Page 2240 - Politics
Congress will return to power at Centre: Ex-Meghalaya CM
After his party's victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Congress will return to power at the Centre as well.
A nation without borders is no nation at all: White House
Claiming that illegal crossings have dropped substantially in border areas where walls have been built, the White House on Tuesday told the Democratic leadership in Congress that any measure to fund the government must include responsible border security including a wall. US President Donald Trump has made securing the country's southern border with Mexico a focal point of his presidency, with plans to beef up border security and create a wall as key components. "Walls work where walls have been built, illegal crossings have dropped substantially. President Trump made clear that any government funding measure must include responsible border security, including a wall, to protect the American people from drugs, crime, terrorism, public health threats, and the severe straining of the social safety net," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Sanders said Trump had a constructive dialogue with Democrat Leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi during which they agreed to support ..
Iraq seeks exemption from U.S. sanctions on Iran, PM says
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will send a delegation to the United States seeking an exemption from sanctions against Iran that would allow it to keep importing Iranian gas, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Tuesday.
Eight of 13 BJP Ministers lose seats in Chhattisgarh polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s rout in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections took scalps of several party heavy weights, including eight ministers, while Chief Minister Raman Singh won by a narrow margin.
Moving fast, India names Modi demonetisation backer as RBI head
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Ex-finance ministry official Shaktikanta Das took charge of the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday, in a swift appointment expected to ease a dispute with the government as it pushes for looser credit rules ahead of a general election.
Moving fast, India names Modi demonetisation backer Shaktikanta Das as RBI head
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Ex-finance ministry official Shaktikanta Das took charge of the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday, in a swift appointment expected to ease a dispute with the government as it pushes for looser credit rules ahead of a general election.
Cong ends BJP's 15-year-rule in C'garh; Raman Singh resigns
The opposition Congress was headed for a massive victory in Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, bagging 40 seats and leading in 28 constituencies of the 90-member house by late Tuesday night. As per the latest Election Commission data, the BJP, which was in power for 15 years, had won only ten seats and was leading on another five. The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) of former chief minister Ajit Jogi had won two seats and was leading in three seats. Jogi's ally Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won one seat and was leading in one. In an embarrassment to the ruling party, six sitting ministers of the BJP lost and two others were trailing. Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra was defeated by Congress' Premsai Singh Tekam by 44,105 votes. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Bhaiyyalal Rajwade suffered defeat at the hands of Congress' Ambika Singhdeo, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Koriya in the state, at Baikunthpur seat by 5,339 votes. Two prominent ministers from Bastar region, Mahesh Gagda ...
We accept people's verdict with humility, says Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the BJP accepts with humility verdict of people in the five states and congratulated the Congress, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their victories.
MP polls: Shivraj Chouhan wins from Budhni
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan won the Assembly poll from Budhni constituency, although uncertainty looms over the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state.Chouhan, who contested against Congress' Arun Subhashchandra, gathered a total of 1,23,492 votes.As many as 12 ministers from the current Madhya Pradesh Council of Ministers have lost the poll in their respective constituencies, including Antarsingh Arya (Sendhwa), Deepak Joshi (Hatpipliya), Jai Bhan Singh Pawaiya (Gwalior), Rustam Singh (Morena), Jayant Malaiya (Damoh), and Sharad Jain (Jabalpur North), to name a few.As per the current details provided by the Election Commission of India, the Congress has won 73 seats and is leading on 41 seats, while the BJP has won 72 seats and is leading on 37 seats.The Congress' Madhya Pradesh unit will meet the Governor and stake claim to form the government as soon as they win 116 seats in the state.
Rahul reiterates EVM concerns; Jaitley says Cong brought it to India
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reiterated his party's 'EVM manipulation' concerns and said that the question about its reliability is very much on the table even now.Addressing a press conference here, Gandhi said, "Throughout the world, it is a generic question that EVM has problems. If the people are uncomfortable with EVM, it has to be addressed. The central issue concerning EVM still remains. There is a chip in EVM, which can be impacted and the whole election can be manipulated. The question of EVM is still on the table."Later in the day, while speaking to ANI, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely rejected any such worry and asserted that the EVMs have been in use for over two decades since the mid-1990s in the country.He said, "EVM came to this country in the mid-1990s and we have been using EVMs for the last 20 years. Our Election Commission is a very professional body and they look into any issues that EVMs face. Moreover, EVMs were brought by the Congress and not by us. .
TRS registers thumping victory, to form govt in Telangana
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) emerged victorious in the Telangana Assembly elections on Tuesday, bagging 88 seats out of the 119-member assembly.Second in the race was Congress which achieved 19 seats, followed by Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) which got seven seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with only one seat.Earlier today, Owaisi had lauded TRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao for retaining power in Telangana, and stressed on the need for India to have a 'non BJP and a non-Congress government' in the centre."K. Chandrashekhar Rao has all the capabilities and capacities to ensure that a non-Congress government comes into existence when the next parliament election takes place. This country requires a non-Congress and a non-BJP government," he said.Meanwhile, KCR, who will take charge as the Chief Minister, told the media: "In the next six months, we will work for poor people, employment for youth and addressing minority issues. I have ...
