Page 1225 - Politics
Joined BJP to serve country with right intent, honesty: Gautam Gambhir
Former international cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who has joined the BJP on Friday, said he joined the party to serve the country with the right intent and honesty.Taking to Twitter, Gambhir said, "I have joined @BJP4India to serve the country with the right intent and honesty. I hope through this I can make some meaningful difference to the lives of my people."Gambhir joined the BJP earlier in the day, in the presence of Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad. He even met party president Amit Shah after that."I am joining this party (BJP) after getting influenced by prime minister Narendra Modi's vision. I am honored to get the opportunity to join this platform," Gambhir said during the media interaction.His joining BJP comes a day after BJP released its first list of 185 candidates on Thursday for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11 and concluding on May 19.The counting of votes will take place on May 23.The left-handed batsman was awarded Padma Shri on ...
LS polls: Nandamuri Balakrishna's son-in-law Bharat files nomination from Vizag
Actor and TDP leader Nandamuri Bala Krishna's son-in-law Bharat has filed his nomination papers from Visakhapatnam Parliamentary constituency for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.Bharat accompanied by his wife and son filed his nomination here at the Collector's office on Thursday.Bharat is the grandson of late MVVS Murthy who used to be the TDP member of Legislative Council. The 29-year-old will be contesting elections for the first time.Meanwhile, Jana Sena party leader Lakshmi Narayana also filed nomination papers from Visakhapatnam seat.YSR Congress Party candidate MVV Satyanarayana, who is a well-known film producer and builder, also filed nomination for Vizag Lok Sabha constituency.Interestingly, all three candidates are contesting elections for the first time.Telangana Pradesh Congress (TPC) president Uttam Kumar Reddy and working president Revanth Reddy filed nominations from Nalgonda and Malkajgiri parliamentary constituencies, respectively.The 25 Lok Sabha constituencies and .
Andhra Pradesh: Jagan files nomination from Pulivendula Assembly constituency
YSR Congress Party president Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday filed his nomination from Pulivendula Assembly constituency in Kadapa district.Jagan is up against TDP's Chandrababu Naidu for the post of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister.Jagan is the son of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and is the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Assembly. YSRCP was founded in 2011.The elections to the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly are scheduled to be held on April 11 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. The counting of votes for both will take place on May 23.
BJP leader denied ticket, supporters lock up Odisha party hq
Resentment over selection of BJP candidates led to protests in various parts of Odisha and in one such case, the dissidents locked up the state party headquarters here Friday. Angry supporters of Amiya Dash locked up the entrance gate of the state BJP headquarters after he failed to secure ticket for an assembly constituency here. Dash's supporters also staged dharna in front of the party office after his name was not mentioned in the list of candidates announced for 99 assembly constituencies by the BJP central leadership on Thursday night. The BJP nominated Babu Singh, who joined the saffron party recently after resigning from the BJD, for Ekamra-Bhubaneswar seat and not Dash who had contested that constituency during the 2014 election. The protestors shouted slogans and demanded a party ticket for their leader. However, they relented and opened the gate after intervention of senior leaders including BJP state vice-president Samir Mohanty. BJP activists also ransacked .
'Need to work together for peace in region', Modi tells Imran
Following weeks of heightened tension between India and Pakistan triggered by the Pulwama terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan that it was time for people of the subcontinent to work together "for a peaceful and prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence."
Togadia's party to contest on 100 Lok Sabha seats
Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia on Friday said his newly launched political party will contest on around 100 Lok Sabha seats across the country, including 15 seats in Gujarat. Togadia, who recently floated the Hindusthan Nirman Dal (HND), released a list of 41 candidates. He also said that he may contest the upcoming elections from either Varanasi, Ayodhya or Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. The Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency is represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking re-election from the constituency. Togadia said here the key focus of the HND will be construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, better prices for farm produce and creation of jobs by focusing on agriculture and small industries. In the first list released on Friday, HND announced candidates for 41 Lok Sabha seats spread over Uttar Pradesh (19), Gujarat (9), Assam (7), Odisha (5) and Haryana (1). "We intend to field around 100 candidates in 12 states. The names for the remaining seats will be announced in .
Guests attending Pak National Day reception face questions from Delhi Police
The Delhi Police Friday posed various queries and sought details from guests attending a reception at the Pakistan High Commission on the eve of the country's National Day, according to several people who attended the function. In an unusual move, police personnel posted outside the Pakistan High Commission stopped the guests and sought their names and phone numbers before allowing them to proceed, according to a number of guests. The people who refused to share their phone numbers were not allowed to proceed for the event, several guests said, adding they were finally let in only after they gave their contact details. When sought comments, a senior Delhi Police official said, "The government boycotted the event. However, there were people who came for it. In such circumstances, it was important to note the details of people who were present there and to ascertain reasons for their presence." The Delhi Police personnel also asked several guests reason for their coming to the event ...
NCP, Shiv Sena field bitter cousins from Osmanabad
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday fielded Ranajagjitsinha P. Patil as its candidate from Osmanabad where he will lock horns with his cousin and bitter family enemy Omraje Nimbalkar of the Shiv Sena.
Modi greets Imran Khan on Pakistan National Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan on his country's national day, Khan claimed in a tweet.
