Page 246 - Politics
EC says dissent view in model code violation cases can't be part of order
The Election Commission has issued a formal order making it clear that dissent views will not be made part of orders relating to model code violation cases, an issue which had led to acrimony among the top brass of the poll panel. The office order, issued on June 4, states that only the majority or unanimous view will be part of orders in such cases. On May 21, the Election Commission had rejected with a majority vote Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa's demand that dissent notes should be recorded in its orders on model code violations. The 'full commission' of the panel, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and two other members -Lavasa and Sushil Chandra- deliberated on the contentious issue, after which the Commission said that dissent notes and minority views would remain part of records but would not be part of its order. The office order now puts the decision in black and white. The order states that while Lavasa has maintained that minority view should be ...
Gopalaswami named BCCI's electoral officer for AGM
Former Chief Election commissioner N Gopalaswami has been appointed as electoral officer for the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held on October 22. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) had last month announced that the long-awaited elections of the BCCI will be held on October 22. The CoA, which was appointed by the Supreme Court in January 2017 to oversee the sweeping reforms recommended by the Lodha panel, met Friday here at the BCCI headquarters to discuss the road map for the elections. The state associations are supposed to held their elections to elect office-bearers by September 14.
Gowda slams those trying to write his political epitaph, says
JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda Friday said his dignity has been impacted due to his and party's rout in the Lok Sabha polls and hit out at those trying to write his political epitaph,asserting he would "rise from the dust." Gowda, a former prime minister, and his grandson Nikhil lost in a big way in the recent Lok Sabha election, which saw the BJP sweep the polls winning 25 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. The only face saver for the JDS was Gowda's another grandson Prajwal Revanna, who won from Hassan, a seat Gowda had held. The Congress, an ally of JD(S) in the government, was equally brutally hit as it could win only one seat from Bengaluru rural constituency. "On a personal front, my dignity has been impacted. I will reorganise the party," Gowda vowed addressing the JD(S) leaders who won in the recent urban local body elections. He, however, said the party's defeat was for a good. "In a way I am proud of my defeat. It will help me understand the areas where we ...
Fadnavis calling Cong MLAs, asking them to join BJP: Chavan
Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Friday accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of personally calling up Congress MLAs and asking them to join the BJP. Addressing a press conference after a two-day district wise review meeting for Assembly poll preparations began here, Chavan, however, said he didn't think anybody from his party would join the BJP. "I don't think anybody from the Congress will leave the party. Fadnavis is calling many of them and asking them to join the BJP. The CM is toiling to break the Congress. He is calling up many MLAs, but I don't think anyone will respond," Chavan said. Hitting out at former colleague Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil for his remark that he will wipe out the Congress from Ahmednagar, Chavan said, "Just because of the win in the Lok Sabha polls, such over-confidence is unwarranted. It is not necessary the Lok Sabha results will be replicated in the Assembly." "The BJP has done very well in the Lok Sabha polls. But it should ..
Syria flare-up leaves 83 fighters dead: monitor
Fierce clashes between government forces and jihadists have left 83 combatants dead in northwestern Syria in the past 24 hours, a Britain-based war monitor said Friday. The clashes on the edge of the jihadist-controlled Idlib region have killed 44 government loyalists and 39 jihadists and Islamist fighters since Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The region of some three million people -- almost half of them displaced from other parts of the country -- is dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance led by Al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate. It administers a region that spans most of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of the neighbouring Latakia, Aleppo and Hama provinces. Late Thursday, the jihadists and allied rebels launched a counterattack against regime forces in the northwest of Hama province. They have since seized the villages of Tal Maleh and Jibeen there, the Observatory said. "Violent clashes are ongoing, accompanied by regime and Russian air .
Home Ministry official discusses Amarnath Yarta arrangements with J&K guv
Union Home Ministry Additional Secretary Gyanesh Kumar called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor S P Malik here on Friday and discussed about the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin next month. Kumar, who was accompanied by senior intelligence officers, briefed the governor regarding the foolproof arrangements being made for the pilgrimage, including en-route facilities for the devotees and security issues, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said. The additional secretary informed Malik about the extensive meetings with the state police, intelligence agencies and the officers of the state administration, the spokesperson said. The officers also informed the governor about the aerial reconnaissance undertaken at the Pahalgam and Baltal routes and observations of the arrangements, the spokesperson added. The pilgrimage is beginning on July 1.
Cabinet formation CM's prerogative says Lanka Dinakaran on 5 deputy CM's in Andhra
TDP will play the role of a constructive opposition in Andhra Pradesh, the party said on Friday.Speaking to ANI over Andhra Chief Minister's announcement to have five-deputies, TDP spokesperson Lanka Dinakaran said, "It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. He can take into cabinet whoever is eligible. We expect great service to be rendered as per the aspirations of the public. TDP will play the role of constructive opposition."Earlier in the day, it had come to light that in a move aimed at wooing various communities, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has decided to have five Deputy Chief Ministers in his cabinet.This was disclosed by YSCRP MLA Ramakrishna Reddy, who said there will be 25 ministers in the state. He said that all five deputy CMs and 50 per cent of the ministers will be from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes, minority and Kapu community.
