Page 2251 - Politics
Celebration at Congress headquarters, party workers praise Rahul Gandhi
Congress workers burst crackers, danced to the dhol and played with gulal as they celebrated the party's good show in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Carrying the Congress flag, a large number of workers gathered at the party headquarters in Delhi and praised Rahul Gandhi's leadership in steering the Congress towards victory in the three states ruled by the BJP. They distributed sweets and put up big banners of Gandhi on the walls of the Congress office. The Congress workers chanted 'Rahul Gandhi Zindabad'. Interestingly, a Congress worker also put up a banner that said, "Next prime minister of India" for Gandhi. Senior Congress leaders, including Navjot Singh Sidhu and Priyanka Chaturvedi, joined the party workers at the 24, Akbar Road office and expressed joy as the trends of poll results showed Congress taking the lead in the three states. "It was a united effort in preparing and campaigning for polls. The leader at the top was inspiring everybody. Rahul ji has ...
Japan draft defense plan seeks aircraft carrier for US jets
Japan is seeking to possess its first aircraft carrier allowing for the deployment of US-made stealth fighters as it seeks to bolster its arms capability under a new 10-year defense plan. A draft outline of Japan's new defense plan, presented by the government Tuesday, proposes refitting an existing helicopter carrier into one that can deploy US-made F-35 stealth fighters capable of short take-offs and vertical landings. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scrapping the current program only after five years in use, citing rapid changes in the security environment requiring higher deterrence to cope with threats from North Korea and China. Critics say possession of an aircraft carrier would give Japan a strike capability in violation to the country's pacifist constitution.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION
Following are the highlights at 1700 hours: TOP STORIES: ELX43 POLL-LD CONGRESS As Cong inches towards majority in Raj, C'garh, its leaders say trends indication of things to come New Delhi: Voters had clearly rejected the BJP in what was an indication of things to come in 2019, Congress leaders said on Tuesday as trends showed the party ahead in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and locked in a tantalising, see-saw battle in Madhya Pradesh. MDS31 TL-5THLD POLL TRS secures majority in Telangana, heads for landslide Hyderabad: The TRS will form its second successive government in Telangana where it has won a simple majority and is heading for a landslide with its candidates clinching 60 seats and leading in 27 others, in a resounding endorsement of its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's popularity. ELX52 POLL-MZ 2NDLD RESULTS MNF bounces back to power in Mizoram; Cong suffers 'humiliating' defeat Aizawl: The Mizo National Front returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years Tuesday, capturing 21 seats .
Zoramthanga back with a bang
After being in political wilderness for two assembly terms, rebel-turned-politician Zoramthanga is back with a bang as he led the Mizo National Front (MNF) to a thumping victory in the state's elections. Zoramthanga has been chief minister of Mizoram twice. He was a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. Seventy-four-year-old Zoramthanga joined the underground MNF while waiting for his bachelor's degree in arts at the D M College in Imphal. The MNF, led by Laldenga, declared independence from the Indian Union on March 1, 1966. Zoramthanga came to know that he has graduated with English honours while in the jungles with his MNF comrades. He was appointed secretary to MNF 'president' Laldenga in 1969 and was appointed as vice president of the 'Mizoram government-in-exile' in 1979 as well as the vice president of the MNF party. He accompanied Laldenga to Pakistan and Europe while the MNF was holding talks with the Indian government and was ...
BJP should stick to development, trends a warning bell: Kakade
A Rajya Sabha member, who is an associate member of the BJP, Tuesday said the Assembly poll results are a 'warning bell' for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Sanjay Kakade, a Pune-based builder, also asked the party to introspect over the poll performance. "I am of the opinion that the BJP should stick to development agenda and not to caste (mobilisation), changing names of cities or a (Ram) temple. We need to revert to the track of development," Kakade said. "What the BJP has been doing so far is Mandir-Masjid, changing names of cities, caste politics. Even if we win MP with a slender margin, I will call it our defeat," Kakade said. Kakade said he was not surprised with Congress gaining decisive leads in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and TRS's winning performance in Telangana, but Madhya Pradesh was a shocker. "The decisive trends in these four major states are a warning bell for us ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. If we do not learn from it, it will be
Voters make India arrogance free: Deve Gowda's jibe at BJP
With the election results indicating the BJP losing the Hindi heartland of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to the Congress and suffering a drubbing in Telangana, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda said the "people have made this nation 'arrogance-free by voting out BJP".
Raman Singh: Doling out rice and mobiles, he saw 'entertainment' in Rahul's loan-waiver promise
Climbing the populism ladder, the BJP's longest-serving chief minister Raman Singh gave rice, mobiles and even medical advice almost free to a large population, but his bid for another shot at ruling Chhattisgarh saw him touching feet of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and dismissing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's aggressive campaign as mere "entertainment". He also took jibes at his predecessor Ajit Jogi's alliance with Dalit leader Mayawati for polls in his state with a large population of tribals and other backward castes, saying 'A plough-carrying farmer' does not need an 'Elephant' -- referring to the party symbols of the two leaders who had joined hands to present a third force in an otherwise direct fight between the ruling BJP and the challenger Congress. In the end, the election results showed that farmers, as also tribals and other voters of his state, did not want even 'Lotus' of the saffron party and decided to support the 'Hand' of the Congress. The results, .
