Page 1189 - Politics
PM Modi to campaign in Bihar from next week
The BJP-led NDA's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections is set to gain momentum in Bihar, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies next week in Jamui and Gaya parliamentary constituencies. While Modi's visit is scheduled on April 2, BJP president Amit Shah will be holding election meetings at Aurangabad and Nawada on March 29, said a release issued by the party's state headquarters here on Monday. The four constituencies to be covered by Shah and Modi go to polls in the first-phase filing of nominations for which the deadline ended earlier in the day, and where votes will be cast on April 11. Notably, among the four seats, only Aurangabad is being contested by the BJP with sitting MP Sushil Kumar Singh seeking re-election. Gaya, from where Hari Manjhi is the sitting BJP MP, has gone to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) this time and the party has fielded Vijay Manjhi. Jamui, a reserved constituency, is held by LJP's Chirag Paswan, who is once again in the fray as ..
Trump signs US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, a border area seized from Syria in 1967. "This was a long time in the making," Trump said alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House. US recognition for Israeli control over the territory breaks with decades of international consensus.
Naveen, other Odisha stars file nomination
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, state BJP chief Basant Panda and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of the Congress were among a galaxy of leaders who filed their nomination on Monday for the state assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Patnaik, who heads the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), filed his second nomination for Bijepur assembly constituency in West Odidsha's Bargarh district. The BJD president, who is contesting from two seats for the first time, had submitted papers from his home turf Hinjili in south Odisha's Ganjam district on March 20. The chief minister has won all the four assembly elections since 2000 from Hinjili. Both Bijepur and Hinjili will go to polls in the second phase on April 18. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of the Congress filed his nomination from Bolangir assembly seat from where he had won in 2014 defeating senior BJD leader A U Singhdeo. In Bolangir Lok Sabha constituency, sitting BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo, BJP candidate Sangeeta ..
KCR eyeing on properties in Andhra Pradesh, alleges Naidu
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday alleged that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is eyeing on properties in Andhra Pradesh."KCR is eyeing on properties in Andhra Pradesh. KCR is hatching a conspiracy to rule AP indirectly by using YSR Congress party and Jagan is dancing to his tune," the Chief Minister said addressing a poll rally here."I will not allow KCR to play politics in AP," he said, adding that Jagan colluded with KCR and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is supporting KCR.Referring to his government's welfare programmes, the Chief Minister said: "TDP government is implementing more welfare programmes than Telangana and Tamil Nadu."Naidu promised to increase the old age pension to Rs 3,000 from the existing Rs 2,000 per month and assured to bring Godavari water to Venkatagiri."If Jagan comes to power, no industrialist will come forward to invest in AP. There are a number of cases including CBI and ED pending against Jagan," the Chief Minister said, urging the .
BJP seeks disqualification of NC candidate Akbar Lone from contesting LS poll
BJP state unit spokesman Altaf Thakur on Monday launched a scathing attack on the National Conference (NC) candidate from Baramulla parliamentary constituency Muhammad Akbar Lone for raising pro-Pakistan slogan.In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state, he sought the disqualification of Lone stating that he had resorted to "ultimate disrespect" by raising pro-Pakistan slogans. He said that his comments have also "has hurt the sentiments of people of not only Jammu and Kashmir but of the entire India."Thakur also requested the CEO to take a serious note of the matter to maintain peace and harmony in the state and disqualify him from contesting the poll from Baramulla on the basis of videos available on social media.While addressing a rally in Kupwara on Monday, Lone had said that he will abuse those who hurl abuses at Pakistan."The other side of this is a Muslim country. It should remain prosperous and successful. Our friendship with them should intensify. India and
Lalu's daughter Misa not among RJD campaigners
Misa Bharti, daughter of jailed RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, is not in the list of star campaigners of the RJD for the Lok Sabha elections.Although the list contains the name of 40 RJD leaders, including her mother Rabri Devi, brothers Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav. The list was submitted by RJD to the Election Commission for providing approval cards to the campaigners yesterday.In June 2016, Misa Bharti was the party's nominee for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections and was elected unopposed along with Ram Jethmalani from BiharThe Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress on Friday announced their seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha elections. The two parties are in alliance in the state under the "Mahagathbandhan" umbrella along with some other parties. RJD will contest on 20, Congress on 9, HAM-3, RLSP on 5, VIP on 3 and CPI-1 in Bihar under the alliance arrangement.Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The dates of polling in Bihar will be on April 11, 18, 23, 29
Congress divided on alliance with AAP in Delhi, Rahul to take final call
The Delhi unit of Congress party is vertically divided over any alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, with the leadership leaving the decision to party president Rahul Gandhi. According to sources, Gandhi held a meeting with all top leaders of the Delhi Congress and discussed the issue with them once again, after having earlier decided to go it alone in Delhi. Sources said four former Delhi Congress presidents -- Ajay Maken, Subhash Chopra, Tajdar Babar and Arvinder Singh Lovely -- favoured an alliance with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit and three working presidents, Devender Yadav, Rajesh Lilothia, and Haroon Yusuf, maintained their stand against the alliance, they said. After airing their views to the Congress president, the party leadership in Delhi left the final decision on Rahul Gandhi. When asked in this regard, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said whether or not there will be any alliance in Delhi, "We will know soon". "As on .
