Page 1156 - Politics
EC sets up committee to probe whether PM's address to nation violated poll code
The Election Commission Wednesday set up a committee under a deputy election commissioner to examine the matter related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation "in the light of the Model Code of Conduct" which is in force for Lok Sabha polls. An Election Commission spokesperson said the poll panel has directed a committee of officers to "examine the matter immediately in the light of the model code of conduct". However, sources in the poll panel said issues related to national security and disaster management do not fall under the ambit of the model code which came into force on March 10 when the ok Sabha election schedule was announced. The seven-phased polls will begin on April 11 and end on May 19. The sources said the decision was taken after the opposition claimed that the PM's address violated the model code as he highlighted an "achievement" of the government and the issue was not necessarily related to national security. "The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
Rs 11.48 crore remains unspent with Delhi MPs
A total of Rs 11.48 crore remained unspent with the Delhi MPs, as the 16th Lok Sabha came close to an end, with highest amount with Manoj Tiwari, MP from North East Delhi, according to an official data from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD).
Missing NPP candidate in Nagaland safe: Police
The police have said "missing" National People's Party (NPP) leader Tinujungshi Longkumer is "safe" and "sound".
Mission Shakti: Opposition congratulates scientists, attacks PM for taking credit
Opposition leaders on Wednesday congratulated scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for Mission Shakti but also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit of the accomplishment.Congress president congratulated the scientists but took a satiric potshot at the PM. "Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day" he posted on his official twitter handle.In a veiled attack at Rahul Gandhi Amit Shah tweeted saying, "The Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile was successfully tested in space but it seems a few people on Earth have also got hurt. After spending a lifetime of humiliating our soldiers, Leaders of the Opposition have expanded their influence to ridiculing our scientists. Well done!"Echoing similar sentiments as Patel, Shashi Tharoor said, "Proud of our scientists who have continued the fine tradition of excellence in rocket &
BJP busy fanning Hindu-Muslim tension: Digvijaya
Calling the Pulwama attack an intelligence failure, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said, here on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no explanation for it and his party was instead busy inciting Hindu-Muslim tensions.
Ambedkar to contest Lok Sabha polls from Akola, Solapur seats
Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar Wednesday said he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from both Akola and Solapur constituencies as the candidate of his political front the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). He said the BVA's main fight is against the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The BVA, a social coalition of Dalits and Muslims, has been formed by Ambedkar in alliance with the All India Majlis- e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. "I am contesting from both the seats. There is no question of withdrawing from any of them. Since Akola is my hometown, there is no need to spend much time there. "But Solapur is a new seat which needs to be given more time. Solapur is my political choice to contest the Lok Sabha election," Ambedkar told reporters here. "Big leaders of Congress-NCP have already withdrawn from the elections. Muslims have started supporting the BVA as they feel the Congress-NCP combine has become weak," said Ambedkar, who won from Akola
Inheritor of dynasty sees drama in success of scientists, Shah's dig at Rahul
BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday hit back at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the the success of 'Mission Shakti', saying that for "the inheritor of the dynasty" everything -- be it success of scientists or sacrifice of soldiers -- is "drama". Gandhi, in a tweet, congratulated the DRDO scientists for the success of the mission while at the same time took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishing him a "very happy World Theatre Day'. Tagging Gandhi's tweet, Shah tweeted, "Thus speaks the inheritor of the dynasty that thinks - All the nation's a stage! For them: Sacrifices of soldiers drama, Success of scientists drama, Masquerading as leaders, all that 'The Dynasty' has done is to plunder, weaken and ruin the nation." Taking on opposition, Shah in a series of tweets said, "The Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile was successfully tested in space but it seems a few people on Earth have also got hurt. After spending a lifetime of humiliating our soldiers, Leaders of the ...
EC forms panel to examine if PM violated model code
The Election Commission of India on Wednesday formed a committee to examine if Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated the model code of conduct (MCC) when earlier in the day he announced the successful test of anti-satellite missile (A-Sat) in his address to the nation.
100 Trinamool MLAs to join BJP soon: Arjun Singh
Arjun Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency, who recently switched to the saffron outfit from the Trinamool Congress, claimed on Wednesday that 100 legislators from his former party would join the BJP "very soon".
Rahul takes injured scribe to AIIMS
Exhibiting his humane side, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday took an injured journalist to AIIMS after he had a fall from his two-wheeler. The Congress chief, who was on his way to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium to address an OBC convention, saw local journalist Rajinder Vyas lying injured on the roadside near the Humayun Road. Gandhi stopped his convoy and got the injured scribe into his vehicle and took him to AIIMS for treatment, eyewitnesses said. Vyas had fallen off after his scooter skidded near a petrol pump on Humayun road, they said. After dropping the injured journalist at AIIMS, Rahul then proceeded to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Satdium and addressed the gathering. A video of the incident also went viral on social media.
