Page 37 - Politics

SP hints at contesting on 65 of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2024

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday indicated that it will contest on 65 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2024. SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who attended a meeting of the party's state executive committee here, called upon party workers to make full preparations to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "This election will decide the future of coming generations. It will be the last election to save democracy and the Constitution. Party workers should make full preparations to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," Yadav was quoted as having told the state executive meet at the party headquarters here. The Samajwadi Party, which is the main constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) of opposition parties, also indicated that it will contest on 65 seats leaving the remaining to its allies. SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary, while confirming that the party president has given indications of the party ..

Government is athlete-centric, clearing hurdles in their way: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the country is seeing the wind of change with his athlete-centric government clearing the hurdles coming in the way of sports persons. Modi, while speaking to the para athletes who won a record 111 medals at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, said his government is committed to giving the best facilities to athletes. "Today, we are seeing the wind of change in the country. Earlier, when someone used to take up sports, people never used to take is as a settled part of life. But, now, things are changing. The govt is there for the sportspersons now," Modi said. The Prime Minister also reiterated his government's commitment to do "its best to bring the 2030 Youth Olympic Games and the 2036 Summer Olympics to India." He said that the country had always produced good athletes but lack of financial support early came as a big hurdle in their way of excelling. "India has always produced good athletes, but lack of support or financial support

Govt orders probe after Oppn receives hacking attempt warnings from Apple

The government has ordered an investigation after Opposition MPs claimed that they received warnings of attempts being made by state-sponsored attackers to steal information from their iPhones. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government takes its role of protecting the privacy and security of all citizens very seriously and "will investigate to get to the bottom of these notifications". "In light of such information and widespread speculation, we have also asked Apple to join the investigation with real, accurate information on the alleged state-sponsored attacks," the minister said in his post. In a briefing in Bhopal, Vaishnaw took on the Opposition, saying compulsive critics were indulging in "distraction politics", as they could not tolerate the country's progress under the PM's leadership.

Threat alert not attributed to specific state sponsored attacker: Apple

The tech giant further said that they are unable to provide information about what causes them to issue threat notifications

BJP announces 2 more candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections

Both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress have announced their candidates for all the 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh

Central agencies will probe pro-Hamas' event in Kerala: BJP spokesman

BJP national spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi on Sunday said central agencies will investigate the alleged virtual participation of a Hamas leader in a protest programme in Kerala against Israel's war with the militant outfit. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran alleged on Saturday that Hamas leader Khaled Mashal had participated virtually in the protest programme organised by an Islamist group in the southern state. Trivedi said that the Hamas leader addressed a rally virtually in Kerala from where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a Lok Sabha member. The rally had been organised in Kerala. Law and order is a state subject. Now that this fact has come to light, central agencies will investigate with full caution whether the address was live or recorded. If recorded then who got this video, Trivedi said at a press conference here. The BJP leader said that this event should not be seen in isolation but in coherence. A proposal passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) doesn't mention the wo

Rahul promises health treatment up to Rs 10 lakh for poor in Chhattisgarh

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday promised free health treatment up to Rs 10 lakh for the poor under an existing scheme in Chhattisgarh if his party retains power in the assembly polls next month. Addressing election rallies in the Rajnandgaon district headquarters and Kawardha (the headquarters of Kabirdham district), Gandhi also said agricultural landless labourers (in rural areas) will be given Rs 10,000 per year in place of the existing Rs 7,000. In a swipe at BJP, he said the "amount of money they give to Adani, we will give the same to labourers, farmers and small traders of Chhattisgarh". He reiterated the Congress' commitment to conduct a caste census in the country if the party is voted to power at the Centre. He said an international airport will be set up in Chhattisgarh to help farmers export their produce after the Congress forms government at the Centre. "Our Guarantee: Under Dr Khubchand Baghel Health Assistance Scheme, the poor will get free treatment facility

Rajasthan-like raids in poll-bound MP in next four days: Digvijaya Singh

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday claimed that central agencies will carry out raids in election-bound Madhya Pradesh similar to the ones they recently conducted in Rajasthan, who also goes to polls next month. Earlier this week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and the party candidate from Mahua assembly seat as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged exam paper leak case in the state. Assembly elections in the BJP-governed Madhya Pradesh and Congress-ruled Rajasthan will be held on November 17 and November 25, respectively. Talking to reporters in Bhopal, Singh said, On one hand they (BJP) are intimidating officers, on the other, they are going to conduct raids in Madhya Pradesh like they did in Rajasthan. If this happens, then you will come to know where all Digvijaya Singh gets information from. Asked about the names of the people who could face such action, Singh said, See it for yourself

BJP demands white paper from Sukhu govt on work done during tenure so far

The Himachal Pradesh BJP on Tuesday lashed out at Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for constantly blaming the party for his government's failures and demanded that the Congress dispensation bring out a white paper on the work done during its tenure so far. In a statement issued here, BJP state president Rajeev Bindal said the people are still waiting for the Congress to fulfil its pre-poll promises. Sukhu and his cabinet have developed a habit of blaming the BJP for their failures. Sukhu should not forget that the Congress is in power in the state and not the BJP, he said. "You cannot escape by constantly blaming and cursing the BJP", he added. The BJP leader demanded that the Sukhu government publish a white paper on the work done by it during its 10-month tenure so far. Reminding the Congress of its pre-poll promises, Bindal said, "You had made so many promises to people and the same people are waiting for the fulfilment of these guarantees." Ahead of the assembly polls la

