Page 2249 - Politics
Decade later MNF back in Mizoram, Congress' last Northeast bastion (Fourth Lead)
The MNF on Tuesday returned to power in Mizoram after a decade, securing 26 seats, five more than an absolute majority in the 40-member Assembly. With this, the MNF has ousted the Congress from power in its last bastion in the Northeast.
Will play crucial role in national politics: KCR
Buoyed by the massive victory of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the Telangana Assembly elections, party President K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday said he would play a crucial role in national politics.
TRS will play a very crucial role in national politics: KCR
TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao Tuesday dedicated the emphatic victory of his party to the people of the state and said the election results would enable it to play a crucial role in national politics. "We dedicate this victory to the people of Telangana. This is a positive vote for us," Rao, who is set to return as chief minister for a second term, told a press conference. The Telangan Rashtra Samithi has secured a two-thirds majority, winning 81 seats out of the total 119 as per the latest vote count in the assembly elections. The TRS was leading in six others, leaving the others way behind. According to results and trends available at 5 pm, the Congress won 15 seats and was leading in four while ally TDP bagged two seats. "We are going to play a very crucial role in the national politics...and we will show...we will give a new definition to the national political scenario," he said, as TRS workers broke into celebrations. "Today's results...Telangana has shown the way to
Congress to form govt in Chhattisgarh; Raman Singh resigns
The Congress forming the next government in Chhattisgarh became a mere formality Tuesday as Chief Minister Raman Singh of BJP resigned, after his party's disappointing performance in the state Assembly polls. Congress is leading in 64, while BJP was relegated to a distant second spot with 18 seats, as per latest trends available in 89 of the 90 seats in the House. "I have submitted my resignation to Chhattisgarh Governor," Raman Singh told reporters. He said he accepts responsibility for BJP's poll performance in Chhattisgarh, adding "we (party) will sit and introspect". He refused to pass the buck on the BJP's national leadership over the setback after 15 years of the party's rule in the state. "The election was solely contested on state agenda and it is not related to Delhi. We will sit with the party workers and analyse the defeat in detail." "This will not reflect on the Lok Sabha election scheduled in 2019. The issues for Lok Sabha are different and election will be
Poll results in five states: NOTA outperforms SP, AAP, NCP among others
The NOTA or none of the above option appeared to have outperformed several political parties, including AAP and Samajwadi Party, which contested the assembly polls in the five states. According to the Election Commission's website at 5.45 pm on Tuesday, the NOTA votes ranged as high as 2.1 per cent in Chhattisgarh to 0.5 per cent in Mizoram. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which fielded its candidates on 85 seats out of 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, got 0.9 per cent of votes while NOTA votes were 2.1 per cent of the counted votes in the state. Similarly, Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) got 0.2 per cent and 0.2 per cent votes respectively in Chhattisgarh. The Communist Party of India (CPI) got 0.4 per cent votes in the state. In Madhya Pradesh, NOTA votes were 1.5 per cent of the total counted votes. Samajwadi Party got one per cent while AAP got 0.7 per cent votes. The NOTA votes in Rajasthan elections were 1.3 per cent. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and SP got ..
Surjit Bhalla quits as member PMEAC
Eminent economist Surjit Bhalla, who had raised eyebrows over the involvement of NITI Aayog in the release of re-stated economic growth numbers of the previous UPA regime, has resigned as a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC). "I resigned as a part-time member of PMEAC on December 1," he said in a Twitter post. He broke the news a day after Urjit Patel's unexpected resignation as the RBI Governor amid a standoff with the government over a range of issues. The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is an independent body constituted to give advice on economic and related issues to the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted the council, which was a regular feature in the previous UPA regime, in September last year. The six-member council consists of economists of high repute and eminence and is headed by Bibek Debroy. It has four part-time members and a member secretary in Ratan P Watal, a former bureaucrat. A Prime Minister's
Vasundhara Raje: 'Maharani' CM's raj loses to Cong, to fight another day
Often seen in wispy 'bandhini' and 'lahariya' chiffons, trademarks of not just Rajasthan craft but also of royalty, Vasundhara Raje is a politician to the manner born, a careful mix of hauteur and reserve -- even in defeat. The former royal, who is usually called Maharani, is expected to win her seat Jhalrapatan with a handsome margin but her party appeared headed for a loss to the Congress on Tuesday. As results came in and her party's defeat seemed imminent, she visited the BJP headquarters here but did not make a comment. This was her second term as chief minister and, in keeping with the tradition of voters choosing the Congress and the BJP alternately, the ruling party looks set to lose power. Trends showed a majority for the Congress, which was in the lead in 101 seats, miles ahead of its tally of 21 in 2013 when the BJP won a massive victory of 163 seats in the 200-member house. Raje, the daughter of Jivaji Rao Scindia, the last reigning Maharaja of Gwalior, and Vijayaraje ...
