Page 1321 - Politics
Opposition approaches SC seeking matching of half EVM results with VVPAT
More than 21 Opposition parties have approached the Supreme Court seeking direction that 50 per cent EVM results are matched and crosschecked with voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) before the declaration of results in the upcoming general elections.The case will be heard tomorrow by a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.The opposition parties had earlier raised the issue of faulty EVMs during state elections.The move is being coordinated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and several other leaders have joined him in filing the petition.The other petitioners in the case are Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, Derek O'Brien, MK Stalin, Farooque Abdullah among others.Earlier on February 1, Opposition parties had organised a 'Save the Nation, Save the Democracy' meeting and formulated strategy to approach the Election Commission of India over the issue of alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).Later in the same ..
LS polls: NCP announces first list of candidates, Supriya Sule to contest from Baramati
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday announced its first list of candidates which includes 12 candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.The party has fielded NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule from Baramati constituency. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Supriya won from Baramati seat which used to be Sharad Pawar's bastion.The other candidates including Sanjay Dina Patil from Mumbai North East, Anand Paranjpe from Thane, Rajendra Shingane from Buldhana, Sunil Tatkare from Raigad, Udayanraje Bhosale from Satara, Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur, Gulabarao Deokar from Jalgaon, Rajesh Vitekar from Parbhani, and Babaji Balaram Patil from Kalyan parliamentary seat.Mohammad Faizal is the NCP candidate for Lakshadeep constituency.NCP has extended support to Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna chief Raju Shetti who is contesting from Hatkanangale. He won from the seat in the last election.Pawar had announced that he will not contest the ensuing general elections. The party
Beto O'Rourke to run for White House in 2020
Former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke On Thursday (local time) announced that he will be running for the White House in the upcoming presidential elections.In a video posted on his Twitter account, O'Rourke said, "This is a defining moment of truth for this country and for every single one of us. The challenges that we face right now, the interconnected crisis in our economy, our democracy and our climate have never been greater. They will either consume us, or they will afford us the greatest opportunity to unleash the genius of the United States of America"With his announcement, O'Rourke joins a crowded field of more than a dozen Democrats vying for the party's nomination, reported CNN.In the video, O'Rourke further added that he will run a "positive campaign"."This is going to be a positive campaign that seeks to bring out the very best from every single one of us; that seeks to unite a very divided country," said O'Rourke.The last year's mid-term elections thrust O'Rourke into ...
Expelled BJD MLA Damodar Rout joins BJP
Damodar Rout, an MLA in the Odisha Assembly and former minister in the BJD government, on Thursday joined the BJP in presence of senior party leaders. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had recently removed him from his cabinet and later expelled him from the BJD. Rout joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and party general secretary and in-charge of Odisha Arun Singh. Rout said he would work for the ouster of the Patnaik government in the Assembly elections scheduled to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. Pradhan said his joining the BJP will strengthen the party in the state. Rout had been a minister in all the four governments headed by Patnaik and was seen to be close to him before falling out with the BJD president. He is the second BJD bigwig to switch over to the saffron camp. Recently, Bijayant Panda also joined the BJP.
UPPL to contest Kokrajhar, Mangaldoi constituencies in Assam
Former Rajya Sabha MP Urkhao Gwra Brahma-led United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) on Thursday said it will contest from Kokrajhar and Mangaldoi seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Assam. The decision to fight only two seats out of the 14 in the state was taken during a meeting of the party's executive committee at Kajalgain in Chirang district. "We have decided to contest in Kokrajhar and Mangaldoi constituencies in the coming polls. We are sure that we will win both the seats," Brahma, also a Sahitya Akademi awardee, told PTI. For the Kokrajhar (ST) seat, Brahma will contest himself, while former All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) vice president Pradip Daimary will fight from Mangaldoi. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Brahma contested as Independent from Kokrajhar and came second with 2.79 lakh votes. Independent Naba Kumar Sarania, a former ULFA militant, had recorded a massive victory with 6.34 lakh votes. Polling in Mangaldoi (17.75 lakh voters) and Kokrajhar (17.49 ...
Akhilesh-Mayawati-Ajit's joint rally from April 7
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh will address first joint rally in Uttar Pradesh on April 7, leaders said on Thursday.
