Page 376 - Politics
Will leave AAP in 2020: MLA Alka Lamba
Disgruntled Aam Aadmi Party legislator Alka Lamba has announced that she would leave the party next year. "My journey started with you in 2013 will end in 2020. My best wishes will be with the dedicated revolutionary ground workers of the party, hopefully you will remain a strong alternative in Delhi. The last six years have been memorable and I have learnt a lot from you," the Chandni Chowk MLA said in a tweet. She did not say whether she would quit AAP before or after the assembly election due in Delhi next year. Lamba has been at odds with the party for some time now. On Saturday, Lamba sought accountability from AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on the crushing defeat of the party in Lok Sabha polls following which she was removed from the official WhatsApp group of the party lawmakers. AAP did not win any of the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. Sharing screenshots on Twitter where it can be seen that she was removed by AAP's North East Delhi candidate Dilip Pandey from the group, ...
Tamil Nadu: Dhinakaran to move EC, alleges non-registration of votes
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran on Sunday said that he will file a complaint before the Election Commission regarding non-registration of votes in the polling booths during the Lok Sabha elections."It is very strange that many of our supporters had voted for our party but their votes have not been registered, there are instances where no votes were cast for our party. How is it possible? Election Commission has to clarify. We are collecting the details of booths and we will file a complaint at the Election Commission later," AMMK chief told media persons.He, however, claimed he cannot approach any court as he has no evidence to ascertain his claim.AMMK could only muster an estimated vote share of 5 per cent in the Parliamentary elections and Assembly by-polls, whose results came to the fore on May 23.The DMK-led alliance in the state, which includes the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of ...
Congratulatory messages continue to pour in for PM Modi from world leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to receive congratulatory calls from leaders across the globe for returning to power with a massive majority in the Lok Sabha elections. The prime minister received telephone calls from crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, Emir of State of QatarSheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British PM Theresa May and former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa. A statement from the prime minister's office said all calls were received Saturday. Modi thanked the Crown Prince for his felicitations and conveyed his appreciation for his invaluable friendship with people of India and his personal interest in furthering close relations between the two countries. The Emir felicitated the Prime Minister and noted the deepening relationship between India and Qatar. The prime minister thanked the Emir and expressed appreciation for his guidance in building strong partnership between the two countries, the statement ...
Venezuela crisis: Maduro, Guaido representatives to hold second round of talks in Norway
Representatives of Maduro-led Venezuelan government and opposition will hold the second round of talks in Norway's capital Oslo next week in an attempt to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the Latin American country, Norwegian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday."We announce that the representatives of the main political actors in Venezuela have decided to return to Oslo next week to continue a process facilitated by Norway," the ministry said in a statement. "We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting the search for an agreed-upon solution between the parties in Venezuela."Shortly after the announcement, Maduro took to his official Twitter handle to express his gratitude to the Norwegian government for providing a platform for dialogue between Venezuela's opposing forces, reported TASS news agency."I thank the Norwegian government for its efforts on facilitating dialogue about peace and stability in Venezuela. Our delegation is heading to Oslo, ready to work on a ...
PM Modi meets Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu at his official residence in New Delhi.Wearing a white kurta and churidar with a yellow stole around his neck, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed with a bouquet of lilies by the Vice-President's wife M Usha.Along with three photos from the meeting, Vice-President Naidu tweeted that the two had breakfast together and chatted about "strengthening Parliamentary institutions" and increasing the pace of development in the country.This visit by PM Modi comes a day after he was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP parliamentary party and the NDA, to head the government for a second term.PM Modi had visited party veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday, to seek their blessings after emerging victorious in the national elections.Earlier on Saturday, Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind and staked claim to form the government at the centre. Kovind, as per powers vested in him by the Constitution, .
Trump 'greatest president since Abraham Lincoln': Jon Voight
Hollywood veteran and Conservative actor Jon Voight is making a case for Donald Trump, calling him the "greatest president since Abraham Lincoln". In a two-part video, captioned "To my fellow Americans", posted on Twitter late Friday, the Trump presidential appointee addressed to Republicans and said Trump has made "his every move correct". "People of the Republican party, I know you will agree with me when I say our president has our utmost respect and our love. This job is not easy, for he's battling the left and their absurd words of destruction. "I've said this once and I'll say this again: that our nation has been built on the solid ground from our forefathers, and there is a moral code of duty that has been passed on from President Lincoln," Voight says in the first clip. The "Ray Donovan" star urged the people not to be "fooled by the political left". "I'm here today to tell you the truth, and I'm here to tell you, my fellow Americans, our country is stronger, safer and with ...
