Page 1293 - Politics

NDA announces seat sharing in Bihar

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday announced the seat sharing in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Chamling starts campaign for 6th term as Sikkim CM

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, seeking his sixth straight term, has launched his campaign. He boarded a taxi from here to Namchi in solidarity with the drivers' fraternity highlighting their role as "ambassadors" of the state.

May warns of long Brexit delay if MPs do not back her deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May has issued a stark warning to lawmakers that if they do not back her Brexit deal, there is the possibility the country "will not leave the EU for many months, if ever". Her appeal comes after a chaotic week in parliament in which MPs twice massively rejected the Brexit deal May struck with EU leaders with just two weeks left before Britain is due to leave the bloc. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, May said that if MPs do back her deal before the European Council summit on Thursday, she would seek "a short technical extension" beyond the March 29 date to leave the EU. Acknowledging it was "not an ideal outcome", May said "it is something the British people would accept if it led swiftly to delivering Brexit." "The alternative if Parliament cannot agree the deal by that time is much worse", she said, with Britain likely having to take part in European elections in May if there was a longer extension. "The idea of the British people going to the polls ..

LS poll: BJP workers want Amit Shah to contest from Gandhinagar

Gujarat BJP workers want party president Amit Shah to contest from Gandhinagar parliamentary seat in the sate where polling will be held on April 23, a party legislator said on Sunday. The seat is currently held by BJP veteran L K Advani. Observers were sent by the BJP on Saturday to seek an opinion of party workers and leaders in Gandhinagar about the candidate from the seat. "BJP workers want party president Amit Shah to contest from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. I made this demand in front of the observers and it was supported by all," said Kishor Chauhan, a party MLA from Vejalpur, which is a part of Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. He said Shah was earlier an MLA from Sarkhej seat, which is also a part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. "He (Shah) knows everybody here and is the right candidate to represent us," Chauhan said. No BJP worker or leader staked claim for Gandhinagar and all of them "in one voice demanded that their national leader contest from the seat", ...

Goa BJP finalises names of candidates for state's 2 LS seats

The core committee of the Goa BJP Sunday met to finalise candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the coastal state. Elections to the two Lok Sabha seats and three Assembly seats in Goa will be held on April 23. Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant said names have been finalised for the North Goa and South Goa seats, but refused to reveal who they were. He said the two names finalised would be sent to the party high command in Delhi which will make the official announcement. North Goa and South Goa are currently with the BJP and are represented by Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar respectively. With Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar ailing and his health deteriorating on Saturday, leaders said there was no discussion on leadership change. BJP Goa general secretary Sadanand Tanavade said it was a meeting to shortlist Lok Sabha candidates and no discussion took place on the leadership issue. However, former state minister and core committee member ...

Sushma Swaraj arrives in Maldives for two-day visit

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday arrived in the Maldives on a two-day visit, in the first full-fledged bilateral trip from India to the island nation after the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power in November. In a special gesture, Swaraj was received at the airport by her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid and Foreign Secretary Abdul Mohamed, External Affairs Ministry (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj receives a warm welcome on arrival in #Maldives. In a special gesture, FM @abdulla_shahid & Foreign Secretary Abdul Mohamed receive EAM at airport. 1st high-level visit to Maldives since new Maldives government assumed office in Nov. 2018," he said in a tweet. In Male, Swaraj will have a bilateral meeting with Shahid and delegation-level talks with Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, National Planning and Infrastructure Minister Mohamed Aslam, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister ...

Balbir Singh Jakhar AAP's 7th LS poll candidate, to fight from West Delhi seat

The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday announced Balbir Singh Jakhar its candidate for the West Delhi parliamentary seat. The AAP had on March 2 announced the names of its candidates for six of the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital. AAP leader and Delhi minister Gopal Rai announced Jakhar's name as party candidate in a press conference here. Atishi will contest from East Delhi, Guggan Singh from northwest Delhi, Raghav Chadha from south, Dilip Pandey from northeast, Pankaj Gupta from Chandni Chowk and Brijesh Goyal from New Delhi seats. These six candidates were earlier appointed as the party's in-charge for the parliamentary constituencies in the national capital.

