the fastest growing economies in the world and there was not a single charge of corruption against any minister in the Narendra Modi dispensation. Canvassing for BJP MP Ajay Tamta, who has been renominated in Almora (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency, Singh accused the Congress of always doing politics over the issue of development. "India, which ranked 11th in the list of world economies in 2013, has jumped to the sixth position and will stand 5th in the list over the next six months. If the pace of development continues, India will be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028," Singh said at a poll rally here. "How a government is run is something the Congress should learn from the BJP. There has not been a single charge of corruption against any minister in the Modi cabinet in the last five years," he said. Referring to Congress ...
Bengal is 'problematic', so 7-phase poll: EC
Special police observer for West Bengal Vivek Dube on Monday said it is not possible to declare all polling booths as 'sensitive' but the seven phase election was decided as the state is 'problematic'.
Baghel sends mirror to Modi to look into his "real face"
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has sent a mirror to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that he look into it to identify his "real face". After sending the parcel of a wall mirror to the prime minister, Baghel, in a twitter post, said the country's people will show the mirror to Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "I am sending you this mirror as a gift. You keep this mirror at such a place in your residence on Lok Kalyan Marg from where you pass most of the time so that you can try to identify your real face by looking into this mirror again and again," the Congress leader said in his tweet in Hindi. "You may not use this mirror and throw it in a dustbin of PM's residence. But you cannot escape from looking into the mirror. The country's 125 crore population is going to show you the mirror in this election...Are you ready Modiji?" Baghel said in another tweet using hashtag #ModiVsModi. Baghel also wrote a letter to Modi and posted it on his Facebook ..