Page 1291 - Politics
Theresa May hopes to be third time lucky with Brexit vote
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday called on her rebellious MPs to do the patriotic thing to strike an honourable compromise over Brexit as she prepares to table her twice-defeated withdrawal agreement to another Parliament vote next week, hoping it would prove third time lucky for her. Her latest plea came at the end of a frenetic week in Westminster as MPs voted on a flurry of motions, not just ruling out leaving the European Union (EU) with May's deal but also without any deal in place at all, calling for a delay to the March 29 Brexit Day deadline. May warned deeply divided Brexiteers within her own party and across the House of Commons that failure to once again support her deal, which was defeated by a resounding 230-vote margin in January and a smaller 149-vote margin last week, would mean the UK may not leave the EU for many months and may even rule out Brexit altogether. She urged MPs to get behind her improved deal before a European Council summit in Brussels next .
Infiltration, security key issues: Bengal BJP chief
Anti-social activities through vast unguarded sections of the Indo-Bangladesh border and West Bengal government's "soft stand" on infiltrators are the major issues in the state in the run-up to the 2019 general election as they pose serious threat to the country's internal security, says state BJP President Dilip Ghosh.
MP BJP leaders join party's 'chowkidar' social media campaign
Madhya Pradesh BJP leaders Sunday joined the party's "chowkidar" social media poll campaign, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi added "chowkidar" to his Twitter handle profile and asked people to take the #MainBhiChowkidar pledge against corruption. Among the leaders was former MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state unit chief Rakesh Singh. "Chowkidar" is a term often used by the PM to describe his role at the Centre as a watchdog against corruption as well as his hands-on style of work. However, the Congress, which has alleged corruption to the tune of several thousand crore in the Rafale fighter jet purchase deal, has been hitting back with the slogan "chowkidar chor hai" (watchman is a thief). The ruling BJP has now turned the watchman moniker into Lok Sabha poll campaign ammunition by asking people to use it along with their names on social media platforms. Several Union ministers and BJP leaders have ...
Tie-up to fight BJP, AIADMK; no compromise on ideology: CPI(M)
: The electoral alliance in Tamil Nadu has been forged in view of the prevailing political situation and the party has not compromised on its ideology, CPI (M) politburo member G Ramakrishnan said Sunday. All the constituents of the alliance were equally and seriously concerned over the alleged danger posed by BJP at the Centre and the ruling AIADMK in the state to the democratic and secular fabric of the country, he told reporters here. He was replying to a question on how the party was managing an alliance with Congress, whose ideology and economic policies were poles apart from the CPI (M). When pointed out to the criticism by BJP leaders on the claim of secular nature of the alliance, when parties with the name of religion in them - Indian Union Muslim League and Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam - he said these parties were also fighting for the cause which the CPI (M) also stood for. This was formed for eyeing not only on the elections but also on NEET, GST ...
Priyanka's visit to Lucknow cheers Congress workers
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's arrival here on Sunday has once again enthused party workers ahead of the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Omar open to alliance if Cong agrees seat sharing offer
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Vice President of the National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah said on Sunday that his party was open to a pre-poll alliance with the Congress if the latter agreed to NC's seat sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Congress not to field candidates in 7 seats in UP
The Congress on Sunday announced it will not contest seven Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh to return the favour of the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance, which has left two seats for the party in the state.