Sena's Khotkar withdraws demand to fight from Jalna LS seat

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra Sunday ironed out a major difference with state minister Arjun Khotkar withdrawing his demand to be allotted the Jalna Lok Sabha seat, currently held by BJP state unit chief Raosaheb Danve. Danve has been MP from Jalna since 1999 and Khotkar, a Sena minister and local rival of the former, had been demanding that he be allowed to fight from the seat on a Sena ticket or be allowed to engage in a "friendly" fight with the BJP leader. In a marathon meeting held Sunday at a private hotel in Aurangabad which was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Khotkar announced he was withdrawing his demand as he understood the "principle of alliance". The two parties had in February entered into an alliance for the April-May Lok Sabha polls and the state Assembly elections to be held later this year. "I have understood the principle of alliance. I am a hardcore Shiv Sena party worker and would

Amid Parrikar's health concerns, Goa BJP holds meeting to discuss succession plan

Admitting that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parriker's health has deteriorated, BJP core committee leader Dayanand Mandrekar on Sunday said 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," he told ANI.Mandrekar also confirmed that BJPMLAs and ministers have been called to the headquarters to discuss a succession plan, and the party's general secretary of the state has directed all BJPMLAs to remain in Panaji.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.Congress is currently the single-largest party in the state with 14 MLAs. BJP has 13 legislators, including Parrikar, and its government is supported by three MLAs each .

Chinese Ambassador to India says Masood Azhar "matter will be resolved"

Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Sunday said he is "optimistic" that the matter pertaining to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar being designated as a 'global terrorist' will be resolved and his country has put "only a technical hold" on it before a UN Security Council committee.Talking to ANI, Luo said, "Regarding Masood Azhar, we fully understand and we fully believe this matter. We understand India's concerns and are optimistic this matter will be resolved.""This matter (of putting Masood Azhar on UNSC 1267 sanctions committee list) will be resolved; this is only a technical hold which means there is time for continued consultations. It will be resolved, believe me," he asserted."After Wuhan summit last year, the two-way cooperation is on right and fast track. We are so satisfied with that cooperation and I am quite optimistic about future cooperation," he added.On March 13, China had blocked a proposal by the US, the UK and France, among others, to enlist Azhar as

Uncertainty looms large on Priyanka's 'Ganga-Yatra'

Even as the Congress general secretary for the Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi arrived in state capital on Sunday, uncertainty looms large over her proposed "Ganga-Yatra" on a steamer boat from Prayagraj to Varanasi, as the party is still waiting for the Prayagraj district administration's nod.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Lucknow to hold a meeting with party workers on Sunday and as per the earlier schedule, she was to take a 140 km long, 3-day 'Ganga-Yatra' on a steamer boat, starting Monday, from Chhatnag in Prayagraj to Assi Ghat in Varanasi.However, party sources claimed that due to certain obstructions on the proposed route, Priyanka may start her journey from Mawaiya Ghat of Karchana at 9 am on 18 March instead of Sangam at Prayagraj."There are many changes in the Priyanka Gandhi's programme as we have not got the administrative approval. She will first visit her paternal place Anand Bhawan and Swaraj Bhawan to take blessings after which she will take the water route in ..

RJD not ready to give more than 8 seats to Congress in Bihar: Sources

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is not ready to give more than eight Lok Sabha seats to Congress which had already announced its candidates on 11 seats for the ensuing polls, sources said on Sunday.The two parties in Mahagathbandhan have not yet come to a conclusion over seat sharing in Bihar.According to the sources, if RJD gives 11 seats, they will have to give seats to their other allies in Mahagathbandhan in the same ratio. In such a case, RJD will get only 16 Lok Sabha seats.On Saturday, Congress said it will field 11 candidates in Bihar for the ensuing elections where 40 parliamentary seats are at stake."The decision was taken at a meeting of Congress Election Committee. There is no meaning of sending names of more than 11 candidates as we were offered only 11 seats. Rahul Gandhi will take a final call on the names of candidates and soon he will declare the names," Congress leader Akhilesh Singh told ANI.The grand alliance formed by the Opposition in Bihar includes the Rashtriya ...

TN: AIADMK to contest on 20 seats, BJP on 5

The AIADMK will contest on 20 Lok Sabha seats including South Chennai, Theni, Pollachi, Karur and Erode while BJP would be fielding its candidates on Kanyakumari, Sivagangai, Coimbatore, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituencies.The announcement was made in a joint press conference held by the BJP, AIADMK, PMK and DMDK on Sunday.However, the candidates contesting from these seats are yet to be disclosed."AIADMK to contest on 20 Lok Sabha seats which include South Chennai, Theni, Pollachi, Karur and Erode. BJP to contest on LS constituencies of Kanyakumari, Sivagangai, Coimbatore, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram," said Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam."PMK to contest on Lok Sabha seats of Dharmapuri, Viluppuram, Arakkonam, Chennai Central, Dindigul, Sriperumbudur and Cuddalore. DMDK to contest on Kallakurichi, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai North, Virudunagar. All India NR Congress at Puducherry," he said.AIADMK will contest on Salem, Namakkal,

