Page 2526 - Politics
Hanuman Beniwal's RLP to contest all 200 assembly seats in Raj
Jat leader and independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal on Sunday said his Rastriya Loktantrik Party will contest all 200 assembly seats in the state. He expressed confidence over leading a third front in the state. "I am in advance talks with other parties for a tie up and formation of a third front. We (RLP) will contest all 200 seats and the results will be quite different from the past results. The third front will be a crucial factor in deciding results this time," he said. Beniwal said he has held discussions with the top brass of BSP, former BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari who has floated his Bharat Vahini Party and others for formation of the third front. He said details on the alliance will be announced depending on the outcome of talks in the next few days. "It will be a strong third front and thus both BJP and Congress are scared. The public is fed up with both parties as they have misled the people. They failed to fulfill promises made in their manifestos," he said. Beniwal belongs to .
Parrikar undergoes 'routine check-up' at Goa hospital
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar underwent a "routine check-up" at a state-run hospital near here Sunday, an official in the chief minister's office said. Parrikar (62), has been recuperating at his private residence near Panaji since October 14 upon his return from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where he underwent treatment for a pancreatic ailment. He was taken to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Sunday morning for a "routine check-up", Parrikar's personal secretary Rupesh Kamat said in a statement here. A source said the chief minister was at the hospital for over an hour during which he underwent some tests. The source, however, did not give any details of the check-ups done, saying they were "confidential". "It was more like a routine check-up," he added. Before being admitted to AIIMS, Parrikar had undergone treatment at a US hospital between March and August. After his return to Goa, the chief minister had held a series
Cong glorified Naxals as 'revolutionaries': Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday came down heavily on the Congress, accusing them of "shamelessly" glorifying Naxals as "revolutionaries".Addressing a public rally here, Adityanath said: "Naxalism in Chhattisgarh spread due to Congress. They made a breeding ground for the Naxals here. The Congress is shamelessly glorifying the Naxals as revolutionaries. Congress's culture is just to promote loot, Naxalism and corruption."Accusing the Congress of creating obstacles in the path of development, Adityanath chided the party for ignoring national interests. "Congress always creates obstacles in development. They are the biggest obstacle even in the construction of the Ram Temple. Congress is only interested in vote bank politics and have completely ignored national interests," Adityanath asserted.The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister hailed the Raman Singh-led government in the state, saying that the welfare programmes had benefitted the public who, according to him, were ..
Sonia Gandhi to hit campaign trail in Telangana on November 23
Former Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi is slated to campaign for Telangana Assembly polls on November 23. According to party sources, Sonia is scheduled to address a rally in Warangal.Her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to campaign for his party candidates in Mahbubnagar and Khammam on November 28 and 29 respectively. He will also undertake a roadshow in Khammam.The election to the 119-member assembly of Telangana is scheduled to be held on December 7. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.Earlier on Saturday, Rahul, who was campaigning in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by accusing him of insulting Congress leaders like Mahendra Karma and Narendra Kumar Patel, who fell to the bullets of Naxals in Chhattisgarh.The Gandhi scion also promised all-loan waiver to poor farmers within 10 days of forming the government if voted to power in Chhattisgarh. He also touched upon the
Parrikar undergoes routine check-up: CMO
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday underwent a routine check-up at a state-run hospital near here, a statement issued by his Office said.
Cong's MP manifesto promises to ban RSS shakhas in govt buildings
Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh elections, the Congress party in its manifesto has assured that if voted to power in the state then it will not allow the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct their (shakha) sessions in government buildings.The party promised to revoke the orders allowing government employees to attend RSS shakha sessions.Madhya Pradesh is all set to go to polls on November 28. The strength of the Madhya Pradesh assembly is 230 and counting of votes for the assembly elections will be conducted on December 11.The election in the state is seen as a direct political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. While Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is attempting to secure a fourth consecutive term, the Congress will fight for regaining power after 2003.The Congress on Saturday promised 'Gaushalas,' 'Ram Path' and Naramada Parikrama Path and a spiritual centre to woo voters to its fold in the state. The manifesto also promised to .
International concerns on Lanka elections unfounded: Minister
The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolving parliament and announcing snap polls in January are unfounded, a senior minister said here Sunday. The political crisis in the island nation deepened on Friday as Sirisena dissolved parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed by him under controversial circumstances. "It was a decision made after obtaining legal advice and opinion even from former chief justices...We have let the people to decide, so there is nothing wrong in it," Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of the President's move are unfounded, the Sirisena loyalist said. UN chief Antonio Guterres, the European Union and several countries, including the US, the UK, Australia .