Rahul stops for tea at shop in Kerala's Malappuram
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday stopped for tea at a shop in Chokkad of Malappuram district during his three-day thanksgiving visit to the state after he won from Wayanad parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha polls.Accompanied by state Congress leaders Mullapally Ramachandran, Ramesh Chennithala and K C Venugopal, Gandhi had some light eats at the stall and had tea from a glass as is the local practice.Earlier in the day, Gandhi addressed the people in Kalikavu to express gratitude to the people while addressing them in Kalikavu."No matter which party you come from, overwhelmingly you have given me your support. My door is open to every single citizen of Wayanad. As I am MP from Kerala, it is my responsibility to raise not only issues of Wayanad's people but also the people of Kerala in the Lok Sabha. Getting to know you better and understanding your issues and working with you to improve your lives," Gandhi said."My job is to listen to the people of Wayanad and speak with the
Himachal CM meets Modi, invites him to global investors meet in Dharamshala
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and requested him to inaugurate a global investors meet to be held in Dharamshala in September. Thakur also congratulated Modi for the BJP's landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections for a second consecutive term, according to an official statement. The chief minister discussed various issues pertaining to the state with the prime minister and apprised him about the global investors meet being held in Dharamshala in September this year, it added. Modi assured Thakur that he would try his best to attend the event. Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary B K Agarwal was also present at the meeting.
Mamata seeks collegium like SC to appoint election commissioners
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday demanded a collegium be set up on the lines of Supreme Court to appoint election commissioners. Hitting out at the Election Commission for what she alleged was its partisan approach during the Lok Sabha polls, she said three nominated members of the EC should not be given the mandate to hold polls. She appealed to all the opposition parties to unitedly demand constitution of a fact-finding committee to unravel alleged EVM tampering and electoral malpractices. "There are numerous evidences of EVM programming and election malpractices. We think there should be a fact-finding committee to unravel the tampering of EVMs, Hawala transactions. Other opposition parties should also demand it. I will speak to the Congress regarding this demand," Banerjee said after a party meeting here. "In the Supreme Court there is a collegium to decide (on appointment of Judges). So in Election Commission too there should be a collegium to decide on ...
Free-ride for women: Kejriwal directs MLAs, councillors to hold public meetings to seek feedback
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday directed his MLAs and councillors to hold public meetings across the city to take feedback from the people about his government's proposal to make travel free for women in public buses and metro, a move aimed at mobilising public opinion in favour of the party's ambitious plan. Addressing a press conference at Arvind Kejriwal's official residence here, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Chief Minister held a meeting with MLAs, councillors and party's women wing and directed them to hold 1,000 'sabhas' across Delhi. People participating in these meetings will be told that BJP is opposing the AAP government's decision, Sisodia said adding that the party will also seek to know who all are supporting the BJP. The senior AAP leader alleged the BJP was opposing the free-ride scheme for women. "The CM has directed all AAP MLAs, councillors to hold 1,000 small public meetings across Delhi to take people's feedback on the scheme. "Every MLA and .
Congress questions BJP over its poll expenditure
The Congress on Friday said that the BJP spent around Rs 28,000 crore of the total Rs 60,000 crore spent by all political parties during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and demanded that the BJP disclose the details of the source of the money.
KPCC to send report to high command against rebel leader Baig
The Congress' Karnataka unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao Friday said he is sending a report to the partyhigh command against senior legislator Roshan Baig, who had recently hit out at the state leadership holding them responsible for the party's rout in Lok Sabha polls. He, however, indicated that another senior party MLA Ramalinga Reddy, who had recently accused the state congress leadership of neglecting seniors, would be inducted into the ministry in the next cabinet reshuffle, whenever it takes place. "Roshan Baig has made many public statements that have violated party's discipline. As he is an AICC member..he has also made several allegations against our AICC general secretary (K C Venugopal), all those things I'm bringing it tothe notice of Delhi," Rao said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "He (Baig) has humiliated the party publicly. He has made allegations that minister posts were sold in return for money. These were serious allegations. All these information ..
Ambedkar alleges mismatch in number of votes cast and counted
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar Friday alleged that there was a discrepancy in the number of votes polled and the votes counted in over 300 Lok Sabha constituencies, and sought an explanation from the Election Commission of India (ECI). This was observed across all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, he said. The legitimacy of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre would be called into question if these observations were found to be correct, Ambedkar added. "Data from 22 constituencies (in Maharashtra) shows that additional (excess) votes were counted, while in 26 constituencies the votes counted were less than the votes polled," Ambedkar told reporters here. The ECI, which has always maintained that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can not be tampered with, should explain to the common people these discrepancies, he said. "If no explanation is forthcoming, we will launch an agitation against the ECI and go to the court," he added. Ambedkar, ..