Chhattisgarh has already rejected BJP: CM Bhupesh Baghel

Asserting that the Congress will sweep the upcoming Lok Sabha election by defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party Party (BJP), Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said the people in his state had "already rejected the BJP," while referring to the Assembly elections held in November last year.Speaking to media here, Baghel said, "You might remember that prior to assembly elections they (BJP) had said they will contest relying on Narendra Modi's face. At that time, the posters used to have his face in large size, and that of Raman Singh and others use to be smaller. By the time the elections came and Rahul ji attacked them over Rafale deal, Raman Singh's face was made larger and Amit Shah, Narendra Modi's faces were made smaller. People in Chhattisgarh have already rejected them. BJP itself had accepted it. "In Chhattisgarh, polling for the 11 Lok Sabha seats at stake will be conducted in three phases- April 11, April 18, April 23, and the counting of votes will take place

PM Modi 'hides behind' terrorists, ISI when asked tough questions, claims Pawan Khera

"Whenever farmers of this country and unemployed youths ask tough questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he hides behind terrorists and Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI," Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged on Sunday.The comment comes a day after Khera had said that 'Modi' stood for 'Masood, Osama, Dawood and ISI' during a television debate, a comment which the Congress leader is facing flak for."From morning to evening, the Prime Minister and his party keep targeting Nehru and each and every leader. If you remember during Gujarat elections, Modihad alleged former prime minister ManmohanSingh and Gen DeepakKapoor were colluding with Pakistan to defeat him in Gujarat. What is that? Why should I not be outraged when they abuse our leaders? My leaders Pt. JawaharLal Nehru and ManmohanSingh were also country's prime ministers," Khera told ANI.On Congress staking claim to form government in Goa, he said, "There is a lot of restlessness within the BJP and also among their ...

Afghanistan summons Pak diplomat over Pak PM's remarks

The Afghan Foreign Ministry summoned on Saturday a senior official from Pakistan's embassy here over Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement which has been taken as interference in internal affairs by Kabul."The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan summoned the counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Kabul over the recent remarks by Pakistan's Prime Minister Mr Imran Khan," Sebghat Ahmadi, the spokesperson of the ministry, said."We shared our serious criticism with the Pakistani side. The Afghan government considers these remarks as clear and evident interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs," TOLOnews quoted Ahmadi as saying.This comes after Khan told a public gathering on Friday that peace was "around the corner" in Afghanistan and a "good government will be established"."Negotiations have been initiated with the Taliban. God willing, our brothers in Afghanistan would live together in peace in the coming days...A good government will be ...

BJP denies involvement of Dy Speaker in Pollachi sex scandal, says 'will demolish allegations with facts'

Amid speculations of Tamil Nadu Assembly deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman's involvement in the Pollachi sex scandal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader H. Raja, while rubbishing these, said allegations will soon be demolished by facts.Speaking to ANI, Raja said, "The deputy speaker himself has helped the victim's family to proceed in the case. Unnecessarily, the DMK and other small political outfits want to create a wrong impression in the minds of the people in the wake of the elections. It has become the practice of opposition in Tamil Nadu to plant the seeds of suspicion in the minds of people against the government. We will demolish all their allegations with facts.""The case has been handed over to CBI and culprit will be punished to ensure that justice is done," he added.Earlier, the Chennai Police had registered a case against Sabareesan Vedamurthy, son-in-law of DMK president MK Stalin, for allegedly spreading rumours of Jayaraman's involvement in the issue.More than fifty

Ex-Congress MLA 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.

Pakistan is global terror state: Kashmiri Pandits

The Houston chapters of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) and Friends of India Society International took out a protest against Pakistans state policy on terrorism that has penetrated deep into India and spread its tentacles globally.

Cong to repeat victorious performance in Rajasthan; unanimity on LS candidates: Pilot

There is "complete unanimity" among all senior Congress leaders in Rajasthan on the names of the candidates to be fielded in almost all of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said Sunday, asserting that his party will accomplish its "mission 25" in the state. The Rajasthan Congress chief also asserted that the Lok Sabha polls will be fought on bread and butter issues and not on emotional matters that the BJP wants to take the narrative to. The BJP-led government is trying to shift the narrative away from issues of economic non-performance and job creation, he told PTI in an interview. The government has made deliberate attempts to make institutions hollow and systematically dismantle them over the last five years, Pilot alleged, citing the examples of institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Reserve Bank of India. Asked about the issue of infighting over ticket distribution which had reportedly been a concern