Page 482 - Politics
Poll predictions for J'khand inconsistent: Raghubar Das
Insisting that poll predictions for Jharkhand are "inconsistent", Chief Minister Raghubar Das Monday said the BJP-led alliance in the state will win all 14 parliamentary seats. The chief minister, however, asserted that he was happy that almost all survey agencies have projected a clean sweep for the NDA at the Centre, and claimed that people were satisfied with the development work undertaken by the Narendra Modi-led dispensation. The opposition JMM, on its part, contended that the exit poll results do not reflect the true picture. Most exit polls on Sunday forecast another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with some of them projecting that the BJP-led NDA will get more than 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha. For Jharkhand, some pollsters have predicted that the BJP will win six to eight seats, while others claimed that the party will bag more than ten seats. Das said that voters have "negated the opportunistic politics of the
Phoolka requests Punjab CM to press for appointment of Chief Commissioner of Gurudwara Elections
Senior advocate HS Phoolka on Monday requested Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to meet Union Home Minister after the formation of a new government at the Centre and press for appointment of Chief Commissioner of Gurudwara Elections, about which the Punjab chief minister had promised in his election speeches.In his letter addressing to Captain Amarinder Singh, Phoolka stated, "You had announced in Vidhan Sabha that you would personally meet the Home Minister to empress upon him to appoint Chief Commissioner Gurudwara Elections at the earliest.""During the Lok Sabha elections, in many election rallies, you had mentioned about Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections. Till today, there is no information on the meeting with the Union Home Minister. I believe that the meeting has not taken place yet," the letter added.Phoolka further mentioned that the issue of SGPC elections is very important for Punjab and it should not just remain in speeches of election ...
Congress is running a minority government in MP: BJP
Chief Minister Kamal Nath is heading a minority Congress government in the state, which will not stand the test of time, said BJP leader Rakesh Singh here on Monday."I would like to say that the state government in MP is a minority government. It is an unstable government. People are not having trust in this government. The Congress party is facing in-fighting," he told ANI.He, however, said that right now the priority of his government was to form the government at the Centre. "BJP will win 26 of 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state," he said."Right now the focus is on forming the Central government but we must say the Congress government is not going to last long," he said.Earlier, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava said that Chief Minister Nath led Congress government in the state would fall on its own."You can yourself analyse the current situation. They have the support of one SP MLA, one MLA of BSP and four Independent MLAs. There is a lot of bickering within the party,"
Chouhan predicts BJP clean sweep in MP, targets CM Nath
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan Monday predicted a clean sweep of the state's 29 Lok Sabha seats by his party and claimed Chief Minister Kamal Nath had asked his ministers to keep their resignations ready in case of defeats in their areas. Chouhan, against the backdrop of most exit polls predicting a comfortable win for the BJP-led NDA, further said that Nath should take responsibility for a poll reverse and step down as head of the Congress-led government in the state. "Chief Minister Kamal Nath has directed his ministers to bring resignations if Congress candidates lose from their areas," he said. "If Congress candidates lost on a couple of seats, then Nath could have demanded the resignation of some of his ministers. But if the party is going to get wiped out in MP, then the chief minister himself must be held responsible," Chouhan stressed. Chouhan said the Congress "cheated" people, especially farmers, by promising a
Cong' KTKA chief appeals to Cong-JDS to refrain from making
With some leaders of the Congress-JDS coalition government engaging in verbal duels, KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao appealed to both parties to refrain from making any controversial statements in public. "It's my earnest appeal to the leaders of both Congress and JDS in Karnataka, to refrain from making any controversial statements in public," he tweeted. On May 23, people will see emergence of a new secular and progressive government at the Centre, he said. "Hence, it is important that all parties who want a non-BJP government display unity and show citizens that they can work together and deliver a stable government," he added. In a pre-poll deal, the partners fielded joint candidates in all the 28 seats, with the Congress in 21 and JDS in seven seats in Karnataka for the elections that were held in two phases on April 18 and April 23. Commenting on exit polls, most forecasting another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP almost sweeping Karnataka in the Lok ..
KASHMIR'S CHANGING TERROR MATRIX-1: Islamic State enlarges footprint in Valley of Death (IANS Investigation)
As door 1 with Pakistan proxies supported by local hawks Hurriyat closes, door 2 with Islamic Caliphate written on it opens in what is a brutal cage match which has more or less eviscerated the lives of the Kashmiris in the Valley.
Exit poll results impact mood in party offices
The exit polls have impacted the mood in party offices in the national capital and elsewhere in the country -- from an upbeat BJP camp to a subdued atmosphere in Congress and other opposition parties, though the general refrain is of "wait and watch" ahead of counting of votes on Thursday. While three exit polls predicted that the BJP-led NDA will cross the 300 mark for another term at the centre, two others said the ruling alliance may fall short of a majority. After slogging tirelessly during the seven-phase general election, workers were given an off by many of the parties on Monday. But a worker at BJP headquarters in Delhi said that they have already started preparations "to celebrate Lok Sabha election results on May 23 in a big way". "We were working 24X7 during the election time and were confident that we will breach the 300 mark," said Jitendra Rawat of BJP's media cell. The last round of polling was on Sunday. The usual commotion at the Congress headquarters was missing ...
