Page 2248 - Politics
Cong in TL raises suspicion of EVM manipulation, claims EC
Raising suspicion about manipulation of EVMs in the Telangana assembly polls, the state unit of the Congress Tuesday demanded counting of all VVPATs. As the Congress headed for a comprehensive defeat at the hands of ruling TRS, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy also claimed that the Election Commission declined to accept the party's demand for counting of VVPATs. He said his party has petitioned the state Chief Electoral Officer here and the Election Commission in Delhi for counting the VVPATs. The VVPAT or paper trail machine is a device which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip appears on a small window for seven seconds and then drops in a box and provides a mean to the voter to verify his vote "For these doubts to be cleared to some extent, we demanded VVPAT, paper trails, to be counted 100 per cent in all constituencies," he told reporters here. The voting patterns and the count ..
BJP will have to review farmers' issues: Akali Dal on poll trends
The BJP-led Centre will have to "review" the issues facing the farmers, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the party's key ally in Punjab, said Tuesday as the poll trends in the three Hindi heartland states pointed at a poor showing by the saffron party. While the issues facing the farmers had played its part, anti-incumbency factor too had worked against the BJP, senior SAD leader and MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra told PTI when asked to comment on the poll results. "There are two-three issues in these polls. One was, of course, the anti-incumbency factor, besides the local issues. The farmers' issue was also a key one and while the BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the states, have taken it up on priority, it seems more needs to be done to ensure that schemes for farmers' benefit are fully implemented at the ground level," he said. Chandumajra said there was also resentment among farmers over the way the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was being implemented. "While private insurance
People have endorsed Rahul's leadership: Raj Thackeray
The outcome of the elections on Tuesday prove that the people have endorsed Congress President Rahul Gandhi's leadership, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President said on Tuesday.
Rural economy dominates assembly polls as Twitter records 66 lakh tweets
In the run-up to the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram, the rural economy emerged as the most talked about election-related topic over the past nine weeks, Twitter said on Tuesday.
Mizoram CM resigns after humiliating defeat
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Tuesday evening submitted his resignation to Governor Kummanam Rajasekhar after the Congress suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), an official said.
US delegation to attend Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Jan
US Chamber of Commerce Tuesday said a delegation led by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin will visit India in January to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019. The delegation will include the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and co-leaders of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. It will look to strengthen ties with national and state government leaders, industry groups and individual businesses in India, a statement said. "Kentucky is excited to explore opportunities within the Indian market and to meet with key government and business leaders during next month's business summit," said Governor Bevin. Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003, when he was the state's chief minister, as a means to reestablish Gujarat as a preferred investment destination within India. The delegation will also travel to Uttar Pradesh to participate in meetings related to Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. USIBC President Nisha Biswal said the organisation will deliver a .
French government defends concessions to end protest crisis
Emmanuel Macron's government on Tuesday defended a financial relief package to quell the "yellow vest" revolt over taxes and living standards, hoping to end protests which have spiralled into violence in Paris and other cities. Over 21 million people watched a visibly contrite Macron declare a "state of economic and social emergency" in a televised address Monday, promising billions of euros in aid for the lowest earners. It was a stark retreat for the 40-year-old former investment banker, who until now had vigorously argued his tax policies and economic reforms were the only way to prepare France for the challenges of the 21st century. The new measures, including a 100-euro jump in the minimum wage next year, are expected to cost up to 11 billion euros ($12.5 billion) -- and are likely to put France on a collision course with Brussels. The government had already scrapped fuel tax increases set for January -- a core demand of the yellow vests -- which will cost a further 4.5 billion .
Indonesia rejects rebels' demand on Papua independence talks
Indonesia has rejected a demand by Papuan rebels to hold negotiations on their territory's self-determination. Indonesia's top security minister, Wiranto, said Tuesday that the government will not open talks with those who have committed serious crimes. The comment follows a December 2 attack on a construction site that left at least 17 dead. Sebby Sambom, spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army, called on the government last week to agree to peace talks similar to ones that led to another province, Aceh, becoming semiautonomous, or to a "real referendum" on independence, as occurred in the former Indonesian territory of East Timor. Wiranto, who goes by one name, said the group is trying to instill fear into people.
