Page 353 - Politics
Congress rushing 2 senior leaders to Karnataka to check crisis in government
With its government in alliance with the JD-S facing a potential crisis in Karnataka, the Congress is rushing its two senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and K.C. Venugopal to Bengaluru to handle the situation.
Jagan invites Chandrababu Naidu for swearing-in ceremony
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Y S Jaganmohan Reddy Tuesday invited Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu for his swearing-in ceremony in Vijayawada on May 30. Reddy, whose YSR Congress swept the state elections bagging 151 of the 175 seats, will be sworn in as chief minister at 12.23 pm on Thursday. YSRC sources said the CM-designate spoke to the TDP chief over phone and extended a formal invitation for the swearing-in ceremony. Reddy has already invited Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has confirmed his attendance. After the swearing-in, Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chandrasekhar Rao and Reddy will leave for Delhi to attend the swearing-in of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.
3 West Bengal MLAs, several councillors join BJP in Delhi
Three West Bengal MLAs, including BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, joined the saffron party Tuesday as it works to consolidate its position in the state following its impressive show there in the Lok Sabha polls. Subhrangshu Roy was suspended by the TMC for his "anti-party" activities after the general election results were announced. They joined the BJP at the party's headquarters here in the presence of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya and Mukul Roy. TMC's Tusharkanti Bhattacharya and CPI(M)'s Debendra Nath Roy were the other MLAs from the state who joined the saffron party along with several councillors, BJP leader Anil Baluni said. Mukul Roy is seen to be instrumental in engineering the defection of TMC leaders to the BJP and, political watchers believe, he is one of the key architects of the party's best ever show in West Bengal, where TMC president Mamata Banerjee is in power since 2011. In the Lok Sabha polls, the TMC fell to 22 seats from 34, while the ...
Will retain allies, says Goa CM as BJP becomes largest party
On a day his party's strength in the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly increased to 17, making it the single largest party, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he would not drop any of the alliance partners. The strength of the Assembly was restored to original 40 Tuesday after four MLAs, who won recently-held byelections, took oath. In the new setting, the BJP has 17 MLAs, reversing the 2017 position when the saffron party had won 13 seats and the Congress 17 in the assembly elections. Acting Speaker Michael Lobo administered the oath to the MLAs--three from the BJP and one from the Congress. The legislators who took oath are Subhash Shirodkar, Dayanand Sopte and Joshua D'Silva--all from the BJP, and Atanasio Monserratte of the Congress. All of them got elected in the bypolls held to four seats, results for which were announced on May 23. Byelections to Shiroda and Mandrem were held due to defection of Shirodkar and Sopte to the BJP last year. Panaji and Mapusa seats fell .
'NC will surpass its 1996 tally in upcoming assembly elections': Rana
The National Conference Tuesday claimed it will improve and surpass its 1996 tally of 57 seats in the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and form a "strong, stable and responsive" government. National Conference (NC) provincial president Devender Singh Rana said the recent poll outcome in the seats the NC contested is "testimony of the public support". "Given the support of the people, NC will improve and surpass its 1996 tally of 39 assembly seats in Kashmir, 15 in Jammu and three in Ladakh region," Rana told reporters at the party headquarters here. He criticised the state BJP over its demand for revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution and "twisting statistics" with regard to the just concluded parliamentary elections, saying this speaks of its fear and frustration in the wake of "imminent rejection by the people". Rana said the BJP leaders in their enthusiasm are forgetting that the NC did not contest the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Ladakh. The NC supported ...
Rahul unlikely to be Leader of Congress in LS, may head CPP
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to be the party leader in the Lok Sabha and the post may go to someone else as it happened in the previous Lok Sabha, party sources said on Tuesday. But Gandhi is expected to be the CPP leader.
Stop interfering in Tibet: China tells US
China on Tuesday told the US to stop interfering in Tibet after the American envoy advised Beijing to hold talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama who is living in India.
JD(S)-Congress in K'taka allotted land at cheaper rate to JSW to fill their coffers: BJP
The BJP's Karnataka unit Tuesday alleged that the JD(S)-Congress government took a cabinet decision in a "hurry" to allot 3,700 acres of land at a cheaper rate to the JSW Steel plant in Ballari to "fill" their coffers and out of fear that they might lose power in the state. State BJP general secretary C T Ravi also claimed that the coalition government is on a "shaky ground" and a cabinet proposal on the JSW Steel plant was cleared on Monday. He demanded that the state government immediately stop this. "The Karnataka government has given 8,000 acres of land in Sandur, Ballari district, to JSW Steel plant in tranches since 1993. The land was given on lease. Yesterday, the cabinet took a decision to allow a sale deed for 3,700 acres at Rs 1.25 lakh per acre," Ravi told reporters here. While the market value of the land near the steel plant is in the range of Rs 15-20 lakh per acre, the government's decision to sell it at only Rs 1.25 lakh per acre is against the interest of the state, .
