Page 156 - Politics
Election process begins for three RS seats in Odisha
The Election Commission of India (ECI) Tuesday issued a notification for conduct of the by-elections to the three Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha. With issuance of the notification, the nomination filing process has started and it will continue till June 25, said B P Mishra, the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha polls. Mishra said the nomination papers for the three Rajya Sabha seats will be filed separately in the state Assembly here. He said the scrutiny of papers will be held on June 26 and last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 28. If necessary, the by-polls will be held on July 5, he said. If election is held on July 5, the polling will be conducted between 9 am till 4 pm. The counting of votes will be done at 5 pm on July 5. The Rajya Sabha by-election process to be completed before July 9, the notification said. In Odisha, the Rajya Sabha by-elections will be held for three seats vacated by Achyut Samanta, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and P K Deb. While Samanta .
J&K gets first pre-poll alliance in run-up to assembly elections
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement headed by former bureaucrat Shah Faesal Tuesday forged a pre-poll alliance in the state with the Awami Ittehad Party led by former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed. Faesal and Rasheed announced the pre-poll alliance at a crowded press conference here, naming the coalition as the Peoples United Front (PUF). The assembly elections in the state are likely to be held after the Amarnath Yatra this year. Former PDP leader Javed Mustafa Mir, who joined hands with Faesal earlier this year, said the two parties have decided to forge the pre-poll alliance owing to the prevailing situation and political uncertainty in the state. "There are assaults on the special position of the state and there is a lack of credible political alternative. There is no political force that can give good governance and fill the political vacuum," Mir told reporters. Mir has been appointed as the head of the three-member coordination committee of the PUF. The new formation released a ..
Sonia takes oath in Lok Sabha amid BJP barbs
Congress leader and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday took oath as a Lok Sabha member as BJP backbenchers shouted slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai".
Iran will not go to war with any nation: Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday reaffirmed that his country does not seek war with any nation, but stressed that Tehran will come out as the ultimate winner of any warfare against it.
Yeedyurappa accuses Karna CM of trying to mislead people
In continuing war of words with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy over the JSW Steel land issue, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday accused the former of trying to mislead people by uttering lies. A day after Kumaraswamy raked up allegations against Yeddyurappa that he had received Rs 20 crore from the company when he was the chief minister during 2008-11, the BJP leader said he and his family members had been cleared of the charges by a CBI court in the case. "Either the Chief Minister of Karnataka is lying or ignorant or both. It a well-known fact that CBI court cleared me and my family members of blatantly false, politically motivated charges that were heaped on us," he tweeted. The CBI court in its October 26, 2016 verdict had acquitted Yeddyurappa, his sons, son-in-law and nine others in thecorruption case filed against them over alleged receipt of Rs 20 crore. The BJP had been attacking the Congress-JDS coalition government over May 27 Cabinet ...
UP cabinet gives nod to set up zoological park at Gorakhpur
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet Tuesday gave its assent to set up a zoological park in Gorakhpur, the home district of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The cabinet meeting, presided over by the chief minister, gave the nod for setting up the zoological park at Rs 181.82 crore, government spokespersons Shrikant Sharma and Siddharth Nath Singh told the media. It would be called Ashfaqullah Zoological Park, they said. In another decision, the UP cabinet approved the target of planting 22 crore trees on August 15, for which saplings will be provided across the state free of cost. The cabinet also gave its nod for the monsoon session of the state legislature from July 18. The spokesmen of the government said the cabinet also approved Rs 30.34 crore for Mahant Avaidyanath College, Gorakhpur. The cabinet approved the final draft of the much-talked about umbrella act for all universities of Uttar Pradesh. The state administration had taken legal opinion on the Act, which will govern all private ...