Rahul's minimum income scheme a 'bluff': Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday termed the Congress's election promise to provide 25 crore poor people yearly financial assistance of Rs 72,000 a "bluff announcement", noting that the sum is "less than two-thirds" of the existing Direct Benefit Transfer provided by the Narendra Modi government.
Deve Gowda, grandson, Sadananda Gowda, Moily file nominations
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, his grandson Nikhil, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily were among109 candidates who filed their nominations Monday for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka on April 18. A total of 148 nominations were received from 109 candidates Monday, poll officials said, adding that cumulative nominations filed so far stood at 231 from 181 candidates. While Deve Gowda filed his nomination from Tumkur, his grandson and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy filed his papers from the JD(S) bastion of Mandya. Sadananda Gowda and Moily filed their nominations from their sitting seats of Bangalore North and Chikkaballapura. Tuesday being the last day for filing nominations for the first phase of polling on April 18, most of the candidates filed their nominations on Monday. Deve Gowda filed his nomination from Tumkur as the ruling alliance candidate, but will have to face a rebel .
Andhra Pradesh has 3.93 crore registered voters
Andhra Pradesh, where simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are scheduled next month, has over 3.93 crore voters with more than 23 lakh voters being added since January, official said on Monday.
Cong clears 2 more lists of LS candidates; fields Sanjay Nirupam from North West Mumbai
The Congress on Monday fielded Sanjay Nirupam from North West Mumbai as it released two more lists of candidates on Monday, clearing 31 names for the Lok Sabha elections. The announcement of Nirupam's candidature came on a day he was removed from the post of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief (MRCC). Former Union minister Milind Deora replaced Nirupam as MRCC chief. In the first list put out on Monday, 26 candidates were announced by the party, out of which 25 were for West Bengal. Mohammad Alam from Barrackpore, Mita Chakraborty from Kolkata Dakshin, Suvra Ghosh from Howrah, and Pratul Saha from Hooghly were among those named in the list. In the second list, five candidates were named -- two from Chhattisgarh, two from Goa and one for the Union Territory of Daman and Diu. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar has been fielded from North Goa, while Francisco Sardinha has been fielded from South Goa parliamentary constituency. With this, the party has ...
Congress names candidates for 25 more Bengal seats
The Congress on Monday announced the second list of candidates for 25 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. The party had earlier announced names for 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
Digvijaya's candidature from Bhopal has BJP in a fix
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is caught in a political dilemma in Madhya Pradesh after the Congress fielded former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh from the Bhopal constituency for the Lok Sabha elections.
SC slams TN efforts to curb defacement of public places
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Tamil Nadu government for not responding "meaningfully" and "in proper spirit" to its order on the steps taken by it to curb defacement of public places and natural environment.
