Page 1633 - Politics
BJP to win around 260 LS seats, Modi to be PM again: Athawale
Union minister Ramdas Athawale Thursday said the BJP would win around 260 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and Narendra Modi will once again become the prime minister of the country. Replying to a query on whether he would like to see Union minister Nitin Gadkari or Narendra Modi as the next PM, Athawale said since the BJP will fight the 2019 polls under Modi's leadership, the latter should get the opportunity. "Nitin Gadkari is a very good friend of mine, but Narendra Modi will become the next prime minister. Gadkari is a very active minister in the union cabinet. But for now, Modi will become the prime minister...Let's see what happens after five years," Athawale told reporters here. "Now, elections will be fought under the leadership of Narendra Modi, and hence he should get the opportunity. After that, if Nitin Gadkari's name comes up then it is well and good," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said. He said conditions were favourable .
Top BJP leaders to attend OBC convention beginning Friday
Top BJP leaders from across the country, including Union Home minister Rajnath Singh and party president Amit Shah, would be descending on the city in the next couple of days to attend a two-day convention of its OBC Morcha, aimed at securing a foothold among the sizeable Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the general election. OBC have been a decisive factor in the politics of Bihar, a state where the BJP has been hamstrung on account of a pro-upper caste image. The two-day national conference of the BJP OBC Morcha is scheduled to be inaugurated on Friday by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in presence of leaders like the partys national general secretary in-charge for Bihar Bhupendra Yadav, state president Nityanand Rai, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Chief Minister of the neighboring Jharkhand, Raghubar Das. The inaugural session will be followed, later in the day, by a thanksgiving resolution presented by Lok Sabha MP Hukum Dev Narayan Yadav, wherein the .
BJP petitions Karna Guv over attack on MLA's house, stages
Protesting the attack on a party MLA's residence allegedly by JDS workers, the BJP Thursday took out a Raj Bhavan march and petitioned Governor Vajubhai Vala against "the deteriorating" law and ordersituation in the state. The party also staged demonstrations at various places across the state protesting the incident Wednesday when stones were pelted at the residence of MLA Preetam Gowda in Hassan after his name was dragged into the audio clip over BJP's alleged bid to topple the JDS-Congress government. The JDS workers had accused Gowda, who represents Hassan, of conspiring to of trying to topple the Congress-JD(S) government. A BJP worker sustained serious head injuries in the incident and had been admitted to a hospital where his condition was stated to be stable, police had said Wednesday. Condemning the attack, BJP MLAs led by state party president B S Yeddyurappatook out a march to the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the Governor alleging that the law and
Mamata mourns death of CRPF jawans in Pulwama
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mourned the death of CRPF jawans at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in a terrorist attack on Thursday. "Saddened that 13 CRPF jawans became martyrs today in Pulwama. We salute our brave jawans and extend our solidarity and condolences to their families. Our prayers for those injured. We wish them a speedy recovery", she said in a tweet. Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress chief, is away in New Delhi, where she went to attend the opposition parties meeting convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, the last day that the present Lok Sabha met, and to discuss with them the strategy to oust the Modi government in the coming Lok Sabha polls. According to latest reports, at least 18 CRPF personnel were killed as a explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the bus carrying the jawans in J&K on Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of Pulwoma district. Terror group JeM claimed responsibility for the incident, ...
Delhi vs Centre: 3 powers go to Delhi, 2 to Centre, 1 to be decided by larger SC bench
The following were the six contentious issues before the Supreme Court which gave its verdict Thursday on division of powers between the Delhi government and the Centre represented by Lt Governor. The three areas in which the Delhi government will have powers: 1. Appointment of special public prosecutors or law officers. This power was already given to Delhi government by the High Court in its 2016 order. Before that order, both the governments used to make the appointments, the standing counsel for the AAP government Rahul Mehra said, but added that each time Delhi government had to assert its right. 2. Fixing land revenue rate. Earlier this power was with LG. In 2015, the then LG Najeeb Jung had stayed Delhi government's notification on revised circle rates of agricultural land. The Delhi High Court in its 2016 verdict on the power tussle issue between both the governments, had handed this power to the Centre which was challenged by the Delhi government in the Supreme Court. 3. ...
Airbus's A380 decision won't cause major job losses in Germany: government
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government is not expecting widespread job cuts in Europe's largest economy following Airbus's decision to scrap production of the A380 superjumbo, the aerospace policy coordinator told Reuters on Thursday.
Britain's PM Theresa May could face another Brexit defeat in parliament
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May could face a defeat in parliament on Thursday over her plan to renegotiate the Brexit deal, undermining her pledge to the European Union that, with changes, she can get the agreement approved.
BJP will forge "strong" tie-up for LS polls in TN:Amit Sahah
BJP president Amit Shah Thursday said his party will forge a "strong alliance" to face the coming Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. This alliance, which could be forged in a "short span," will contest from all the 39 Lok Sabha seats, he said, addressing handloom and powerloom associations in Erode. "I want to assure the people of Tamil Nadu that the BJP is going to contest the elections in a strong alliance with an ally," he said in his brief remarks on a poll-pact. Shah's remarks assume significance as it comes a day after a senior AIADMK leader admitted that the ruling party was in "discreet talks" with the saffron party and some others for an electoral alliance for the Lok Sabha polls. Tamil Nadu has 39 parliamentary segments while neighbouring Puducherry has one. AIADMK deputy co-ordinator R Vaithilingam, MP, had Wednesday said the party was holding 'discreet' alliance talks with parties, including the BJP. "Discreet discussions are on," and the outcome will be announced
Kejriwal condemns terror attack on CRPF
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday condemned the terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district that left 10 troopers dead.
