Page 1359 - Politics
Pawar not to fight Lok Sabha polls
NCP chief Sharad Pawar Monday said he has decided not to contest the next month's Lok Sabha election from the Madha constituency in Maharashtra. The Madha seat is held by his party leader Vijaysingh Mohite Patil. Pawar's announcement at a press conference came after recent speculation that he may contest from there. "There was a lot of insistence (from within NCP) that I contest from Madha. However, my candidature hasn't been declared yet," Pawar said. The NCP chief also indicated that Parth, son of his nephew and senior party leader Ajit Pawar, may be fielded from Maval LS constituency in Pune district. "Many people are asking (me) to field Parth from Maval," the former Union minister said. Asked if the fear of possible defeat made him rethink of contesting from Madha, Pawar said, "I have successfully faced 14 elections.
UK prime minister fights to save Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May is fighting to save her European Union divorce deal with the negotiations deadlocked a day before Parliament is scheduled to vote on the plan. May promised lawmakers two weeks ago they would get a second vote on the deal by March 12, but hard-line Brexit supporters are warning she should postpone the vote rather than risk another crushing defeat. The House of Commons overwhelmingly rejected the deal in January, primarily because of concerns over arrangements for the Irish border. "Technical" talks aimed at securing concessions from the EU failed to secure a breakthrough over the weekend. Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell told the Times of London that "anything that avoids what looks like a massive defeat on Tuesday is worth considering.
SFI leader attacked in Kerala, 2 BJP workers arrested
A Students' Federation of India (SFI) leader was attacked allegedly by BJP workers at Parassala in the district, police said on Monday. The SFI leader sustained serious injuries in the late Sunday night attack, they added. Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists were arrested in connection with the incident on Monday, the police said. Four activists of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala, including the SFI leader, and three BJP workers have been hospitalised after political violence erupted at Parassala, the border area of Thiruvananthapuram district. Abu Thahir, a district committee member of the SFI, was hacked, leading to head injuries. The SFI is the students' wing of the CPI(M). "Santhosh Kumar (36) and Girikumar (38) are the two who have been arrested in the case. They will be produced before a court on Monday. Further investigation is on," a police official told PTI. Houses and vehicles belonging to both CPI(M) and BJP leaders have come under attacks ...
With LS poll declaration, countdown begins for NDA exit: MP CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Monday said the countdown to the defeat of the NDA government at the Centre has begun with the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule. The Election Commission Sunday announced in Delhi that Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases in the country, beginning April 11. Counting of votes would be taken up on May 23. "With the announcement of national elections, the countdown for the (PM) Modi government has started. I have faith that the voters would send a message by their ballots that they are not fools and won't be taken for a ride again," he said here. Asked about some state BJP leaders claiming that his government would "collapse automatically" after the NDA retains power in the 2019 general polls, Nath said, "I can't stop them from dreaming." Polls for 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh will be held in four phases on April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.
Ruling LDF kick-starts campaign in Ker; Cong, BJP yet to finalise candidates for LS polls
With the crucial Lok Sabha polls falling on April 23 in Kerala, the ruling LDF has kick-started its social media and door-to-door campaigning, while the opposition UDF and BJP-led NDA are yet to finalise their candidates. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, which started the process of candidate selection much earlier, had announced its nominees days ahead of the announcement of the poll dates by the Election Commission. While the Left candidates began meeting the voters personally, their political opponents are yet to take a plunge into the poll fray. Senior CPI leader and LDF candidate in Thiruvananthapuram constituency, C Divakaran, was seen seeking votes from women devotees who came for the Pongala ritual at a local temple here. Almost all Left candidates have drawn up their poll strategy and begun fierce campaigning as elections are just 42 days away in the state. The LDF activists are going ahead with wall writing and pasting posters of their candidates. As the poll outcome is
Balakot strike was done for sole purpose of winning LS elections: Farooq Abdullah
National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Monday made serious allegations against the BJP-led Centre, saying it ordered the air strike in Pakistan's Balakot with the "sole purpose" of winning Lok Sabha elections. The Srinagar MP alleged the BJP has "failed" on all fronts and it was apprehended that there would be a fight or skirmish with Pakistan before the polls so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes some kind of an "avatar" without whom India cannot survive. "This surgical strike (air strike) was done only for the purpose of election...totally for the election. We lost an aircraft worth crores of rupees. Be thankful that the IAF pilot (Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman) survived and returned from Pakistan with respect," Abdullah told reporters here. In a predawn exercise on February 26, the Indian Air Force pounded Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Balakot. The air strike came in response to a terrorist attack in Pulwama on February 14, in which 40 CRPF ...