BJP's countdown has begun as people reject communal politics: J&K Cong
A large number of Congress workers gathered at the party headquarters in Jammu on Tuesday and danced and raised slogans in support of the party following its good show in BJP-ruled Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress claimed the election trends and results showed that the countdown of the end of the BJP's electoral success has started. JKPCC president G A Mir said people have "rejected the divisive and communal" politics of the BJP. Congress workers celebrated the party's performance in the three states, where it is ahead of the ruling BJP. They assembled at the Congress headquarters and hailed the party leadership, beat drums and also distributed sweets. Mir said the Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, has emerged a strong force and there is a positive change in the mindset of people towards the party's policies. He claimed the Congress would emerge as the largest party in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Mir said the ...
Can Parrikar's medical report be submitted in sealed cover, Bombay HC asks government
The Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Goa government if the medical report on the health condition of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar could be presented to the court in a sealed cover, while posting the matter for hearing on Wednesday.
Sino-Indian militaries begin 'Hand-in-Hand' drills in China
India and China on Tuesday began the 7th round of their 'Hand-in-Hand' military drills in the Chinese city of Chengdu as part of the focussed efforts by the two militaries to improve ties after last year's standoff at Doklam. Both sides have fielded 100 personnel to take part in the seventh edition of the exercises focussing on tactical level operations in an International Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorist environment as per UN mandate. The drills are being held after a gap of one year as they could not be held last year because both armies were locked in a 73-day standoff at Doklam in the Sikkim sector. The drills would conclude on December 23. The Indian military contingent headed by Col. Puneet Tomar arrived in Chengdu city Monday to take part in the exercises to foster closer ties between the two militaries which guard the 3488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has fielded its troops from the Tibetan military command. "Opening Ceremony of the 7th India-China joint ...
Those in govt high on action, low on drama: BJP ally Sardesai
Taking potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the woes of the mining industry, the Goa Forward Party, its ally in Goa, said Tuesday that "those in the government" are "high on drama and low on action". GFP president and Goa Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai met representatives of those dependent on the mining industry in Delhi. Talking to PTI on phone after the meeting, Sardesai said his party puts Goans first. "Unfortunately, so far those in the government are high on drama and low on action," he said. The mining activity in Goa has come to a standstill following a Supreme Court order which set aside renewal of 88 mining leases in the state in February this year. "What we need is action to give relief to three lakh people (who are dependent of mining) and restart an activity which is the mainstay of Goa's economy," Sardesai said. "Those who are part of the establishment" should state clearly that this problem is unsolvable and "stop playing ...
Sachin Pilot: the pilot who helped drive Cong to victory in Rajasthan
He flies planes, loves to drive and has helped steer the Congress from the depths of defeat in 2013 to the highs of victory in Rajasthan. Sachin Pilot may not become chief minister if the party chooses to appoint the older, more experienced Ashok Gehlot, but the urbane politician, equally at home in a village as in the debating room of an English news channel, has more than earned his electoral stripes, say party leaders. The 41-year-old Stephanian, as those from Delhi's elite St Stephen's College are sometimes called, and Wharton MBA graduate had made a vow in 2014 when the party lost in the Lok Sabha elections to not wear a turban he so loved till the Congress returns to power. And now it seems the saafa' might well be back on his head. With trends showing a 101-72 margin on Tuesday, the win against the BJP is not as emphatic as the Congress would have wished, but to Pilot goes the credit of ensuring that his party came back to power in Rajasthan by defeating the BJP's Vasundhara ..
