Page 1198 - Politics
Cong working committee meets to give final shape to manifesto ahead of LS polls
The working committee of the Congress on Monday discussed the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections and gave a final shape to it. The working committee, which is the party's highest decision making body, will give a final go ahead to the manifesto. The meeting was chaired by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, senior leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and A K Antony. The party manifesto is being framed by a committee headed by P Chidambaram. The Congress has already launched an exercise to involve people from different sections of the society and has held several rounds of consultations with them to include their views in the manifesto. It has also launched an online portal to seek the views of people and their expectations from the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The top party leaders have promised to make the manifesto a comprehensive document that will include views ..
Why BJP leaders only attacking oppn, not highlighting own achievements: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Monday asked the BJP why its leaders were only attacking the opposition in their rallies and not highlighting their own positive achievements. In a tweet, he said the people wanted stable jobs, not a 'chowkidar' (watchman). He attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the plight of 'shiksha mitras' or contractual teachers among others and assured those unemployed of his support. "Why is the BJP targeting opposition parties in its rallies? Does it not have any positive achievements in its five-year rule. Fearing people's wrath and defeat, BJP leaders and workers are avoiding campaigning and are making excuses that the weather is too hot," Yadav claimed.
JD(S) gives Bangalore North LS seat to Congress
With two days left for filing of nominations for the first phase of polls inKarnataka, the Congress Monday said, its coalition partner JD(S)has conceded the Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat to it. AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal thanked JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda for the move calling it a "kind gesture." "Indian National Congress is thankful to Shri H D DeveGowda ji and the JD(S) for their kind gesture of giving backthe Bengaluru North Lok Sabha seat to the Congress. Together,let us reclaim democracy," Venugopal said in a post on hisFacebook page. Tuesday is the last date for the filing of nominationsfor the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state to be held on April 18. Bangalore North will go for polls in the first phase. Bangalore North is one among the eight seats thatthe JD(S) had got in a seat-sharing deal with the Congress that will contest in 20 out of total 28 seats in the state. The move by JD(S) to ...
Thai election results delayed, anti-junta party claims win
Thailand's election commission says it will release full vote counts from the first election since a 2014 coup on Friday as an anti-junta party claimed it won the most seats and will try to form a government. The commission said Monday it will announce the results of 350 constituency seats later in the day but full vote counts, which are needed to determine the allocation of 150 other seats in parliament, won't be available for several days. The Pheu Thai party, which was ousted from government in the coup, said it won the most constituency seats in Sunday's election and will try to form a government with similar-minded parties. Unofficial results show the military-backed Palang Pracharat party won the popular vote.
Cong needs to be more accommodating towards partners: Left leader
Veteran Communist leader S Sudhakar Reddy is disappointed the opposition unity against the BJP has not happened to the "desired levels" in the Lok Sabha elections and said the Congress should have been far more accommodating towards partners on seat-sharing. Expectations in the opposition camp were high a couple of months ago of a broad alliance against the Amit Shah-led party, and Reddy now regretted that such a scenario did not materialise for the general elections. "Yes, a little disappointment to some extent," the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) told PTI, referring to opposition's failure to strike alliance in states such as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal where the Congress is fighting separately. "We expected most of these things (broad opposition unity) to be materialised but with different political parties taking a narrow outlook of electoral tactics, it did not happen," he said. So, it's a little disadvantageous (to parties ranged against the BJP), ...
No proof that Trump campaign conspired with Russia to influence 2016 poll: US attorney general
Donald Trump's campaign did not conspire with Russia during the 2016 election won by him, according to a summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report submitted to Congress on Sunday, in a major relief to the embattled US President on an issue that has cast a shadow on his presidency for nearly two years. In a four-page letter to top lawmakers on Sunday, Attorney General William Barr highlighted two sections of the long-awaited Mueller report -- Russia's efforts to affect the 2016 presidential election and whether President Trump obstructed justice. The report was submitted on Friday to Barr, who reviewed the document before handing a summary to Congress. Trump, who repeatedly described the inquiry as a "witch hunt", said on Sunday "it was a shame that the country had to go through this", describing the inquiry as an "illegal takedown that failed". Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey and other actions throughout the probe raised concerns about the president trying .
Congress to contest from Bangalore North seat
The Congress will contest from the Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency on April 18 as its ally Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) decided not to field its candidate, a JD-S official said on Monday.
Farooq Abdullah files nomination for Srinagar seat
National Conference (NC) President and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday filed his nomination papers for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat of Jammu and Kashmir.
Farooq Abdullah files nomination papers for Srinagar LS seat
National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Monday filed nomination papers from the prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat which is going to polls in the second phase of the general election on April 18. Abdullah, who is seeking re-election from the constituency, was accompanied by his son and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and other party leaders to the office of Returning Officer, Srinagar, where he filed his nomination papers. There was no pomp and show as only few vehicles of the NC leaders were allowed inside the deputy commissioner's office complex in Tankipora area here. The police has barricaded the entire area as part of security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident and did not allow any supporters at the venue. The returning officer had earlier issued guidelines, saying the maximum number of people allowed at the time of filing of nomination by a candidate would be five, including the candidate, whereas the maximum number of vehicles allowed would be three. The
Rocket hits house north of Tel Aviv, Netanayhu to return home
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in a community north of Tel Aviv on Monday, wounding seven Israelis and leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a visit to the United States. Israel's army said the rocket was fired from the Palestinian enclave run by Islamist movement Hamas, raising the risk of another escalation between the two sides just ahead of April 9 Israeli elections. Netanyahu is currently in Washington and said he would return home after meeting US President Donald Trump later Monday, cancelling an address to pro-Israel lobby AIPAC's annual conference on Tuesday. Israel also closed its people and goods crossings with the blockaded Gaza Strip and reduced the zone in the Mediterranean it allows for Palestinian fishermen off the enclave, a statement said. The house hit was located in the community of Mishmeret, around 20 kilometres north of Tel Aviv, police said. Mishmeret is more than 80 kilometres from the Gaza Strip and rocket fire from the ...
