Page 427 - Politics
Chandrababu Naidu resigns as Andhra Pradesh CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday resigned following his Telugu Desam Party's defeat in Assembly elections.
CPI(M) draws blank in Bengal first time since formation
For the first time since its formation in 1964, the CPI(M) has drawn a blank in general elections in Bengal. As per the latest available trends, the state's ruling TMC was leading in 22 Lok Sabha seats, whereas the BJP, which emerged as the main challenger, was leading in 19. The CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled the state for 34 years from 1977 to 2011, has bagged a measly 7.8 per cent of votes so far, with its candidates being decimated to third and fourth spots in the seats it contested. Since the formation of the CPI(M), following a split in the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1964, the party never drew a blank in the state in Lok Sabha elections. The CPI(M) played a pivotal role in government formation at the centre in 1989, 1996 and 2004, based on its stupendous performance in Bengal. In 2004, it bagged 26 of the 42 seats in the state, the maximum. The CPI(M)'s slide in Bengal started from 2009 with TMC's surge, and in 2014 it got only two seats. Stunned by the ..
Wayanad voters wonder if Rahul as oppn MP will be able to
Voters of Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency wondered if Rahul Gandhi as opposition MP would be able to develop it, as local Congress-led UDF workers burst crackers Thursday celebrating a 'resounding win' of the Congress chief with a record-breaking margin from the seat. People have started discussing if the Congress chief, as an Opposition MP, would be able to bring developments as promised, during his poll campaign, in the constituency nestled in the Western Ghats. Kamaal, a smalltime business man in Kalpetta town, the district headquarters of Wayanad, said people anticipated that a Congress-led UPA government headed by Rahul Gandhi would be constituted at the Centre post-election and development issues of the tribal-dominated constituency addressed. "The voters have given Gandhi a record-breaking victory margin of more than four lakh votes," he said. "Unfortunately, it is again a BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. I dont think Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be so ...
Left Front trampled by saffron surge, reduced to historic low
Registering its worst poll performance in over six decades, the Left Front was virtually wiped off its bastions on Thursday with the Lok Sabha poll trends showing that it was headed towards a debacle. With the latest trends showing the Left parties leading in only six seats, both party leaders and ideologues acknowledged that the need of the hour was not just bringing in changes in the organisational structure, but also altering their approach towards electoral politics. The 2019 Lok Sabha polls will be the first time since 1952 that the Left Front will not end up with double digits in the general election. Till now, while it had put up its most dismal show in 2014, winning only 12 seats -- 12 less than what it had won in 2009 -- its highest ever tally of 59 seats had come in 2004. "The political ideology of the Left still has relevance, but it is not in tune with electoral politics. We need to do serious introspection, rework strategies, reorganise and reconnect with the masses," CPI
Wikipedia asks European rights court to lift Turkey ban
The foundation that runs Wikipedia said Thursday it had filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights to lift Turkey's two-year block on the website. Turkey blocked all access in April 2017 over entries the government said linked Turkish authorities to terrorist activities. Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organisation, said the ECHR application follows attempts to lift the ban through local courts, speaking to Turkish officials and campaigns to put pressure on Ankara to allow access. "The Wikimedia Foundation has filed suit against Turkey in the (ECHR)," Katherine Maher, executive director of Wikimedia Foundation, told reporters in a telephone briefing, a decision that she said was "not made lightly". While lower Turkish courts upheld the ban, Turkey's constitutional court has not given any response to the Wikipedia case in two years, Wikimedia said in a statement. The foundation sees the ban as a violation of rights including freedom of expression, guaranteed by Article .
YSRC wins eight seats in AP
: The YSR Congress won eight and the Telugu Desam Party one Assembly seats respectively in Andhra Pradesh, results of which have been officially declared by the Election Commission of India Thursday evening. Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa won his Peddapuram seat by 4,027 votes against YSRC's Thota Vani. State Law Minister Kollu Ravindra lost in Machilipatnam to his rival Perni Venkata Ramaiah (Nani) of YSRC by a margin of 5,851 votes while Assembly Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad was trounced in Avanigadda by Simhadri Ramesh Babu by a margin of 20,725 votes. Sitting YSRC MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy was re-elected from Macherla by a margin of 21,918 votes while former legislator Jogi Ramesh won the Pedana seat by 7,839 votes. Turncoat MLA Uppuleti Kalpana lost badly to YSRC's K Anil Kumar in Pamarru by 30,873 votes. In Madanapalle, YSRC's Md Nawaz Basha won by 29,648 votes. YSRC MLA V Kalavathy retained her Palakonda seat by 17,980 votes while former
Accept the verdict of the people: Chandrababu Naidu
: Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu said Thursday he accepted the verdict of the people of Andhra Pradesh and congratulated YSR Congress on its victory in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state. He also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over their electoral victories. "Elections are over, results have come. In a democracy, it is our responsibility to accept peoples verdict. I congratulate YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy on his partys victory," Naidu said at a press conference. He said the TDP would now review the results and announce the future course of action. "We will review how the party should now function and go forward. I will not talk anything now," he said in response to a question. The TDP that won 102 Assembly seats in 2014, now looks set to bag a mere 24 seats in the 175-member AP Assembly as the main opposition YSR Congress is headed for a landslide victory with 150 ...
