Page 1287 - Politics
AAP accuses Amarinder of poll code violation
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday accused Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh of violating the model code of conduct by announcing sops on the occasion of the second anniversary of his Congress government in the state.
Pakistan: It is more of the same (Column: Spy's Eye)
The street smart tactics of the Pakistan army -- played out by Prime Minister Imran Khan at its behest -- to some how diffuse the overwhelming pressure of international opinion blaming it for collusion with Islamic militants, are not doing much for it this time.
AAP names last LS candidate in Delhi, calls Congress' attitude 'indecisive and irresponsible'
The AAP Sunday declared its last candidate in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls, with a senior leader saying the announcement was made seeing the Congress's "irresponsible and indecisive" attitude towards an alliance here. Balbir Singh Jakhar, 45, will be the Aam Aadmi Party's candidate for the West Delhi parliamentary seat. The names of candidates for the other six seats was announced by the party on March 2. Elections to the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held on May 12. The results will be declared with the rest of the country on May 23. Delhi minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said the party has waited long enough for an alliance with the Congress, but seeing "irresponsible and indecisive" attitude of the grand old party, the AAP has decided to declare the name of its seventh candidate. He announced the name of Jakhar at a press conference here. "The AAP has declared all its seven candidates. We waited for long that all parties would join hands to beat the government, but the ..
Goa CM Parrikar dead after long battle with cancer
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away at his private residence here on Sunday evening after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 63.
Parrikar was epitome of integrity and dedication in public life: President
President Ram Nath Kovind Monday expressed grief over the demise of Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, saying he was an "epitome of integrity and dedication in public life". The former defence minister was battling a pancreatic ailment and died at his private residence in Dona Paula near Panaji, officials said. He was 63. "Extremely sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister of Goa, after an illness borne with fortitude and dignity. "An epitome of integrity and dedication in public life, his service to the people of Goa and of India will not be forgotten #PresidentKovind," the president posted on his official Twitter handle. Parrikar's health was fluctuating for a year and took a turn for the worse in the past two days.He is survived by his two sons and their families. "The chief minister passed away around 6.40 pm Sunday," a senior state government official told PTI. Sources said Parrikar had been on life support system since late Saturday ...
Fissures among UPA allies in Bihar; NCP says it will contest Katihar seat
The NCP on Sunday said it will field a four-time party MLA from the Kaithar Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by Tariq Anwar, who had quit the party to join the Congress last year. In Bihar, the Congress is a constituent of the Grand Alliance along with the RJD and other parties like the RLSP and HAM(S) and the NCP is not a part of it. Sources close to Tanwar said he will be in the fray from the same seat, which has not gone down well with the NCP. Anwar had earlier quit the Congress along with Sharad Pawar and P A Sangma over the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin. "There is no doubt we will contest from Katihar. We had won it in 2014," NCP's National General Secretary and party's chief spokesperson D P Tripathi told PTI. Party sources said the issue had come up for discussion when Tripathi met Rashtriya Janata Dal President Lalu Prasad, who is admitted in a hospital in Ranchi, last week. Tripathi said Mohammad Shakoor, a four-time MLA from Bihar, will be the party's ..
Parrikar was one of Goa's favourite sons: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Sunday condoled the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and described him as "one of Goa's favourite sons". He said Parrikar was respected and admired across party lines and had bravely battled his illness for over a year. "I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Goa CM, Shri Manohar Parrikar Ji, who bravely battled a debilitating illness for over a year. Respected and admired across party lines, he was one of Goa's favourite sons. My condolences to his family in this time of grief(sic)," Gandhi said on Twitter. The Congress on its official Twitter handle also said, We condole the passing of former Union Minister & Chief Minister @manoharparrikar. We hope that his family finds strength in their moment of grief. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, "Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Manohar Parrikar ji, Chief Minister of Goa. My heartfelt condolences to his family members..May his soul rest in peace. Congress chief ...
DMK names Kanimozhi, former ministers Maran, T R Baalu among
DMK Sunday announced former union ministers Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja and T R Baalu and its Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi among its candidates for the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies it is contesting in Tamil Nadu. Releasing the list of candidates which included another woman, party president M K Stalin said Maran will contest from Central Chennai, A Raja from Nilgiris (SC) and T R Baalu from Sriperumbudur constituencies, which they had won in 2009. Stalin's sister and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi will for the first time try her luck in the Lok Sabha polls as she had been fielded in Tuticorin constituency in southern Tamil Nadu. A total of 12 candidates are new faces. In the April 18 elections, DMK is contesting 20 out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state, leaving the rest to its allies, including Congress. The party had drawn a blank in the 2014 polls when it contested 34 seats while its arch rival AIADMK romped home winning 37 segments. Congress had gone alone but failed to win .