India now has 2,293 political parties, 149 registered between Jan & March
"Bharosa Party", "Sabsi Badi Party", and "Rashtriya Saaf Niti Party" are some of the 2,300- odd political parties that India has on the eve of the 2019 general elections. The Election Commission of India's latest data on political parties, registered till March 9, a day before the Lok Sabha elections were announced, reveal that the country is having a total of 2,293 political parties. They include seven "recognised national" and 59 "recognised state" parties. In fact, 149 political parties were registered with the poll panel between February and March on the eve of the announcement of the poll schedule. Till February this year, the country had 2,143 political parties registered with the Commission, with 58 of them getting registered ahead of the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telengana, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh during November-Deember last year. Some of the recently registered 149 parties include Bahujan Azad Party from Sitamarhi in Bihar, Samoohik Ekta Party from Kanpur
People will make the right choice in upcoming elections: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday exuded confidence that people will make the right choice in the forthcoming general elections by electing a stable government rather than 'mahamilawat gathbandhan', which is being envisaged as a road to disaster. The mahamilawat gathbandhan, which has leaders and political parties of different ideologies, can only promise political instability, said Jaitley in his seventh blog on 'Agenda 2019'. "At the cusp of history, India and Indians have a choice to make. Are they electing a six month Government or a five year Government? Are they choosing between a tried, tested and a performing leader or a chaotic crowd of non-leaders? "Is India looking at a Government which accelerates growth, development and poverty alleviation or is it looking for a Government made by persons who excel only at self-enrichment? I am confident that aspirational people of an evolving society will make the right choice," said Jaitley who is also the head of the publicity wing .
VCK chief to contest from Chidambaram
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which is part of the DMK-led alliance and has been allotted two seats in Tamil Nadu, Sunday said its chief Thol Thirumavalavan would contest the Chidambaram seat, and named 10 others for Andhra Pradesh and Kerala contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Another seat - Villupuram - in the state allotted to it by the DMK-led 'Secular Progressive Alliance' would be contested by the party general secretary and writer T Ravikumar, a former MLA. Addressing reporters here, Thirumavalavan said he would be contesting on an independent symbol, whereas Villupuram seat would be contested on the DMK's rising sun symbol. "This is an amicable decision taken with an aim to win both the constituencies," he said. Thirumavalavan was elected to parliament for the first time in 2009 from Chidambaram constituency, however, he lost to an AIADMK candidate when contested from the same seat in 2014 general elections. VCK would be contesting six lok sabha
EAM Swaraj arrives in Maldives for 2-day state visit
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Male on Sunday for a 2-day visit to the island nation.Swaraj is on an official state visit to the Maldives on March 17 and 18 at the invitation of her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid. She will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and other senior officials, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).Swaraj will hold a bilateral meeting with Shahid during her visit. She will also participate in delegation-level meetings with the Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam, Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon, Minister of Environment, Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan, and Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail."The ministers will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discuss the future programme of .
Activists of PoK, Gilgit urge UN to stop Pakistan from carrying out atrocities on locals
An organization of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit, seeking freedom of these areas from Pakistan, on Sunday urged the UN and world human rights bodies to intervene to end victimisation of locals by Pakistani forces.The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) issued the appeal while referring to the assault by Pakistani forces and it's "stooges" on a peaceful rally organised on Saturday to commemorate 'National day of State of Jammu and Kashmir' at Rawalakot in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).On March 16, UKPNP had organised a peaceful rally at Rawalakot in Poonch to commemorate foundation and National Day of the erstwhile princely state. On this day in 1846, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was formed. The rally was halted and people were threatened and harassed by the police. Peaceful protesters were also threatened to stop waving the historical flag of the former princely state."This is a clear violation of freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly and ...
Congress leaves 7 seats for SP-BSP, RLD in UP, forges alliance with JAP, Mahan Dal
The Congress party on Sunday announced to leave seven Lok Sabha seats for Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, where 80 seats are at stake.Talking to media persons here, UP Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar said: "We are leaving seven seats vacant for SP, BSP, and RLD. These are Mainpuri, Kannauj, Firozabad and the seats from where Mayawati ji, RLD's Jayant ji and Ajit Singh will contest ensuing Lok Sabha election.""We have also decided to give two seats to the Apna Dal--Gonda and Pilibhit," said Babbar, adding that the Congress party would chalk out a plan to work with the Mahan Dal as they have agreed to contest on the Congress symbol."We had talked to Mahan Dal earlier. They had said they were fine with whatever seats we give them. All they wanted was to contest the Vidhan Sabha election. For the Lok Sabha elections, they had said that they would contest on our symbol. We will find out a way to work with ...
Shah Faesal launches J&K People's Movement
Former IAS officer Shah Faesal launched a new political party at an impressive public rally here on Sunday.
