Page 24 - Politics

Congress brings 'Black Paper', says Modi govt has neglected non-BJP states

The Congress's 'Black Paper' came ahead of the BJP government's 'White Paper', listing its achievements since it came to power in 2014

NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar: EC allots new name for Sharad Pawar led faction

The Election Commission on Wednesday allotted 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' as the party name for the group led by Sharad Pawar. The order by the poll authority came a day after it gave the Nationalist Congress Party name and the "clock" election symbol to the group led by Ajit Pawar, who had walked away with a majority NCP MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly in July last year. The Commission had asked the Sharad Pawar group to suggest three names of which one could be allotted in view of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Accordingly, the Sharad Pawar group has suggested the names -- Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party -- Sharadrao Pawar and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar -- to the Commission. The faction had also sought 'banyan tree' as the election symbol for itself. The Commission conveyed to Sharad Pawar that it has "acceded to your first preference, i.e. 'Nationalist Congress PArty -- Sharadchand

What to say about those who do not have any issue: CM Champai Soren

"What is there to say? What can I say about those who do not have any issue (to raise)?" the Chief Minister said, speaking to reporters as he headed towards the Assembly

'PM Modi's 400-seat prediction raises doubts of rigging', says RJD MP Jha

Manoj Jha questioned unfulfilled promises made by the ruling party in 2014 and accused the government of being better at managing headlines than the country

Delhi AAP candidates not to enter villages during polls: Villagers body

A villagers body on Monday accused the MCD of not consulting them on preparing the budget and said the AAP candidates will not be allowed to enter the villages in the upcoming general and assembly elections. A group of people under the banner of Delhi Panchayat Sangh, an umbrella body representing 360 villages in Delhi, pasted a memorandum at the MCD headquarters here for not consulting them on preparing the budget 2024-25 as promised by the corporation. They also protested against Mayor Shelly Oberoi for not taking suggestions by the rural bodies to prepare the budget slated to be presented in the House on February 8. It claimed that the mayor did not give time to meet the leaders of the villages' when approached on Monday. "The mayor's neglect of the villagers will not be tolerated and the Aam Aadmi Party should be ready to bear the brunt of it. Aam Aadmi Party candidates will not be allowed to enter the villages in the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections," the body said in

Sympathise with police, they're being made to do drama: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday reacted to the police's attempts to serve him a notice over his MLA poaching charge against the BJP, saying he sympathised with the police who were being made to indulge in "drama" by their "political bosses" instead of preventing crime in the city. Drama unfolded at Kejriwal's official residence in Civil Lines Saturday morning as a crime branch team of the Delhi Police arrived to serve him a notice to join a probe over his claim that the BJP was trying to poach AAP MLAs. Sharing a video of some policemen at his residence, Kejriwal posted on X that he sympathised with the police officers sent to serve him notice and added "it's their duty to stop crime in Delhi but they are being made to indulge in drama. That is why crime is rising in Delhi." He also said in the post, without naming any party or leader, that the "political bosses" are asking him which AAP MLAs were contacted for switching sides. In an apparent swipe at the BJP, he .

Minister Lekhi hits out at audience for not chanting 'Bharat mata ki jai'

Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday lashed out at a section of the audience at a youth conclave here for not chanting the "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogan despite she repeatedly asked them to do so. A visibly irked Lekhi asked them whether Bharat was not their mother and even suggested a woman, who was reluctant to raise the slogan, to leave the venue. The conclave was organised by certain right-wing outfits. Concluding her speech, the senior BJP leader chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and asked the audience to repeat it. As the response from the audience was not as expected, she asked whether Bharat was not their home. "Is Bharat only my mother or your mother as well? Tell me...Tell me...Is there any doubt? No doubt?...Enthusiasm needs to be expressed," the Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Culture said. She repeated the slogan and said that the response from the left side audience was still poor. Pointing at a woman in the audience, Lekhi said, "the lady in yellow .