BJP's money power was defeated by 'jan shakti':Cong on results
As the trends indicated that the Congress has edged past the BJP in Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the opposition party Tuesday said the "money power" of the BJP stood defeated by the "people's power". As per the latest poll count, Congress is leading in BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the tussle between the two parties is going down to the wire in Madhya Pradesh. "I congratulate (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi on the behalf of the Maharashtra Congress. Because of his leadership, we have defeated the BJP in three states. This is a victory of 'Jan Shakti' (people's power) over 'dhan shakti' (money power). In the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, BJP's "gharwapsi" (defeat) is certain", Maharashtra Congress unit president Ashok Chavan told reporters. "The Congress will return to power in 2019. 'Modji jaanewale hai, Rahulji anewale hai'(Modi's era is over. New era belongs to Rahul Gandhi)", he added. Chavan exuded confidence that the momentum in favour of ...
Nine slain in new massacre in eastern DR Congo
Suspected militiamen killed nine civilians in a fresh attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled east, government officials and the military said Tuesday. The massacre occurred overnight in the town of Oicha, in the Beni region, local administrator Donat Kibwana told AFP. The assailants were suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group blamed for hundreds of killings since 2014. "They entered Oicha late at night, they pillaged and made off with farm animals. We lost nine people in the attack," Kibwana said. The toll was confirmed separately by military spokesman Mak Hazukay. "The ADF got around our position and carried out their dirty work in eastern Oicha... there are nine civilians dead," he said. Local teacher Prospere Kasereka said, "the ADF arrived in my area around 7.30pm. They started looting, smashing down doors and firing guns." He added: "I fled when they got in my house. I saw the bodies of nine inhabitants this morning." The ADF is a ..
Thailand to hold elections on February 24
Thailand's ruling military junta on Tuesday approved lifting of the ban on political activities it had imposed after taking power in a coup in 2014, clearing the way for an election to be held on February 24 next year.
UK seeks 'legally binding' Brexit promises: minister
Britain wants "legally binding" assurances from EU leaders it will not be trapped indefinitely in their customs union by the Irish "backstop" clause in the Brexit divorce, a minister said Tuesday. Martin Callanan, junior minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union, was speaking on arrival in Brussels for talks as Prime Minister Theresa May tours EU capitals in a bid to save her deal. On Monday, May postponed a bid to get the Brexit deal she negotiated with EU leaders last month past parliament, and now she wants new reassurances over the emergency backstop clause. EU leaders have warned repeatedly that the deal can not be "renegotiated" but EU president Jean-Claude Juncker - who May was to meet later Tuesday - has said there could be "further clarification and further interpretations". But this may not be enough for London. Callanan, arriving at the European Council for foreign policy talks with fellow ministers, said May was seeking a binding promise that the backstop ..
MNF wins Mizoram, Congress' last Northeast state (Third Lead)
Securing an absolute majority in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the MNF on Tuesday returned to power after a decade, crushing the Congress and ousting it from power in the last Northeastern state it ruled.
Iran confirms recent missile test amid Western criticism
Iran confirmed on Tuesday that it had carried out a recent test of a medium-range ballistic missile after Western powers sharply criticised a December 1 launch. "We are continuing our missile tests and this recent one was a significant test," the Fars news agency reported, citing Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh. "The US reaction showed that it was a big thing for them and that it upset them," the conservative news agency said, adding that Iran carried out between 40 and 50 missile tests a year. Iran has pressed on with its ballistic missile programme after reining in much of its nuclear programme under a landmark 2015 deal with major powers. A UN Security Council resolution adopted after the agreement calls on Iran to refrain from testing missiles capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, but does not specifically bar Tehran from missile launches. The UN Security Council convened at the request of Britain and France on December 4 to discuss the
Cong's CLP meet on Wednesday
The Congress in Rajasthan will hold its legislature party meeting here on Wednesday to decided on who will be the chief minister. "The Congress Legislature Party meeting will take place tomorrow. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal has arrived for the meeting, state Congress chief chief Sachin Pilot said. The Congress' choice for the chief minister's post is likely to be announced after consultation with party president Rahul Gandhi. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot are frontrunners for the coveted post. Trends showed the Congress is inching towards the majority mark in Rajasthan, winning five seats and leading in 98 seats. The ruling BJP has won four seats and leading in 64 of the 199 seats which went to polls. Rajasthan has a 200-member assembly but polling on Alwar's Ramgarh constituency was postponed following the death of the BSP candidate there. A party now needs to win 100 seats to form government in the state.