US commander says he believes Iran threat still 'very real'
Iran has chosen to "step back and recalculate" after making preparations for an apparent attack against U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region, but it is too early to conclude the threat is gone, the top commander of American forces in the Mideast said. In an interview with three reporters accompanying him to the Gulf, Gen. Frank McKenzie said he remains concerned by Iran's potential for aggression and he would not rule out requesting additional U.S. forces to bolster defenses against Iranian missiles or other weapons. "I don't actually believe the threat has diminished," McKenzie said Thursday. "I believe the threat is very real." McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, and other military officials are trying to strike a balance between persuading Iran that the U.S. is prepared to retaliate for an Iranian attack on Americans, thus deterring conflict, and pushing so much military muscle into the Gulf that Iran thinks the U.S. plans an attack, in which case it might feel compelled .
Visit to Maldives, Sri Lanka indicates importance India attaches to 'Neighbourhood First' policy: PM Modi
Ahead of his visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that his visit to the two countries indicate the importance that India attaches to the "Neighbourhood First" policy."I would be visiting the Maldives and Sri Lanka on 8th and 9th June. These visits indicate the importance we attach to the policy of 'Neighbourhood First' and will further cement ties with key maritime neighbours," Modi said in a tweet.He also thanked the Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih for inviting him to the Maldives."I thank President @ibusolih for inviting me to the Republic of Maldives. I also had the opportunity to be a part of the inauguration ceremony in November 2018. India views the Maldives as a valued partner with whom we share deep bonds of history and culture," the Prime Minister said.Asserting that India stands firmly with the people of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of "horrific terror attacks on Easter", the Prime Minister said, "The people of India stand firmly with .
Jaishankar calls on Bhutanese PM during first official overseas visit
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering at the Gyelyong Tshokhang here on Friday during his first official overseas visit after assuming office.The two sides held a "cordial conversation on important elements of the bilateral partnership," he said in a tweet after the meeting."It was a pleasure to call on @PMBhutan Dr Lotay Tshering. Conveyed PM @narendramodi's greetings and had a cordial conversation on important elements of the bilateral partnership," Jaishankar tweeted.Tshering was one of the BIMSTEC leaders who had attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on May 30. The EAM's visit reflects the importance India attaches to its northern neighbour, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.The Bhutanese Prime Minister expressed his appreciation over the minister's visit shortly after taking charge of the ministry on May 31."H.E. @DrSJaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India called on Lyonchhen Dr. ...
Miscreants fire at houses of NDPP leaders, no casualty
Unidentified miscreants are creating a fear psychosis by indiscriminately firing at the residence of ruling the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) legislators and party leaders in Nagaland's Dimapur district, police said Friday. The miscreants fired several blank shots from sophisticated weapons in the past two nights, a police officer said, adding, there was no casualty. Confirming the incident, Dimapur Police, public relations officer (PRO), T Relo Aye said miscreants fired blank shots at the gate of private residence of newly elected MLA Sharingain Longkumer, located at 3rd mile, around 9.30 pm Thursday. The MLA and his family members were not in the house at the time of the incident, the PRO said. Police recovered around 10 empty cartridge shells of AK 47 rifle from the spot, he added. Earlier on Wednesday night, miscreants fired a few rounds outside the gate of NDPP Secretary General Abu Metha's house at Sovima, he said. The reason behind the firing is not
My door is open to every citizen of Wayanad: Rahul on first visit as MP
In his first visit to his parliamentary constituency of Wayanad after winning the elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed gratitude to the people adding that he will raise issues of Wayanad residents as well as that of the people of Kerala in the Lok Sabha."No matter which party you come from, overwhelmingly you have given me your support. My door is open to every single citizen of Wayanad. As I am MP from Kerala, it is my responsibility to raise not only issues of Wayanad's people but also the people of Kerala in the Lok Sabha. Getting to know you better and understanding your issues and working with you to improve your lives," Gandhi said while addressing people of Kalikavu here."My job is to listen to the people of Wayanad and speak with the voice of the people of Wayanad. Thank you for all the love and affection that you have shown me so quickly," he said.Earlier in the day, the Congress president arrived at the Calicut airport for a three-day visit to his ..
Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs meeting at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's residence
A meeting of Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has been convened for Friday at the official residence of Defence Minister Rajasthan Singh.Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ram Vilas Paswan, Narendra Singh Tomar, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Prakash Javadekar and Prahlad Joshi are other members of the Parliamentary Affairs committee.Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan are special invitees.