Telangana Assembly poll battle starts tomorrow
The process for the Telangana Assembly elections is commencing Monday with the issue of notification for the polls in which the TRS is bidding to retain power and the Congress-led alliance appearing headed for a no-holds-barred contest. The 119-member assembly was dissolved on September 6 on the recommendation of the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS government, more than eight months ahead of the expiry of its term, paving the way for early elections. The gazette notification for the polls would be issued on November 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is November 19, according to the schedule released by the Election Commission. Elections will be held in a single phase on December 7. The TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti) has already announced its candidates for 107 segments, including 105 at one go within minutes of the assembly dissolution, giving itself a jump-start to the campaign and stunning the opposition. It is going it alone in the poll, as also the BJP. The main ...
AP CM Naidu inducts two new ministers
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday inducted two new ministers in his Cabinet, eight months after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to severe ties with the TDP after the regional outfit pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in March this year.The two ministers who were inducted in N Chandrababu Naidu-led government are NMD Farooq, who was the chairman of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council and Kidari Sravan Kumar, son of late MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, who was shot by Maoists in September this year. Sravan Kumar is a novice in politics. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Varanasi.The newly-inducted ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhawan by Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan. The ministers will be given the portfolios earlier held by BJP MLAs Pydikondala Manikyala Rao, who was Endowments Minister and Kamineni Srinivas, who was the Health Minister. .
AP cabinet expanded with induction of 2 ministers
The Chandrabau Naidu cabinet in Andhra Pradesh was Sunday expanded with the induction of veteran TDP leader N Md Farooq and political debutant Kidari Sravan Kumar as ministers, filling vacancies caused by the resignation of two BJP members in March. Governor E S L Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two new ministers at a ceremony in the Grievance Hall at Undavalli here. Farooq, an MLC, took the oath in Telugu while Kumar, son of slain MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, did it in English, as his mother, seated among the audience, was visibly overwhelmed. Rao, who represented Araku valley, was shot dead by the outlawed CPI (Maoists) on September 23 along with a former legislator. After taking oath, Kumar touched Chief Minister's N Chandrababu Naidu's feet and took his blessings while the Governor congratulated the two new ministers. The vacancies had arisen after the BJP quit the coalition government in the state following the Telugu Desam severing its ties with the ..
Stage set for high-stakes poll battle in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh
The stage is set for the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls in 18 seats spread across eight Naxal-affected districts on Monday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a fourth straight term in the tribal-dominated state as the opposition Congress seeks to return to power after 15 years. Chief Minister Raman Singh, two state cabinet ministers and an incumbent BJP MP are among the 190 candidates contesting in 18 constituencies of the 90-member Assembly. The constituencies of Khairagarh, Dongargarh (SC), Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur (ST), Antagarh (ST), Bhanupratappur (ST), Kanker (ST), Keshkal (ST), Kondagaon (ST), Narayanpur (ST), Bastar (ST), Jagdalpur, Chitrakot (ST), Dantewada (ST), Bijapur (ST) and Konta (ST) will go to polls on Monday. Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and one for Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The stakes are very high for the saffron party on these 18 seats as it had lost 12 of them in the last polls held in .
BJP to reach out to MP voters through street plays
At the time when social media platforms are being used to reach out to voters, the Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh has decided to bank on street plays to woo the voters in the ensuing Assembly polls in the state. Through street plays, the BJP will apprise the people in small towns and rural areas about developmental works carried out by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan led government in the state.BJP leaders on Sunday gathered at the party office here and shortlisted several drama groups for their upcoming campaigns. Scores of artists residing across the state had come for the audition test. Those selected were asked to perform street plays on the themes pertaining to the BJP government's achievements in the state.Speaking to ANI, Bablu Jha, an artist said that his group is all charged up for the election campaign for the BJP and added that they will make all efforts to "persuade people to press the button having lotus symbol on the electronic voting machines on the ...
