Page 1364 - Politics
Egypt's Sisi warns against dangers of protesting
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Sunday against the dangers of protesting, in the wake of widespread demonstrations in Algeria and neighbouring Sudan. Sisi, who regularly evokes political stability to draw foreign investment, said protesters elsewhere were "ruining" their countries. The president fell short of naming the countries, although neighbouring Sudan has since December seen regular demonstrations against longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir. In Algeria, tens of thousands of people have rallied in recent weeks against ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office. "All this talk (of protests) comes at a price that people are required to pay," Sisi said in a televised address to a military gathering. Egypt's president has overseen a crackdown on dissent, banning protests and jailing Islamists as well as liberal and secular activists. A former general, Sisi came to power following mass demonstrations against the rule of his Islamist predecessor ...
Poll code impact: Nirmala shuns spl aircraft, takes commercial
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman avoided taking a special aircraft and chose a commercial flight to New Delhi from here Sunday as the model code of conduct came into effect with the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedule. Sitharaman, who earlier in the day participated in a function here, also avoided government car and escort vehicles and arrived at the airport in the car of a BJP leader, the party said. The Minister was scheduled to board a special aircraft but shortly before her departure time, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the seven-phase polls commencing on April 11 and imposed the Model Code of Conduct. Sitharaman took a private carrier's 8.40 pm flight to the national capital, the BJP said in a release. Airport sources said she had also told officials not to come to the terminal to see her off. Among other things, the code of conduct bars the government from announcing any policy move that may impact voters' decision and restrains ...
TRS, AIMIM welcome announcement of LS poll schedule
The ruling TRS and its ally AIMIM in Telangana Sunday welcomed the announcement of Lok Sabha poll schedule. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi hoped that his party and TRS would sweep the election in the state. "I am thankful to the Election Commission for holding elections on April 11. I am very grateful to them. It's very important that Andhra and Telangana will go into elections together. So, level playing field would be there for both the states," he told reporters here. "I think this is very important.. Good decision has been taken.. On April 11 polling would be held," he said. "God willing, people of Telangana would give 17-0 verdict. 16 for TRS, one for MIM," he added. The total number of Lok Sabha seats in Telangana is 17. He expressed confidence that YSR Congress led by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy would win more than 21 Lok Sabha seats (out of the total 25) in Andhra Pradesh. Asked if he would support YSR Congress during poll campaign, he said he is there for his "friend" .
Plane believed to be carrying Algerian president leaves Geneva
An Algerian government plane believed to be carrying President Abdelaziz Bouteflika took off Sunday from Switzerland, where the ailing leader has been undergoing medical treatment for two weeks. The white Gulfstream 4SP jet, with "People's Democratic Republic of Algeria" written on the side and the Algerian flag on the tail, landed at the Geneva international airport Cointrin shortly before 10:00 am (0900 GMT). It took off again around 4:00 pm (1500 GMT), shortly after a large convoy drew up from the hospital where the president had been treated, according to AFP journalists at the airport. The Algerian government did not immediately announce the purpose of the flight but it was likely that the plane came to collect the 82-year-old leader, who has been receiving medical treatment at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG). AFP journalists on the scene saw a large convoy arrive at the airport, but could not see who boarded the plane, which remained hidden in a hangar for the ...
Vote tensions as Nigeria army blocks counting in volatile state
Dozens of Nigerian soldiers in armoured vehicles encircled a vote counting centre in the opposition-held oil-rich southern city of Port Harcourt on Sunday, in the latest flashpoint as violence overshadowed Saturday's closely-watched regional elections. International observers expressed concern over the army action in the capital of southern Rivers State, where AFP reporters at the scene said soldiers blocked roads around the building, sparking a standoff with police who initially resisted with teargas but ultimately backed down. The British High Commission in Abuja said it was monitoring the situation closely and urged authorities to allow Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff "to do their job in safety, without intimidation". "Extremely concerned by reports, including from @UKinnigeria observers, of military interference in the election process in Rivers State," the commission said on Twitter. Counting is on going after elections on Saturday for governors in 29 of ...
