Page 502 - Politics
41.5 pc polling till 1 PM in Chincholi, Kundgol
: An estimated 41.5 per cent of the over 3.8 crore electorate exercised their franchise till 1 PM in the bypolls to Chincholi and Kundgol assembly constituencies. The polls were by and large peaceful except for some snags reported in VVPATs, which were changed. There were reports of EVMs developing problems in Chikkanarthi and Yalaguppi in Kundgol. However, the joint chief electoral officer A V Surya Sen refuted them. Sen said 10 VVPATs in Chincholi and 2 VVPATs in Kundgol were changed. "No snags or stoppage of elections anywhere. All (complaints) were attended to," Sen added. The bypolls are crucial for both the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance and the opposition BJP with the latter maintaining that a victory for it would boost its numbers in the assembly and have political implications. The Chincholi bypoll was necessitated by the resignation ofUmesh Jadhav, who quit Congress and joined BJP to contest the recent Lok Sabha polls from Gulbarga, while Kundgol seat fell ...
BJP candidate, party leader attacked in WB
Anupam Hazra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from West Bengal's Jadavpur seat, and a party leader accompanying him were attacked and the latter's car damaged after the two visited a booth on receiving reports of rigging.
Names of RS members who moved impeachment motion against HC judge can't be disclosed: CIC
Names of Rajya Sabha members, who moved an impeachment motion against a high court judge, and those who withdrew it can't be disclosed as it would be a breach of parliamentary privilege, the Central Information Commission has held. Chief Information Commissioner Sudhir Bhargava gave this order on a petition filed by S Malleswara Rao, who had sought to know from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat the number of MPs who had signed and moved the impeachment against Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy, and those who withdrew it. Reddy retired from the Hyderabad High Court last year. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat had cited Section 8(1) (c) of the RTI Act to deny the information. The section exempts from disclosure information which can cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or a state legislature. Bhargava said in order to enable the Parliament or a state legislature or their individual members to perform their functions effectively and without any impediments or interference from any quarter, certain ...
Swiss vote on whether to adopt the EU's tighter gun rules
Swiss voters are casting ballots in a referendum to decide whether to enact new restrictions on guns and line up with Switzerland's partners in the European visa-free travel zone who have already tightened gun rules following extremist attacks in Europe. The proposal could require regular training on the use of firearms, special waivers for possession of some semi-automatic weapons and serial-numbering of major parts of some guns to help track them. Supporters, including the Swiss parliament and executive branch, say similar measures adopted by the European Union after deadly extremist attacks in France are needed to ensure strong police cooperation and economic ties with Switzerland's partners in Europe's Schengen zone of visa-free travel. Switzerland is in the Schengen zone but is not one of the EU's 28 nations. The issue, part of Switzerland's regular referendums that give voters a direct say in policymaking, has stoked passions in a country with a proud tradition of gun ownership .
Saudis say they don't want war, but will defend themselves
A top Saudi diplomat says the kingdom does not want war but will defend itself, amid a recent spike in tensions with archrival Iran. Adel al-Jubeir, the minister of state for foreign affairs, spoke early Sunday, a week after four oil tankers were targeted in an alleged act of sabotage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and days after Iran-allied Yemeni rebels claimed a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline. Saudi Arabia has blamed the pipeline attack on Iran. Gulf officials say an investigation into the tanker incident is underway. A-Jubeir told reporters: "We want peace and stability in the region, but we won't stand with our hands bound." Ministers from major oil-producing countries were to meet in Saudi Arabia later Tuesday.
