Page 1219 - Politics
Karambir Singh to be new Indian Navy chief
Eastern Naval Command chief, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, was Saturday appointed the new Chief of the Indian Navy. He will succeed Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires from service on May 31.
Aurangabad Congress MLA quits, to contest LS polls
Abdul Sattar A. Nabi, a senior Congress legislator from Maharashtra's Sillod Assembly constituency, quit the party on Saturday to contest as an Independent in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
BJD MP in BJP, may get Kandhamal ticket
BJD Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh joined BJP on Saturday after quitting the party, becoming the third parliamentarian of the regional party to do so ahead of the simultaneous general and assembly elections in Odisha. As BJP is yet to name its candidate for the Lok Sabha seat Singh, who was denied a BJD ticket, could be fielded from her own constituency. The Kandhamal MP's joining BJP has surprised all as Odisha Pradesh Congess Committee had two days ago announced that the formal announcemnent of her joining the party would be made either on Saturday or Sunday. BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had replaced her with Rajya Sabha MP Achyut Samant. Singh had raised her voice in revolt against the decision and had blamed certain party leaders for it. She formally joined BJP at the residence of the BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo and in the presence of BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, state party president Basant Panda and union ...
BJP shrugs off Yeddy Diaries' impact on poll prospects (Dangal 2019)
Dubbing the report in 'The Caravan' news magazine based on 'Yeddy Diaries' a concoction, a defiant BJP's Karnataka unit on Saturday accused the Congress of using its dirty tricks department to harm its prospects in the upcoming general elections.
IT sleuths to keep an eye on sensitive seats, bank branches
New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): Income tax officials have been directed to keep an eye on sensitive Lok Sabha seats, especially sensitive bank branches, during the ensuing general elections.The direction to the income tax officials came from Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman PC Mody during a meeting held on Wednesday through video conferencing.This was the first meeting addressed by Mody after the Income Tax department set up 25 control rooms across the country, which will be working 24x7 to check the flow of unaccounted money during the General elections."CBDT Chairman directed officers to be more vigilant and keep an eye on unaccounted money flow in sensitive seats," said an official.The official added that bank branches where illegal activities were reported have been flagged as sensitive and these will be on the radar of Income Tax department.It was also highlighted during the meeting that tax officials will also scrutinise cash transaction of cooperative banks. ...
Modi lies all day, he is chowkidar of the corrupt : Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lying all day and said he is the "chowkidar" of the corrupt and fugitives like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya. Congress is fighting to keep the country united and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a fight between ideologies of the Congress and the BJP-RSS, he said at a rally here kicking off his party's campaign in West Bengal. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps on lying all day. Wherever he goes he lies ... The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state will be between ideologies. On one hand you have the Congress party which is fighting to keep the country united and on another hand the BJP-RSS-Narendra Modi who want to divide the country on religious and caste lines," Gandhi said while addressing a rally here. Accusing Modi of being the "chowkidar" of "corrupt and fugitive" businessmen Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya, he said Narendra Modi had gifted Anil ...
Akhilesh accuses BJP of being schizophrenic
Launching a blistering attack on the BJP here on Saturday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be schizophrenic.
Congress moves EC against Goa government order
In a complaint to the Election Commission of India on Saturday, the Goa Congress has demanded that the poll authority should strike down a state government order, which appoints two key coalition leaders as deputy Chief Ministers.
UKD poll:Cong yet to name candidates; Monday last day for filling nominations
With Monday being the last date for filing nominations in Uttarakhand, all eyes are fixed on the Congress which is yet to announce its candidates for the five seats in the state going to polls on April 11. Arch rival BJP has already announced its candidates for the five seats in Uttarakhand on Thursday out of whom two - Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah from Tehri and Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri have even filed their nominations. Congress sources here said the names of candidates will have to be announced before Monday which is the last date for filing nominations. Choosing a candidate for Haridwar is proving difficult for the party, the sources said as Harish Rawat who represented the seat in the 15th Lok Sabha before becoming CM of Uttarakhand in 2014 is not keen to contest from there this time. BJP has renominated sitting MP and former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from Haridwar. So, Congress obviously needs to field a strong candidate from the seat. Though party leaders were ...
Cong sitting MP says he will file nomination for seat allotted
Amid reports about JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Tumkur as the ruling alliance candidate, Congress' sitting MP P Muddahanumegowda said Saturday he will file his nomination on Monday as party candidate. Muddahanumegowda's decision goes against the seat sharing arrangement reached between the Congress and JD(S), according to which Tumkur seat has gone to the regional party. "All our leaders, workers and elected representatives unanimously have urged me that I have to contest. On Monday I will file my nomination as Congress party candidate," he said. Speaking to reporters after meeting his supporters in Tumkur, he said he has faith that the Congress and coalition party leaders understand the feelings of the people of the constituency and reconsider their decision. According to the seat sharing arrangement, of the total 28 seats, Congress will contest 20 and JD(S) 8. As soon as the seat sharing was announced, Muddahanumegowda along with ...
Modi is rich men's chowkidar: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday saying he is the chowkidar of "rich-men" and he only protects and cares for the rich.