Modi won elections on 'emotional issues': Gehlot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the Lok Sabha elections by raising "emotional issues" and now, he has to meet the people's expectations, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Thursday. The Congress accepts the people's mandate and will continue to work to build a strong democracy, he said. "We accept the people's mandate with humility. The Congress has always worked to build a strong democracy. I thank the people of the state and Congress workers for peaceful participation in polling," Gehlot said. The BJP is all set for a clean sweep in Rajasthan again, barely five months after it lost to the Congress in the assembly polls. Speaking to reporters at his residence, the chief minister said, The mandate doesn't seem to be based on ideologies." "You (Narendra Modi) have secured victory by raising emotional issues. Now, people have hopes and expectations from PM Narendra Modi and his government. It needs to be seen how much he proves to be true to them, he said. Gehlot said the ..
Opposition, media couldn't see 'Modi wave', but people did: Jitendra
Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is set to win the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, said on Thursday the media and the Opposition could not see the "Modi wave", but the people of the country proved it. Singh is leading by over 3,48,345 votes against Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh in the Jammu and Kashmir seat. "They (media and Opposition) were saying the Modi wave was only in 2014. They said there was no Modi wave (this time), but people proved it," Singh told reporters here. "It is a victory of the people of this region. In spite of the analysis being done by our media friends, my voters has tried to be wiser. I bow before my people for voting for me," he said. The BJP leader said people voted for him due to the "major development work" carried in the constituency, saying neither the media nor the Opposition could see it, but the people did.
Jagan repeats history in Andhra Pradesh, decimates TDP
With YSR Congress Party almost decimating TDP out of power in Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy who steered his party YSRCP to a spectacular victory in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on May 30.YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is the son of former chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash in September 2009.With YSR Congress Party gaining a landslide victory in the 2019 Assembly elections, Jagan Mohan Reddy has repeated what his father had achieved in 2004 when he dislodged Telugu Desam Party's (TDPs) N Chandrababu Naidu out of power.In election trends, YSRCP is leading in 22 out of 25 Parliamentary Constituencies in Andhra Pradesh and TDP only on three, while in 175-member State Assembly, Reddy is leading on 149 seats with TDP marginalized to 25 and Pawan Kalyan Jana Sena Party to only 1.After his father's death, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy began an 'odarpu yatra' to meet people .
'Khel-Tamasha' has taken place in UP, Bihar, WB and AP: Shatrughan Sinha
Some 'Khel Tamasha' (foul play) has taken place at large scale, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh, said Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha here on Thursday.Talking to media persons, Sinha said: "Khel Tamasha (foul play) has taken place at large scale, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. But this is not the right time to talk about such things."He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for their win in the election. He also termed Shah as a "master strategist.""I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who is a master strategist. I also congratulate my family friend Ravi Shankar Prasad and hope that Patna will now become a smart city," said Sinha.Though the counting is still underway, Prasad bagged 595490 votes, while Sinha 317292.The ruling BJP-JDU-LJP alliance in Bihar is all set for a resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections with the ..
Not EVMs, but Hindu minds rigged: Owaisi on LS results
With the BJP's scoring majority in the Lok Sabha on its own, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday asserted that it is not EVMs, but Hindu minds which have been rigged.Speaking to media persons, Owaisi said, "Election Commission must show their independence, I believe VVPATs should be 100% (100 per cent matching of VVPAT slips with the EVM votes). EVM hasn't been rigged, but Hindu minds have been rigged."He also accused BJP of creating fear over the issue of national security and using it to its advantage."Definitely BJP was very successful in creating fear about the security of India, they created the narrative of nationalism, they created fear of Muslim minority. These are issues which BJP used to their advantage", he said.Owaisi has a comfortable lead in Hyderabad parliamentary constituency - his family bastion since 1984.In Maharashtra's Aurangabad parliamentary constituency, AIMIM's Imtiaz Jaleel Syed is also leading by over ten thousand votes.Overall, Modi is set for a second
BJP likely to push its political agenda with renewed vigour
With the saffron juggernaut decimating the opposition and giving the BJP its highest ever tally in Lok Sabha, the party is likely to push its political agenda with a renewed vigour and will look to win over southern states after breaching opposition's citadels in east India in this election. There is also speculation about changes in the BJP's organisation amid talks that its president Amit Shah may join the new government to be headed by Narendra Modi. Though there has been no official word on the likely timing of the oath-taking ceremony, there is a view that it can be done at the earliest as the huge majority means the BJP can very much dictate its terms to its allies. As per the latest Election Commission figures, the BJP has either won or is leading in 305 seats, up from 282 it had won in 2014, while the corresponding figure for its allies is about 50. The 17th Lok Sabha will also have close to 45 members from parties, including YSR Congress, BJD and TRS, which are not members of
Pak successfully test-fires ballistic missile Shaheen-II capable of hitting major Indian cities
Pakistan Thursday successfully test-fired a long-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, capable of hitting targets as far as 1,500 kilometers away, bringing major Indian cities under its range. The announcement from Pakistan Army came on a day when the ruling BJP returned to power in India for a second term. The Army said in a statement that the launch of Shaheen-II missile, which has a range of 1,500 kilometers, was successful and ended in the Arabian Sea. The launch was aimed at ensuring operational readiness of the Army Strategic Forces Command, it said. "Shaheen-II Missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads up to a range of 1,500 kilometers. Shaheen-II is a highly capable missile which fully meets Pakistan's strategic needs towards maintenance of desired deterrence stability in the region," the Army said. It said that the launch, having its impact point in the Arabian Sea, was witnessed by Director General Strategic Plans ...
