Page 1106 - Politics
BJP will surely put up a good show in south India: Muralidhar Rao
The BJP has established itself as the "third front" of south India and will put up a "good show" there in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, claimed BJP national general secretary Murlidhar Rao Sunday. In an interview to PTI-Bhasha, he said the BJP has succeeded in establishing itself in the southern states by introducing its political ideology and narratives, adapting them to the regional acceptability. "The political situation in south India is not like that of UP, Bihar and other northern states. They have different dialects, Theirs is a society which has developed and prospered politically, culturally and linguistically over thousands of years," Rao told PTI-Bhasa in an interview. He said there can be no single strategy to win the southern states and that is why the BJP has sought to reach them and increase its acceptability through different strategies. "The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in south India will emerge in a good position. It has already established itself in Karnataka
Ambedkar questions PM, Gadkari, RSS chief over Pulwama attack
Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar Sunday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on what he claimed were "lapses" that led to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Addressing a press conference here, he claimed an "extremely urgent" military document from Kashmir dated February 8, just a few days before the Pulwama attack, had asked forces to sanitise any area before their movement. "It stated that there is a possibility of attack on convoy and asked for scrutiny on the route of the convoy," he claimed. "We want to ask the government whether the cabinet discussed this issue after receiving this important document. Did the security and defence committee of the cabinet discuss this issue? Or whether this document was deliberately neglected by the government," he asked. "Similarly, there is system in place for the convoy to bear the impact of an attack. Was this system in place in ...
BJD announces 9 candidates for assembly polls
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Sunday announced names of nine candidates for the upcoming Odisha Assembly election, denying ticket to three sitting MLAs. Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik re-nominated sitting MLA and former state minister Pradip Maharathy from Pipili and Sameer Dash from Nimapara. Similarly, sitting MLAs Pramod Mallick and Surendra Sethi were also fielded from Niali and Kakatpur Assembly constituencies respectively which they represent at present. Party MLA from Balikuda-Ersama Pradshant Muduli's constituency has been changed this time and he has been fielded from Jagatsinghpur. He will lock horns with Chiranjiv Biswal of the Congress, who represents the seat now. Raghunandan Das, who has switched over to the ruling BJD quitting the BJP, has been made the ruling party candidate from Balikuda-Ersama. Sitting BJD MLAs from Anandpur, Dhamnagar and Nilagiri have been denied ticket this time. While Bhagirathi Sethi, who deserted the BJP despite
Rahul vows to defeat Modi, form coalition at Centre
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said his party would form a coalition government in the Centre with Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and other allies by defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 general elections.
Priyanka Gandhi may campaign for Congress in Bengal
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi may come to Bengal to campaign for the party candidates in the 2019 polls, party MP Pradip Bhattacharya said on Sunday.
Congress has accepted defeat in Himachal Pradesh: Jai Ram Thakur
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Sunday said the Congress was in shock after the BJP announced candidates for the four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh. Speaking at a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha rallies at Kafota village in Shillai assembly constituency and in Paonta Sahib, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said Congress leaders who were earlier seeking tickets were now shying away from the election contest. He attacked the Congress for "bad mouthing" and "abusing" Prime Minister Narender Modi. "The countrymen were watching how the Congress levelled false charges against the PM on a daily basis," he said, as the crowds raised slogans praising Modi. He claimed the Congress high command was reviewing its previous recommendations and candidates for the polls. Taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Thakur said if the Gandhi scion was planning to marry after becoming the prime minster, then he should revisit his plans as poll win was unlikely. The chief minister said Modi had given .
Why Wayanad is safest seat for Rahul Gandhi
The picturesque district, sitting high on the Western Ghats, is popularly known for its tourism potential on account of it being located at altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 meters. On Sunday, Wayanad also became the battleground for political ascendancy, becoming the second constituency after Amethi from where Congress President Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Chamling announces 9-point agenda to make Sikkim No 1
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Sunday announced a nine-point agenda including a Youth Assembly to make them partners in decision-making, a dedicated day in the Assembly to discuss people's issues and setting up of a Sikkim Dividend Fund for Universal Basic Income.