PM Modi cannot escape accountability by ignoring Manipur crisis: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur since the outbreak of violence in May and alleged that he "abandoned" the state at a time when his intervention and outreach were needed the most. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said it is the 175th day since Manipur erupted and social harmony in the state was devastated. But five questions continue to be asked by the people of Manipur and by all those who want the process of reconciliation and trust-building in the state to gather momentum, he said in a post on X. "The people of Manipur and the entire Northeast are closely watching how the prime minister has abandoned the state of Manipur at a time when his intervention and outreach were needed the most," he said. "He cannot escape accountability and responsibility by completely ignoring the crisis," the Congress leader said. Ramesh asked why the prime minister has not met the chief minister of Manipur and elected MLAs of the st

BJP woos tribals with hope to win high-stakes Chhattisgarh assembly polls

As Chhattisgarh gears up for the assembly elections next month, the opposition BJP in the state faces an uphill task to win the support of tribal population, that is said to have significantly influenced the poll outcome in the past. In the 2018 state polls, the BJP suffered a huge setback in tribal-dominated seats. According to poll experts, the recent rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in the tribal belt and launch of the party's two Parivartan Yatras from tribal pockets indicate the party's efforts to woo tribals. The state elections will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. In the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly, 29 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, which comprises around 32 per cent of the state's population. The ruling Congress, which won 25 out of 29 ST-reserved seats in the 2018 assembly polls, is hopeful of bagging more seats than the last time, banking on its government's tribal wel

Rajasthan Assembly polls 2023 LIVE: BJP slams Gehlot govt on priest killing

Rajasthan Assembly polls LIVE: Catch all the latest updates of Rajasthan elections here

India will always be grateful to Shekhawat for exemplary leadership: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former vice president and Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on his birth centenary on Monday, saying India will always be grateful to him for his exemplary leadership and efforts towards its progress. "Today is a very special day -- it is the 100th birth anniversary of the respected statesman Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Ji. India will always be grateful to him for his exemplary leadership and efforts towards our nation's progress," Modi said on X. The prime minister also recalled the respect Shekhawat enjoyed across the political divide. He was someone who was liked across the political spectrum and by people from all walks of life, Modi said, sharing his old pictures with Shekhawat on the microblogging website. "Bhairon Singh Ji was a visionary leader and effective administrator. He distinguished himself as an excellent Chief Minister, taking Rajasthan to new heights of progress. What stood out was his emphasis on ensur

Behind the 'Global South'

The geopolitical phrase of 2023 - but what does it actually mean?

AIMIM named 3 candidates for Rajasthan polls, more to be announced: Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said his party has so far fielded three candidates in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly polls and more names will be announced in consultation with its state leadership. The Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has entered the poll fray in Rajasthan for the first time. It has fielded candidates from the Hawa Mahal constituency in Jaipur, Fatehpur in Sikar and Kaman in Bharatpur for the November 25 polls. "The party has fielded three candidates in the upcoming Assembly election and more names will be announced in consultation with the state leadership. The party is contesting the Rajasthan Assembly polls for the first time and we will try our best to ensure that our candidates perform well," Owaisi told a press conference here. He said public meetings of the AIMIM candidates are scheduled in Fatehpur on Saturday and in Jaipur on Sunday. On his party's strategy in the upcoming polls, Owaisi said th

Raj polls: BJP names 83 candidates, fields Vasundhara Raje from Jhalrapatan

The BJP on Saturday named 83 more candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly polls, including former chief minister Vasundhara Raje from her traditional Jhalrapatan seat. Fifty incumbent MLAs have been given tickets while nine have not been renominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has also not named any MP in the second list. Of the 83 candidates, 10 are women. With this, the BJP has so far named 124 candidates for the November 25 polls to the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly. Some of the supporters of Raje, including two former state ministers, have also been given tickets. The saffron party has decided to field Narpat Singh Rajvi from Chittorgarh after its earlier decision to deny the five-term MLA, who is the son-in-law of BJP stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, renomination from his Vidhyadhar Nagar seat. This triggered a backlash from a section of party workers. The BJP leadership's about turn on Rajvi's candidature is being seen as a damage-control exercise after the l

Congress announces all but one candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls

Discontent over ticket distribution delays Rajasthan list

TPCC considers offering 10 gm gold to eligible women during their wedding

Earlier, Congress had proposed the "Mahalakshmi" scheme which will guarantee Rs 2,500 per month for women, an LPG cylinder at Rs 500 and free bus travel for women in govt buses

LIVE: MEA spokesperson Bagchi appointed India's ambassador to UN in Geneva

Catch all the latest updates LIVE from across the globe here

Rahul Gandhi's caste census: Will the Congress gain from OBC politics?

The Congress was never an OBC party. Could the INDIA grouping of Opposition parties have convinced Rahul Gandhi and the Congress that a rising tide of OBC politics will lift all boats along with it?