Page 2232 - Politics
Blood donation camp to be held in Goa on Parrikar's birthday
The absence of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who turns 63 on Thursday, will be felt during his birthday celebrations being held in the state capital, which includes a blood donation camp at the state BJP headquarters, former Panaji MLA and former Defence Minister's aide Sidharth Kuncalienkar said on Wednesday.
BJP faces a tough battle in states that powered its surge
BJP president Amit Shah has often asserted that his party will better its 2014 tally of 282 seats in the next Lok Sabha polls, but such a task now appears a stiff climb as it battles a united and energised opposition in the states that fuelled the saffron surge. Before the disappointment of the latest round of assembly polls, the Narendra Modi juggernaut was rolling ahead since the spectacular victory of 2014, when the BJP won close to 80 per cent of Lok Sabha seats in eight states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Now, its assembly election loss in these three Hindi heartland states has added to the BJP's woes, as the party faces challenges from a resurgent Congress and alignment of opposition forces in states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Bihar for the 2019 elections. These eight states had given the BJP a whopping tally of 221 out of their 287 Lok Sabha seats in 2014. While an alliance of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party ...
If Modi wants, he can solve Goa mining issues in 5 min: Raut
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut Wednesday said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted, he could resolve the issues plaguing Goa's mining industry in "five minutes". Raut met mining dependents who are staging a sit-in protest at the Ramleela Maidan here, and criticised the Centre over the halt in the iron ore extraction industry in Goa, saying even the British and the Portuguese rulers in the country never went against people's livelihood. Mining, which used to be one of two major source of revenue in Goa, the other being tourism, came to a halt in March this year after the Supreme Court quashed the renewal of 88 mining leases. Around 1,000 people, under the banner of the Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF), have been protesting at the Ramleela Maidan in Delhi since Tuesday, demanding an amendment to the mining law during the ongoing winter session of Parliament to enable the resumption of mining activity. Addressing the protesters, Raut said, "We witnessed British rule (in the country) and in ..
BJP lost Rajasthan by just over 1.70 lakh votes
A total of 1,39,35,201 votes went into the Congress kitty in Rajasthan while the BJP received 1,37,57,502 votes -- a marginal difference of over 1.70 lakh votes that ended five years of BJP rule.
What went wrong in Telangana? Cong looks for answers
Organisational weaknesses, the tie-up with the TDP not working on the ground and some shortcomings of the state party leadership could be the reasons for poor performance of the Congress in the Telangana Assembly poll, party leaders said here Wednesday. Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily, who was part of the central party unit tasked with the poll strategy, blamed poor organisation at the state level for it. "Organisationally....we have not organised well. I have always been telling them (Telangana Congress unit)..you should organise much better, lack of organisation...the real bane of Telangana (Congress)", the former Union Minister told PTI. He said there was an anti-KCR (Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao) mood, but the Congress could not encash on it. Setting aside decades-old rivalry, the Congress and TDP had forged an electoral alliance for the December 7 Telangana poll to take on the TRS. But the Congress-led alliance, of which the Telangana Jana Samiti ...
Former Army Chief J J Singh quits Akali Dal, says he was 'disillusioned' with party leadership
In a big blow to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), former Army Chief Gen J J Singh resigned from the party Wednesday over "disillusionment" with the party leadership. Singh, who also served as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, had joined the Akali Dal with much fanfare ahead of the Punjab assembly elections in early 2017 and had unsuccessfully contested against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh from the Patiala assembly constituency. While Singh cited personal reasons behind his resignation, he said he was unhappy with the actions of the Akali Dal leadership in the last few years, including those raised in the social media and TV channels. "I have resigned with a heavy heart from the Shiromani Akali Dal on December 11, 2018 and from the position of president of SAD Ex-Servicemen Wing. "I am unhappy with actions of the leadership of the SAD in the last few years, such as those raised in the social media and TV channels and various demonstrations, morchas and protest marches," he said in an .
May to face vote of no confidence from Conservative MPs
UK Prime Minister Theresa May will face a vote of no confidence from MPs of her own ruling Conservative Party on Wednesday over her handling of Brexit.