Day after Odisha MLA quits Congress, joins BJP
Congress MLA from Salepur constituency in Odisha, Prakash Chandra Behera, on Sunday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party here in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
No reason to support Congress in Uttar Pradesh: Bhim Army
The Bhim Army said the Congress has done nothing for Dalits during its 60-year rule and there is no reason for it to support the party in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls. The remarks by the Bhim Army's national president Vinay Ratan Singh came days after Congress general secretary in-charge for east Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met its chief Chandrashekhar Azad at a hospital in Meerut on Wednesday, which is being seen as a Dalit outreach move of her party. "The Congress fought B R Ambedkar. The party ruled the country for so long, but did nothing for us. Atrocities were inflicted on Dalits under its rule. It gave rise to the RSS and the BJP," Singh alleged, adding "there's not a single reason for us to support it". "She wanted to meet Chandrashekhar bhai, but he said no. She then made a special request and they met for a few minutes. No political issue figured in their talks," he told PTI. The Dalit group's founder, Chandrashekhar Azad, had announced at a rally in the ...
M K Alagiri says DMK will meet same fate as in 2014 LS polls
: Expelled DMK leader and son of late chief minister M Karunanidhi, M K Alagiri Sunday said the DMK would face the same fate in the coming Lok Sabha elections as it did in the last parliamentary elections. Speaking to reporters at the airport here, the former Union Minister said the DMK had suffered a debacle in the 2014 parliamentary polls with its arch rival the AIADMK sweeping the elections winning 37 of the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu. The expelled DMK leader further said he would give views within a week on the DMK candidates to be fielded in the coming polls. Asked about the proposal of CPI (M)'s Madurai candidate S Venkatesan'sproposal to meet him, Alagiri said, "I will meet him as a matter of courtesy. I will give him due respect if he comes and meets me.
Aya Ram Gaya Ram culture gains pace in Odisha
With a few weeks left for Lok Sabha and assembly polls and major parties busy in finalising candidates, 'Aya Ram Gaya Ram culture seems to be gaining momentum in Odisha. Many leaders, including sitting MPs and MLAs, are now changing party loyalty fearing denial of tickets or defeat in the upcoming polls. Those who had soured their relations with the state leadership are also crossing over from one party to another. BJDs sitting MP from Nabarangpur Balabhadra Majhi left the ruling party alleging "neglect" and joined the BJP within 36 hours of resigning from the BJD. Balabhdra quit the BJD in the backdrop of speculation about the party fielding Odishas SC & ST Development Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi as its candidate from Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat. Two ex-BJD leaders - former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and former minister Damodar Rout - have also joined the BJP, vowing to oust Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Panda had resigned from the ruling BJD while Rout was ...
Former CBI Joint Director Lakshminarayana joins JSP
Former CBI Joint Director VV Lakshminarayana on Sunday joined Jana Sena party (JSP) along with his brother and former Vice-Chancellor Rajagopal.The decision was taken by Lakshminarayana after holding a meeting with JSP chief Pawan Kalyan on various issues.Speaking to ANI, the former CBI official said his decision to join JSP was based on the manifesto prepared by Pawan Kalyan."Working becomes easier when you find people with a similar mindset. I decided to join JSP after looking into the entire process and the manifesto prepared by Pawan Kalyan. Let us take his ideas forward so that society can be benefitted. Ultimately, public welfare is important," Lakshminarayana said.Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will go to polls on April 11, while counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Protests in US against Pak's state policy on terrorism
A group led by Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) protested here on Saturday against Pakistan's state policy on terrorism, saying it has "penetrated deep" into India and is spreading its tentacles globally.The protestors also raised the issue of illegal occupation of parts of Kashmir by Pakistan and made a strong demand for the return of these areas to India, their legal owner.They raised anti-Pakistan slogans and put up banners like "Global terrorist state - Pakistan", "Pakistan - Stop using terrorism as your state policy ", "Kashmir is an integral part of India - stop meddling".They said Pakistan's state policy on terrorism has "penerated deep into India and (is) spreading its tentacles globally".Munni Mohan from GKPD, which organised the protest along with Friends of India Society International, said, "Jammu and Kashmir became part of India through a legal document as an instrument of accession as was followed by other princely states in India.", according to a press ...