Centre, TN Govts have 'tied' hands of EC "from behind": Stalin
: DMK President M K Stalin Monday charged the Central and Tamil Nadu governments with having "tied" the hands of the Election Commission of India (ECI) "from behind" and urged his partymen to keep a vigil on May 23 when votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections will be counted. The BJP and AIADMK "will go to any extent in their quest for power" and DMK workers and agents should mount additional vigil on Thursday during counting of votes, he said. "The Central (BJP) and state (AIADMK) governments, who have tied the hands of the EC from behind, will go to any extent in their quest for power. Though they know the people of Tamil Nadu are very angry against them, they are planning to prevent the victory of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and are issuing orders to officials," Stalin said in a statement. He said DMK agents should reach the counting centres well ahead of time and ensure all arrangements were in place and also make sure that the EVM seals are proper. They .
Navy Chief Lanba makes farewell call on President Kovind
Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba made a farewell call on President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday, days before he demits office. The President is the commander-in-chief of the three services. Admiral Lanba retires on May 31 following a three-year tenure as the Chief of Naval Staff. The Navy took a number of major initiative under Admiral Lanba's leadership which included expanding its footprint in the Indian Ocean region and enhancing its overall combat capability. On March 23, the government appointed Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next chief of naval staff. Last month, Vice Admiral Bimal Verma petitioned the defence ministry challenging the appointment of his junior, Vice Admiral Singh, as the next Navy Chief. However, three days back, the defence ministry rejected his plea, holding that seniority can not be the sole criteria for selection.
It's time for annulment of Article 370 and 35A: BJP leader Ravinder Raina
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravinder Raina demanded that Article 370 and 35A of the constitution should be repealed at the earliest even though the results of the Lok Sabha elections are awaited."In the lieu of Article 370 and 35A, big political families have looted Jammu and Kashmir and the poor people. This is the time when such articles should be done away with as it gives birth to separatism and terrorism," said Ravinder Raina.The BJP in their election manifesto has promised to abrogate Article 370 and do away with Article 35A of the Constitution. The manifesto states that the NDA government is committed to overcoming all obstacles that come in the way of development in Jammu and Kashmir.Article 35A protects the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir with respect to employment, property and aids by the state government whereas Article 370 protects and grants special status to the sovereignty of the state giving the power to make a separate set of laws to be applied for .
Zonal education officer suspended for violating MCC in J-K's Rajouri
A Zonal Education Officer was Monday placed under suspension for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Additional deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Sher Singh ordered the suspension of ZEO Abdul Rashid following a complaint that he has forwarded/uploaded a video song on social media containing objectionable material in violation of service rules and MCC for general elections, the officials said. "Whereas, on verification, it has been found that instant video uploaded/ forwarded on WhatsApp group criticises the present regime, and advocates for voting in favour of a particular party in the election," Singh, who is MCC nodal officer, said in his order. He said it has been provoed that Rashid has violated the terms and conditions contained in the J&K civil services (classification control and appeal) rules, and MCC guidelines being enforced during elections. "In view of the above, Rashid is hereby placed under suspension with ...
MLA resigns Amma Peravai Dy secy post citing personal reasons
Thoppu Venkatachalam Monda, a former minister in the Jayalalithaa cabinet, Monday resigned from the post of AIADMK Amma Peravai deputy secretary, citing "personal reasons". Venkatachalam, a MLA representing Perundurai in Erode District, met Chief Minister K Palanisamy at his residence in Salem this evening and submitted his resignation. "I resigned from the post only due to personal reasons and will continue to be a primary and loyal member of AIADMK," he later told reporters when asked about his sudden decision. He declined to comment when asked whether his decision was due to allegations that he has of late been supporting AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran and his fractured relationship with a state minister. To another question on what was the Chief Minister's response, he said it was for Palaniswamy to answer it.
BJP wants Congress govt in Madhya Pradesh to prove majority
The BJP in Madhya Pradesh Monday wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel, asking her to convene a session of the state Assembly so that the Congress government led by Kamal Nath could prove its majority in the House. In the Assembly polls last year, the Congress won 114 of the state's 230 seats, two short of the majority mark of 116. The Bahujan Samaj Party, having two MLAs, and Samajwadi Party, which has one, are supporting the Congress. There are four Independents. The BJP won 109 seats. "I have written a letter to the Governor for convening a special session of the Assembly. We want a discussion on important issues like the farm loan waiver and (to) test the government's strength," Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava told PTI. During discussions in the House, financial demands will come up and we will seek division (voting). In division, if the Congress government fails, it will go (collapse), the BJP leader said. The letter says several problems, including some severe ...