TDP will respect people's verdict: Naidu
With the Congress-TDP 'People's Front' receiving a drubbing in the Telangana assembly elections, Telugu Desam party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday said his party would respect the people's verdict. Naidu congratulated Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on leading his party to an emphatic victory. "My compliments to Chandrasekhar Rao," Naidu said in a statement. Besides the Congress and TDP, the People's Front ('Prajakutami') also comprised the TJS, and the Communist Party of India (CPI). However, results of the elections to five state assemblies established that people were leaning towards an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Naidu, who has been making efforts to cobble an anti-BJP front, said. The TDP walked out of the BJP-led NDA a few months ago over the Centre's refusal to accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh. "People of all states are antagonistic towards the BJP. Results of these ...
Rahul Gandhi is 'man of the series', foundation laid for 2019: Sidhu
Hailing Rahul Gandhi as the "man of the series", senior Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said Tuesday the party's good show in assembly polls in three states has laid the foundation for a "much bigger win" in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The cricketer-turned-politician asserted, "All party members and workers played well as a team", resulting in this performance of the Congress, but alleged the imminent loss of the BJP has "exposed the mask of falsehood of the saffron party". "The anger of the people has come out. Tall and false promises were made to them and those promises were not kept, whether on issue of farmers, housing for the poor or bringing back blackmoney stashed abroad or even skill development," Sidhu said. The BJP, however, has defended its performance, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying the polls were fought on the basis of the work done by the state governments. He rejected the notion that the results would be a reflection of the Narendra Modi government. Sidhu, .
Scotland first minister pushes Labour to oust May government
Scotland's first minister and leader of the anti-Brexit and pro-independence Scottish National Party on Tuesday put pressure on the official opposition in the UK to lodge a motion of no confidence against Britain's embattled conservative Prime Minister Theresa May.
Tunisia's trade deficit rises to record $5.86 billion
TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's trade deficit widened by 21 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2018 to 17.32 billion dinars ($5.86 billion), a record level, the State Statistics Institute said on Tuesday.
Cong deals body blow to BJP in Raj, Chattisgarh; neck and neck in MP
The Congress was on Tuesday set to wrest Rajasthan and Chattisgarh from the BJP which was trailing marginally in Madhya Pradesh in a cliffhanger while the TRS stormed back to power in Telangana and the MNF dislodged the Congress in Mizoram. In a shock result, a resurgent Congress ended Chief Minister Raman Singh's uninterrupted 15-year rule in Chattisgarh and was on course to regain power in Rajasthan where the BJP won all the 25 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Raman Singh submitted his resignation to the Governor and said he accepts responsibility for BJP's poor showing."We (party) will sit and introspect," he told reporters in Raipur. The Congress is leading in 64, while the BJP was relegated to a distant second spot with 18 seats, as per latest trends available for 89 of the 90 seats in Chattisgarh. As voting trends and results slowly trickled in the Assembly polls in the five states that is being dubbed as a semi-final to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, which had ...
Raman Singh resigns as Chhattisgarh CM
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh resigned on Tuesday after the BJP faced drubbing in the Assembly elections, for which he took "moral responsibility".Speaking to reporters as the Congress appeared set to form the government, Singh said there were several reasons for the BJP's defeat, which he refused to spell out as of now.He said the outcome of the polls will be discussed in the party to assess if there was anything lacking."I take moral responsibility for the BJP's defeat... I met the Governor and submitted my resignation," Singh said."When the party got victory, credit was given to me. Similarly, when the party lost, I take the responsibility for it," the chief minister said.To a question about the Lok Sabha elections due by May next year, he said the outcome of the Assembly polls would have no bearing on those.