Big mandate by people indicates great expectation from Cong: TS Singh Deo
Senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Tuesday said that the mandate of Chhattisgarh is an indication that they have a lot of expectations from the Congress party.Deo, who was the leader of opposition in Chhattisgarh's previous legislative assembly, today won the state assembly elections from Ambikapur constituency.Speaking to media on the outcome of these elections, he said, "It is a matter of great satisfaction and happiness but moreover it is a reason for gratitude towards the people of Chhattisgarh. This change and big mandate is an indication that people have a lot of expectation from the Congress government. And Congress will fulfill the aspirations of people and will be successful in doing so."He also asserted that the results were a big responsibility for Congress and added, "Congress has fought these elections with a strategy and has not given one single face. At different places, the seniors of Congress were working to gather the support of people. Today's result is a big ..
Cong to meet Rajasthan Guv tomorrow; will stake claim to form govt
A delegation of Congress leaders will meet Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh on Wednesday and stake claim to form the next government in the state, Rajasthan Congress General Secretary Sushil Sharma confirmed on Tuesday.Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, "A high-level delegation including the likes of AICC General Secretary Avinash Pandey ji, K. C. Venugopal ji, will meet the Governor tomorrow. The delegation will meet the governor at 7 pm".He added that the party will confirm the total number of legislators that have sided with them after the meeting tomorrow.When asked if the Congress is in contact with other political parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Sharma said, "I cannot answer that question. These decisions are made by the senior leaders, they are looking into the matter."The Congress has bagged 98 seats and is leading in one more, as per latest data from the Election Commission of India, two seats away from a majority in the 200-constituency assembly. The BJP, on the other .
Majority of Rajasthan ministers lose in Rajasthan Assembly elections
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a major embarrassment in Rajasthan when 17 of its ministers lost their seats, though Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje managed to win in Jhalrapatan with a margin of 34,980 votes.
Cong writes to guv, stakes claim to form govt in MP
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel late on Tuesday night, staking claim to form the government in the state, a party spokesperson said. The party claimed it has the support of the independent candidates also. "The Congress party has emerged as the single largest party with a majority support. All the independents have in addition assured support to the Congress party," the letter said. "As the president of Pradesh Congress Committee, I seek an appointment with your Excellency late tonight, as soon as the results are officially declared along with my senior leaders to apprise you and seek your permission to form government in the state of Madhya Pradesh," Nath said in the letter. According to Election Commission, the BJP has so far won 72 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, while the Congress has bagged 73. Three seats have been won by independent candidates. The BJP, which ruled the state for three straight terms, is leading on 37 ..
Cong sends central observers to Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, MP
The Congress Tuesday sent central observers to Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to oversee the election of the legislature party leaders, sources said. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was sent as an observer for Chhattisgarh. Party leader KC Venugopal was appointed as an observer to Rajasthan and AK Antony was sent to Madhya Pradesh, they said. The Congress legislature party comprising newly elected MLAs will meet on Wednesday to elect their respective leaders. The central observer will oversee the elections besides talking to the elected Congress MLAs and seeking their views, the sources said. Party president Rahul Gandhi had earlier said that there would be no issue over the selection of chief ministers and it would be done smoothly. A resurgent Congress Tuesday made significant gains in the Assembly elections, dealing a body blow to the BJP in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and was emerging as the largest party in Madhya Pradesh. The reverses for the BJP in
Congress seeks meeting with Governor in MP to stake claim
In a bid to outwit possible BJP moves, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh moved swiftly seeking a meeting with the Governor claiming it has got majority support and should be invited to form the next government.
TRS juggernaut crushes Congress, gets absolute majority
K. Chandrashekhar Rao led his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to a resounding victory, crushing Congress-led alliance in India's youngest state, riding high on Telangana pride and welfare schemes.
MP Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh loses
In a major upset in the otherwise upbeat Congress camp, Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh lost from his traditional Churhat seat for the first time in the Assembly polls. Ajay Singh, son of former Union minister and Congress stalwart late Arjun Singh, lost to Shardendu Tiwari of the BJP by 6,402 votes, Sidhi district's electoral officer Dilip Kumar said. Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijay Singh's son Jaivardhan Singh won from his traditional Raghogarh seat by 46,697 votes against BJP's Bhupendra Raghuwanshi. Digvijay's younger brother Laxman Singh won from Chanchoda seat by 9,797 votes against BJP's sitting MLA, Mamata Meena. State minister Archana Chitnis lost from Burhanpur by a margin of 5,120 votes to an independent candidate, Thakur Surendra Singh. An independent candidate from Bhagwanpura seat, Kedar Chidabhai Dawar, won by 9,716 votes, defeating BJP's Jamna Singh Solanki. As per the latest Election Commission data, the BJP ..
Punjab cabinet approves Rs 60 lakh compensation for Shillong Sikh community
The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved relaxation in instructions of the Relief and Resettlement Department for providing Rs 60 lakh as compensation to the Sikh community against the damage caused to their properties during violence in Shillong on May 31 this year.