Rajasthan will go to polls on April 29, May 6
Lok Sabha elections will be held in two phases in Rajasthan where 13 constituencies will go to polls on April 29 and remaining 12 seats on May 6. There are as many as 25 Lok sabha constituencies in the state. As per the schedule, Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to poll on April 29. While elections in Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur will take place in second phase on May 6. Chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said that model code of conduct (MCC) has come into force with the announcement of the election programme. He said there will be ban on transfer and posting and other MCC provisions will be in force. There are 4.86 crore voters in the state. Earlier, the Election Commission of India announced in Delhi on Sunday that Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue for over a ...
AIADMK finalises LS poll deal with DMDK, allots 4 seats
The ruling AIADMK Sunday inked an electoral pact with DMDK led by actor-turned politician Vijayakanth, allotting four Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, ending protracted negotiations. An agreement was signed between the top leadership of the two parties here in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam and Vijayakanth and DMDK Treasurer and his wife Premalatha. Talking to reporters, Panneerselvam, the coordinator of the rulling party, said it was a committed alliance. Premalatha pledged her party's support to the AIADMK in the bypolls to 18 assembly seats and local body elections, expected in May. AIADMK has already finalised seat sharing with BJP and PMK and a few smaller outfits for the Lok Sabha elections. It has alloted seven seats to PMK, five to the BJP in the state and the lone Puducherry seat to AINRC.
Will win all 13 seats in Punjab: Amarinder after screening panel meet
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh exuded confidence that the Congress will win all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, after he discussed the party's probable candidates on the seats at a meeting of its screening committee on Sunday. According to party sources, Punjab Congress is contemplating to field former prime minister Manmohan Singh from Amritsar, and it is learnt that the committee recommended the same. Later, the chief minister called on Manmohan Singh. He was accompanied by Congress Punjab in-charge Asha Kumari and state party chief Sunil Jakhar. All 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will go to polls on May 19 and the results will be out on May 23. Amarinder Singh joined other members of Punjab Pradesh Congress Screening Committee in shortlisting the candidates at a meeting at Kapurthala House in Delhi. It was a preliminary meeting and candidates for the seats were shortlisted, the chief minister told mediapersons in an informal interaction after the meeting. The names ..
LS elections in Delhi in penultimate phase welcomed by all parties
The seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will go to polls on May 12 in the sixth phase of the seven-phase 2019 general elections, giving around two months time for political parties to reach out to the voters, an opportunity welcomed by all major players in the national capital. According to the final electoral roll published on January 18 by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), there are over 1.36 crore voters in Delhi. Delhi Congress president and former chief minister Sheila Dikshit said the announcement of poll dates is a "great beginning" for the party. "It is important how you use this time. We welcome the poll schedule. It is a great beginning for the Congress. We will have more time like others to reach out to the voters," Dikshit told PTI. The AAP, which has already announced its candidates for six of the seven seats in Delhi, also welcomed the announcement and termed it an opportunity to throw out the BJP government at the Centre. "Ultimately back to We the people -the real power of
Army chief asks Para Brigade to be ready to deal with 'emerging challenges'
Army chief General Bipin Rawat Sunday visited the Para Brigade and asked the formation to be prepared to "decisively deal" with "emerging challenges that may develop", said an Army spokesperson. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Rawat reviewed operational readiness of the Para Brigade during his visit, said Army public relations officer Colonel Mohit Vaishnava. "The Army chief directed the formations to ensure readiness and be prepared to decisively deal with emerging challenges that may develop," said the Army PRO. The Brigade is a fully airborne brigade and is a decisive force multiplier, he said. During 1971 operations, airborne operations by the Para Brigade accelerated the momentum of operations leading to surrender of Pakistan Armed Forces in Dacca (Bangladesh), he added. The Army chief also complimented the Brigade for maintaining the highest standards of training, operational readiness, morale and motivation and exemplary synergy with the Indian Air Force. General Rawat was .