Irani takes dig at Priyanka Gandhi for not visiting makeshift
In an apparent dig at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Union Minister Smriti Irani Sunday said that from the time Narendra Modi became the "chowkidaar" of the country, those touring foreign countries have started remembering the mother Ganga. Also hitting out at Priyanka Gandhi for not visiting the makeshift Ram Lalla shrine during her recent visit to Ayodhya, she said there is fear among the Congress leadership that if they do "pranam" to god in the temple, their votes will go away from them. "Those people who gave affidavit in court....Congress government in an affidavit told the court that there is no existence of Lord Ram; today they are roaming around the streets as Ram Bhakts," Irani said. Addressing a BJP rally during her Lok Sabha polls campaign here, she said "Those who tour foreign countries, from the time Modi became the chowkidaar of the country have started remembering mother Ganga." "Recently the Congress leadership, as per their election strategy, ..
Congress speeds up process to select candidates for Delhi
Amid continuing suspense over it's alliance with the AAP, Congress's Delhi unit has advanced the process of candidate selection for the Lok Sabha polls. The process has been speeded up with chances of alliance with AAP fading. The screening committee of Delhi Congress met at president Sheila Dikshit's residence to shortlist names of party probables on Saturday night. Dikshit told PTI, decision of the party high-command on alliance was yet to come. "The decision is not delayed, it will come in a few days," she said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has to take a final decision on alliance with the AAP, as the leaders in Delhi unit of the party are divided over the issue with Dikshit and her three working presidents opposing it. A top source in the party said chances of alliance are "slim" considering its long term repercussions in Delhi. "The biggest question is how will Congress face the AAP in Assembly elections due in 2020 after the tie up. Also, the party does not gain much ...
With no candidate in fray, AAP's youth wing to campaign again
After the Lok Sabha nomination of its candidate was rejected, the Aam Aadmi Party's youth wing in Gautam Buddh Nagar Sunday decided to go out on a campaign appealing to voters not to vote for the BJP. AAP candidate Shweta Sharma's nomination papers were rejected by district election officials on March 27, the day of scrutiny, after she failed to find mandatory 10 proposers for her candidature, as required of a non-recognised national or regional party. Alleging that Sharma's nomination was rejected due to pressure by the BJP, the AAP's youth wing decided to reach out to the public and raise awareness on issues related to education, flat buyers, among others, party's Noida unit spokesperson Sanjeev Nigam said. "The party will go to public campaigning against the BJP over the nexus of private schools and the administration which is duping parents of crores of rupees. We will highlight the conspiracy of builders-local authorities-administration to rob 2.5 lakh flat buyers by again ...
Rocket fired toward Israel after Gaza crossings open
A rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Sunday, the Israeli army said, just hours after Israel reopened its two main crossings with the territory in a sign that cease-fire talks were progressing between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli army said that a projectile launched from the Gaza Strip did not cross into Israeli territory, but did set off air-raid sirens in the country's south. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and no immediate Israeli response. Egyptian mediators have been working in recent days to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The talks have been repeatedly interrupted by Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli military reprisals. The violence comes just over a week before Israeli national elections. Earlier Sunday, Palestinian militants launched rockets into Israel overnight and the military responded with tank fire. But Israeli and Hamas officials later confirmed that the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings were nonetheless ...
BJP announces names of 4 more LS candidates in Gujarat
The BJP Sunday announced names of four more Lok Sabha candidates for Gujarat. With this, the party has announced the names of 371 candidates so far. The seven phased general elections will be held in seven phases starting from April 11. Counting of votes will be held on May 23. The BJP had earlier nominated Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow. Party chief Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, where L K Advani is the sitting MP.
Babulal Marandi to contest from Koderma LS seat
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) president and former state chief minister Babulal Marandi will contest from Koderma Lok Sabha seat, the party announced Sunday. The JVM has got two seats - Koderma and Godda - as per the seat adjustment of the opposition grand alliance in the state. "While Babulal Marandi will contest from Koderma, JVM MLA Pradip Yadav will fight from Godda seat," JVM spokesman Saroj Singh said Sunday. Polling for Koderma and Godda will be held on May 6 and 19 respectively. The Opposition grand alliance in Jharkhand on March 14 announced their seat-sharing formula among the Congress, the JMM, the JVM and the RJD for the state's 14 Lok Sabha seats. According to the formula, the Congress will contest in seven seats, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in four and the JVM in two. The Palamau has been left for the the RJD but the party rejected the seat sharing adjustment after its demand for Chatra constituency as well was rejected by the alliance. "They ..