Theresa May to face no-confidence vote 'with everything I've got'
Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May will face a vote of no-confidence on Wednesday triggered by her own party lawmakers over her handling of the controversial Brexit deal, as she vowed to fight the latest challenge to her leadership with "everything I have got". May is set to face a vote of no-confidence in her leadership after the required 48 MPs from her Conservative Party filed letters with the influential 1922 Committee, which represents rank-and-file Conservative MPs in the House of Commons. "I will contest that vote with everything I have got," May said in a statement at Downing Street, warning that the leadership challenge will delay or even cancel Brexit. "I stand ready to finish the job," the 62-year-old prime minister said. May, who has been prime minister since shortly after the UK voted to leave the 28-member European Union in June, 2016, has faced criticism in her party for the Brexit plan she has negotiated. The vote, triggered amid ongoing divisions over her ...
Cong in 'Kamal Nath vs Scindia' dilemma for Madhya Pradesh CM
Having garnered the numbers to form the government in Madhya Pradesh, the next big challenge for the Congress is to overcome the issue of chief ministership.With Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Kamal Nath and party's campaign committee in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindia being the two front-runners for the top post in the state, the Rahul Gandhi-led party is treading very thin ice as the appointment of either of the two may lead to internal rifts ahead of the crucial 2019 General elections.Supporters in both camps have long been demanding their respective leader be appointed as the next chief minister. As the December 11 counting day edged closer, the mini-rivalry became more prominent as supporters, including party workers and MLAs, raised slogans outside the Congress' state unit headquarters here.However, sources close to the developments told ANI that Kamal Nath, a nine-time MP from the Chhindwara constituency, is the favourite among the two to be appointed as former ...
Congress's vote share increases by 5.59 percentage pts in Rajasthan
The Congress's vote share has increased by 5.59 percentage points in Rajasthan where it won 39.03 per cent votes and 99 out of 199 seats. The party had faced defeat in the last assembly elections when it had secured 33.71 per cent votes. On the other hand, the BJP's vote percentage reduced from 46.05 (2013) to 38.8 per cent in 2018, a decline of 7.25 percentage points. The saffron party failed to retain the state and lost to the Congress by winning 73 seats. The BJP had won 163 seats in the last assembly elections. This year, the BSP's vote share increased to 4 per cent from 3.44 per cent and it won six seats. The party had also won six seats in 2008 but the vote share was comparatively high-7.60 per cent. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, founded by Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, won three seats. It secured 2.4 per cent votes. Beniwal is one among three newly elected RLP MLAs. Bhartiya Tribal Party, which contested on 11 seats in tribal belt of south Rajasthan also managed to win two ...
Why seek individual opinion if party chief to decide on CM, asks Rajasthan Cong MLA
Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh has expressed disagreement over the process of seeking opinion of party legislators to select the chief ministerial candidate in Rajasthan when party president Rahul Gandhi will decide the face for the coveted post. Congress legislature party (CLP) in Rajasthan Wednesday passed a single-line resolution authorising the party national president to decide name of the chief minister. "What is the point of seeking individual opinion from the MLAs when the decision is to be taken by the party high command? Why would I waste my time in giving my opinion to the party observer?" Singh asked after attending the CLP meeting. A Jat leader, Singh has won Deeg-Kumher constituency of Bharatpur district. Congress observer K C Venugopal is holding consultation with the party MLAs. The feedback collected from them will be shared with the party president Gandhi and then the announcement of the chief minister's name would be made. "This is just a point of disagreement but I .
Blow to Sirisena as Lankan Parliament adopts confidence motion on ousted PM Wickremesinghe
Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe emphatically proved his majority in Parliament on Wednesday, weeks after being sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move that plunged the island nation into a political turmoil. As many as 117 out of 225 lawmakers in Parliament voted to pass a confidence motion in his leadership. The motion's approval could be seen as a blow to President Sirisena who has steadfastly refused to reappoint 69-year-old Wickremesinghe due to his personal dislike of the ousted prime minister. Sri Lanka is going through a major political crisis since October 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena, in a controversial move, removed Wickremesinghe and installed ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. Rajapaksa has so far failed to prove his majority in Parliament. The main Tamil minority party TNA voted in favour of the confidence motion. However, the Marxist JVP, which has protested Sirisena's extra constitutional action, ...
