Page 1137 - Politics
Govt taken measures to set up 'chowkidar' in space: Modi in Odisha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government had taken measures to set up a 'chowkidar' in space and asked people to vote for a government that can take concrete decisions and not just raise slogans. Launching his campaign in eastern India with a rally in Jeypore area of Odisha's Koraput district, Modi said the NDA government wouldn't have been able to do any development work in the country without the support of the people. He sought blessings from his supporters for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and asserted that the NDA government has left no stone unturned to bring about development in the state. "The NDA government has been working hard to develop road and rail infrastructure in the state. There is no dearth of funds when it comes to development work in the country. "In the last five years, the government has been able to build homes for eight lakh families, light up 3,000 houses and provide gas connections to 40 lakh homes," Modi stated. Referring to Mission Shakti, the
After Bhopal, Cong mulling fielding heavyweights in other BJP bastions in MP
After announcing candidature of senior leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal, which the Congress has not won since 1989, the party is mulling fielding prominent leaders from other seats like Vidisha and Indore, where it has not tasted success for last 15 years or more. Bhopal is considered a tough seat for the Congress along with Indore, Vidisha, Bhind and Damoh as the BJP has not lost in these constituencies since 1989 but the Congress is hoping to build on the recent victory in Assembly polls to dislodge the saffron party here. Apart from these five, there are nine other seats out of the total 29 Lok Sabha constituencies where the Congress has not won during the 15-year BJP rule in the state. Chief Minister Kamal Nath has represented Chhindwara ten times including six times in a row while senior party leader and Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West) Jyotiradiya Scindia has been winning from Guna since 2002. These were the only two seats out of 29 won by the Congress in ...
HC refuses to stall EC order transferring 2 IPS officers
The Andhra Pradesh High Court Friday refused to stall the Election Commission of India's order, transferring two IPS officers, including the Director General of Intelligence and a non-cadre officer in the state government, and keeping them away from election duties. The Chandrababu Naidu government was keen on retaining the controversial DG, Intelligence, A B Venkateswara Rao, whom the opposition YSR Congress has been accusing of "working like a TDP cadre". A division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Praveen Kumar and Justice Satyanarayana Murthy, ruled that there was 'no case for interim relief' in the matter and said the state government should comply with the EC order. It rejected the government's contentions on the issue, particularly that the DG had nothing to do with the conduct of elections and that the EC had no jurisdiction over him. The EC had late on Tuesday night issued an order to Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha, directing that the DG, Intelligence, and ...
Thai candidates lodge complaints over 'election irregularities'
Several anti-military candidates in Thailand lodged fresh complaints with the Election Commission Friday over bungled tallies and alleged vote-buying following a controversial vote that has left politics in the junta-ruled kingdom in limbo. A military-backed party and its main rival led by an exiled billionaire have both claimed the right to lead the government in the wake of weekend polls, with official final tallies delayed for weeks. Candidates from at least two parties on Friday issued fresh complaints with the commission over alleged irregularities they claim could skew final vote counts. A member of the anti-junta Future Forward party accused the pro-military Phalang Pracharat of currying favour among local officials by gifting them cash and gifts. "It's against the law, it can be seen as vote-buying," said Future Forward spokeswoman Pannika Wanich. Another Future Forward candidate reported voter intimidation inside a Bangkok polling station. "There was a military officer ...
Tej Pratap likely to contest against father-in-law
Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad, is likely to contest the Lok Sabha polls against the father of his estranged wife and RJD candidate Chandrika Rai from the Saran seat.
BJP uses Samjhauta blast verdict to slam Congress
The BJP on Friday used the Samjhauta train blast case verdict to target the Congress-led UPA government, saying the "Hindu terror" theory was established to further its political gains but the real culprits got away. Addressing a press conference here, Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the UPA government and the Congress will have to be held accountable for the case falling flat in court. "To establish their theory of Hindu terror, a wrong set of people were framed; innocent people lost their lives (in the blast) and the real culprits were not caught," he said. Jaitley said in a bid to establish their theory, the Congress and the then UPA regime "defamed" the entire Hindu community for which people will "never forgive them". All the four accused, Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Lokesh Sharma, Kamal Chauhan and Rajinder Chaudhary were acquitted by the special NIA court in Panchkula earlier this month. The blast in Samjhauta Express took place near ...
Modi slams opposition for seeking proof on terror strike
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the opposition for seeking proof about India's air strike on terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan.