Victory of party nominee in MLC polls brings cheer to
Beleagured following desertion of as many as nine MLAs and several other key leaders, Congress in Telangana had reason to cheer Wednesday as senior leader T Jeevan Reddy was elected to the Legislative Council from a Graduates constituency. Reddy was victorious in the election held to the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Medak-Adilabad Graduates constituency. His victory means that Congress will have representation in the Council as the term of its two sitting MLCs is coming to an end. In a setback to ruling TRS, three candidates backed by the party lost in the polls held for three constituencies in the Council (including the constituency where Jeevan Reddy won). AICC in-charge of party affairs RC Khuntia congratulated Jeevan Reddy on his victory. Alleging that TRS had won the Assembly polls in December last by 'managing EVMs', he said the ruling party suffered a setback when ballot papers were used in the Council polls, A Congress release quoted him as saying. The nine Congress MLAs
Trinamool promises to probe demonetisation, review GST
The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday released its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, promising to review GST and probe the demonetisation exercise of 2016 by a Supreme Court judge, if it came to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha polls.
BJP will take legal action against Cong for conspiracy-driven poll campaign
The BJP Wednesday said it will take legal action against the Congress for running a conspiracy-driven election campaign gainst it. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharman made the remarks a day after the Congress released a video purportedly showing a "BJP leader" exchanging old notes after demonetisation on a commission of 40 per cent. "The BJP is taking legal advice... Institutions and individuals who are part of this conspiracy to defame the BJP, we will take them to court. We will take legal action against them. We are not going to let this go," she said. Raising doubts over the credibility of TNN World, the website that released the video, she said the portal had streamed Kapil Sibal's address on electronic voting machines in London in January. The website was registered in December 2018 and has a year's license. "Maybe the Congress has plans to close it after the elections. The party has been running a conspiracy-driven election campaign. I am very grateful to the media for not ...
Several states to witness multi-cornered contests
Several states will witness multi-cornered contests in the coming Lok Sabha elections with the BJP expected to gain in some seats due to lack of opposition unity and fragmentation of votes against it. Incumbent parties could also gain on some seats due to fragmentation of votes.
Elections important to save the country: Priyanka
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said here on Wednesday that she has asked the party workers to campaign hard as the coming Lok Sabha elections were of national importance to "save" the country.
Trump on Venezuela: 'Russia has to get out'
US President Donald Trump demanded Wednesday that Russia withdraw from Venezuela after it deployed troops and equipment in the crisis-torn country. "Russia has to get out," Trump said as he welcomed to the White House Fabiana Rosales, the wife of opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's interim president.
BJD fields cinestar Anubhav against Jay Panda, drops 6 MPs
The BJD Wednesday fielded Odia film star and its Rajya Sabha MP Anubhav Mohanty against BJP national vice-president and spokesperson and four-time MP Baijayant Panda in Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat, party sources said. Panda had quit BJD last year following differences of opinion with Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik and had joined the saffron party earlier this month. Mohanty is among the nine nominees announced by the BJD, which denied rickets to six of its sitting MPs, the sources said. The sitting BJD MPs who have been denied tickets are Prasanna Patsani (Bhubaneswar), Nagendra Pradhan (Sambalpur), Kulamani Samal (Jagatsinghpur), Ramchandra Hansda (Mayurbhanj), Arjun Sethi (Bhadrak) and Rita Tarai (Jajpur). The MPs who have been renominated were Pinaki Mishra (Puri) and Rabinda Kumar Jena (Balasore), they said. The BJD has fielded retired IPS officer and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik in place of Patsani, a five-time MP. The top cop will face .
CPM accuses PM Modi of violating Model Code of Conduct
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has violated the Model Code of Conduct by addressing the nation after the successful testing of A-SAT missile on Wednesday, alleges CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury.In a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Yechury said: "This announcement comes in the midst of the ongoing election campaign where the Prime Minister himself is a candidate. This is clearly a violation of the Model Code of Conduct."Yechury further sought to know whether the ECI was informed of such an address to the nation and if the EC considered and permitted such an address to the nation by Prime Minister Modi."I am sure the entire country would like to know the special reasons why the EC permitted the achievements of the Indian scientists to be politically coloured during the course of General Elections," Yechury stated in the letter.Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday morning successfully ...
CPI (M) releases 3rd list of candidates for LS polls
The Communist Party of India [Marxist] on Wednesday released its third list of contestants for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.The party has fielded candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, two in West Bengal and a seat in Bihar.In Rajasthan, Shopat Ram and Amra Ram will be fighting on Bikaner and Sikar Lok Sabha seats. The party has not announced its candidate for Churu parliamentary seat.The party's Central Committee has cleared the names of Zulfikar Ali and Biswanath Ghosh as its candidates from Jangipur and Maldah North seat in West Bengal.On Ujjarpur parliamentary seat in Bihar, the party has chosen Ajay Kumar.CPI (M) had already released its candidates for 65 seats.
Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman to attend Parrikar's condolence meet on March 28
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the state government would organise condolence meeting for former chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday (March 28).Present in the meeting will be Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Goa Governor Mridula Sinha among others.The condolence meeting will be held at Kala Academy.Parrikar, a senior BJP leader, died on March 17 evening after a prolonged battle against cancer at the age of 63. Pramod Sawant took over as the state's Chief Minister after Parrikar's demise.