Popular 'Gujjar' face - Ramesh Bidhuri - set to win South Delhi seat
Popular "Gujjar" face from south Delhi constituency - Ramesh Bidhuri is poised to win the second term from the same constituency after trouncing his rival AAP's Raghav Chadha. Bidhuri, who was leading by a margin of over 3.61 lakh votes is also pitted against Congress' boxer-turned-politician Vijender Singh for the prestigious South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, which has been held by the likes of Sushma Swaraj and Madan Lal Khurana. The seat, on which caste equations play a huge role, was won by 57-year-old Bidhuri in 2014 by a margin of 1,07,000 votes. He had defeated AAP's Devendra Sherwat, who had secured the second spot. In 2009, the seat was held by Congress' Ramesh Kumar who had defeated Bidhuri. In 2019, Bidhuri bettered his performance by a huge margin and said people had voted for the work done by the Modi government. "People have voted for the work done by Modi government. The previous governments were afraid of taking strong decisions. I worked according to the vision of the Modi .
Modi thanks Varanasi for victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday thanked the people of Varanasi as he retained the seat by a margin of over 4.79 lakh votes. In a tweet, he said, the people of Kashi are "remarkable". "When I had gone to Kashi to file my nomination papers, they confidently said that they would manage the entire campaign without me having to come back even once and manage they did! I bow to the citizens of Kashi. Looking forward to serving them," Modi said. He won the seat by a margin of 4,79,505 votes, defeating his nearest rival Shalini Yadav of Samajwadi Party, according to the Election Commission's website. In the 2014 elections, he had defeated Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal by a margin of 3,71,784 votes.
Chhattisgarh: BJP wins Surguja, leading on eight seats
The first result from Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh Thursday went in favour of the BJP whose candidate won the Surguja reserved seat. The saffron party is leading on eight Lok Sabha seats, according to the latest counting trends. The state has a total of 11 Lok Sabha. The Congress is leading on the remaining two constituencies. In the lone result declared so far, former state minister Renuka Singh of the BJP defeated her Congress rival Khel Sai Singh in the Surguja (ST) seatby a huge margin of 1,57,873 votes. The BJP was leading in Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker and Janjgir-Champa constituencies while the Congress in Korba and Bastar (ST) seats, as per the trends. In the last three general elections since 2004, the BJP has been winning 10 of the 11 seats in the state.
Bhopal and the country will progress a lot in next five years: Pragya Singh Thakur
BJP leader and Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur praised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hoped the next five years will see another phase of development and progress."Bhopal and the country will benefit a lot and progress forward. The work that PM Modi has done in the past five years has enabled the people to trust us in a big way," Sadhvi Pragya Thakur said."The people of Bhopal have expressed confidence and given us a credible lead. It was 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas', and now it is 'sabka vishwas'," she added.Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is leading by 3,49,036 votes against the second-placed Congress candidate Digvijaya Singh till the last reports came in.
Nine former Congress chief ministers face defeat in LS Polls
As the Lok Sabha elections results show a BJP sweep across the country, as many as nine former chief ministers belonging to Congress, face imminent electoral defeat in the elections.The list includes political heavyweights like Sheila Dikshit, who was three-time former chief minister of Delhi. Dikshit is trailing on North East Delhi parliamentary constituency against the sitting BJP MP Manoj Tiwari. Besides this former Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda is trailing from Sonipat against BJP's Ramesh Chander Kaushik.Moreover, former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat is trailing from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar against BJP's Ajay Bhat and Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh is trailing from BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal.Former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is facing an imminent defeat against BJP's Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji in Solapur.In Meghalaya, the former chief minister Mukul Sangma is trailing against Agatha ...
Pak PM congratulates Modi, says looking forward to working with him for peace
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "electoral victory" and said he looked forward to working with the Indian leader for peace. progress and prosperity in South Asia.With BJP-led NDA poised to secure a comfortable majority in Lok Sabha, Khan tweeted, "I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia."Joining a string of other world leaders, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan made a congratulatory phone call to Modi.Ahead of the polls, Khan had said that there might be a better chance of peace talks with India if PM Modi wins the elections.He reportedly said that if the next Indian government were to be led by the Congress party, it might be too scared to seek a settlement with Pakistan over Kashmir, fearing a backlash from the right wing.Tensions between India and Pakistan had soared after