In Valsad, renomination of BJP MP angers his younger brother
Renomination of sitting Valsad MP K C Patel by the BJP in Gujarat has created a rift between himself and his younger brother D C Patel, who is a ticket aspirant from the same seat. DC Patel has hinted that he might consider contesting from Congress if given a ticket. "I am upset because the party has chosen my brother K C Patel. Not just me, the entire tribal population of Valsad is unhappy, as they were confident that the BJP will choose me this time. People are very disappointed because I was the top contender and yet denied ticket," said Dr DC Patel, who claims to be with the ruling BJP since the Jan Sangh days. Valsad constituency in south Gujarat is reserved for Scheduled Tribes. D C Patel was given ticket by the BJP in 2009 general elections, but he lost to his opponent from Congress by a narrow margin of around 7,000 votes. In 2014 elections, the party fielded K C Patel who defeated Congress' Kishanbhai Patel. "I am a committed worker of BJP. When I was contesting
Parliament support 'not sufficient' for third Brexit vote: May
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday said there was "still not sufficient support" in parliament for her to bring her Brexit deal back to parliament for a third vote. "As things stand there is still not sufficient support in the House to bring back the deal for a third meaningful vote," May told parliament, voicing hope that this could change later in the week. "I continue to have discussions with colleagues from across the House to build support so we can bring the vote forward this week," she said. May said the government would provide time to allow MPs to debate and vote on Brexit alternatives to find a plan that could command a majority in parliament. But she warned it would be an "unwelcome precedent to set, which would overturn the balance of our democratic institutions. "I am sceptical about such a process of indicative votes," she added. "When we have tried this kind of thing in the past, it has produced contradictory outcomes or no outcomes at all.
Will Priyanka atone the Congress' sins in Ayodhya, asks BJP
Ahead of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's proposed visit to Ayodhya, the BJP Monday took a dig at her and asked if she would "say sorry" there for her party "putting hurdles" in building the Ram temple. "Will Priyanka Gandhi Vadra take the pious Saryu river waters in her hand there and atone the sins committed by the Congress in Ayodhya?" asked UP BJP spokesperson Chandrmohan. The newly-appointed Congress general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh is slated to visit Ayodhya on March 27. "Will she say sorry for the hurdles created by the Congress in construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya?" he elaborated further. Chandramohan claimed the devotees of Lord Ram and the people of Ayodhya want to know how come the general secretary of the party which has been doubting the existence of Ram setu is visiting Ayodhya -- the birthplace of Lord Ram. "Her (Vadra's) visit to Ayodhya will become more relevant if she expels Kapil Sibal from the party before embarking on the ..
Phase-1 poll on April 11, key leaders file nominations on last day
Political heavyweights including Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, V K Singh, former chief ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Harish Rawat and Jitan Ram Manjhi filed their nominations Monday, the last day for submitting the papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 11. Among other prominent leaders who filed their papers Monday are former prime minister H D Deve Gowda (Tumkur, Karnataka), BJP's Hema Malini (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh) and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah (Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir). The three constituencies vote in the second phase on April 18. The last day for filing nominations is Tuesday. During the first phase of the seven-phase elections, polling will be held in 91 constituencies spread across 20 states. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on Tuesday, while March 28 is the last date of withdrawal of candidature. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari filed his nomination for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat. Gadkari, who had defeated
Israel launches strikes on Hamas in Gaza after rocket
Israel's military launched strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday, the army and witnesses said, hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit a house and wounded seven Israelis. Witnesses and a security source in Gaza told AFP there had been at least two strikes on a site belonging to Hamas's military wing in the west of the Gaza Strip. Details were not yet clear on the strikes. Israel's military said in a statement it "has begun striking Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip." The strikes began around the same time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington. Netanyahu had earlier vowed a strong response to the rocket that hit a house north of Tel Aviv in a rare long-distance strike. The house was destroyed and seven Israelis were lightly wounded from burns and shrapnel. The flare-up comes at a highly sensitive time for Israel, which holds elections on April 9. Israel blamed Hamas for the rocket, but a Hamas ...
BJP calls for new list of candidates for Delhi LS seats
The BJP has asked its Delhi unit and city Lok Sabha poll in-charge Nirmala Sitharaman to send a fresh list of shortlisted candidates for the seven Lok Sabha constituencies here, sources said on Monday. The sources claimed the party was "unhappy" with its Delhi unit objecting to celebrities being considered to contest the upcoming polls and directed the unit to rework the list of candidates it had submitted to the central leadership. "The central leadership wants more recommendations from the state unit since they feel that Delhi being a key unit has to play a more proactive role," a party functionary said. The party leadership has directed Sitharaman, co in-charge Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya and state general secretary (organisation) Siddharthan to prepare a new list of candidates, he said. According to the party's city unit, with Delhi elections also due in the next few months, the celebrities if elected to Parliament will not be able to establish a rapport with the ground workers which ...