Rajinikanth rules out contesting TN assembly bypolls; Kamal to
Top film star Rajinikanth Sunday ruled out contesting the bypolls to the Tamil Nadu Assembly even as his contemporary Kamal Haasan said he would be among his Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) candidates for the key electoral battle in the state. "No" was the terse reply by Rajinikanth when asked about contesting the byelections since he had declared last month that his target was assembly polls and not Lok Sabha. The actor is yet to launch his party though on December 31, 2017, he had announced he would make the political plunge and would contest all 234 seats in the assembly elections. Haasan, talking to reporters here separately later, said his party has been allotted the torch light symbol by the Election Commission. "It is a very suitable symbol and we thank the Election Commission for it," he said. To a question, he said his party would be contesting in the bypolls to the 18 assembly constituencies, to be held along with the Lok Sabha elections on April 18. "Sure, we are ...
J-K parties criticise decision to defer assembly poll, slam Modi govt
Parties in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday criticised the decision to defer assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir and blamed the Centre for "mishandling" the security situation and "surrendering" to militants and separatists. The Congress, National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flayed the Centre for not holding the assembly polls along with the parliamentary election, which will be held in five phases in the state. The NC said it was for the first time since 1996 that assembly election in the state was not being held on time. Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, "Decision to hold only parliamentary elections in J&K confirms sinister designs of Government of India." "Not letting people elect a government is antithetical to the very idea of democracy. Also a tactic of buying time to disempower people by pushing an agenda that suits their ulterior motives," she tweeted. The Election Commission, which announced the schedule for the ...
Modi seeks people's 'blessings'; Cong says he will be defeated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought Sunday people's "blessings" for the NDA in the Lok Sabha polls, saying his government has made possible what was earlier deemed impossible, but opposition parties said voters will throw it out of power for "wasting" its historic mandate and practising "all talk no work". As the Election Commission declared a seven-phase general election starting April 11, political parties welcomed the much-awaited announcement with the ruling alliance making a pitch for its re-election while its rival expressing confidence of unseating it. Seeking people's support for the BJP, its president Amit Shah said the Modi government has taken bold decisions for their welfare in its first term and will ensure India's giant leap to make everyone "happy and prosperous" in its second. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has achieved "phenomenal results" in various spheres of governance during this term, he said, citing a number of its welfare initiatives. The ..
Polls for Andhra, Arunachal, Sikkim & Odisha Assemblies with LS elections
Elections for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha Assemblies will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced, here on Sunday.
Uttarakhand to go to polls on April 11
Uttarakhand poll officials, here Sunday, reviewed the preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections after the Election Commission announced that polling for all the five seats will be held on April 11 in the first phase.
PMK ready to face elections: Ramadoss
PMK founder S.Ramadoss on Sunday said that his party was ready to face the Lok Sabha elections, slated for April 18 in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry's 40 parliamentary constituencies, long back.
Kerala polling on April 23; Left steals march over Congress, BJP on campaign trail
Kerala goes to the polls on April 23 - the third of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections - to elect its 20 MPs.
By-election for 18 Assembly seats in TN on April 18
The Election Commission will hold by-election for 18 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu along with the Lok Sabha polls on April 18, leaving out three Assembly seats mired in court cases, it was announced on Sunday.
Four injured in LoC shelling
Four civilians were injured on Sunday in Pakistani shelling and firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector.
PM seeks people's blessing to return to power
As the Election Commission announced the schedule for the much-awaited Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the BJP-led NDA seeks people's "blessings again". "Guided by sabka saath, sabka vikas', NDA seeks your blessings again. We spent the last five years fulfilling basic necessities that were left unfulfilled for 70 long years," he tweeted from his personal handle. He said, now, time has come to "build on that and create a strong, prosperous and secure India". He also gave the tagline, "#PhirEkBaarModiSarkar" to drive home his point. Modi also said that 2.5 crore families have electricity for the first time; 7 crore households have smoke-free kitchens and 1.5 crore Indians got their own homes. "These, and many other instances show that with the right approach and futuristic policies, nothing is impossible," he wrote. Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May .