Israeli military delegation in Russia for anti-tunnel operation talks
An Israeli Army delegation was set to meet their Russian counterparts in Moscow on Tuesday in order to discuss an operation aimed at destroying tunnels allegedly dug by members of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah from Lebanon into northern Israel.
TRS retains Telangana, crushes Congress (Fourth Lead)
Riding high on Telangana pride and welfare schemes, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao led his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to a thumping victory, crushing the Congress-led alliance in India's youngest state.
Zoramthanga elected leader of MNF Legislature party, to stake claim
Zoramthanga was unanimously elected leader of MNF legislature party at a meeting of the newly-elected party MLAs here Tuesday, an MNF statement said. Zoramthanga will meet Governor K Rajasekharan at 6 pm to stake claim to form the government in the state. Tawnluia was elected deputy leader of the MNF legislature party and Lalruatkima its secretary. The MNF bagged 26 seats in the 40-member state assembly. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla submitted his resignation to the governor. He lost from both Serchip and Champai South seats from where he contested.
Final phase of J&K panchayat polls ends peacefully
Voting ended peacefully on Tuesday for the ninth and final phase of the panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security.
It's people's victory: KCR
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday termed the huge win of his party in the assembly elections as people's victory.
TRS gets two-thirds majority in Telangana
The ruling TRS secured a two thirds majority, winning 81 seats as per the latest vote count in the Telangana assembly elections Tuesday. The TRS, which will form its second government in the youngest state in the country, was leading in six others, leaving the others way behind. According to results and trends available as of 5 pm, the Congress won 15 seats and was leading in four while ally TDP bagged two seats. Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, which supported TRS, won six and was ahead in 1 constituency while the BJP clinched one seat. Others won two seats and led in one. Counting of votes polled in the December 7 elections to the 119-member assembly began at 8 AM Tuesday. TRS president and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who led his party to the impressive performance in the polls, won his Gajwel seat by a margin of 57,321 votes. Rao polled 1,23,996 votes, while his nearest Congress rival Vanteru Pratap Reddy got 66,675 votes. His son and minister K T Rama Rao
Lal Thanhawla - the CM who wanted to step aside
Congress stalwart and five-time Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla, who had won all state assembly polls barring one since statehood, had wanted to step aside this time but contested from two seats to ensure his re-entry to the House. A Congressman throughout his four-decade-long career as politician, Thanhawla had told the media after being sworn-in as chief minister in December 2013 that he would not contest in 2018 as he would be 80 years of age. But facing a combative MNF and threats from BJP, which was seeking to increase its presence in the northeast, he contested from his home turf of Serchhip and Champai South seat on the Mizoram-Myanmar border in the November 28 polls to enter the house for a record tenth time. Thanhawla, who is among the longest serving politicians in the state, was the first leader of opposition after Mizoram attained statehood in 1987 when Laldenga was at the helm of the government. But there was mid-term election as Laldenga's ministry toppled only ...
C'garh polls: BJP's hold on SC seats loosens, leads in 2 of 10
The ruling BJP seems to have lost its hold on the Assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Castes in Chhattisgarh as per trends from the vote counting currently underway. The BJP was leading in only two of the 10 SC reserved seats while in the 2013 Assembly polls, the party had won nine of them. This time, the opposition Congress is leading in six seats while the BSP is ahead in two. While BJP state minister Dayaldas Baghel was trailing in Navagarh (SC) seat by a margin of 12,037 votes, another minister Punnulal Mohile was leading by a margin of 4,798 votes in Mungeli (SC) seat. Scheduled Castes make up roughly 12 per cent of the state's 2.5 crore population and a sizable number of them follow the Satnami sect. Polls for the 90-member House in the state took place in two phases on November 12 and 20.