Rahul standing firmly behind Vadra in land deals reeking of corruption: BJP
The BJP on Thursday stepped up its attack on Rahul Gandhi over alleged corruption in land transactions involving his brother-in-law Robert Vadra, saying the Congress chief is standing firmly behind Vadra in these deals. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad showed purported sale deeds of land and alleged that the entire Gandhi family including Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband had bought land from H L Pahwa. "Rahul Gandhi is standing firmly behind Robert Vadra in all the land deals reeking of impropriety, abuse of power and corruption," he alleged. Prasad also alleged that Rahul Gandhi was opposing the Rafale deal at the behest of middleman of a rival aircraft manufacturer. Union Minister Smriti Irani had levelled similar allegations against the Congress leaders on Wednesday citing media reports following which the opposition party had termed the charges "baseless" and an attempt .
Congress facing troubles in seat-sharing
The Congress is facing dissensions in several states ahead of Lok Sabha elections and is yet to firm up alliances in crucial states like Bihar even as the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is less than a month away.
Cong appoints DCC chiefs for Mumbai
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday appointed presidents and working presidents of District Congress Committees in Mumbai. Ashok Sutrale has been named DCC chief of North Mumbai while Rajul Vyas and Ghanshyam Dubey were named as working presidents from the district, a party statement said. Praneil Nair has been appointed president of North East Mumbai, while Vitthal Lokare and R R Singh were named as working presidents for the district. Clive Dias has been named DCC president of North West Mumbai and Chandrashekhar Dubey and Annu Malbari have been appointed DCC working presidents for the district, the statement said. Gandhi also appointed office bearers of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee.
Centre defends electoral bonds in SC; says reforms aim to defeat black money
The Centre on Thursday defended in the Supreme Court its decision to issue electoral bonds saying it aimed at ensuring "enhanced accountability" and pushing electoral reforms "to defeat the growing menace of black money". In an affidavit, filed in a writ petition of CPI(M) and its general secretary Sitaram Yechury, the Centre said the electoral bonds were introduced on January 2, 2018 to promote transparency in funding and donation received by political parties. These can be encashed by an eligible political party only through their authorised bank accounts. "Keeping in view the emergent need to ensure that there is enhanced accountability and electoral reforms to defeat the growing menace of black money, especially when the country is moving towards a cashless-digital economy, the legislature has adopted a conscious legislative policy culminating in the introduction of the electronic reforms," the Centre's affidavit said. It added that the electoral bonds do not have the name of the .
Rahul alleges Modi 'scared' of Chinese prez, BJP retorts why is he in 'celebratory mood'
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not saying a word against China for blocking Masood Azhar's listing as a global terrorist because he was "scared" of its president Xi Jinping, prompting the BJP to retort why the Congress president was in a "celebratory" mood when India was in "pain". Rahul Gandhi's criticism of Modi came a day after China for the fourth time blocked a bid in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's chief Azhar as a "global terrorist" by putting a technical hold on the proposal. The Chinese move was termed as "disappointing" by India. "Weak Modi is scared of Xi. Not a word comes out of his mouth when China acts against India. NoMo's China diplomacy: 1. Swing with Xi in Gujarat. 2. Hug Xi in Delhi. 3. Bow to Xi in China," Gandhi said on Twitter, referring to unprecedented welcome provided by Modi to Chinese president Xi during his India visit in 2014. As Congress leaders, ...
Punjab govt complete failure, law and deteriorating by day in state: Kejriwal
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the Congress government in Punjab has been a "complete failure" and the law and order situation in the state has been "deteriorating by the day". Kejriwal's reaction came over the alleged firing on AAP Patiala district president Chetan Singh when he was trying to save a girl from being abducted by some men. "Law and order situation deteriorating by the day in Punjab. Capt. govt has been a complete failure!" he said in a tweet, referring to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh demanded that the Punjab government immediately take action against the accused.
Panels formed to keep tab on fake news, media ads in Rajasthan
Several committees have been formed to keep a watch on instances of paid and fake news as also on suspicious ads on media platforms including social media, during Lok Sabha elections, officials said Thursday. Rajasthan's Additional Chief Electoral Officer Jogaram said the committees have been formed in coordination with the Information and Public Relations Department. Addressing officials of the media cell set up for Lok Sabha elections, Jogaram said pre-certification is mandatory for any political party or candidate to advertise in electronic media or e-papers. However, it is not mandatory for advertising in the print media, he said. He said that Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) will be formed in all 33 districts under District Election Officers. Rajasthan will vote for the Lok Sabha elections in two phases -- April 29 and May 6.
Congress scores self goal over MPLAD charges: Irani
Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani termed allegations levelled against her by the Congress of violating the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Fund rules as a self-goal and accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of committing a financial fraud in his constituency Amethi.