BSP and 20-25 Cong' MLAs unhappy with Rajasthan govt: Gyandev Ahuja
Rajasthan State BJP Vice-President Gyandev Ahuja on Tuesday said that the BSP MLAs and as many as 20-25 Congress MLAs are unhappy with the Congress government in the state. He declined to comment further on the matter citing that he is not BJP's official spokesperson."I am not an official party spokesperson but I have heard that the BSP MLAs here are unhappy and so are 20-25 Congress MLAs. I do not want to comment further on this," said Ahuja while talking to ANI here on Tuesday.In the 200-member strong Rajasthan State Assembly, the Congress has 100 MLAs and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has one MLA. Besides the support of BSP, which has 6 MLAs, Congress also has the support of 12 out of a total of 13 independent MLAs.Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP leader Bhawani Singh Rajawat said that the Congress government is unstable and might fall."The condition of Congress in the state is such that we don't need to work hard, Congress itself is making efforts to topple its own government. I think .
Trump in Japan: Policy differences evident amid display of camaraderie
Despite the extravagant display of camaraderie aimed at showing the strength of what Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the "unshakable bond" with the United States President Donald Trump, points of differences between the two leaders were visible, particularly on two fronts - North Korea, and trade.Trump began his much-anticipated four-day visit to Japan against the backdrop of his recent tweet that played down the threat of the recent firing of short-range missiles by North Korea. The tweet holds significance particularly because it went against the recent statements by the Japanese government and Trump's national security adviser John Bolton that the missile test violated the UN resolutions.In a joint press conference conducted by Trump and Abe following their bilateral talks on Monday, the US President reiterated his statement that he was not bothered about the missile test."My people think it could have been a violation," Trump told reporters, as cited by The New York ...
AP: Jagan Reddy invites predecessor Chandrababu Naidu to his swearing-in ceremony
Andhra Pradesh chief minister-designate YSR Jaganmohan Reddy has invited his predecessor and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu to his swearing-in ceremony scheduled to be held on Thursday.Reddy called on his predecessor over the phone and invited him to attend the ceremony on May 30 at 12:23 pm in Vijayawada.Jaganmohan-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) got an absolute majority in the 175-member state Assembly, ousting Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state.YSRCP won 151 seats out of 175, whereas TDP's tally fell drastically from 102 in 2014 Assembly elections to a mere 23.In the Lok Sabha results too YSRCP managed to win 22 of the 25 parliamentary seats.Reddy has already invited Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao to his swearing-in.KCR has agreed to attend the ceremony at Vijaywada before leaving for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath-taking to be held on the same day in New Delhi.
Rajinikanth says Modi charismatic leader like Nehru, Rajiv
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth Tuesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "charismatic" leader like Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi and attributed the BJP's massive win in the Lok Sabha polls to his individual leadership. He also said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi need not resign following the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections, saying he was a youngster and perhaps had not got the cooperation of senior party leaders. Rajinikanth said he would be attending the swearing-in of Modi as Prime Minister on Thursday, following an invitation for him to participate in the event. The veteran star likened Modi to tall leaders of India, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, A B Vajpayee, K Kamaraj, C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa. "This Lok Sabha poll victory is a win for the individual leadership called Modi. It is the victory for a charismatic leader," he told reporters here. "In Indian politics, whether at ...
China rejects US envoy's call for talks with Dalai Lama
China on Tuesday rejected US Ambassador Terry Branstad's call to Beijing to engage in "substantive dialogue" with the Dalai Lama, saying it was firmly opposed to "foreign interference" in Tibet and its internal affairs. Branstad visited Tibet from May 19 to 25, the first such visit by a US ambassador to China to the remote Himalayan region since 2015, where access is restricted for diplomats and journalists. During his visit, he asked the Chinese government to "engage in substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, to seek a settlement that resolves differences," according US embassy spokeswoman who briefed the media. "He also expressed concerns regarding the Chinese government's interference in Tibetan Buddhists' freedom to organise and practice their religion," she said. Asked about the US envoy's call for dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media here that Chinese officials had briefed the ...
Bangladesh Prez to attend Modi's inauguration on 3-day India visit
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in on May 30 during his three-day visit to India, a top presidential palace official said Tuesday. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq will accompany the President as the senior most Cabinet member of the Bangladesh government, officials said. For a second time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not be able to represent Bangladesh at her Indian counterpart Modi's swearing-in as she will be on a three-nation foreign visit, the officials said. She could not attend the previous swearing-in ceremony of Modi in 2014 as she was abroad then too. Last time, Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury attended Modi's swearing-in. A Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman said: "The senior most member of the current Cabinet, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, will accompany the Honourable President during his three-day India visit from May 29 to 31". During his visit, the ...