Cong names candidates for two LS seats in Tripura
The opposition Congress in Tripura has announced candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in the state, which is set to go to polls on March 11 and 18. Subal Bhowmick, who recently quit the BJP to join the Congress, will contest the election from West Tripura constituency, while Pragya Deb Burman, a member of the royal family in the state, has been fielded from East Tripura (St) seat, according to a press release issued by the party Friday. Bhowmik, 57, returned to the Congress on March 19 after a five-year stint in the BJP. He had started out as a member of the grand old party in the seventies, but left it to form his own party - Tripura Pragatisheel Grameen Congress - in 2013. In 2008, Bhowmik had contested and won the Sonamura assembly constituency on a Congress ticket. He joined the BJP in 2014, and was named the vice president of the party's state committee. Burman, a social worker and the elder sister of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Pradyot Kishore Deb ...
Lokpal appointed by Modi govt under SC pressure: Mayawati
Hours after former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose took oath as the first Lokpal chairperson, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was forced to take this step under the pressure of the Supreme Court."Thanks to hon. Supreme Court those who did not allow to have a Lokayukta in his home state of Gujarat had to ultimately appoint Lokpal in the country after 5 years of dilly-dallying. Justice Pinaki Ghose today took oath as first Lokpal of India. Greetings to him and to people," she Tweeted.Earlier in the day, President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Justice (retd) Ghose as Lokpal chairperson in New Delhi. Justice Ghose was on March 19 appointed as the country's first Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman.The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also took a swipe at the Prime Minister for sending best wishes to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on the eve of the neighbouring country's national ...
IS loses last Syrian stronghold: US-backed forces
The Islamic State (IS) has lost its last stronghold in Syria, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Saturday, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terror group in 2014.
BJP 'sidelined' me despite doing works, says Santosh Ahlawat, over denial of BJP ticket
The only woman MP from Rajasthan in last Lok Sabha, Santosh Ahlawat, who was dropped by BJP in its first list of 16 out of total 25 candidates for upcoming parliamentary polls, has expressed anguish over the development saying the party "sidelined" her despite works done for the constituency and the party. "This is very disappointing that I was denied ticket despite the works I have done for the constituency as well as for the party and workers in five years. I took keen interest in promoting and encouraging birth of girl child and girls' education and also got huge support from people and party workers but my name was dropped for no reason, Ahlawat, Jhunjhunu MP, said. "Development of four highways, opening of passport office besides several other works took place in my tenure. In 2011, I initiated a campaign for promoting girl child birth and after that the performance of the constituency in 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' was remarkable and we got four awards for our performance, she ...
BJP 'most casteist party' should not give us lessons on Lohia: Akhilesh Yadav
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Ram Manohar Lohia as an "election gimmick", Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday alleged BJP, the "most casteist party" in the country, should not give out lessons on the principles of socialism.Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement earlier today that opposition parties were betraying principles of Ram Manohar Lohia, Yadav said: "We do not want to learn from BJP. They should not teach us. As elections are approaching and BJP does not have its own leaders so they want to claim every other leader into their party.""BJP is the most casteist party in the country. But this year the country is ready to avenge and they will throw them out of power," Akhilesh told ANI.Asking BJP to tell people the benefit of demonetisation and GST, Akhilesh said, "Today India stands last in employment, gender equality and many other issues. If Lohia ji was alive, he would have protested against BJP policies and politics."In a blog ...
Digvijaya Singh is Congress LS candidate from Bhopal
Ending speculation, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Saturday announced that former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Bhopal constituency on the Congress ticket.
Cong names candidates for 2 LS seats, 54 Assembly
The opposition Congress has fielded former MLA Ripunath Seth against Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik from Bijepur Assembly constituency in west Odisha's Bargarh district. The Congress had in its first list announced that Ramakrishna Panda will take on the chief minister from Hinjili in Ganjam district. Releasing its second list of candidates on late Friday for two Lok Sabha seats and 54 Assembly constituencies in Odisha, the party said that Samarendra Mishra, son of Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly Narasingha Mishra, would contest the polls from Bolangir Lok Sabha seat and Saptagiri Ulka from Koraput (ST) parliamentary constituency. Mishra has been pitted against the sitting BJD MP from Bolangir Kalikiesh Narayan Singhdeo and BJP's former Lok Sabha member from the seat Sangeeta Singhdeo. Ulka is set to face Kaushlya Hikaka of BJD, wife of sitting MP Jhina Hikaka, and BJP's Jayaram Pangi in Koraput parliamentary constituency, reserved for ...
Nigerians return to vote in governor, state elections
Nigerians returned to vote in governorship and state elections on Saturday after polling a fortnight ago was declared invalid in some areas because of violence. The decision by Nigeria's electoral board to void March 9 elections in six states came two weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari won a second term in a poll denounced by his main rival as fraudulent. The INEC, the National Electoral Commission, said violence and other irregularities had prompted voting to be cancelled in some areas of Kano and Sokoto, in the northwest, Bauchi and Adamawa in the northwest, and the central states of Benue and Plateau. Another poll, in Rivers state, had been suspended. Around half a million registered voters were eligible to cast their ballot Saturday. Results are expected from early next week. The governorship races in the six states are closely fought between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). State parliamentary elections were also taking
Kerala Congress urges Rahul to contest from Wayanad
Top Congress leaders in Kerala, including AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, on Saturday urged AICC president Rahul Gandhi to contest from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.