EC should consider non-BJP parties' plea to hold assembly polls in J-K: CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Monday urged the Election Commission to "seriously" consider all the non-BJP parties' plea in Jammu and Kashmir to hold the assembly elections in the state simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. In a press statement, the politburo of CPI(M) said, "All the non-BJP political parties in J-K, in their meeting with the full Election Commission when it visited the state, appealed for holding of simultaneous election. The Election Commission should seriously consider this issue and announce the schedule for the assembly election simultaneously." It also said confusion prevails as to how the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir was good for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but not for the assembly polls. "It is perplexing how the security situation in Jammu & Kashmir is good for the conduct of the Lok Sabha elections and not for the assembly elections, which are also due. Currently, Jammu and Kashmir is under central rule as its assembly is ...
Air strike was decisive step showing India can go to any extent fighting terrorism: VK Singh
Union Minister VK Singh on Monday said that the IAF strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26, was a decisive step and paradigm shift reflecting that India can go to any extent to fight terrorism."The air strike is a decisive decision of the government and shows a paradigm shift asserting that India can go to any extent to fight terrorism. I believe all citizens of the country have appreciated this," Singh told ANI.In reference to Lok Sabha elections round the corner, he said that people with their votes will choose between a government that takes strict action on national security and the one which had "lax attitude" on the issue."While addressing a rally in Ghaziabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked people as to what type of government they want. The one which takes strict action on national security or the other which has a lax attitude on the issue, I think people themselves will answer it," said Singh.On the development front, the Minister ...
BJD will perform "very well" in Lok Sabha & Assembly
Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday claimed that his regional party will perform "very well" in the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections. Stating that the process for selection of candidates for the the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections was on, Patnaik said the list would be finalised very soon. BJD will field candidates in the all 147 Assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha. The regional party presently has 118 MLAs in the Assembly and 20 MPs in Lok Sabha. On the ruling party's poll preparations, the BJD chief said his party was fully prepared. "The BJD will perform very well in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections," he said. While replying to a question on the problem of plenty as a number of retired bureaucrats have joined the BJD, Patnaik said: "We will manage it well." Meanwhile, the BJD president appointed former bureaucrat Gopabandhu Das as his political secretary. Das was earlier additional secretary ..
Rouhani on first official visit to Iraq
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday left for his first official visit to Iraq with the aim of bolstering ties with the Shia-majority Arab country amid the US' renewed sanctions on Tehran.
Guj Cong MLA resigns, third legislator to quit party in 4 days
A day ahead of the Congress Working Committee meeting here, Jamnagar (Rural) MLA Vallabh Dharaviya quit the party and tendered his resignation from the Assembly to Speaker Rajendra Trivedi Monday afternoon. Dharaviya's is the third resignation of a Congress MLA in the past four days. "Dharaviya has resigned as Jamnagar (Rural) MLA. He told me he is resigning voluntarily," Speaker Trivedi confirmed. A little while before Dharaviya quit, his former party colleague Parsotam Sabariya, who had resigned as Dhrangadhra MLA on March 8, joined the ruling BJP in the presence of its senior leaders I K Jadeja and K C Patel. Sabariya was arrested in October last year in connection with an irrigation scam and was granted bail by the Gujarat High Court in February. Sabariya said he was not under pressure to join the BJP and claimed he was making the switch to develop his constituency. "I am joining the BJP to develop my constituency. I was not under any pressure and have resigned from .
AIADMK calls for applications for Assembly by-elections
Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK on Monday said those aspiring to contest in the Assembly by-elections to be held for 18 constituencies have to submit their applications on Wednesday.
