Page 625 - Politics
Repolling ordered in 168 polling stations of West Tripura LS
The Election Commission has ordered a repoll at 168 polling stations out of 1,679 polling stations in West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency, an election official said Wednesday. Repoll in polling stations spread over 26 of the 30 assembly segments of the Lok Sabha constituency will be held on May 12, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti said. Polling in the constituency was held on April 11 last and opposition CPI-M and the Congress had demanded repoll in the entire constituency, alleging large-scale rigging by the BJP during voting on April 11. Expressing dissatisfaction over the EC's decision, Congress vice-president Tapas Dey said, "We were surprised to find that repoll was ordered only in few polling stations. We have no other alternative but to move the Supreme Court." BJP spokesperson Ashok Sinha said, "EC is the judge and they have every right to declare re-polling." State secretary of the CPI-M Gautam Das said, We wanted fresh elections in the ...
Rightly or wrongly EC has taken a call: SC junks Dev's plea
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to examine a writ petition filed by Congress MP Sushmita Dev against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for breaching the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing polls after it came across an order already passed by the Election Commission on the same complaint.
Re-polling in 168 booths in Tripura on May 12
Re-polling in 168 polling stations in 26 Assembly segments under the Tripura West parliamentary constituency will be held on May 12 as electoral malpractices were found in the Lok Sabha seat during the April 11 voting, an Election Commission (EC) official said here on Wednesday.
AIADMK flays AMMK for seeking DMK's support to dethrone Palaniswami govt
The ruling AIADMK Wednesday hit out at T T V Dhinakaran-led AMMK for seeking its archrival DMK's support to dethrone the K Palaniswami-led government, saying the "cat is out of the bag." An article in AIADMK mouthpiece 'Namathu Amma' lashed out at AMMK leader Thangatamilselvan for his remarks in this connection, and said Dhinakaran could better merge his party with the DMK. "Finally, the cat is out of the bag. The secret link between DMK and AMMK has been exposed," it said. Thangatamilselvan has accepted a "known secret," he added. Questioning AMMK's intent to "topple the government" the article sought to know if it was fair to do such a thing against a dispensation "installed by Amma?" a referrence to the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. "Can you roam the streets after committing such a lowly act? Will the people and party workers spare you?.. it would be better if (AMMK) is merged with (DMK)," the mouthpiece said. On Tuesday, Thangatamilselvan had sought DMK's support in "sending
Congress wants to give full freedom to stone pelters, those who support terrorism: PM Modi
Accusing Congress of backing the 'tukde, tukde gang', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said by promising to revoke sedition law and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Congress party wants to give full freedom to stone pelters and those who support terrorists and naxals."Congress is also promising about removing the sedition law. Congress wants that the 'tukde tukde' gang, those who insult India, those who insult the national flag and those favouring naxals should be given full freedom. I want to know whether you accept these promises made by the Congress," he said addressing an election rally here.'Tukde tukde gang" (the gang of splitters) is a slogan ascribed to protesters in Jawaharlal Nehru University three years ago, an incident in which students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar was slapped a case of sedition against him. He is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Begusarai in Bihar as a CPI constituency.Modi also slammed Congress saying that in its manifesto .
Rahul tenders unconditional apology to SC in contempt case, seeks closure of proceedings
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for wrongly attributing his "chowkidar chor hai" remark to the apex court and sought closure of the contempt proceedings against him.In a three-page affidavit, Gandhi said he holds the court in "highest esteem and respect" and "has never sought or intended to, directly or indirectly, commit any act that interferes with the process of administration of justice".The Congress chief pleaded that the court may "accept the instant affidavit and close the present contempt proceedings".On April 30, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was categorical that Gandhi had to either offer a clear-cut apology or face criminal contempt for attributing the remark "chowkidar chor hai", targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to the court's April 10 Rafale case order.The bench also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, had made the observation while taking objection to the Congress ...
Why did not Modi fulfil Delhi statehood promise: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why he did not fulfil his 2014 election pledge to accord full statehood to the national capital.
