Page 384 - Politics
Bolton says N. Korea missile tests violated UN resolutions
US national security adviser John Bolton on Saturday called a series of short-range missile tests by North Korea earlier this month a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and said sanctions must be kept in place. Washington's position on the North's denuclearization is consistent and a repeated pattern of failures to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons should be stopped, Bolton said, defending the recent U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship. The U.S., however, is willing to resume talks with North Korea at any time, Bolton said. Bolton was speaking to reporters in Tokyo ahead of President Donald Trump's arrival for a four-day visit to Japan. North Korea tested short-range ballistic missiles on May 4 and 9, ending a pause in launches that began in late 2017. The tests are seen as a way of pressuring Washington to compromise without actually causing the negotiations to collapse. "U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from firing any ballistic missiles," ...
Naveen Patnaik to be sworn-in as Odisha CM on May 29
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik will be sworn-in as Odisha Chief Minister on May 29 for a fifth consecutive term after an emphatic win in the state Assembly elections, the party said on Saturday.Patnaik has continued his grip over Odisha with his party, BJD, winning 112 Assembly seats in the 147-member House.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has overtaken Congress as the main opposition party by winning 23 seats. Congress has been able to bag only nine seats. In 2014 Assembly elections, BJD had got 117 seats while BJP 10. Congress had won 16 seats.The vote share of BJD in the Assembly polls has been pegged at 44.7 per cent while that of BJP at 32.5 per cent. Congress polled 16.12 per cent votes.Patnaik, who defeated Pitambar Acharya of BJP by a margin of 60,160 votes from Hinjili Assembly constituency, became the chief minister for the first time in 2000. Since then, he has been winning all successive Assembly polls.In the Lok Sabha polls, BJD won 12 seats, BJP 8 and Congress ...
'Rahul Gandhi offered to resign, CWC unanimously rejected offer'
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday offered to resign from his post following the party's drubbing in Lok Sabha polls but it was unanimously rejected by the Congress Working Committee (CWC)."Congress President Rahul Gandhi in his address to the CWC offered his resignation, as the party president. The CWC unanimously and with one voice rejected the same and requested the Congress President for his leadership and guidance in these challenging times," a resolution adopted in the meeting said.Releasing the resolution, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the meeting decided that a complete introspection will be done on the reasons for the electoral debacle and authorised Gandhi to make changes in the party and restructure at every level.Surjewala rejected suggestions from reporters that Gandhi suggested that a non-Gandhi should head the party after his resignation."CWC has given Congress president the right to makes changes to restructure the party, a plan for this will be
SKM leaders meet Sikkim Governor, stake claim to form government
A Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) delegation led by its president P S Golay on Saturday called on Governor Ganga Prasad and staked claim to form the next government in the state. The SKM leaders, however, were tight-lipped about the name of their legislature party chief. The SKM, founded in 2013, won a slender majority in the 32-member legislative assembly by bagging 17 seats against 15 won by the SDF. Speaking to the media on the Raj Bhawan premises after meeting the Governor, Golay said his party has requested Prasad to invite the SKM to form the next government in Sikkim. To a query on who will become the chief minister, he said a decision about it will be made soon. SKM sources said its legislature party has authorised Golay to decide on the chief minister's issue. Though Golay did not contest the polls, the party rank and file want him to become the next chief minister, the sources said. The Governor is learnt to be consulting legal experts about implications of inviting Golay to .
After thumping LS poll win, BJP sets eyes on Delhi Assembly
After bagging all the 7 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, the BJP has set its eyes on the Assembly elections slated early next year, with the party on Saturday exuding confidence of repeating the similar performance then.
YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy to meet Modi tomorrow
YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Sunday. Reddy, whose party stormed to power with a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, is likely to discuss providing outside or issue-based support to the Modi government in the meeting, sources said Saturday. The meeting assumes importance as the YSRCP chief during the election campaign had said his party would support whoever promises Andhra Pradesh the Special Category Status. According to an official source, the YSRCP chief will arrive in the national capital tomorrow morning and will meet the prime minister at noon. After meeting Modi, he is expected to interact with Andhra Bhawan officials here, the source added. Reddy will take oath as new Chief Minister of the state on May 30 in Vijayawada. Earlier Saturday he was unanimously elected as the leader of the YSRC legislature party. In a spectacular .
Rahul's offer to resign rejected unanimously by CWC: Surjewala
Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered to resign from his post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday, but his proposal was rejected unanimously by the CWC members who asked him to continue amid challenging conditions.