Chouhan reminds Congress of loan waiver within 10 days
Asserting that BJP will present a strong and constructive opposition in the state with 109 seats in its tally, Madhya Pradesh's former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday reminded the Congress of its promise to waive off loan to farmers within 10 days of coming to power.Addressing a press briefing here, hours after tendering his resignation to the Governor, Chouhan said: "Opposition is also strong and we have 109 legislators. We will fulfil the responsibility of a powerful, constructive opposition. Now it is our time to be on guard and we are not the ones to stay quiet.""Congress has made promises such as farmer loan waiver in 10 days. Rahul Gandhi had said that if it doesn't happen in 10 days they will change the chief minister. I have complete faith that they will fulfil this commitment made to the public," he added.Expressing gratitude towards citizens of the state for imposing faith on his governance for 13 years, he added: "I am grateful to citizens of the state and
TRS vote share increases to 47 per cent, up from 34 per cent in 2014
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which returned to power with a two-thirds majority in the December 7 Assembly elections, results of which were declared Tuesday, polled 46.9 per cent of the total votes in the state. This is nearly 13 per cent more than what it had secured in the Telangana region of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014. The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS won 88 seats in the 119-member Assembly, quelling the challenge of the Congress-TDP-led 'People's Front' which also comprised the TJS and the CPI. According to the statistics provided by the Election Commission, the TRS had secured 63 seats in the 2014 elections, polling around 34.3 per cent of votes. This time, the Congress secured 28.4 per cent of votes, bagging only 19 seats, two less than what it had won in the last polls, while the TDP could win only two against its tally of 15 seats in 2014. The two other coalition partners failed to open their account. The BJP garnered seven per cent, the TDP three per cent and the
Pario to be new CLP leader in Arunachal Pradesh
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has approved the name of Takam Pario, the party MLA from Palin constituency in Kra Daadi district as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Arunachal Pradesh. AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot has signed the letter appointing Pario as the CLP leader in Arunachal Pradesh, party sources said. The Congress has three MLAs in the 60-member state Legislative Assembly. Pario said "I will serve to the best of my capacity to meet the expectation of the masses with such responsibility entrusted on me by party president.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan: the 'Mama' who held sway in MP for 15 years
From being called "Paon paon wale bhaiya" (foot soldier) by villagers to being addressed as "Mama" (maternal uncle) by children, Shivraj Singh Chouhan just four days ago said he is the "biggest pollster" and predicted a BJP victory in Madhya Pradesh. But the BJP remained short by 7 seats for a simple majority on its own in the crucial Hindi heartland state and Wednesday's outcome in the Assembly polls put paid to Chouhan's hopes of seeking a record fourth term as chief minister. Having a carefully cultivated image of a family man coupled with simplicity, Chouhan, 59, led the BJP's campaign, presenting himself as one among the people, promising further development. Assiduously working on his 'son of the soil' image, the soft-spoken leader easily identified himself with the socio-economic concerns of farmers, villagers and commoners. He maintained a low profile, ignoring comparisons with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but concentrated on MP. "I am the biggest surveyor (pollster) as I ...
TRS yet to decide on campaigning for YSR Cong in AP
TRS leader K T Rama Rao Wednesday said his party was yet to decide on the issue of campaigning for the YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh. "We have friends across the political spectrum and we are not particularly friendly with just one political party or the other. They become our opponents when they are fighting against us....Jaganmohan Reddy and his party is also fighting a tough battle in Andhra Pradesh. We wish them well. Let the dust settle here. Why rush into so many things at once," Rama Rao, son of TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, said when asked if they would campaign for Reddy in the 2019 polls. The TRS president Tuesday sarcastically had said he would offer "return gift" to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu by entering AP politics. The Congress and TDP had cobbled together the People's Front which also comprised the TJS and CPI, to take on the TRS, but came a cropper in the elections. Thanking the people of Telangana for the TRS victory, ..
BJP will play role of a vigilant, constructive opposition in MP: Shivraj
Taking moral responsibility for the defeat in the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, outgoing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the BJP will now play the role of a "vigilant and constructive opposition".
Rs 262 crore cyber-tax fraud unearthed in Delhi
The Delhi government's Trade and Taxes Department has unearthed a cyber-tax fraud totalling Rs 262 crore, happening since 2013 with over 8,700 traders involved, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday.
UN pushes for truce and aid at Yemen talks
With 24 hours left before the scheduled close of UN-brokered talks on Yemen, mediators pushed Wednesday for a truce between warring parties as a crucial step to allow aid deliveries. Mediators are seeking a de-escalation of violence in two flashpoint cities: rebel-held Hodeida, a port city vital to the supply of humanitarian aid, and Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, scene of some of the war's most intense fighting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was due in Rimbo late Wednesday for Thursday's closing round of consultations. Both government and rebel representatives traded accusations of unwillingness to negotiate, particularly on rebel-held Hodeida, the main route for 90 per cent of food imports and nearly 80 per cent of aid deliveries. Multiple draft proposals have been submitted to the two delegations over the past week. None have found consensus as yet. "I think there is some progress, even if it's with much difficulty. It's slow progress," rebel representative Abdelmalik ...