France's Macron forced to curb his ambitions for Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron sees himself as Europe's savior and next week's European Parliament elections as a make-or-break moment for the beleaguered European Union. But Macron is no longer the fresh-faced force who marched into a surprising presidential victory to the rousing EU anthem two years ago. His pro-Europe vision has collided with populists and national interests across the continent. And at home, his political vision has given rise to France's raucous yellow vest uprising over his government's pro-business policies . Macron wanted the May 23-26 European Parliament elections to be the key moment that he could push his ambitions for a stronger Europe but instead, nationalists and populists who criticized the 28-nation bloc could achieve unprecedented success. They argue that EU leaders have failed to manage migration into the continent and remain out of touch with ordinary workers' concerns. "We have a crisis of the European Union. This is a matter of fact. Everywhere
Pragya Thakur should be expelled from BJP: Nitish Kumar
BJP ally and JD-U chief Nitish Kumar on Sunday lashed out at Bharatiya Janta Party candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur for her statement in favour of Mahatma Gandhi assassin Nathuram Godse and demanded the party to expel her.
Fear of change: Negative politics wins Australia election
Australia's conservative government held on to power at national elections thanks to a highly effective negative campaign warning voters against the centre-left Labour Party's large policy reform agenda, analysts said Sunday. Labour led every opinion poll in the two years prior to Saturday's election but fell well short of a parliamentary majority after the vote, in a surprise result for the ruling Liberal-National coalition. Analysts said opposition leader Bill Shorten's unpopularity with voters and his struggle to explain the party's complex tax policies were used by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to devastating effect. Labour's failure also reflected a broader trend across Western societies of voter cynicism towards bold policy platforms, said Australian National University senior fellow Mark Kenny. "I think we're in an age where it is very difficult to communicate big ideas and to sell imagery," Kenny told AFP, adding that right-wing populists around the world had been successful ..
LS polls: 41 pc turnout till 1 pm in MP
Around 41 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Sunday in eight Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh, an official said. Polling was underway since 7 am in the eight seats - Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Dhar, Indore, Khargone and Khandwa - in the fourth and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state, Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao said. However, voters listed at a booth in Agar Malwa district falling under the Dewas seat and five booths in Mandsaur seat boycotted the polling over some of their demands, Rao said, without elaborating further. Efforts were on to pursuade the voters to exercise their democratic right, he said. Rao said around 12 people cast their votes at the polling booth in Dewas after being persuaded by the election officials there. Long queues were seen at several other booths in the eight constituencies, all currently held by the BJP. The voting figures till 1 pm were: Dewas-42.99 per cent, Ujjain-43.42 per cent, Mandsaur-47.45 ...
Poll code violation: TMC complains to EC against PM
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on polling day.
32% voting in WB amid sporadic violence (2nd Lead) (11 a.m.)
Over 32 per cent electorates cast their votes across nine parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal till 11 a.m. on Sunday where the seventh and final phase of polling is underway amid reports of sporadic violence and EVM malfunctioning.
Nitish questions prolonged poll duration, favours voting in
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar Sunday questioned the long drawn polling in intense heat conditions and suggested general election should be held in two or three phases. He said February-March or October-November would be ideal weather condition for the polling in the country. He also disfavoured gap between voting days. He stressed on a constitutional provision for conduct of election at above-mentioned suitable time and said in the capacity of being chief of JD(U) he will write a letter to his counterparts in other parties after completion of current election to reach a consensus over the issue. Kumar, a strong ally of the BJP in Bihar, exuded confidence that Narendra Modi would return to power after counting of votes on May 23. The JD(U) chief's views were seen as a discordant voice within ruling NDA. But, Kumar said he was saying this on the basis of his long political stint and also talking to cross-sections of the people "Such a long drawn ...
Saudi Arabia says does not want war with Iran but ready to respond strongly
Amid the ongoing tensions with Iran, intensified after last week's attacks on Saudi oil tankers, the Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that the country will do its best to avoid war, but stands ready to respond with "full force and determination.""Saudi Arabia does not want a war in the region, does not seek it and will do everything in its power to prevent this war. At the same time, it confirms that if the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with full force and determination and will defend itself and its interests," said Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.On May 12, two oil tankers from Saudi Arabia and two other vessels were targeted in the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) exclusive economic zone. Even though no one has claimed responsibility for the sabotage, the United States has reportedly suggested that sanctions-battered Iran, which has now entered a new phase of tensions with Washington, might have been behind the attack, ...