UN Secretary-General expresses concern over Sri Lankan political crisis
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the growing constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka and has urged the government to ensure peace and safety of all citizens."The Secretary-General learned with concern of President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to dissolve Sri Lanka's parliament and move to new parliamentary elections on 5 January 2019," said the Spokesman for the Secretary-General in a statement released on Saturday.Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric de la Riviere said that the Secretary-General has underlined the importance of respecting democratic processes and institutions and resolving differences in accordance with the rule of law and due process. Guterres has urged the Sri Lankan government to uphold its commitments to human rights, justice and reconciliation.Sirisena dissolved the Parliament with effect from Friday midnight after days of political unrest in the Asian island nation and announced that the general elections in the country would
Saudi cornerstone of stability in Middle East: Trump
United States President Donald Trump in a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron here on Saturday asserted that Saudi Arabia is the cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.Trump, who is in Paris to attend commemoration ceremonies on the 100th anniversary of World War I, also confirmed his refusal to risk Saudi Arabia's stability, reported Al Arabiya quoting a French presidential source.Saudi Arabia was an important topic for discourse for the two Presidents as France had earlier threatened to impose sanctions and other punitive measures against Saudi Arabia if their role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was proven.In the meeting, Trump explained his position over Saudi Arabia, also an important partner of the United States, sources confirmed.The US and French Presidents held a bilateral meeting, ahead of the commemoration ceremonies of the military and mariners who were killed while fighting in the World War I.They also discussed other issues including
PM pays tributes to Indian soldiers who fought in World War I
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sundaypaid tributes to Indian soldiers who fought inWorld War I and said the country reiterates its commitment towards world peace so that the trail of death and destruction caused by wars does not occur. "Today, as we mark one hundred years since the end of the horrific First World War, we reiterate our commitment towards world peace and pledge to work to further an atmosphere of harmony and brotherhood so that the trail of death and destruction caused by wars does not occur," he said in a series of tweets. He said, India remembers its brave soldiers who fought in WW I. "This was a war in which India was not directly involved yet our soldiers fought world over, just for the cause of peace," the prime minister said. Modi recalled that hehad the honour of paying tributes at the Neuve-Chapelle Memorial in France and at the memorial in Israel's Haifa, places associated with India's role in World War I. "When (Israel) PM Benjamin Netanyahu came to India, we ...
UN chief concerned over dissolution of Sri Lanka Parliament
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the Sri Lankan President dissolving parliament and calling for snap elections for January 5, 2019.
Rahul-Modi face-off, turncoats, caste equations make for heady poll cocktail in 5 states
A Narendra Modi-Rahul Gandhi face-off, last-minute switching of camps, allegations, counter-allegations, and caste equations make for a heady election cocktail in five states, but poll results remain as unpredictable as the climax of a Hollywood thriller. The first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls on Monday will kick off what is being seen as a semi-final before the general election that will decide how major political parties such as the BJP, Congress and BSP are positioned for alliances to fight the 2019 battle. Political parties will battle it out in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana for 90, 230, 40, 200 and 119 seats respectively. If the Congress manages to upset its dominant rival in these assembly polls, then it will be a big boost to the opposition for the Lok Sabha polls, while a good show by the BJP will energise its cadres and give a fillip to its hopes of retaining the power at the Centre in 2019. In 2013, the BJP had won 165, 163 and 49 ...
Those opposing 'Rath Yatra' will be crushed: BJP leader
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) West Bengal Mahila Morcha president Locket Chatterjee on Saturday said that those who try to stop the party's Rath Yatras (chariot journey) in the state scheduled next month would be crushed under its wheels.Chatterjee told reporters here, "We will hold Rath Yatras in three places to save democracy in West Bengal. The main aim is to obtain votes for (2019) Lok Sabha elections. Nobody can stop it and if anyone tries to stop it then they will be crushed under the wheels of the chariot."She alleged that women were being harassed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in the state and they were not able to venture out freely.
Name changing an attempt to demolish idea of India: Mehbooba
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for changing the names of cities and towns and said that the move was an attempt to demolish the idea of India."Name changing is an attempt to demolish the idea of India we grew up with. It is an assault on the country's composite Ganga-Jamuni culture. BJP is trying to tell the Muslims that they don't belong to this place. But be sure it is as much my country as yours. We are just not going anywhere," Mufti tweeted on Saturday.Mufti reacted on the micro-blogging site to Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar's statement where he asked the BJP to change the names of three of their Muslim leaders-Shahnawaz Hussain, Abbas Naqvi, Mohsin Raza - before changing the names of different towns and places in the state.There is a sudden spurt in demands seeking change in the names of various cities after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi ...
BJP failed to develop Chhattisgarh even after 15 years' of rule: Congress
Congress leader Anand Sharma on Sunday took a jibe at Chief Minister Raman Singh-led Chhattisgarh government stating that the state remained underdeveloped even after 15 years of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule. The state goes to polls tomorrow.Sharma told ANI, "It has been 15 years that the BJP is in power in Chhattisgarh, but still the state is not counted in the list of developed regions of India. In terms of health infrastructure, Chhattisgarh is placed at the 21st position while in education it does not even make it in the top 15 places. If one looks at the unemployment rate, currently more than 25 lakhs of youths are without jobs."He cornered the ruling NDA government at the Centre as well as the state government over the chief minister's son's name figuring in the Panama papers. "Why is the Prime Minister silent on the name of Raman Singh's son appearing in Panama Scam? Why is Raman Singh silent on this?" he questioned.Touching upon alleged chit fund scam in the state, the ..