UK election watchdog to launch review of Brexit Party finances
Britain's Electoral Commission regulator said on Monday it would review fundraising by the new Brexit Party founded by anti-EU populist Nigel Farage, which is predicted to win this week's European elections. "We are attending the Brexit Party's office tomorrow to conduct a review of the systems it has in place to receive funds," a spokesperson for the commission said in a statement. "If there's evidence that the law may have been broken, we will consider that in line with our enforcement policy." The move follows a growing furore around the financing of the fledgling eurosceptic party, set up by the controversial MEP in January in protest at the government's failure to deliver Brexit. It claims to have registered nearly 110,000 supporters paying 25 pounds (USD32, 29 euros) annual membership fees, but has drawn scrutiny for using a PayPal system that critics claim is too open. British law only regulates donations to political parties ver 17?500, which must come from UK citizens or ...
BJP prepares for victory celebrations on May 23
With exit polls giving it a comfortable victory, the BJP is making preparations for victory celebrations at its national headquarters here on the day of counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections on May 23.The party is expecting to bag 300 seats for itself which will make it the first party with a majority on its own to return to power after a gap of more than 40 years which happened during the during the Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru era.Party office bearers in the headquarters said that the organisation would not like to miss such a rare opportunity to celebrate the event.For the media, especially television channels, about 30 cabins are being set up for leaders to give their reactions to reporters.
N Chandrababu Naidu meets West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telegu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee here on Monday, continuing his efforts to cobble a non-BJP coalition post poll, notwithstanding exit poll predictions giving BJP a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha elections.The leaders did not meet the media after the meeting but it was understood they discussed how they could get parties opposed to the BJP to come together for forming a government if the BJP and its allies fail to get majority.Yesterday, Naidu had met various leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.He had also met Pawar on Saturday as well as Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and grand alliance leaders BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow.Prior to meeting the West Bengal chief minister, Naidu took to Twitter to slam BJP leaders .
It appears that a 'foreign power' is set to attack country: Azam Khan on Exit Polls
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Monday said that the exit polls projecting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to retain power at the Centre has given an appearance as if a "foreign power" is set to attack the country.The SP leader, known for making controversial comments, claimed that people in the country are in fear as the exits polls are predicting that Narendra Modi-led BJP government is going to come back to power after the counting of votes on May 23.Speaking to ANI, Khan said, "Somebody has to exit. We have seen the results of the poll during Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The clear picture for general elections will be out on May 23. People are in fear because of the exit poll results. This is not good for the heath of the country."Khan, who has contested from Rampur Lok Sabha seat, said the atmosphere in the country is of fear and disappointment as soon as the exit polls were predicted."It appears as if this is the end of ..
UP: BJP leaders predict over 74 UP seats, SP-BSP goes into huddle
A day after exit polls forecast a return of the NDA at the Centre, enthused state BJP leaders predicted Uttar Pradesh would give them more than 74 of its 80 seats, a claim dismissed by the SP-BSP camp whose top leaders met to discuss post-poll scenarios. At the UP BJP office here, pointing to electoral maps of the state, detailing parliamentary and assembly constituencies, party leaders and functionaries from various districts indicated places from where SP-BSP alliance candidates would lose and claimed the SP-BSP alliance would break up after the results are announced. As for SP-BSP, they do not agree with the projections that the NDA would get over 300 seats. Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati appeared to be opting for a wait-and-watch policy till results are announced on May 23. "The future course of action will be decided only after the final results are announced. Till then, she (Mayawati) will be in the state capital," a party source said, requesting anonymity. Multiple exit
Actual results would be satisfactory for Congress: Kharge
Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge Monday dismissed the exit polls predicting return of NDA to power and said actual results would be "satisfactory" for his party. The seven-phase elections to 542 seats of 543-member Lok Sabha ended Sunday. Counting of votes is scheduled for Thursday. Most exit polls have forecast another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with some of them projecting that the BJP-led NDA would get over 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha. Addressing reporters here, Kharge, who is the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said, "Exit polls are not that true. The feedback we have been receiving from our party workers, MLAs and MLCs is more reliable. We know which areas have voted to which party and based on it, the results on May 23 would be satisfactory for Congress". Dismissing the predictions, he said, "We know what work our party has done and the efforts (undertaken) by our party workers. There is hardly
Naidu calls on Banerjee, discusses formation of non-BJP govt
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence here Monday to decide on forming a non-BJP government at the Centre in case of a hung verdict, TMC sources said. Naidu, who reached here from Amaravati, held a 45-minute-long meeting with Banerjee on the future strategies of the "Mahagatbandhan" (Grand Alliance), the highly-placed sources said. The meeting also discussed possibilities of forming a non-BJP government including regional parties with the support of the Congress, they said. "It was decided at todays meeting that a detailed discussion will be held among other political players of the Mahagatbandhan in the event of a hung verdict after the poll results are declared on May 23, the sources said. The decision on Banerjee going to New Delhi would also be taken after May 23, the sources said. Naidu, who is making efforts to bring together opposition leaders against the ...