Gurdaspur: Brothers attacked by miscreants while on way to polling booth
Two brothers were attacked by unidentified persons while they were heading towards the polling station to cast their vote here.One of the injured, Rajiv Kumar told ANI, "We have had a scuffle with some people yesterday evening. Today when my father went to cast his vote, he was stopped and some men asked for us. We were going to cast votes when 10-12 people stopped us and attacked with baseball bats etc. We were very far away from the polling booth, yet they alleged we were creating a problem at the booth."According to the victim, the attack happened around 9 am in the morning. After the attack, he along with his brother Pradeep Kumar was admitted in the hospital for medical care.Both of them couldn't cast their votes as they alleged being attacked even before reaching the poll station.Meanwhile, clashes between Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress workers were also reported from Jalandhar.Voting is underway in 13 parliamentary constituencies of Punjab today in the seventh and final
Congress goons creating ruckus in Punjab, tried to murder SAD worker: Harsimrat
Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Sunday alleged that Congress party has called in their goons in Punjab, who are creating a ruckus in the state.The leader claimed that the goons tried to murder one of SAD worker.Addressing the media after casting her vote in Badal village of Punjab, the Union minister said, "Congress party have brought their goons here from outside. In Bhatinda Rural, our worker Titu Randhawa was attacked.""The incident happened yesterday in Bathinda rural, where our party worker Randhawa was forced to promote for the Congress party and when he denied he was beaten mercilessly. He got injured on his head and was admitted to hospital, it was an attempt by Congress goons to murder him," added the Union Minister.Kaur further said, "Yesterday Congress party goons in Mansa district conducted checking of cars. We complained to poll officials but no action was taken."In Bathinda, the sitting MP from SAD, Harsimrat is contesting against Congress' Amarinder Singh Raja ...
Naidu meets Sharad Pawar again in Delhi
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party Chief N. Chandra Babu Naidu on Sunday met Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar at his residence here.
25.25% voting in Bihar LS polls (12 p.m.)
Bihar witnessed a 25.25 per cent voter turnout till 12 p.m. on Sunday in the elections to the state's eight parliamentary constituencies, amid reports of people ransacking a polling booth and holding an administration official hostage for an hour, officials said.
Huge win for SP-BSP alliance in Purvanchal: Rajbhar
Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar cast his vote, along with his family, at the Mirganj Primary School of Balia on Sunday. He said the SP-BSP alliance will get a massive victory in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
BSF officer injured in Pak shelling along LoC in J-K's Poonch
A BSF officer was injured in the cross-border shelling by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said on Sunday. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Satyapal Singh suffered splinter injuries when a mortar shell exploded near him while manning a forward post at Baloni in Krishna Ghati sector on Friday night, they said. The officials said the officer was shifted to the military hospital and his condition was "stable". Indian troops guarding the LoC also retaliated to the unprovoked shelling by Pakistan and the border skirmishes between the two sides lasted for a very brief period, they said, adding there was no report of fresh ceasefire violation from anywhere along the LoC since then.
Himachal witnesses good turnout in initial hours of voting
Over 26 per cent turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Sunday in four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh where five MLAs are among 45 candidates in the fray. Polling was underway in Shimla (SC), Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra. EVM snags delayed voting at nine polling stations. Voting restarted after the nine faulty EVMs were replaced, a state election officer said. The first Indian voter Shyam Saran Negi cast his vote at tribal district Kinnaur's Kalpa polling booth falling under Mandi Lok Sabha seat. He was accorded a warm welcome by the election staff at the booth. Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur along with his family members cast his vote at Bharari (Murhag) in Seraj Vidhan Sabha constituency of Mandi district. A total of 7,730 polling stations have been set up in 4 constituencies -- Shimla (SC), Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra -- in the state where 53,30,154 registered voters are registered. The BJP has fielded state's Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kishan Kapoor