Stalin non-committal on pursuing motion for TN Assembly Speaker's removal
DMK president M K Stalin Tuesday declined to categorically comment if his party would take forward its motion seeking removal of Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal. "Wait and see," he said without elaborating. Asked if his party would consider moving a motion of no confidence against the government, Stalin said his party will decide on that after the dates for the assembly session are announced. "After it (dates) is made known, we will take a decision about it," he told reporters. Dhanapal had issued notices to three All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs for siding with rival leader T T V Dhinakaran on April 30, days after the ruling party petitioned the Speaker, seeking action against them for alleged anti-party activities. After notices were sent to the MLAs, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam submitted a resolution, seeking Dhanapal's removal. Later the MLAs approached the Supreme Court against the move. The court stayed the proceedings. Earlier on Tuesday, 13 newly ...
No-deal Brexit is 'political suicide': Hunt
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Tuesday that Britain's governing Conservative Party would be committing "political suicide" if it tries to force through a no-deal Brexit. Hunt, who is among the 10 candidates vying to replace the outgoing Theresa May as Britain's prime minister, said trying to take the UK out of the European Union without a deal would trigger a general election in which the Conservatives risked being "annihilated". He said the centre-right party would face an existential threat, with voters who supported staying in the EU defecting to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats and those who supported leaving the EU heading to the Brexit Party. The newly-formed Brexit Party led by Nigel Farage topped last week's European Parliament elections. "The results contain a simple message which we ignore at our peril: if we attempt a general election before we have delivered Brexit we will be annihilated," Hunt wrote in The Daily Telegraph newspaper. "Attacked by the Brexit Party on the ...
Vikhe Patil's entry into BJP will be unconditional: Mahajan
Maharashtra Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil might join the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes oath for his second term on May 30, a senior BJP minister said Tuesday. He also said that Vikhe Patil's entry into the BJP fold would be unconditional. However, Vikhe Patil, who had resigned as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in the run up to Lok Sabha elections, remained tight-lipped about his next political course. Vikhe Patil met Water resources Minister Girish Mahajan at the latter's official bungalow here this morning. He said he had come to thank Mahajan for the latter's support in ensuring his son Sujay's victory from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency. "I openly campaigned for my son who contested as a BJP candidate. So, action was taken against me. Denial of a ticket to my son was injustice. This shows the policy of the Congress," he charged. Vikhe Patil said he had not resigned as an MLA. "I am not in touch with any ...
In TMC-BJP post poll battle, CPI(M) manages to reclaim over 150 of its party offices in West Bengal
The CPI(M), which drew a blank in West Bengal in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, seems to have emerged as the surprising beneficiary in the pitched battle for control of party offices between the BJP and TMC in the state, with the Left party managing to reopen more than 150 of them in the last four days, sources said. Party offices in Bankura, Purulia, Coochbihar, Bardhaman, Hoogly, North 24 Parganas and Howrah among others have now not only been taken over by the CPI(M) cadres, but the party symbol is being painted on them and party flags are now flying proudly atop the buildings. "BJP's IT cell is running a propaganda saying that the BJP is helping the CPI(M) to reclaim its offices in the state. It is a complete lie. We have recaptured our offices which had been taken away from us by the TMC. We have been able to do this because TMC has been weakened, its erosion is clear. Our people had been preparing to take over the offices," senior CPI(M) leader and Politburo member ...
It is untrue that BJP is strengthened in T'gana: Cong leader
The BJP getting a few seats in Telangana in the Lok Sabha polls was just a fluke and it is untrue that the party is strengthened, state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said Tuesday. Referring to comments of BJP leaders that their party would emerge as the alternative to TRS, he said it is only the Congress which would defeat TRS and be the alternative to the ruling party. "It is Congress which will defeat TRS and dislodge the TRS government in Telangana. BJP getting some seats was just a fluke. To say that BJP is strengthened in Telangana, it is a lie. We don't think it would be strengthened in future also," he told reporters here. The BJP pulled off a surprise in the Lok Sabha polls, winning four of the 17 seats in Telangana. The Congress secured three, while TRS bagged nine. Emboldened by the win, BJP declared that it would emerge as the alternative to the ruling TRS in the state. "It is only Congress which would defeat TRS one day and be an alternative to TRS. .
Sangay Lepcha sworn in as Pro-tem Speaker of Sikkim Assembly
Sanjay Lepcha, who has been elected as an MLA for the first time, was sworn in as the Pro-tem Speaker of the 10th Sikkim Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. He was administered oath by Governor Ganga Prasad at the Raj Bhawan here, the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Department said in a release. Chief Minister P S Golay, other ministers and senior officials were present on the occasion. The Pro-tem Speaker will administer oath to the newly elected legislators of the state Assembly as and when the House is convened. Lepcha has been elected from Yukson-Tashiding Assembly constituency in West Sikkim.