RLD announces support to Congress in Rajasthan
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), whose one candidate Dr Subhash Garg is leading in Rajasthan, will support the Congress in forming the government in the state.RLD vice president Jayant Chaudhary on Tuesday wrote to the candidate, "Respecting the mandate of the people, party president Chaudhary Ajit Singh has directed the party MLA (candidate) to help Congress form a stable government."Terming these elections as "uncommon," Chaudhary said the people of Rajasthan have contributed immensely by defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and upholding the tenets of the Indian constitution."The message of these elections will go far and wide throughout the nation. It would put a decisive hold on the anti-farmer and divisive politics of the BJP," the letter read.With voters in Rajasthan having given their mandate in favour of the Congress, the newly-elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the party will hold a meeting in Jaipur on Wednesday.As of now, the Congress party has won 22 seats ...
Liquor ban, infrastructural development top priorities: MNF chief
Mizo National Front (MNF) president and the state's chief minister-in-waiting Zoramthanga on Tuesday said that imposing a ban on liquor and developing the state's infrastructure will be among his top priorities after assuming the office of chief minister.Speaking exclusively to ANI after the MNF won a majority of seats comfortably in the recently held Assembly polls, Zoramthanga said, "Since I am going to form the government, I have identified my three priorities. Firstly, we will prohibit liquor.""Secondly, the infrastructure of the state is so bad, especially the roads. So, we will repair all the roads. Thirdly, we have a socio-economic development programme that we need to implement," he said. "It took about 60 years for our party to achieve a victory since its inception in 1961," he added.Talking about his roadmap for the state's economic development, Zoramthanga said, "The main economic development programme will be agro-forest based. We have more than enough for the people of ...
MNF win good for regional forces, AGP must divorce BJP: Mahanta
Former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said on Tuesday that the Mizo National Front's (MNF) electoral victory in Mizoram was good for regional forces and said he wanted his party AGP to divorce the BJP.
Turkey in talks over possible UN probe into Khashoggi murder
Turkey is in talks over a possible United Nations investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Turkish foreign minister said on Tuesday. "We have discussed with the UN secretary general and our counterparts, and will continue to discuss" a possible probe, Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a press conference in Ankara. The minister said there had been requests from inside the international body for an investigation while his counterparts during the recent G20 summit in Argentina expressed "the will to make a joint application" to the UN. But Cavusoglu added that there has to be a formal request which then has to be approved by the UN Security Council before any UN investigation could begin. Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post residing in the United States, was murdered after a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his wedding to his Turkish fiancee. The 59-year-old former Saudi insider was strangled before he ...
People have given befitting reply to 'corrupt' BJP: Baghel
With the Congress poised to wrest power from the BJP in Chhattisgarh after 15 years, the party's state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel Tuesday said people have given a befitting reply to the ruling party, which indulged in corruption during its 15 year of rule. He credited strong party organisation for the impressive showing and said he was not expecting such a big margin of victory. "Congress had been standing with each and every section of the state. Therefore, it has received their immense support in the election," Baghel told PTI. "BJP has only cheated the people of the state during its three-term rule. It was neck-deep in corruption and 'commissionkhori'. People have given them a befitting reply," he added. The Congress was leading in 64 seats, well above the magic figure of 46, while the ruling BJP was a distant second at 18 in the 90-member assembly, according to the Election Commission website. "We were not expecting such a big blessing from the people. We were ...
Kumaraswamy govt in deep slumber, alleges Yeddyurappa
Alleging that the Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka was in a deep slumber like the epic character 'Kumbhakarna,' state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday said it had no moral right to remain in power. The Congress was now regretting its decision to support the JD(S) to form government, Yeddyurappa claimed in the assembly, as he asked the ruling coalition to work towards addressing issues of the people or "resign and go". Seeking to corner the government on a host of issues, he said the coalition worries in the ruling alliance were "hampering" the administration and developmental works. Initiating the debate on drought situation in the state, Yeddyurappa said, the government has announced hundred taluks as drought-hit and the situation was such that 20 more taluks are likely to be added to the list. Demanding answers from the government on drought mitigation measures, he said, according to information gathered by him, except for one or two places, ...