Pak Sikh leader lauds govt's decision to allow double entry visa to 10,000 pilgrims to Kartarpur
A Sikh leader in Pakistan has lauded the government's decision to allow double entry visa facility to 10,000 pilgrims from the community to visit the historic shrine in Kartarpur on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, according to a media report. Last week, Pakistan government has earmarked Rs 100 crore in the federal budget 2019-20 for the development of the much-awaited corridor. Provincial Parliamentary Secretary of Punjab Sardar Mahendar Paal Singh said that Kartarpur Corridor- which was the longstanding desire of the community globally for the last seventy years, especially from India particularly in view of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev would be observed on November 6, Dunya news reported. The Kartarpur corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which ..
BJP picks Om Birla for Lok Sabha Speaker, BJD backs (3rd Lead)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday sprang a surprise by picking two-time Rajasthan member Om Birla as the NDA candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker's post, and got the immediate backing of Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
British PM hopefuls begin crucial week of votes
The six Conservatives vying to become Britain's prime minister face off in the second round of voting on Tuesday, with the final pair to be decided by the end of the week. The outcome of the leadership battle could determine under what conditions Britain leaves the European Union. It is currently scheduled to leave on October 31. All of the party's 313 MPs can take part in the secret ballot in the contest to replace outgoing leader Theresa May, with further rounds scheduled to whittle the list down to a final two, who will face the party's 160,000 grassroots members. Boris Johnson, the former foreign minister and leading Brexit campaigner, ran away with the first round of voting last week, winning the support of 114 MPs -- more than twice the number of votes won by his nearest challengers. Johnson has said he is open to leaving the EU on October 31 without a formal deal between London and Brussels but would prefer to secure one by the deadline. Opponents of "no-deal" say it would ...
Kerala UDF attempts peace in ally Kerala Congress (Mani)
Top United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders on Tuesday met Kerala Congress (Mani) leader P.J.Joseph, who was side-stepped by Jose K.Mani to become the Chairman of the party on Sunday.
One nation, one election not possible sans constitutional amendment: Former CEC
Former chief election commissioner T S Krishnamurthy Tuesday said the 'one nation one election' idea is very attractive but cannot be put into practice without a Constitutional amendment providing for fixed tenure for legislatures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited heads of all political parties which have at least one MP either in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha for a meeting Wednesday to discuss the "one nation, one election" and some other important matters. Krishnamurthy, who oversaw the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, said a lot of administrative arrangements, including increasing the strength of paramilitary forces for poll duties, might be required for holding simultaneous elections but they are possible. The idea has several advantages, he said, but the biggest impediment in its implementation is constitutional provision relating to no-confidence motion and related issues. "The only way out is amendment by which you say...a vote of confidence will be effective only if some other
Pak journalist files complaint against minister for slapping him
A prominent Pakistani TV journalist has filed a complaint against Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry who allegedly slapped him at a wedding function for calling him an "Indian spy". Sami Ibrahim, an anchor and executive with the private Bol News TV channel, filed the complaint on Monday against Chaudhry alleging that the minister slapped him, used abusive language, and threatened him with dire consequences at a wedding function last week in Faisalabad. Chaudhry, a former information minister in Prime Minister Imran Khan's Cabinet, however said that Ibrahim had misbehaved by previously calling him an "Indian spy". Prime Minister Khan spoke to the journalist and assured him that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party did not support any act by its members that injured an individual's self-respect, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Tuesday. The leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf does not support any personal action by its members that hurts another
Rahul Gandhi likely to visit Amethi
New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely visit Amethi in Uttar Pradesh later this month, sources said.On Monday, Rahul took oath as the Member of Parliament from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. Gandhi, netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, winning by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s PP Suneer in the constituency.However, the Congress president lost his family stronghold Amethi parliamentary constituency to BJP leader Smriti Irani.The dates for Rahul's Amethi visit are being worked out, sources added.The visit is to thank voters as well as meet workers of the party. Rahul Gandhi, sources added, may visit few places in the parliamentary constituency he represented from 2004 to until recently.Earlier a team of KL Sharma and Zubair Khan was sent to Amethi to find out the reason behind Rahul's defeat.During her review meeting in Raebareli, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was reportedly upset with the party's ...
BJD to support Om Birla for Lok Sabha Speaker's post
Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will support Om Birla, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate nominated for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.