Best of BS Opinion: The inside story of two U-turns, Bopanna & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Champai takes oath as Jharkhand CM; Hemant in five-day ED custody

Champai Soren won the Assembly election in 1995 from the Saraikela seat as an Independent when Jharkhand was still part of Bihar

The inside story of two U-turns

The next battle in Bihar could be between Samrat Choudhary and Tejashwi Yadav

What Modi read in 'school'

Is this government really so mysterious? Is there a key to breaking the code of this BJP's politics? The answer lies in understanding old texts on the BJP-RSS ideology

Recently announced organisational elections of Imran Khan's party postponed

The party has fielded independent candidates for the next week's elections

Tamil Actor Vijay enters politics with 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazham' party

Renowned South Indian actor Vijay has declared that his newly launched party will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and will not extend support to any other party

In govt's focus: 4 'pillars', Vishwakarma, tribals and border villages

FM promises White Paper on the economy before & after 2014

Hemant Soren in ED custody, JMM leader Champai Soren to be new Jharkhand CM

Hemant Soren on Wednesday resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister while the ruling JMM-led coalition proposed the name of senior leader Champai Soren as new state head. Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan after about seven hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. "Hemant Soren has resigned as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has proposed the name of senior JMM leader Champai Soren as the new CM," state Congress president Rajesh Thakur said. Earlier, the legislators gathered at the CM residence elected Champai Soren as the leader of the JMM legislative party. Party spokesperson Vinod Pandey said a general consensus was reached on Champai Soren. Earlier, there were speculations that Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana's name could be proposed as the new CM.

RBI action against Paytm will hit ordinary Indians most: Cong slams govt

Hitting out at the government after the RBI action against Paytm Payments Bank, the Congress on Thursday said the order will hit ordinary Indians the most and asked why the firm with Chinese links had not been kept under stricter monitoring. In a major action against Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), the Reserve Bank on Wednesday directed the lender to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, FASTags and other instruments after February 29. However, any interest, cashbacks, or refunds may be credited back to customers anytime. "No other banking services, other than those...like fund transfers (irrespective of name and nature of services like AEPS, IMPS, etc), BBPOU and UPI facility should be provided by the bank after February 29, 2024," the RBI added. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The last 10 years under PM Modi have brought only chaos to the banking system." "First, the disastrous demonetisation decision, taken without any

AAP to move Supreme Court for early hearing on Chandigarh mayoral election

The Aam Aadmi Party will move the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of its plea on Chandigarh mayoral polls, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Wednesday. His statement came hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court fused to grant any interim relief on the AAP's petition for setting aside Tuesday's mayoral election and seeking fresh mayoral polls. The HC also asked the Chandigarh administration to file its reply within three weeks and has adjourned the matter till February 26. The AAP-Congress alliance has alleged tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer Anil Masih, a charge rejected by him and the BJP which won the election to all three posts. "We will move Supreme Court. We will seek an early hearing in the matter. There is a video of the whole thing," Mann said and questioned why the Chandigarh administration required three weeks to prepare a report. The chief minister was replying to queries at a news conference here on the sidelines of chairing

Imran Khan challenges rejection of his nomination papers for Feb 8 polls

In his plea, Khan urged the apex court to declare him eligible to contest the elections from the two constituencies, Geo News reported

Mahagathbandhan will fight for justice in Bihar, no need for Nitish: Rahul

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asserted that the Mahagathbandhan' will continue fighting for social justice in Bihar, and the alliance does not need Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the cause. Speaking at a rally in Purnea district, where his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' entered during the day, Gandhi also took a swipe at Kumar for switching sides frequently. "He (Kumar) cannot exert pressure... he immediately takes a U-turn, the former Congress president said. Kumar on Sunday took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time after a dramatic volte-face, ditching the 'Mahagathbandhan' and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago. The Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) will fight for social justice in Bihar; we don't require Nitish Kumar for that purpose, we don't require him at all, Gandhi said. Congress is a part of the Mahagathbandhan', which also comprises the RJD and Left parties. Gandhi also

Lone seat vacant on Nadda's term expiry can go to Sonia or Priyanka: Cong

Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh on Tuesday said the lone Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant on expiry of six-year term of BJP national president JP Nadda on April 2 can go to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. "We would discuss the matter with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the seat could go to them if they are willing," Singh said when asked about sending their names from the state. Sonia Gandhi contested from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 general election. Priyanka Gandhi is neither a member of the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha at present. "The names of Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can be considered if they so desire," she told mediapersons here in reply to a question on the sidelines of a function to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 76th death anniversary. Following declaration of schedule for the elections to 56 Rajya Sabha seats, including one in Himachal Pradesh, search has be