BJP accuses Kumaraswamy of using official position to promote family
The Karnataka BJP on Monday accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of using his official position to cater to the needs of his "family business", amid his moves to induct his son into politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) criticism against the chief minister comes at a time when Kumaraswamy is making all efforts to ensure his actor son Nikhil Kumaraswamy's victory from the party stronghold of Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. The JD(S) had recently indicated that Nikhil would be the party candidate from Mandya. "CM @hd_kumaraswamy in last 8 months. 1st 2 Months - How to form govt, 3rd & 4th Month - How to help wife win elections, 5th & 6th Month - How to promote Son's movie, 7th & 8th Month - How to ensure Son win Mandya seat in MP election. CM seat is catering the needs of family business (sic)," the Karnataka BJP said in a tweet. Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha is an MLA from Ramanagara, the seat vacated by her husband as he chose Channapattana out of the two seats he had .
Can't travel to Delhi for questioning due to safety concerns: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to NIA
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to question him here instead of Delhi as he fears for his security in view of "conditions of hostility". The NIA is investigating a case related to terror funding in Kashmir through hawala channels. The agency last month carried out a series of raids on separatists, including the Mirwaiz, and summoned him for questioning in Delhi. "Under the prevailing conditions of hostility wherein there is a threat to the personal safety of my client, it becomes unwise for my client to travel to Delhi," counsel for the Mirwaiz, Aijaz Ahmad Dhar, said in a letter to the NIA in response to the agency's March 6 notice. If the NIA wants to question the Mirwaiz, it can do so in Srinagar and he is willing to cooperate as "he has nothing to hide", the counsel said in the letter dated March 10, a copy of which was released on Monday. Dhar said his client is not acquainted with the subject matter of ..
Hold elections to J&K Assembly: CPI-M
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Monday urged the Election Commission to hold elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly along with the Lok Sabha polls.
AIADMK begins candidates selection process for LS polls,
The AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Monday kick-started its candidate selection process for the April 18 Lok Sabha elections in the state, with the interview of ticket aspirants of ten constituencies. The ruling party also invited applications from aspiring candidates for the by-polls to 18 Assembly segments, which will be held along with the parliamentary polls. Elections to 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry segment will be held on April 18, the second of the seven phases of polling across the country for a total of 543 seats. On Monday, the AIADMK Parliamentary Board, whose members include party Coordinator and state Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, interviewed the aspiring candidates for 10 constituencies including Salem, Nilgiris and Coimbatore, a party release said. The AIADMK is heading the NDA in Tamil Nadu, whose constituents are the BJP, PMK, DMDK, Puthiya Tamizhagam and Puthiya
Congress' CWC meet, rally in Gujarat on March 12
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting will be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The meeting would be followed by a mega rally at Adalaj town in Gandhinagar where Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to address her first public rally after entering politics. CWC, the highest decision-making body of the Congress, will be meeting in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the first time since 1961, after a gap of 58 years. Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel will also join the Congress on Tuesday in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi. After the meeting at the Sardar Patel memorial building, senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, UPC chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, as well as current and former party chief ministers will attend the 'Jan Sankalp' rally', state party unit chief Amit Chavda said. Before the CWC meet, .
Gabbard declines to call Syria's Assad a war criminal
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu US Congresswoman and Democratic 2020 presidential candidate, said that she believed her past comments on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been misunderstood, declining to call him a war criminal.
Former Khurda MLA Jitu Mitra returns to BJD
Senior BJP leader and former MLA from Khurda, Jyotirindra Nath Mitra, Monday joined the ruling BJD, party sources said. The two-rime MLA, popularly known as Jitu Mitra, had quit the BJD in 2014 after being denied a party ticket. He then switched over to the BJP and contested the Assembly elections unsuccessfully, they said. Mitra returned to the BJD's fold on Monday in the presence of party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. Mitra, who was elected to the 12th Assembly as an independent candidate and later on a BJD ticket, said: "This is like homecoming for me. Myself and sitting MLA Rajendra Sahu, will work together to strengthen the BJD". "I am glad that Jitu Mitra returned to the party. I welcome him and his supporters to the party. His joining will strengthen the BJD," Patnaik said.
Youth held with grenades outside Army camp in J&K's Poonch
A youth was arrested with two grenades from outside an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Monday, official sources said. Rajinder Singh, a resident of Kalakote area, was stopped for checking by Army personnel when he was found moving under suspicious circumstances outside the Army Town gate in Surankote around 10.15 am, they said. A recruitment rally of the Territorial Army was underway and he had come to take part in it, they said. The sources said an under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) grenade and a hand grenade were recovered from his possession. He was immediately arrested and handed over to police for further investigation, they said, adding that further details are awaited.