Lok Sabha poll verdict not against Kerala government: P. Vijayan
Breaking his silence, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday told those asking for his resignation after the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) Lok Sabha polls debacle in the state that it was not a verdict against his government and therefore there was no question of him stepping down.
Jagan to meet Governor ESL Narasimhan today, will stake claim to form govt
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is scheduled to meet Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan on Saturday and will stake claim to form a new government in the state after winning by a thumping majority in the recently concluded Assembly polls.Jagan, who is set to take oath as new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh next week, will submit the resolution adopted by 151 elected MLAs of YSRCP, which elected him the legislature party leader on Saturday.He will also meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao later in the day.Reddy had steered YSRCP to a four-fifths majority in the 175-member Assembly, ousting N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state.YSRCP finished the tally by winning 151 seats, wresting power from TDP whose strength was drastically reduced from 102 in the 2014 Assembly elections to a mere 23. YSRCP polled 49.9 per cent votes, while TDP got a 39.2 per cent vote share. One Assembly seat went to Jana Sena ..
Elections come and go, shouldn't lose conscience: Gambhir to Kejriwal
Accusing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of resorting to "cheap gimmicks" to win elections, newly elected BJP MP from East Delhi constituency Gautam Gambhir on Saturday said that elections come and go, but should not lose one's conscience."The Chief Minister should know that elections will come and go. The day you lose your conscience and integrity is the day when you lose everything. If you can falsely accuse someone of such heinous charges just to win one seat then I have nothing to say to you," Gambhir said at a press conference here.Gambhir was referring to AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi and Delhi CM Kejriwal's accusations against him of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her during the campaigning phase of the Lok Sabha elections.Gambhir had denied all charges and said he was ready to quit politics if the charges against him were found out to be true.He was joined by five other BJP MPs from Delhi, Manoj Tiwari, Parvesh Verma, Hans Raj Hans,
After massive LS debacle, Pinarayi govt has muted 3rd anniversary
Shaken by its severe drubbing in Lok Sabha polls in Kerala, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala observed its third anniversary Saturday sans any celebration or announcement of new projects. The ruling Left front, which had expected an impressive victory, could win only one seat as the opposition Congress-UDF swept the April 23 election, winning resoundingly 19 of the 20 seats in the state. The lone CPI(M)-led government in the country had organised mass public meetings, cultural fiestas and exhibitions to mark its first and second anniversaries on May 25. It had also followed a practice of announcing new schemes and projects on the occasion. Official sources, however, suggested any celebration was avoided as the model code of conduct was in place for two more days. But the unexpected poll jolt seems to have forced the Left Front to think otherwise. A host of issues consolidation of minority and majority votes, apparent poor handling of flood rehabilitation, the stand on the
Memes poking fun at political parties galore on social media
This election season, social media in Tamil Nadu is agog with creative and hilarious memes about the electoral results, with popular Tamil cinema comedy scenes and the actors therein coming in handy for the meme creators to tickle a rib. Top comedians like the late Nagesh, Goundamani and Vadivelu are back in action, albeit through memes, that spare no one, starting from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to DMK leader MK Stalin, both of whom have led their parties to stupendous wins in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls. Be it Modi's reported promise in 2014 of depositing Rs 15 lakh each in every citizen's account, or Stalin woefully falling short of a majority to stage a political coup against the AIADMK government, or the sad state of affairs in the ruling party, the memes cover them all. Besides, Twitter and Facebook were alive with hilarious takes on the Lok Sabha results, especially in Tamil Nadu. The memes, in particular, seem to be the flavour of the season as popular ..
BJP retains 2014 tally in Maha under CM Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seems to have played his part well as a BJP chieftain in ensuring his party's victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Fadnavis is being credited for holding the BJP fort at a time when Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by AIMIM and Prakash Ambedkar has added a third dimension to the high-stake contest between the NDA and the Congress-NCP combine in Maharashtra. The BJP's poll strategy ensured that the saffron party retain its 2014 tally of 23 seats despite latent anti-incumbency and drought. The results will further strengthen Fadnavis' hand as the state faces the crucial Assembly elections in September-October this year. In 2019 general elections, the NDA won 41 of total 48 seats, which is a replay of its 2014 performance. While the BJP won 23 seats with a vote share of 27.59%, the Sena bagged 18 seats with a vote share of 23.29%. The NDA has won 41 out of total 48 seats in the state. Fadnavis, 48, who became chief minister in ...