I never keep enmity in politics: Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari Thursday said he never keeps enmity with political rivals, and extended his good wishes to former BJP MP Nana Patole, pitted against him for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat election next month. Patole's name was among the five Congress candidates from Maharashtra announced on Wednesday. To a query on the Congress fielding Patole from his home turf, Gadkari told reporters here, "It is good, any candidate has the right to contest election. I would not like to comment or criticise any candidate." The senior BJP leader said he will go to people with the work he has done in the last five years. When a reporter said that at one time Patole had Gadkari's blessings when he was in the BJP, the minister said if one leaves the party, it does not mean blessings will go away. "I have never kept such 'dushmani' (enmity) in politics. My best wishes to him," the Lok Sabha member said. Patole, who earlier won the Bhandara-Gondiya parliamentary seat in Maharashtra, ..
Congress list for AP expected Friday
Hoping for a resurrection in Andhra Pradesh after facing a rout in the 2014 polls, post-bifurcation of the state, the Congress is set to announce its candidates Friday for the April 11 elections to Lok Sabha and the assembly. The Congress has decided to go it alone in the state, dumping ruling TDP in the backdrop of the severe drubbing their alliance received in neighbouring Telangana Assembly elections in December last. It got only 2.77 per cent votes in Andhra Pradesh in 2014, with its candidates losing deposits in almost every constituency, as people of the state punished the grand old party for the manner in which it divided the state to create Telangana. The Congress Screening Committee, headed by AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy, would peruse a list of shortlisted candidates following which it would be vetted by the Central Election Committee under Rahul Gandhis leadership, AP Congress Committee president N Raghuveera Reddy said here Thursday. Based on our ...
Sehwag declined BJP's offer to contest polls citing personal reasons: Delhi BJP leader
Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has declined the BJP's offer to contest the Lok Sabha polls on party ticket citing personal reasons, a top leader of its Delhi unit said. He, however, asserted that Shewag's former teammate Gautam Gambhir is "serious" regarding making a foray into politics and may contest the polls from Delhi. Sehwag's name was under consideration for the West Delhi seat that is currently being held by BJP MP Parvesh Verma. But, Sehwag refused the offer citing personal reasons, the leader said. He said, "Sehwag said he was not interested in politics or contesting elections." In February, there were reports that Sehwag might contest the polls on BJP ticket from Rohtak in Haryana. But the former India opener had posted on Twitter, "Some things never change, like this rumour. Same in 2014, and no innovation even in Rumour in 2019. Not interested then, not interested now. #BaatKhatam #5YearChallenge (sic)." In July last year, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh ...
Retaliate against China, Swadeshi Jagran Manch to Modi
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) - the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's economic wing - on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "retaliate" against China for blocking the UN resolution to declare Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
Rahul launches poll campaign in Kerala, slams CPI-M, BJP-RSS
Kick-starting his party's election campaign in Kerala, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Thursday made a scathing attack on the ruling CPI(M) in the State and the BJP-RSS for the violence being unleashed by them. "BJP and CPI(M) use violence which is the weapon of the weak," Gandhi said as he hit out at the two parties at a massive election rally here this evening. Gandhi also referred to the Rafale deal to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reiterated his promise that a Minimum Guarantee Income would be provided to all citizens if the Congress party was voted to power. Stating that he was happy to come to a state where people of different ideas and religions live happily together, he said an "ideological battle" was being played out in the country today. Taking pot shots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Gandhi said "the Prime Minister's job is not to tell the nation his Mann ki Baat but to listen to the mann ki baat of the people," he said. The congress president said the
BJP kick-starts Lok Sabha poll campaign in Kashmir Valley
The BJP kick-started its Lok Sabha campaign in Kashmir Valley with a meet at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park on Thursday. The 'Shakti Kendra Sammelan' was presided by the party's national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna. The agenda of the meeting was to strengthen ground-level organisation by holding several such meetings in the state, which has six Lok Sabha seats. The party had last month launched a programme to meet workers in clusters of two or three constituencies across the country. In Jammu, BJP president Amit Shah addressed workers of two constituencies. Khanna said the party hopes to win over 400 seats in the upcoming general election on the basis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name and the performance of his government. "Last time our mission was 272-plus seats. This time BJP's aim is 400-plus seats. We fought the last election on Modi's name, this time we will fight it on his name as well as on the basis of the work he has done. In the past five years, we have done things that