Indian-American New York Senator shares Dubai memories
New Yorks first Indian-American state Senator Kevin Thomas, who assumed office at the beginning of this year and who was born in Dubai, is now advocating tolerance and pushing for the diversity which he had experienced in the UAE.
HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi files nomination from Gaya
Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday filed his nomination papers from the Gaya parliamentary constituency for the Lok Sabha polls.
CWC meets to finalise Congress manifesto
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met on Monday to discuss and give a final shape to the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections that kicks off on April 11.
Gadkari files nomination; says will win with a bigger margin
Union minister Nitin Gadkari Monday filed his nomination for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat, where polls will be held on April 11. Gadkari, who had defeated Vilas Muttemwar (Congress) in the 2014 elections by a margin of 2.84 lakh votes, said he will win with a bigger margin this time around. "This time, I will win with a bigger margin. People have a good opinion of the work done by the Narendra Modi-led government in the last five years. Our government did more than (was promised in) the poll manifesto," Gadkari told reporters. The BJP veteran was accompanied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Energy Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule, family members and a large number of party workers, while filing his nomination. "Your support and love is the biggest strength for us," Gadkari said. Fadnavis said Gadkari will register a "historic win" from Nagpur. "He will create a record in Maharashtra," the chief minister said, adding the BJP-Shiv Sena combine would win 45 of the 48 Lok .
Riding on Amethi work, Smriti a tough challenge to Rahul (Dangal 2019)
It's 5 p.m. and BJP workers have started gathering at the Alok Dhaba in Gauriganj, the district headquarters of the high-profile Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, to discuss the achievements of Union Minister Smriti Irani, who despite losing in 2014, has left no stone unturned for the area's development.
North Korea returns to inter-Korean liaison office
North Korea has returned its staff to an inter-Korean liaison office, Seoul said Monday, just days after unilaterally withdrawing from the joint facility. The office in the Northern city of Kaesong was opened in September as the two Koreas knitted closer ties, but the North pulled its staff out last week amid a deadlock in talks between Washington and Pyongyang. The unification ministry said some of the North Korean staff were back at work on Monday saying they had come to cover their "shift as usual". "Thus, the South and the North held consultations at the liaison office this morning and will continue to operate the office as usual," the ministry said in a statement. It said the North did not offer details on why they had returned or pulled out in the first place. Experts had suggested that the withdrawal was Pyongyang's attempt of pressuring Seoul to exert more influence on the US in the current diplomacy. Their return follows US President Donald Trump's abrupt tweet at the weekend
Body of Pakistani victim Ahmed returned home
The body of a 26-year-old Pakistani who was among 50 worshippers killed during attacks on mosques in New Zealand has arrived at an airport in the southern port city of Karachi. Syed Areeb Ahmed was among nine Pakistanis who were killed on March 15 when a white supremacist shot people inside two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. On Monday, his sobbing father Syed Ayaz Ahmed, family members and government officials received his body. Ahmed was an only son who had immigrated to New Zealand for work, according to his uncle Muhammad Muzaffar Khan. Last week, Pakistan observed a day of mourning for the victims and honored another Pakistani, Naeem Rashid, who died along with his son after trying to tackle the gunman. New Zealand's prime minister has announced a top-level inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the massacre of 50 people in two Christchurch mosques. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country's highest form of investigation, a royal commission of inquiry, was ...
BJP names candidates for Odisha's 2 LS, 9 Assembly seats
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its list of candidates for two Lok Sabha and nine Assembly seats in Odisha.
Cong wants ' contract PM' who can be 'remote controlled': Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday claimed that the Congress wants a "contract prime minister" who can be "remote controlled", but the country wants a "perfect" prime minister like Narendra Modi. The minority affairs minister told reporters that the entire country knows Modi is the "perfect" prime minister for the progress, prosperity and safety of the nation. He also alleged that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is on a "political picnic". The Congress wants a prime minister which can be "remote controlled", he claimed. The people of the country don't want a prime minister on "rotation and contract" for six months and then another prime minister for next six months, he said. The Congress wants a "contract prime minister" but the country wants a "perfect prime minister", he claimed. Naqvi said those abusing Modi every day, are unable to digest the development works carried out during the last five years.
In Odisha, members of political families seek re-election, some pitted against kin
Several political families in Odisha are in the fray in the 2019 polls, with members of some either seeking re-election or crossing swords with their kin. In some cases, members of such families have been fielded by parties from different constituencies, including one in which the Congress has given a father the responsibility to retain an assembly seat and son to wrest a Lok Sabha seat from rival Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The assembly election will be held in Odisha along with the Lok Sabha polls in four phases - on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Kinship is evident in the Bolangir Lok Sabha seat, where sitting BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo is pitted against his sister-in-law and former MP Sangeeta Singhdeo of the BJP. He is the son of former state minister A U Singhdeo and is seeking a re-election from the seat. For Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo, who won the Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014, the battle will be an interesting one. His father, now a BJD vice-president, has won all the ...