TRS secures majority in Telangana, heads for landslide
The TRS will form its second successive government in Telangana where it has won a simple majority and is heading for a landslide with its candidates clinching 60 seats and leading in 27 others, in a resounding endorsement of its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's popularity. Rao himself won by a margin of over 51,000 votes from his Gajwel seat, trouncing V Pratap Reddy of the Congress. Rao's son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, both ministers in his caretaker government, also won. The Congress has clinched 13 seats so far and is leading in six. Its ally TDP is leading in two seats. Rao had dissolved the Assembly in September, eight months ahead of schedule, in a political gamble that paid off handsomely, as the party is expected to improve on its previous strength of 63 in the 119-seat Assembly. However, TRS's strength had risen to 82 after defections from TDP and Congress. "The people reposed faith in the leadership of our chief minister and they did not believe in the ...
Madhya Pradesh: 12 ministers trailing
A dozen ministers in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh were trailing in the state Assembly polls as per the latest trends, an election official said Tuesday. Minister Narottam Mishra was trailing by a margin of 6,200 votes in Datia while Rustam Singh was at the third position in Morena constituency. Balkrishna Patidar was trailing in Khargone by a margin of 3,792 votes, while Lal Singh Arya was lagging behind by 6,552 votes in Gohad seat in Bhind district. Minister Om Prakash Dhurve was trailing by a margin of 8,255 votes in Shahpura seat of Dindori district while Antar Singh Arya was trailing by 3,626 votes in Sendhwa seat of Barwani district. Deepak Joshi was behind by 3,070 votes in Hatpipliya seat in Dewas district, while Rampal Singh was trailing by 3,063 votes in Silvani seat in Raisen district. Minister Archana Chitnis was also trailing in Burhanpur seat by a margin of 1,055 votes. State finance minister Jayant Mallaiya was behind by ..
Rajasthan: Congress wins 5, leading on 98; BJP wins 4, leading on 64
The Congress is heading towards victory in Rajasthan where it has won five seats and leading on 98 seats while the ruling BJP has won four and leading on 64 seats out of the 199 seats which went to polls. Congress candidates Johri Lal Meena (Rajgarh-Laxmangarh), Madan Prajapapat (Pachpadra), Zahida Khan (Kaman), Ramlal Jat (Mandal) and Prashant Bairwa (Niwai) won, while BJP's Santosh (Anupgarh), Kaluram (Dag), Sama Ram Garaisa (Pindwara-Abu), Jagsi Ram (Reodar) won. BSP's Sandeep Kumar (Tijara) and Wajib Ali (Nagar) have also won. Rajasthan has a 200-member assembly but polling on Alwar's Ramgarh constituency was postponed following the death of the BSP candidate there. A party now needs to win 100 seats to form government in the state. Despite extensive electioneering, which involved Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the BJP does not seem to retain power in the state. The trend that BJP and Congress parties are
Top Congress leaders taste defeat in Telangana
The Congress party in Telangana not only suffered a huge defeat in Assembly elections but also faced embarrassment as almost all its top leaders were humbled.
AIMIM wins 2 seats, leads in 4 in Hyderabad
AIMIM bagged two seats while leading in four others in the city Tuesday as per the latest trends in the counting of votes for the Telangana assembly elections. AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi won from Chandrayangutta constituency for the fifth time in a row, defeating his nearest BJP rival Syed Shehjadi by a margin of over 80,000 votes. Mohammed Moazam Khan was declared elected from Bahadurpura constituency here by 82,518 votes against TRS candidate, while four other party candidates were also leading. Khan, who made a hatrick, secured 96,993 votes while Inayath Ali Baqri of TRS managed to get 14,475 votes. AIMIM candidates were leading against their nearest rivals in four segments including Malakpet, Charminar, Yakutpura. However, the party nominees were trailing in Karwan and Rajendranagar constituencies in the city. BJP candidate Amar Singh was leading in Karwan Assembly segment over MIM's Kausar Mohiuddin by over 6,000 votes after the ninth round. In the 2014 ...
TRS heads for landslide in Telangana
The ruling TRS will form its second successive government in Telangana and was heading for a landslide with its candidates winning 53 seats and leading in 35 others, in a resounding endorsement of its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's popularity. Rao himself won by a margin of over 51,000 votes from his Gajwel seat, trouncing V Pratap Reddy of the Congress. Rao's son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, both ministers in his caretaker government, also won. The Congress has clinched 13 seats so far and is leading in six. Its ally TDP is leading in two seats. Rao had dissolved the Assembly in September, eight months ahead of schedule, in a political gamble that paid off handsomely, as the party is expected to improve on its previous strength of 63 in the 119-seat Assembly. However, TRS's strength had risen to 82 after defections from TDP and Congress. "The people reposed faith in the leadership of our chief minister and they did not believe in the disinformation campaign of the