Page 1113 - Politics

Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad will strengthen North-South Unity, says Congress

Congress on Sunday announced that party president Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala, in addition to Amethi in Kerala, to further strengthen the unity of North and South."For the past so many weeks there have been continuous requests and demands from the Congress workers and our partners, they feel that Rahul Gandhi should contest from one seat from South India. The requests and demands were mainly raised by Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu," said Antony.Congress leaders deliberated on the issue. Antony said, "All of us requested Rahul that ignoring the unanimous request from Southern states is not correct. Hence, Rahul must accept the demand. Finally, he has given the consent to contest from Wayanad."Highlighting the reasons behind the selection of Wayanad parliamentary constituency, Antony said, "While selecting Wayanad, there were many considerations including the fact that Wayanad connects three states of South India namely Kerala, ...

Due procedure not followed in candidate selection: Cong leader

The Maharashtra Congress has not followed the due procedure for selection of candidates for the next month's Lok Sabha polls, a senior party leader claimed. As per the procedure, aspirants apply to the state party unit and the shortlisted names are forwarded to the central leadership after being interviewed, he said. "But, this proper process was not followed in the selection of candidates this time," the leader said on condition of anonymity. He also said that around 40 per cent candidates given tickets this time are those who switched over to the Congress from other parties in the last one year. Suresh Dhanorkar, who is the Congress candidate from Chandrapur, was a Shiv Sena MLA till recently while Nana Patole, who has been fielded from Nagpur, joined the opposition party last year. Also, Subhash Zambad, the candidate from Aurangabad, was earlier with the NCP, while Kishore Gajbhiye, the nominee from Ramtek, switched over from the BSP, he pointed out. Notably, a team of

Ex IPS officer, central minister among key contestants in Vizag (Constituency Profile)

A former central minister, a former IPS officer who served as joint director of CBI, a film producer and a businessman will be fighting it out in the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency.

'Alcohol ban in Mizoram to save future generations'

Come Monday and alcohol will not be available in Mizoram. State Excise and Narcotics Minister K. Beichhua said the MNF government had taken the step to save future generations from the menace of alcohol and drugs, and establish a clean Mizo society.

Leaders of previous govt indulged in corruption; kept personal interest above national interest: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the previous Congress-led UPA government, saying its leaders indulged in corruption and kept personal interests above national interests. He also alleged that the previous government "lacked" political will to test fire the anti-satellite missile despite the country having the capability to build it. The prime minister also took on the entire opposition, saying they were chosen for the task by the people, but they failed to live up to their responsibility. He alleged that the opposition raked up all the wrong issues like national security and seeking proof of Balakot air strike thus questioning the armed forces. He only referred to "proof" but did not mention air strike or Balakot. "Why seek proof ... why talk in favour of Pakistan," he quipped. Modi also said that his government has the political will to withstand pressure and take immediate decisions in national interests. "Delaying decisions of national interests amounts to criminal ...

Congress to augment social media battle, disseminate manifesto to target groups

The Congress is gearing up to further augment its digital battle for the Lok Sabha elections in the coming days and has plans to disseminate customised content of its manifesto to various target groups.

BJP conspired to field Bhim Army's Chandrashekhar from Varanasi to divide Dalit votes: Mayawati

Accusing the BJP of indulging in "despicable politics", Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, Sunday alleged that the ruling party had conspired to field Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat to divide the Dalit votes. Azad had announced earlier this month that he will contest the general elections from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency. "With the ill-intention of dividing Dalit votes & taking advantage, the BJP has conspired to field Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar from Varanasi LS seat. This organisation was formed under BJP conspiracy & with its anti-Dalit mindset, it is now indulging in despicable politics," Mayawati said in a tweet. "The BJP tried hard to help Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar join the BSP as its mole but failed in its conspiracy. It is very imperative in the national interest to dislodge autocratic, despotic anti-Dalit, OBC & minorities BJP from power. Pls ensure no vote goes waste. My Appeal," she ...

Kanhaiya's candidature from Begusarai became 'deal-breaker' between CPI and RJD for Bihar alliance

Candidature of former JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar from Begusarai constituency in Bihar was the "deal-breaker" between CPI and RJD as the Lalu Prasad-led party doubted Kumar's winnability quotient in view of several controversies surrounding him. According to Rajya Sabha MP and RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha, the CPI-RJD alliance could not be forged also because his party was not willing to compromise on its candidate Tanveer Hassan, considering his popularity and the work done by him in Begusarai. "RJD has been a very strong force. Even in the so-called Modi wave in 2014 elections, our candidate got almost four lakh votes and since then he has never left Begusarai. It was impossible for us to set aside Tanveer Hassan's candidature. We have a strong cadre and that wanted Tanveer Hassan and there is nothing we could have done. It is all about our cadre, our people, therefore, another candidature than his became a deal-breaker," he told PTI. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Hasan had finished

BJP, Congress to square off in nearly a third of Lok Sabha seats

As the battle lines become clear for the Lok Sabha elections with the declaration of candidates, BJP and Congress are headed for direct contests in nearly a third of the seats and their performance in these constituencies will significantly determine the final outcome of the elections.

Five rockets from Gaza hit Israel

Suspected Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip on Sunday fired at least five rockets at Israel, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said.