Goa Cabinet: Sawant sticks to Parrikar-formula
Following his meeting with top BJP leaders in New Delhi on Friday, Goa's new Chief Minister Pramod Sawant allocated portfolios to his 11 cabinet ministers -- retaining their earlier ministries -- sticking to his predecessor Manohar Parrikar's formula.
Confirm if Modi exchanged greetings with Imran on Pak National Day: Congress to PMO
The Congress on Friday asked the prime minister's office (PMO) to confirm if Narendra Modi has exchanged greetings with his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on the eve of their National Day after India boycotted a function at the Pakistan High Commission here. Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi asked whether Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's claims that Modi extended his greetings to him on Pakistan's National Day was correct. "I would hope the @PMOIndia clarifies that what Imran Khan has tweeted is the correct version of greetings exchanged or whether if they have been exchanged at all, especially after the function was boycotted in India by the govt. The nation would want to know...," she said on Twitter. Imran Khan earlier tweeted, "Received message from PM Modi: "I extend my greetings and best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that people of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive and prosperous ...
G Vivek resigns as adviser to Telangana govt
Former MP and TRS leader G Vivek Friday resigned from the post of adviser to the Telangana government. The resignation came against the backdrop of denial of ticket to him by TRS to contest the Lok Sabha elections. He confirmed to PTI that he had resigned from the post of adviser to the state government. Vivek had also served as president of Hyderabad Cricket Association.
Rs 3.9 crore, liquor seized in Karnataka
Officials in Karnataka seized Rs 3.9 crore in cash, 1,841 litres of liquor valued at Rs 23 lakh and 119 kg drugs valued at Rs 4.85 lakh during raids on political parties, their candidates and cadres ahead of the general election in April, said the state chief electoral officer (CEO) on Friday.
Gambhir joins club of cricketers-turned-politicians
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir became the latest cricketer to take the plunge into politics on Friday when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party here in the presence of Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Northern Army Commander visits forward posts in J&K
Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh on Friday visited the forward posts in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Reasi districts.
PM Modi extends greetings to Imran Khan on Pakistan National Day
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday received greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Pakistan National Day."Received msg from PM Modi: "I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that ppl of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence," Khan tweeted.While Islamabad would be celebrating the occasion on March 23, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi organised events a day earlier on Friday.India, however, did not send any representative to the event."The decision was taken after Pakistan High Commission decided to call Hurriyat leader to the reception. In February we were very clear, any attempt by Pakistan High Commission or Pakistani leadership to engage with Hurriyat leaders will not be taken lightly," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.However, no Hurriyat leaders were seen .
Rajya Sabha MP Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu quits Congress; likely to join BJ
Former Rajya Sabha MP from Telangana Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu on Friday tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress.Bhaskar, who had served Congress for 25 years, sent his resignation letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi.Rapolu, who was aspiring for a ticket from Palakurthy constituency, was stated to be upset with the Congress after the party did not offer him.There are reports that Rapolu is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.Telangana will go to polls in a single phase for all 17 Lok Sabha seats at stake on April 11. Results will be declared on May 23.
PM Modi expresses grief over demise of Karnataka minister CS Shivalli
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed condolence over the demise of Karnataka minister CS Shivalli.Modi tweeted, "My condolences to the family and supporters of Karnataka Minister Shri CS Shivalli. Shri Shivalli will be remembered for his service to Karnataka. May his soul rest in peace."Shivalli was rushed to a private hospital in Hubballi after he collapsed while interacting with people in Dharwad district. He died of cardiac arrest.He was a three-time MLA from Kundagol constituency in Dharwad and won his first election as an independent candidate in 1999.Shivalli joined the Congress and subsequently lost in the 2008 elections. He won again in 2013 and 2018 as the party candidate. He was given a Cabinet berth in the latest reshuffle by the Karnataka government.
Diplomacy, dialogue indispensable to resolve J-K issue: Pakistan envoy to India
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood on Friday said that diplomacy and dialogue are indispensable to resolving the long-standing disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir, between the two countries.Speaking at Pakistan National Day celebration at Pakistan High Commission here, Mahmood said, "Coercive measures have not worked in the past and they will not work in the future. Diplomacy and dialogue remain indispensable for enhancing mutual understanding, addressing mutual concerns and resolving long-standing disputes including Jammu and Kashmir."Expressing hope for better relations between the two South-Asian nations, he said: "A relationship based on sovereign equality, mutual respect and mutual interest is the best guarantee for a peaceful and prosperous future. We do hope the long winter in India-Pakistan relations would come to an early end."Hailing both the nations for their work towards bettering the relations, the Pakistan High Commissioner said, "Prime Minister Imran ..
Pyongyang removes staff from inter-Korean liaison office
Pyongyang removed staff from an inter-Korean liaison office just weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit with US President Donald Trump ended abruptly without an agreement.South Korean Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung said that Seoul was informed about the decision on Friday, during a meeting at the liaison office in Kaesong, reported Al Jazeera.Chun told that the decision had been taken "in accordance with an order from an upper command".Pyongyang asserted it did not care whether Seoul stayed at the liaison office or not, he added.However, the permanency of North Korea's decision is unclear. According to Chun, South Korea will continue to staff the Kaesong liaison office while it expects North to do the same."We regret the North's decision," Chun said.Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un had failed to reach an agreement on the denuclearisation of North Korea during their second summit in Hanoi last month.