Present method of counting VVPAT slips most suitable: EC to Supreme Court
The Election Commission Friday told the Supreme Court that the present method of counting the VVPAT slips is the most suitable. The poll panel justified the existing system of random counting of the VVPAT slips from one polling booth per assembly segment. The Election Commission, which was asked on March 25 by the apex court to give its view on increasing the number of random sample surveys from one booth per assembly segment, said in future elections, it may consider any suggestions which result in further improving the holding of polls in free and fair manner. "It is submitted that with the imminent elections issues raised in the instant petitions are matters that have already been considered, studied and determined by the Election Commission of India and have since culminated in adopting the course of conduct of the imminent election in the present manner," the EC said in its affidavit. It said the writ petition filed by 21 opposition leaders, led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N
Bihar's Grand Alliance announces seat allocation
The opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar on Friday announced the formal allocation of 31 of the total 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Trump to meet South Korean president on April 11 at White House
US President Donald Trump will meet his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in at the White House on April 11 to discuss their efforts to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula and bilateral issues. The White House said in a statement on Thursday that Moon and first lady Kim Jung-sook will visit the White House on April 11. Trump and Moon will discuss the latest developments regarding North Korea as well as bilateral matters, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. "The alliance between the US and the Republic of Korea remains the linchpin of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. This visit will strengthen this alliance and the friendship between the two countries," she said. Moon was instrumental in brokering talks between Washington and the nuclear-armed and sanctions-hit North Korea. The two presidents will meet a little more than a month after Trump held his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam. However, the US-North Korea .
No contest in 2019, NDA will win over 300 seats says PM Modi
Confident over BJP's electoral prospects in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the NDA will form the government with over 300 seats."My political experience says that there will be a lot of increase as compared to the past. Previously people had some doubts over who Modi is but now they know what Modi has done for country's security for poor and on other issues. Now they know Modi's vision and work. In these elections, the BJP will win with a complete majority and with more mandate than 2014. This time people will strengthen us in even the areas where our representation was less previously," he said an exclusive interview to Republic Bharat news channel's Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami."In 2019 there is no contest," he added.Sharpening his attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Modi claimed that past governments were mired in corruption over defence deals."In our country, defence deals have been like an ATM for previous governments. All previous ...
LS Polls: Congress fields journalist Supriya Shrinate from Maharajganj
Journalist Supriya Shrinate will be contesting the ensuing Lok Sabha elections from Maharajganj parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress announced on Friday.The party had earlier announced the candidature of jailed politician Amarmani Tripathi's daughter Tanushree Tripathi on the seat in its 13th list of Lok Sabha candidates released on Thursday. However, Tanushree was earlier chosen by the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) from the same seat, thus paving way for Congress to choose Supriya."I will be taking an active plunge in politics, am grateful to @INCIndia @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi @JM_Scindia for trusting me with Maharajganj. It will be an honour to keep my late father's legacy alive. I look forward to making a meaningful contribution," the journalist tweeted earlier today.Shortly before she announced her entry into politics, Supriya announced that she would be stepping down from her post at an English news channel.Along with Shrinate, the list has ..
Manikrao Gavit's son to contest Nandurbar Lok Sabha seat as Independent
Bharat Gavit, son of octogenarian tribal Congress leader Manikrao Gavit, on Friday announced that he will contest the Nandurbar Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate in upcoming Lok Sabha elections.Bharat made the announcement after Congress declared KC Padavi as its candidate from the constituency."The Lok Sabha elections are very important for us. If we don't contest and win, our family's role in politics will be over. So I will have to contest, no matter what happens. It is disappointing that Congress did not give us a ticket," Bharat told ANI.Responding to a question whether Manikrao will resign from the Congress for failing to secure his nomination, Bharat said: "His blessings are with me. He is supporting my decision to go alone in Lok Sabha this time. Nothing will change even if he quits the party as he is already 84 years old. I feel his resignation from the Congress is not needed and I don't think he will resign".Manikrao was representing the Nandurbar Lok Sabha .
Swearing, boasting, joking, Trump gets back to being Trump at rally
He swore on primetime television. He boasted. He told jokes. He made promises. And the crowd loved him. President Donald Trump was back. In his first rally since the end of special prosecutor Robert Mueller's two-year Russia collusion probe, Trump took off the gloves to attack opponents, while pushing an almost mythical picture of his own achievements in office. The packed arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where many wore red Trump campaign baseball caps, responded with chants of "Trump, Trump," and "four more years!" Trump beamed and gave them more. Over about an hour and a half, he questioned whether opposition Democrats would continue with "ridiculous bullshit." He claimed that his surprise 2016 election win was possibly the most extraordinary event in human experience: "They've never seen anything like it and nobody has in this country's history and in most countries' histories." He cited God. He warned against socialists. He promised "to make America wealthy again." He waved a ...