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar dead
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died at his private residence near here Sunday. He was 63. Parrikar is survived by two sons and their families. "Chief Minister passed away around 6.40 pm Sunday," a senior state government official told PTI. The BJP stalwart's health, which has been fluctuating for a year, took a turn for the worse in the past two days. In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind said, "Extremely sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, after an illness borne with fortitude and dignity. "An epitome of integrity and dedication in public life, his service to the people of Goa and India will not be forgotten," the President tweeted from his official handle. Sources said former defence minister Parrikar had been on life support system since late Saturday night. Parrikar had been unwell since February 2018 when he was diagnosed with a pancreatic ailment.
White House aide says unfair to tie mosque shooter to Trump
A top White House official says it's unfair to cast the alleged New Zealand mosque shooter as a supporter of President Donald Trump based on one reference to Trump in a manifesto the suspect released before the attack. Acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney tells "Fox News Sunday" that the shooter was a "disturbed individual" and "evil person." Mulvaney says attempts to tie the shooter to any American politician "probably ignores some of the deeper difficulties that this sort of activity exposes." On another issue, Mulvaney said any resumption of missile or nuclear testing by North Korea would be a "truly disappointing turn of events." North Korea had halted such testing as it discussed denuclearization with the U.S. Both sides failed to reach a deal at a February summit.
Virbhadra's son eyeing Cong ticket, Sukhram's grandson BJP's for Mandi
Union Minister Sukhram's grandson Aashray Sharma is eyeing a BJP ticket ticket for Mandi Lok Sabha seat here with Himachal's former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh hoping to get that of Congress for the 2019 polls. Neither the ruling BJP nor the Congress, however, has yet finalised their candidates for any of the four Himachal Lok Sabha seats seats - Shimla, Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra. In a recent Facebook post, Shimla Rural MLA and a scion of erstwhile princely state Bushahar, Vikramaditya Singh, said, "I have not applied for ticket from Mandi seat as my father has taught me to control my ambitions." "If the Congress leadership gives me this responsibility, I am ready for that as my father has also taught me to fight for the party and the country in every situation," he added. When contacted, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Kuldeep Singh Rathore, however, told PTI that no name has been shortlisted so far by the screening committee for any
Guj: BJP, Cong hold meetings for Lok Sabha poll candidates
The Gujarat BJP Sunday held a meeting to discuss names of candidates for the state's 26 Lok Sabha seats. All 26 seats, currently held by the BJP, will go to polls in a single phase on April 23. The meeting, which took place in Gandhinagar, was attended by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, state Lok Sabha poll in charge Om Mathur and state unit chief Jitu Vaghani among others. Names of probable candidates will be discussed for three days after which a final report will be sent to the party high command in Delhi, a leader said on condition of anonymity. Senior BJP leaders met Sunday to discuss names of probable candidates for Vadodara, Bharuch, Panchmahals, Chhota Udepur, Dahod, Valsad, Navsari, Vardoli, Surat, Anand and Kheda Lok Sabha constituencies, Rupani said in a Facebook post. "The Lok Sabha election committee met in Gandhinagar. Discussions were held on candidates for the Lok Sabha seats based on input received by party's poll observers," Rupani said. Rupani ..
US-backed forces admit to 'difficulties' beating IS in Syria
US-backers forces fighting to take back the last Islamic State group outpost in Syria say they are facing difficulties defeating the group. A spokesman says their effort is being slowed by mines, tunnels, and the possibility of harming women and children still in the village. Dozens of men and women were seen walking around the besieged IS encampment in the village of Baghouz Sunday, as fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces watched from a hilltop close by. SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel said the camp was approximately 250 km in size much the same area it was five weeks ago, when the SDF said it was going to finally conclude the battle. "We are facing several difficulties regarding the operations," Gabriel told reporters outside Baghouz Sunday.
LS polls: Cong leaves seven seats in UP for SP, BSP and RLD alliance
To woo allies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the Congress on Sunday announced that it will leave more than a dozen Lok Sabha seats for other parties, including seven seats for the SP, BSP and RLD alliance in the state. Apart from this, the grand old party of India also announced that it will leave two seats for the Apna Dal, and entered into an electoral agreement with the lesser known Jan Adhikar Party. However, the BJP termed Congress' gesture as "laughable", with UP Deputy Chief Minister saying that all the parties are afraid of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hence, they are forging a "mahamilavat" (highly adulterated) alliance. "The Congress is leaving seven Lok Sabha seats in the state for the SP, BSP and RLD alliance. These include Mainpuri, Kannauj and Firozabad. Apart from this, the party will not field any candidate on seats from where BSP chief Mayawati, RLD chief Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary are likely to contest or may contest," UP Congress
Will work for Congress, ensure party candidate's victory from Ernakulam: KV Thomas
After being denied a ticket from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, senior Congress leader K V Thomas Sunday said he will work for the party and ensure its candidate, Hibi Eden, wins from the constituency. Thomas, who represents the constituency, was miffed at being denied a ticket, but seemed pacified after top Congress leaders spoke to him and assured him that they would take care of his interests. Sources said he also spoke to former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on the issue. I will continue to work for the party more strongly.It was my immediate response... because when all sitting MPs were given tickets, I was denied it (a ticket). I will not take any steps that would hurt the interests of the party. I owe everything to the party.I will stand by whatever decision is taken by the party, Thomas, who was the Union food minister in the UPA government, told reporters here. He later became the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) .