BJP veterans including Advani may contest Lok Sabha polls
BJP veterans, including L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, are likely to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, notwithstanding an informal bar on those above 75 years occupying ministerial and organisational posts.
SC verdict against Constitution, democracy: Kejriwal
Calling the Supreme Court's verdict on the powers of the Delhi government to transfer officers "unfortunate" and "injustice to the people of Delhi", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the order is against the Constitution and democracy.
BJP will form strong alliance in TN for LS polls: Amit Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah Thursday hit out at the opposition combine, saying it "lacked" leaders, policies and philosophy and termed the saffron party-led NDA as "strong" that is ready to lead the nation again. Shah said his party will forge a "strong alliance" to face the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. This alliance, which could be forged in a "short span," will contest from all 39 Lok Sabha seats, he said, addressing handloom and powerloom associations in Erode. "I want to assure the people of Tamil Nadu that the BJP is going to contest the elections in a strong alliance with an ally," he said in his brief remarks on a poll-pact. Taking potshots at the proposed DMK-Congress alliance, he said it was not being forged for the benefit of Tamil Nadu but only to indulge in "scam and corruption." "It is an alliance of scam and corruption. They can indulge in scam and corruption only," he said. Shah said he foresaw two groupings to fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha ...
BJP workers fear being targeted over campaign to display party flags on homes, says WB unit
The BJP's country-wide 'mass mobilisation' campaign asking partymen to display party flags on their homes and vehicles has led to apprehension in its West Bengal unit that party workers and sympathizers may be targeted by rival TMC especially in areas with a history of political violence. State BJP leaders said Thursday that workers from various districts have conveyed that they will be "vulnerable to TMC's reign of terror" if they reveal their political affiliation, a charge dismissed by the ruling party in West Bengal which accused the BJP of trying to foment communal violence in the state. The BJP campaign 'Mera Pariwar, Bhajapa Pariwar' was launched by party president Amit Shah in Gujarat on Wednesday and seeks to cover over five crore houses by March 2 before the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule. As a part of the campaign, the party's Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh and many other senior state BJP leaders have unfurled the party flag at their homes and put party ...
Congress says 'no' to alliance with AAP: Kejriwal
A day after meeting Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the Congress had "almost said no" for an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital.
Himachal CM to voice opposition to shifting of ARTRAC
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said he opposed the reported move of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) from the state capital to outside the state and will raise the issue with the Centre.
Citizenship Bill would have been passed in RS, if Congress wasn't there: Mukul Sangma
Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Thursday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill would have been passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday by the BJP government if the Congress-led Opposition was not there.
EC holds discussion with political parties ahead of polls in Odisha
A six-member team of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday held a consultation session with major political parties in Odisha to discuss preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.
Idea to take MNS on board received positively in NCP: Ajit
The idea to bring Raj Thackeray-led MNS on board the grand alliance against the BJP-Shiv Sena combine has been received positively by his party, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said on Thursday. Pawar said the issue would be discussed with the Congress as well before the nitty gritty of the alliance is worked out. Sources in the NCP said the issue of taking along the MNS, perceived as being anti-North Indian, was being considered at the level of central leadership of the Congress. Ajit Pawar and two other senior leaders of the party- Praful Patel and Jayant Patil- said that Parliamentary board of the NCP also pressed for its chief Sharad Pawar to throw hat in the election ring again from Madha Lok Sabha seat. Party leader Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, who currently represents the seat, said he himself urged Pawar to contest from the seat. The leaders, however, said it is the NCP who would take a final call in this regard. "I had met (MNS chief) Raj Thackeray yesterday. I apprised party .
18 CRPF personnel killed as explosives-laden vehicle rams into bus in J-K, JeM claims responsibility
At least 18 CRPF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, officials said. The terror group has claimed responsibility for the incident, they said. Police identified the terrorist as Adil Ahmad from Kakapora in Pulwama. He joined the Jaish-Mohammed in 2018, they said. The casualties are likely to go up. Several people were injured in the terror attack, which reduced the bus to a mangled heap of iron. Body parts could be strewn around the area. The vehicle was blown up on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of the district, a police official said.
Punjab Assembly authorises CM to take up SGPC poll issue with Centre
Punjab Assembly Thursday authorised Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to take up the issue of SGPC elections with the Centre after Dakha lawmaker H S Phoolka raised it, amid noisy reaction from the SAD-BJP which sought to know whether the Supreme Court lawyer was still an MLA. During the Zero Hour on the third day of the Punjab Assembly Budget Session here, Phoolka, who had resigned as MLA last year, raised the issue of delay in elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex religious body of the Sikhs. Drawing attention of the chief minister in the House, Phoolka sought that the House should pass a resolution requesting the Central government to appoint chief commissioner of the gurdwara elections for holding the SGPC polls at the earliest. Concurring with Dakha legislator, Amarinder Singh assured the House that he would certainly meet the Home Minister regarding the delay in the SGPC polls. "I agree with member (Phoolka). The Gurdwara Act is a national ...