Pak appoints its envoy to India as new foreign secretary
Pakistan's High Commissioner to India and seasoned diplomat Sohail Mahmood will be the country's new foreign secretary, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced Sunday. Qureshi, while talking to reporters in Multan, said that the decision to appoint Mahmood as foreign secretary had been made following discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan. "Sohail Mahmood is being appointed as new foreign secretary," he said. Incumbent Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua will retire on April 16. It was so far not clear who will replace Mahmood in India. Qureshi said that he talked with Mahmood on the telephone on Saturday and congratulated him over his new appointment. "He is a seasoned diplomatEven now, after the Pulwama incident took place, he came to the headquarters for consultations and I benefited from his experience," Qureshi said, describing the deadly terror attack on CRPF soldiers as "incident". Qureshi expressed confidence that Mahmood would fulfil his responsibilities as foreign ..
Raj CM ignoring state, busy preparing political ground for son: Gajendra Shekhawat
Former Rajasthan minister and BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for Jodhpur Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Sunday accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of ignoring the state and instead preparing the ground for his son's political entry. A day ahead of the chief minister's son Vaibhav Gehlot's landing in Jodhpur to kick start his campaigning for the Lok Sabha election, Shekhawat said there was no concrete achievement of the Congress government in the 100 days after coming to power. "Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is just focusing on preparing the political ground for the launch of his son, instead of working for the state," Shekhawat said to media persons here. Vaibhav has been pitted against Shekhawat for the Jodhpur LS seat as the Congress candidate. Shekhawat alleged swine flu deaths, farmer crisis, communal tension, power cuts, water woes, financial management and the "transfer industry" defines the Congress. He said the Congress had lost the right to remain in power because of its "lies and ...
Cong launches Lok Sabha campaign in Pune without candidate
The city Congress Sunday launched its election campaign sans the candidate. While the BJP has announced the candidature of Maharashtra minister and local MLA Girish Bapat for the Pune Lok Sabha seat, the Congress is yet to announce its nominee. City Congress leaders were hopeful that the announcement will be made by Sunday morning, but there was no word from the high command, a party source said. The party workers launched the campaign by taking out a procession from Kasba Peth, Bapat's Assembly constituency. City Congress chief Ramesh Bagwe and four ticket aspirants -- former state legislator Mohan Joshi, Arvind Shinde, Abhay Chhajed and Pravin Gaikwad (who joined the party Saturday in Mumbai) -- took part in the event. While speculation is rife that Gaikwad will get the ticket, some Congress leaders said either Shinde or Joshi could be the high command's pick. "Party workers are eagerly waiting for announcement of candidateand with every passing day they are becoming ..
Congress fields Ghulam Ahmad Mir from Anantnag, K Muraleedharan from Kerala's Vadakara
The Congress on Sunday announced the name of three more candidates for Lok Sabha polls, taking the total number of seats on which it has declared its candidates to 316. In a major announcement, the Congress in the morning announced that party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Later, it released a list of two candidates -- Ghulam Ahmad Mir from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir and K Muraleedharan from Vadakara in Kerala -- for the Lok Sabha polls. The decision to field Gandhi from Wayanad is seen as an attempt by the Congress to consolidate its electoral base in south India, especially Kerala which has 20 Lok Sabha seats. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats and Karnataka has 28.
Secular Progressive Alliance will romp home in Lok Sabha polls
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Sunday asserted that the "Secular Progressive Alliance" comprising Congress, DMK, and the left parties among others would romp home in all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his door-to-door campaign to distribute pamphlets wooing voters in Nellithope Assembly constituency here, Narayanasamy said, "people have rejected Narendra Modi as he had failed to deliver on his promises held out during the run up to 2014 Lok Sabha polls." Claiming that demonetisation, GST and failure to provide generate jobs would bring in a "miserable failure" for the BJP and AIADMK inclusive NDA in the coming elections, he said, "People have rejected Modi on the basis of his failure to measure up to the expectations of the people." The senior Congress leader also alleged that the country had witnessed no development during the last five years when the NDA had been in power at the Centre. Exuding confidence ...
Erdogan support tested in Turkish local elections; 2 killed
Millions of Turks voted in municipal elections Sunday that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan depicted as a fight for Turkey's survival, and which are a crucial test of the strongman's own support amid a sharp economic downturn. The voting, which ended in the evening, was marred by scattered election violence that killed at least two people and injured dozens of others across Turkey. Results were expected late Sunday. Economic prosperity provided Erdogan and his party with previous election victories. But the party could lose key posts in the mayoral elections taking place in 30 large cities, 51 provincial capitals and hundreds of districts as Turkey copes with a weakened currency, a double-digit inflation rate and soaring food prices. The high stakes of the local contests were brought into stark display with the deaths of two members of the Islamic-oriented Felicity Party, a small rival of the president's Justice and Development Party. Felicity's leader, Temel Karamollaoglu, alleged a ...