'Digambar Kamat not leaving Congress'
Leader of opposition in Goa assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar has refuted speculations of former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat quitting Congress and accused the BJP of spreading 'rumours'.Speaking to ANI, Kavlekar said, "Former chief minister and Congress leader Digambar Kamat will not leave the party. He is our senior leader and we can't even think of him leaving the party. BJP is creating these rumours because the situation is not well within their party. This also proves that BJP doesn't have a leader."He also expressed discontent over not receiving a reply from Governor Mridula Sinha on the appointment request made by him on Saturday to stake claim to form the government."Yesterday only we had asked for an appointment but we haven't got it yet. We have requested her that present government is almost non-existent and such government must be dismissed. We are trying to contact Goa Governor Mridula Sinha for an appointment to stake a claim as the single largest party. BJP office ...
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to not contest in LS polls
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the party said on Sunday.Led by Raj Thackeray, the party didn't win any seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 10 announced the schedule for the 17th Lok Sabha election, which will be held in seven phases beginning April 11. The final phase of voting will take place on May 19. The counting of votes will be done on May 23.Announcing the election schedule, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said: "The gazette notification will be issued on March 18. The last date of nomination of first phase polling will be March 25.""The last date for withdrawal of candidature for the first phase is March 28. The first phase polling will take place on April 11. The date of counting will be May 23, 2019. As many as 91 constituencies in 20 states will go to polls in the first phase," he said.
AAP fields Balbir Jakhar from West Delhi Lok Sabha seat
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday announced Balbir Singh Jakhar as its candidate for West Delhi parliamentary constituency in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections."We got many names for West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. Jakhar was active advocacy politics and associated with the party from the Lokpal agitation. He was working as President of Dwarka Court Bar Association," AAP leader Gopal Rai said at a press conference here.Speaking on the alliance with Congress, Rai said the grand old party is "not negotiating.""I feel that they (Congress) are not serious. We have many conflicts with Congress but on the theoretical basis, we decided that we will not contest in the whole nation so as to remove the dictatorship of BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will focus on Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Goa," Rai told ANI."The election dates have been announced in Delhi. The party has taken the decision that we will strengthen our campaign with all our 7 candidates ...
Manohar Parrikar 'extremely critical'
Manohar Parrikar's health is "extremely critical", the Chief Minister's office said on Sunday."Chief Minister @manoharparrikar's health condition is extremely critical. Doctors are trying their best," read a tweet posted by the Chief Minister's Office.Earlier in the day, BJP core committee leader Dayanand Mandrekar had said Parrikar's health had deteriorated and the party may appoint a new leader soon to succeed Parrikar."Had Manohar Parrikar been fit, there would not have been a need to change the leader but his health is very critical now, deteriorating day after day. Party should take some decision. From centre to Goa, some decision should be taken. I think it will be done," Mandrekar had told ANI.Deputy Speaker and Calangute BJP MLA Michael Lobo had also stated Parrikar was "very ill," and there were "no chances of him getting well."Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York since February last year.
Katihar not a personal property of Tariq Anwar: NCP general secretary
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary DP Tripathi on Sunday said that Katihar Lok Sabha seat in Bihar was not the personal property of Tariq Anwar, the leader who recently defected from the NCP to join the Congress."We had one seat in Katihar and that is all we are asking for. Soon, we will announce our candidate from Katihar. It is our seat. So what if Tariq Anwar has joined the Congress? It is not his personal property. Katihar was our seat. Congress has to decide," Tripathi said.Tariq Anwar quit NCP and joined the Congress last year in September. He also resigned from his Lok Sabha seat. He was elected MP from Katihar for five terms.In 1999, Anwar had revolted against Congress president Sonia Gandhi along with leaders like Sharad Pawar and PA Sangma.Anwar was a Rajya Sabha member from 2004-14 from Maharashtra.In Bihar, there have been reports of fissures in the grand alliance. Lalu Prasad Yadav led RJD is not ready to concede more than 8 seats to the Congress party, ...