SC to hear on Wednesday Congress plea on Rajya Sabha bypolls
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea by the Gujarat Congress seeking direction to the Election Commission (EC) to hold simultaneous polls for two Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat. The court has listed the matter for a hearing on Wednesday.
Telangana to construct new secretariat complex by demolishing existing structure
The Telangana government, which had earlier sought the Bison Polo grounds here, a sports facility belonging to the Ministry of Defence, for the construction of a new secretariat complex, has now decided to build it by demolishing the existing one, official sources said on Tuesday. The state government is in the process of identifying an office space for accommodating the staff during the construction of the new secretariat complex, which is expected to begin soon, they added. "The new secretariat will come up replacing the existing one. A clear picture on the new design of the new secretariat complex and when the foundation stone will be laid will be revealed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after the inauguration of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project on June 21," the sources told PTI. "The government wants to shift all the staff and furniture to some of the offices located across the city temporarily. Getting an office space is not a problem. Though no firm plan has been ...
Cong strategises on key issues ahead of PM's meeting with party chiefs
A meeting of the Congress top brass, including Sonia Gandhi and party chief Rahul Gandhi, was held here to decide the strategy on key matters such as Lok Sabha speaker's election and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to discuss the 'one nation, one election' issue. Sources said the meeting, chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi and attended by Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, discussed the strategy to be adopted by the party during the meeting called by the prime minister. Senior Congress leaders A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh, K Suresh, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, were among those present at the meeting held at Sonia Gandhi's residence 10, Janpath. Modi has invited heads of all parties who have an MP either in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha for a meeting on Wednesday. The meeting has been called to discuss the "one nation, one election" issue, celebration of the 75 years of Independence in 2022 and 150 .
Qureshi briefs Pompeo about addressing FATF concerns: FO
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday briefed his American counterpart Mike Pompeo about the steps taken by Islamabad to address the concerns raised by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including curbing terror funding activities in the country. Qureshi, who is on an official visit to the UK, had a telephonic call with Pompeo to discuss bilateral relations and regional peace and security, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office here. Paris-based international terror financing watchdog FATF in June last year placed Pakistan onto its watch list in a bid to push the country to halt support for militant groups. In February, the FATF decided to continue the 'Grey' listing of Pakistan for its failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamat ud Dawa (JuD). A 10-member Pakistani delegation last month attended a two-day meeting of FATF's Asia-Pacific Group (APG) in Guangzhou, China where it ...
Amid tensions with Iran, US to deploy 1000 additional troops to Middle East
Citing the alleged attack by Iran on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week, United States Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan on Monday announced the deployment of about 1000 additional troops to the middle east for "defensive purposes"."I have authorised approximately 1,000 additional troops for defensive purposes to address air, naval, and ground-based threats in the Middle East," CNN quoted Shanahan as saying."The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behaviour by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region," he said.Shanahan added that the US does not seek war with Iran and the measure is being taken to "ensure the safety and welfare of our military personnel working throughout the region and to protect our national interests."Tensions between Iran and the US have simmered since June 13 when two oil tankers -- Marshall Islands-flagged Front Altair and
Om Birla is NDA's nominee for LS speaker's post
Two-time BJP MP Om Birla was named NDA's nominee for Lok Sabha speaker's post Tuesday. Once nominated, Birla, who won from Kota-Bundi parliamentary seat in Rajasthan, will easily become the speaker as the National Democratic Alliance has a clear majority in the lower house. A notice has been given to the Lok Sabha Secretariat by the BJP proposing Birla for the post and bringing a motion for his election. The motion has been backed by all NDA allies, including AIADMK, as well parties like YSR Congress Party and Biju Janata Dal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the name of Birla for the post, party sources said. The election for the post is scheduled for Wednesday. The Opposition has not yet announced any candidate for the post while Tuesday is the last day to file nomination. Birla, 57, has been MLA from Rajasthan thrice and MP twice. If elected, he will succeed eight-term MP Sumitra Mahajan as Lok Sabha speaker. Usually, seniority is considered for Lok Sabha speaker's post but ...