'Mahagathbandhan' in Bihar allocates seats for alliance partners for LS poll phases 3 to 7
The 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) in Bihar on Friday announced the seats to be contested by each of the alliance partners -- the RJD, Congress, RLSP, HAM and VIP -- in phases three to seven of the general elections. Out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, polling would be held in 31 constituencies in phases three to seven between April 23 and May 19. Announcing the seat-sharing arrangement at a press conference here, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also declared the name of his party's candidates and said that no nominee would be fielded by the alliance in Ara to help the CPI(ML) Liberation. He said the candidate for Sheohar seat "will be decided in two-three days". Senior leaders of the Congress were conspicuous by their absence at the press conference. Yadav also said his party would contest the Darbhanga seat, which has emerged as a bone of contention between the RJD and the Congress with the latter insisting on having the seat as it wanted to field sitting MP Kirti Azad, who had ...
Turmeric, sorghum farmers sow poll narrative in Nizamabad
Turmeric and sorghum farmers in large numbers have pitch-forked into the poll arena and are setting the political narrative in Nizamabad constituency of Telangana, giving a new twist to the re-election campaign of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos daughter K Kavitha. The constituency,where these crops are grown in a big way, hit the headlines after about 170 farmers filed nominations for the April 11 Lok Sabha elections in protest, alleging that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi failed to ensure Minimum Support Price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce and in getting the Turmeric Board established. TRS Rajya Sabha member D Srinivass son D Arvind is contesting from BJP, while AICC Secretary Madhu Yashki Goud is in the fray from Congress in Nizamabad. TRS won eight out of the nine Assembly segments in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in the 2018 Assembly polls. The sitting MP said despite her repeated representations to the Centre, the NDA Government ...
BJP on tenterhooks in Telangana to retain its lone seat
The BJP faces a tough challenge in retaining its lone seat in Telangana after a dismal performance in the recent assembly polls, but the saffron party has pinned its hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma and its leaders say they are confident of pulling off victory. The Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, where the BJP had 33.62 per cent vote share in 2014, has become a crucial battleground for all three main parties -- the BJP, the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Trying to ensure that each vote counts, the prime minister and the BJP president Amit Shah will both be holding rallies from Friday onwards to bolster the party's prospects in a state it was hoping will be its gateway to South India. Leaving nothing to chance, the BJP has dropped former Union minister and sitting MP Bandaru Dattatreya and replaced him with G Kishan Reddy -- former BJP state president and three time MLA -- in a bid to retain the treasured seat at all cost. Dattatreya has been ...
Trump, Moon to meet in April amid Pyongyang impasse
US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, will meet for a summit on April 11 here amid uncertainty over the future of nuclear negotiations with North Korea, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.
Delhi election body received complaints against AAP govt depts, MCDs over poll code violation
The Delhi poll body has received several complaints about the AAP government departments and BJP-ruled MCDs starting work on projects before the model code of conduct came into force, but seeking formal approvals later, an official said. The office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has shot off a letter to head of departments, saying the projects that actually started on the ground after obtaining all necessary permission, before the poll code came into force, can be continued. The model code of conduct (mcc) came into force on March 10 when the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, which will be held in seven phases starting April 11. According to the letter, the CEO office has received various complaints and references from the ECI, public representatives about formal approvals being given to those projects after the model code of conduct came into force, but their ground work started before the announcement of dates of Lok Sabha ...
Cong fields Urmila Matondkar from Mumbai North, Meira Kumar from Sasaram
The Congress on Friday nominated actress Urmila Matondkar and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar from Mumbai North and Bihar's Sasaram parliamentary constituencies respectively. The party renominated its sitting MP Ranjet Ranjan from Supaul in Bihar, as it released a list of another 12 candidates for the general elections. It also changed its candidate in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj by now fielding Supriya Shrinate in place of Tanushree Tripathi. With this list, the Congress has so far nominated 305 Lok Sabha candidates. "The Congress central election committee has approved the candidature of Urmila Matondkar as party candidate to contest the ensuing general elections from Mumbai North parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra," a party statement said. Matondkar had joined the Congress after meeting Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday and had later said that she was "here to stay". Meira Kumar have been contesting from her Sasaram parliamentary constituency for many years but had lost in the .