Post results, BJP's Roopa Ganguly warns of violence in WB
BJP leader Roopa Ganguly on Saturday warned that violence may erupt in parts of West Bengal where her political quarter has got a good vote share in comparison to the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.The BJP leader also said that the lives of people who cast their ballot in favour of BJP are in danger."Violence will take place in several areas of West Bengal where BJP has got more votes. Poll rigging also took place in several constituencies of the state. People who supported the BJP will be tortured by the TMC cadres. Police is also with the state government. I am only concerned about the security of the people there," she said while speaking to ANI in New Delhi.Ganguly also expressed happiness with the party's success in the state saying, "We are happy with the victory in Bengal but this has given us a huge responsibility to protect the people residing there. Politics in West Bengal is very dirty."The ruling TMC has won 22 out of 42 Lok Sabha ...
MP: Cong worker loses bet on LS elections; shaves head
A Congress party worker here shaved his head on Saturday after losing a bet to a BJP worker over who will become the next Prime Minister.Bapu Lal Sen, Congress worker, Raigarh who lost the bet said: "We had a bet that if Modi became the PM, I'll shave my head and if Rahul Gandhi became the PM, BJP worker Ram Babu Mandloi will shave his. I have shaved my head now that my party has lost."The enthusiasm among the ground level party workers in Madhya Pradesh was beautifully exhibited in this bet between the BJP and Congress workers. BL Sen, while keeping up with the fervour, kept his promise and shaved his head after Congress could not gain majority seats in the general elections.Sen, who shaved his head in front of the people of Harana village in Rajgarh, attributed this defeat to party's unfulfilled promise of loan waivers to the farmers."There is a lot of rage among the farmers of MP as the loan waiver was not looked after at the right time. Rahul should have invested 3 months instead .
After LS jolt, Trinamool is shock, fear of mass exodus looms large
Two days after suffering major setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress despondency was palpable. The Mamata Banerjee-ruled party's workers and leaders appear to be in a fix, amid repeated claims by the BJP camp that many of its MLAs were ready to switch sides.
Congress leaders look tense as CWC meet ends
The Congress leaders, who participated in the CWC meeting on Saturday to discuss the party's abysmal showing in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, wore grim look when they came out as the meeting ended.
Khandu thanks the people for reposing faith in his govt
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Saturday thanked the people of the state for reposing faith in the policies and performance of his government and electing 41 BJP MLAs in the recently held state polls. The BJP won 41 seats in the 60-member Assembly while the Janata Dal (United) bagged seven, the National People's Party (NPP) five, the Congress four, the People's Party of Arunachal one and Independents two. Khandu, in a statement here, also thanked the people for electing two BJP MPs from the state with massive margins, "strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi". "It is Narendra Modi's good governance and policies that ignited minds of our people and they openly voted for development and voted for 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar'," he said. He dedicated the people's massive mandate to party leaders and workers. He said the BJP's ideology of development and strong leadership under Modi and party chief Amit Shah resulted in the Lok Sabha successes. "I and my ...
LS defeat collective responsibility, not Rahul's alone: Chavan
The Congress' massive defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls was a "collective responsibility" and not that of party chief Rahul Gandhi alone, Maharashtra state unit chief Ashok Chavan said Saturday. Chavan added that there was no question of accepting Gandhi's resignation as party chief. Chavan himself lost from Nanded Lok Sabha seat to BJP's Pratap Chiklikar. "The campaign was a collective responsibility. Rahul Gandhi worked hard and led from the front. All senior leaders in states who hold positions in the state units should quit, so that a new team can take over. My colleagues and I are ready to resign due to the poor show of the Congress in Maharashtra," Chavan told reporters here. The Congress was reduced to just one seat in Maharashtra, with Suresh Dhanorkar winning from Chandrapur. The state has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80. "There is no dissension in the party. Everyone was taken into confidence while taking decisions regarding the ...
PM Modi to call on President after NDA meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will call on the President after the NDA meeting to stake claim to form the next government.The newly-elected members of the NDA, who will meet in the central hall of Parliament, will formally elect Modi as their leader, sources said.This will be followed by Modi's call on the President.Meanwhile, a host of political leaders from the NDA arrived here to attend the BJP-led coalition meeting.Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Goa, Assam, Gujarat and Uttarakhand -- Devendra Fadnavis, Raghubar Das, Pramod Sawant, Sarbananda Sonowal, Vijay Rupani and Trivendra Singh Rawat, respectively, were among those who arrived in the national capital.Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Poonam Mahajan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam also arrived for the meet.Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Punjab ..