Despite LS poll loss, Cong happy to win Naxal-hit Bastar seat
Despite receiving a drubbing in the just held Lok Sabha polls, the Chhattisgarh Congress has drawn consolation by wresting the Naxal-hit Bastar seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, which it never won in the past. Congress nominee Dipak Baij defeated BJP's Baiduram Kashyap by a margin of 38,982 votes in Bastar. Prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress was hopeful of faring well and winning seats reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates as it won the Assembly polls last year with a thumping majority, uprooting the BJP which ruled the state for 15 years. However, in the Lok Sabha polls to 11 seats in the state, the results of which were declared last Thursday, the Congress managed to win only two seats - Korba and Bastar. But, the party is happy to have improved its tally from the previous record of winning just one seat in the state in the last three Lok Sabha polls. "We performed well in Bastar and Kanker - both reserved for tribal ...
Jagan Reddy arrives in New Delhi, meets PM Modi
YSR Congress Party leader Jaganmohan Reddy who is set to take oath as new chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday arrived in the national capital and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The meeting was held at Prime Minister Modi's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.Reddy, whose party achieved a landslide victory, winning 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly and 22 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, discussed providing outside or issue-based support to the Prime Minister Modi's government, sources said.During his election campaign, the chief minister-designate Reddy had mentioned that his party would support whosoever promises Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.On Saturday, Reddy went to Hyderabad where he met Governor ESL Narasimhan and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. The two leaders discussed the latest political developments and decided to work together for the development of Telugu states.Party sources said that Jagan invited KCR for his swearing-in ..
Papua New Guinea PM Peter O'Neill resigns
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill resigned on Sunday, media reports said, following a string of high-profile political defections that threatened his leadership. O'Neill -- who had been in power since 2011 -- handed over the reins to Julius Chan, who has twice been prime minister, PNG broadcaster EMTV reported. "It is important that we maintain a certain amount of stability. We have heard the calls and we have agreed for a change of government," O'Neill told reporters, according to EMTV. Chan said the transition was to ensure stability in the Pacific nation. "I want to thank the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, for all that he has done to bring this country (to where it is) today," he told reporters. "Men and women of Papua New Guinea... we have very short memories. Tomorrow you will look back and see all the things that he has done. But like life itself, you just got to move on." O'Neill, 54, survived a vote of no confidence earlier this month, but had been under pressure .
Thai media report death of ex-PM Prem Tinsulanonda
Prem Tinsulanonda (tee-NAH'-soo-lah-nohn), one of Thailand's most influential political figures over four decades who served as army commander, prime minister and adviser to the royal palace, has died at age 98. Thai media reported he died Sunday morning in a Bangkok hospital, and an official announcement is expected. Prem was best noted for his devotion to the monarchy, especially the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who appointed him head of his Privy Council in 1998. His close relationship with Bhumibol helped cement the military's ties with the palace, ensuring they were the country's two most powerful institutions. Prem served as prime minister from 1980 to 1988. Critics questioned his devotion to democracy, and accused him of encouraging the 2006 coup that ousted elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Five MLAs, three MLCs among 40 elected to Lok Sabha from Bihar
One-fifth of the 40 MPs elected to the 17th Lok Sabha from Bihar are sitting members of the bicameral legislature in the state three of them being ministers in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. Of these eight MPs, five are members of the Assembly, the other three of the legislative council. Two of the MLCs - JD(U)'s Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan and LJP's Pashupati Kumar Paras - are members of the state cabinet. While Lalan Singh has secured the Munger, Paras has retained for the party the Hajipur (SC) constituency, previously represented by his brother and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan. Their cabinet colleague Dinesh Chandra Yadav, a JD(U) MLA from Simari Bakhtiyarpur in Saharsa district, has won from Madhepura, where two former MPs - RJD's Sharad Yadav and Jan Adhikar Party's Pappu Yadav - bit the dust. Chandeshwar Prasad Chandravanshi, another JD(U) MLC, won the Jehanabad seat for his party though he also earned the unenviable distinction of having bagged his seat with the ...
PM Modi calls on Vice President Naidu
A day after being appointed prime minister for a second term, Narendra Modi Sunday called on Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. Sources described it as a courtesy call. Modi reached the vice president house here to meet Naidu this morning. Modi was Saturday appointed prime minister by President Ram Nath Kovind after he was unanimously elected NDA parliamentary party leader at a meeting in which he asked coalition members to work without discrimination, stressing on the need to win the trust of minorities. In the general election, he led the BJP-led NDA to a landslide victory with the alliance winning 353 seats, including an unprecedented 303 by the BJP.
May, Merkel, Saudi Crown Prince congratulate Modi
UK Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Sadi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his victory in the Lok Sabha elections, a statement said on Sunday.