Modi govt took credit for valour of armed forces; failed to ensure their safety: TDP

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Sunday alleged the Narendra Modi government was quick to take credit for action of the armed forces against terrorists but failed to gave them bullet proof vehicles which could have prevented the attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. TDP national spokesperson Dinkar Lanka told PTI that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated bullet proof buses for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in September 2017, but the paramilitary force has not received them yet. The attack on a CRPF bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama happened due to negligence on the part of the government. Sitharaman inaugurated bullet proof buses for CRPF on September 7, 2017. There are 200 such vehicles in the inventory of the Defence Ministry, but the forces haven't got them yet. Where are those buses? he asked. The Narendra Modi government was quick to take credit for the valour of the armed forces, but has failed to ensure their safety, he ...

N. Korea calls Madrid embassy raid 'terror attack'

North Korea has described a break-in at its embassy in Spain in February as a "grave terrorist attack".

Delhiites would vote on basis of development issues, says AAP candidate Raghav Chadha

The upcoming Lok Sabha polls are "waveless" and the people of Delhi would vote on the basis of local factors affecting their lives, AAP Lok Sabha candidate Raghav Chadha said. Chadha is one of the seven Lok Sabha candidates fielded by the AAP for the polls. He is being fielded by the party from South Delhi. In an interview to PTI, the 30-year-old chartered accountant said politics of caste and religion have taken a "back seat" in the upcoming polls and the people of Delhi would vote on the basis of development issues. "I feel caste would not play a role in the upcoming elections. The more any political party tries to divide them (people of Delhi) the more they will lose. Dominating factor would be the promises made by BJP and Congress," he said. "It is a waveless election where people would vote on the basis of local factors affecting their lives," he said. On the ongoing uncertainty over alliance with Congress in Delhi, Chadha said it looks the Congress is not "serious" about ...

CPI-M hopes to stop Premachandran at Kollam (Constituency Profile)

For the ruling CPI-M in Kerala, one seat it is desperate to win back is Kollam for more reasons than one. For that, the party will have to get the better of sitting member N.K. Premachandran, which is no easy task.

Congress allots Sangli LS seat in Maharashtra to ally SSS

The opposition Congress in Maharashtra has agreed to allot the Sangli Lok Sabha seat to its ally Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS). Congress leader SatejPatil told PTI on Sunday that Vishal Patil, younger brother of former party MP PratikPatil, will be fielded as the SSS candidate from Sangli. Pratik Patil and Vishal Patil aregrandsons of former Maharashtra chief minister late Vasantdada Patil. The Congress and NCP earlier decidedto give one seat each from their respective quotas to SSS, led by MP Raju Shetti. Accordingly, Hathkanangale was given from the NCP's quota and Sangli from the Congress' quota. Shetti will contest the next month's Lok Sabha election from Hathkanangale. Pratik Patil, a former Union minister, resigned from the Congress last week in protest against the Sangli seat being given to the SSS, a party source said. He was being pressurised by a section of the BJP to contest as an Independent against sitting BJP MP Sanjay Kaka Patil, the source ...

Cong will give special category status to AP if voted to

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Sunday promised to provide special category status to Andhra Pradesh, if the party was voted to power in coming Lok Sabha elections, and expressed surprise that parties in the state failed to 'aggressively' push the issue. Assuring that his party would also launch a 'surgical strike' on poverty, the Congress chief said Nyay, his promise of a minimum income scheme, was a "non-violent weapon" that will be used to uplift the poorest. Addressing his first election rally here in the state, which goes to simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi said while the previous Congress-led UPA had created poverty eradication schemes, Prime Minister "Narendra Modi dismantled everything." "He destroyed the pillars of MGNREGA and Food Security Act," the Congress chief said in his over 30 minute speech. Terming his proposed minimum income scheme 'Nyay' as historic, he said it was the party's "non-violent weapon" against poverty. Gandhi, whose party .

Jolt to Telangana Congress as senior leader quits

In yet another blow to the Congress in Telangana, its senior leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy on Sunday resigned from the party.

Mayawati accuses BJP of playing anti-Dalit politics

A day after the Bhim Army Chief Chandrasekhar Azad held a road show in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, BSP Chief Mayawati on Sunday accused the BJP of supporting the Dalit leader for splitting the caste vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Cong now as 'rigid' as JP's Janata Party in 1977: Yechury on failed alliance talks in Bengal

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has blamed what he termed the "rigidity" of the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress for the breakdown in the alliance talks between the two parties in West Bengal, claiming his party would be at an advantage as in 1977 when Jayaprakash Narayan's Janata Party had spurned its tie-up offer in the fight against Indira Gandhi. In an interview to PTI, Yechury said the breakdown of talks with the Janata Party in 1977 in Bengal had benefitted the CPI(M), which emerged as the only anti-Congress force in the state. He hoped this time too the party would be at an advantage, as the only front fighting the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. "In Bengal, we said that there will be no mutual contest in the sitting seats. The Congress was unfortunately rigid...we have been sincere in our no-contest offer, it is the Congress which reneged. So the perception which has gone to the people of the state is that the only consistent force which can take on the TMC and the BJP in ...

No search committee formed to select Information Commissioners in MP: Govt

There was no search committee formed to shortlist candidates to select Information Commissioners, the Madhya Pradesh government has said in a reply to an RTI query. The assertion, RTI activists say, is contrary to a recent judgement of Supreme Court that mandated formation of a search committee by state governments for shortlisting aspirants for the post of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners in State Information Commissions. The apex court had further said it would be appropriate for the search committee to make the criteria for shortlisting the candidates pubic so that it is ensured that shortlisting is done on the basis of objective and rational criteria. Anti-corruption activist Ajay Dubey had filed an RTI application with the state government and sought details of search committee formed to select Information Commissioners in the state Information Commission. The committee has not been formed by the department, the general administration department of the