Indian badminton chief Himanta elected to BAC vice-president post
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected as the vice-president of Badminton Asia Council. The 50-year-old got 35 votes from a total of 40 polled. "The BAI president is making his foray in the continental committee and we are sure it will help Badminton Association of India to get added support from the Asian body and work to develop badminton in the region," said BAI general secretary Ajay Singhania. Assam's health and education minister Himanta was last year unanimously elected the BAI president during its annual general body meeting in Goa. BAC president Anton Subowo also appointed BAI secretary (tournaments) Omar Rashid as the deputy chairman of Badminton Asia's development committee. Sudhakar Vemuri will also assume charge as BAC technical committee deputy chairman.
Raman Singh meets Nitin Gadkari, extends best wishes for retaining Nagpur LS seat
BJP vice president and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday met Union Minister Nitin GadkariNew Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI)Singh, the longest-serving chief minister of Chhattisgarh, also presented a beautiful flower bouquet to Gadkari.A former BJP president Gadkari retained Nagpur seat by defeating Congress candidate Nana Patole.Gadkari, who had won the Nagpur constituency in 2014, polled 6,60,221 votes. At present, he is a minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, and River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.Narendra Modi-led NDA swept the elections and won 352 out of 542 seats in the 17th Lok Sabha elections. As per official numbers, the BJP secured 303 seats, 22 more than its 2014 figures.On Saturday, an NDA delegation led by BJP president Amit Shah had called on President Ram Nath Kovind and staked claim to form the government. Gadkari was also present in the meeting.
PM Modi continues to receive congratulatory messages from world leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to receive congratulatory messages on Saturday from leaders across the world for the sweeping victory of BJP-led NDA in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.These included telephone calls from Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, United States President Donald Trump, and Former Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.Warmly felicitating the Indian Prime Minister, Sirisena noted the enhanced engagements between the two neighbours and expressed his desire to further deepen the ties between the two countries. Modi thanked Sirisena and expressed his readiness to work even more closely for the benefit of the people in the two countries and the region.Sincerely thanking the Saudi King for his warm felicitations and good wishes for the progress and prosperity of the people of India under the leadership of the Indian Prime Minister, Modi conveyed his appreciation for the guidance of Al ..
Ireland votes overwhelmingly to relax strict divorce law
Ireland voted by an overwhelming majority to relax its constitutional restriction on divorce, results showed Sunday, the latest in a series of reforms to modernise the charter of the once devoutly Catholic nation. Some 82 per cent of voters cast their ballots in favour of removing a provision requiring couples to live separately for four out of the previous five years before dissolving their marriage. The Irish government has signalled it will bring forward new legislation shortening the requirement to two out of the prior three years. At present Irish divorce law is regarded as among the most restrictive in Europe. It is thought to be responsible for the republic having the lowest separation rate of any EU member state, according to 2015 figures from the country's Central Statistics Office. The outcome of Friday's referendum will also see Irish lawmakers granted powers to recognise foreign divorces once it is signed into law by the president. The mandated separation period was a ...
Democracy triumphs (Column: Spy's Eye)
The parliamentary election in the world's largest democracy was watched by all countries, big and small, for reasons that are not far to seek: the likely impact on India's rising profile at the global level, the manner in which an extraordinary amount of dirt was kicked up by the opposition - itself divided by caste, creed and region - against the Modi government making the outsiders wonder about the levels to which the public discourse could dip here and the unparalleled scale of management of the polls in a country of India's size that was once again tested for the Central Election Commission's competence and firmness.
Venezuela's Guaido says will send representatives for talks with govt
Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Saturday he would send delegates to Oslo next week for the first face-to-face meeting with representatives of President Nicolas Maduro's government as part of a Norway-led mediation effort. They "will talk with both the Norwegian government and with representatives of the regime", Guaido said in a statement, after the two Venezuelan sides traveled separately to the Norwegian capital last week without meeting. Guaido, recognized by the United States and dozens of other countries as Venezuela's interim president, said the opposition delegation will be headed by deputy parliament speaker Stalin Gonzalez and the ex-deputy Gerardo Blyde, both of whom were involved in the initial talks with the Norwegians. Media reports said Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez and the governor of Miranda province Hector Rodriguez represented Maduro's government in the initial talks, but it was unclear if they would participate in next week's ..
Teenager injured in firing along LoC in JK's Rajouri
A teenager was injured Sunday in small arms firing by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The firing from across the LoC started in Nowshera sector around midnight, prompting retaliation by the Indian Army, a police official said. He said Mohammad Ishaq (18) was hit by a bullet from the Pakistani side while he was sleeping inside his house at village Pokharni. The injured boy was immediately evacuated to hospital and his condition was stated to be "stable", the official said. He said cross-border firing between the two sides lasted for few hours.