SC refuses to hear Cong MP's plea seeking action against Modi, Shah for poll code violations
The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to hear Congress MP Sushmita Dev's plea seeking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for alleged poll code violations. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta, however, gave Dev the liberty to file a fresh plea against various Election Commission (EC) orders rejecting complaints of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations by Modi and Shah during campaigning. The apex court had on Monday asked the MP from Silchar to bring on record the EC's orders giving clean chit to the BJP leaders on several complaints of MCC violations over alleged hate speeches and references to armed forces for "political propaganda". "Rightly or wrongly", the poll panel has decided the complaints of MCC violations and these orders warrant filing of a fresh petition, the bench said. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the EC, said the persons who had given representations of MCC violations to the poll ...
CM trashes Bhagwant Mann's allegations of horse-trading
Rejecting the horse-trading allegations levied by Bhagwant Mann as total trash, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said the AAP leader was an out and out liar with zero value for any party.
Federal front push of TRS is against NDA: Veerappa Moily
Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily Wednesday said there was nothing wrong in TRS President and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's efforts to forge a federal front of regional parties, and saw the move as being against the BJP-led NDA. He also claimed that the Congress would get around 200 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, emerging as the leading party among the opposition. "Make state-by-state (poll) analysis and you will definitely come to conclusion that the NDA government will fall", the former Union Minister said, adding a conglomeration of opposition parties would form the government. On some parties speculating about the possibility of a United Front-type of Government of 1996-1998 with outside support from the Congress, Moily said, "There is no such thing now. It's too early and premature to say that". "Among all members of the opposition, the Congress figure (tally of seats) would be the highest", the former Karnataka chief minister said. "Common enemy
SC refuses to pass any order on plea by Congress leader against PM Modi, Amit Shah
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to intervene in the Election Commission giving clean chits to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on Congress complaints against their alleged hate speeches during the campaign in the Lok Sabha elections."We are not inclined to pass any order," said a three-judge bench of the the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, when disposing off a petition filed by Congress MP Sushmita Dev seeking its intervention.Dev had filed an additional affidavit before the Supreme Court stating that the ECI has failed to appreciate that the hate speeches delivered by Modi and BJP Shah were 'corrupt practices' under Section 123A of the Representation of People Act, 1951.The respondent, ECI, failed to appreciate that the hate speeches delivered by Modi and Shah were 'corrupt practices' under the RP Act, which ex-facie promote feelings of enmity and hatred between different classes of the citizens of India on grounds of
China says Iran nuclear pact must be upheld
China on Wednesday called on all parties to uphold the Iranian nuclear pact after Tehran said it would end curbs on its uranium enrichment stockpile unless other powers helped it bypass renewed US sanctions. "Maintaining and implementing the comprehensive agreement is the shared responsibility of all parties," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing. "We call on all relevant parties to exercise restraint, strengthen dialogue, and avoid escalating tensions," he said, adding that China "resolutely opposes" unilateral US sanctions against Iran.
Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking restrain on AAP's 'full-statehood' promise
Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking court direction to restrain Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from making 'full statehood' promise to Delhi in their manifesto for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.The petition, filed by Anil Dutt Sharma, also sought a ban on the advertisement regarding the full statehood to Delhi, which was promised by AAP, claiming that it is a "false agenda" of the party.A bench consisting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Rajendra Menon and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Sharma.During the hearing, the petitioner said AAP has admitted that they are not even contesting on sufficient seats; hence they will not get the desired majority to amend the Constitution. Petitioner claimed that even if they won on all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi, they cannot grant full statehood to the national capital as "AAP has no such power and authority".He further claimed that AAP is misleading the people of Delhi .
People across country divided by culture, united by chants for
Asserting that the BJP will be re-elected to power in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday claimed that people in this country were divided by tastes and culture, but united by their chants in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally here, Shah said the Congress could not do in 55 years what the Modi-led government did for the welfare of the poor in five years. "I have visited almost all states for my election campaigns. People across the country have different tastes and culture. What is common everywhere is the chants in favour of Modi," he stated. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, the BJP president said the Congress president goes on vacations as soon as the temperature starts soaring during summer. "On one hand, you have Modi, who did not take a single leave in 20 years. On the other, you have Rahul Gandhi, who goes on long vacations to places, leaving his mother worried about his whereabouts," he stated. Shah also said people .
Punjab CM goes nostalgic with 1965 war hero
Invoking his Army background and participation in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday went nostalgic when he met an Army war veteran.
People will elect 'apna aadmi': AAP's North East Delhi face
Calling himself a local, Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) North East Delhi candidate Dilip Pandey believes people in the Lok Sabha elections will elect their own man who is aware of the area's ground reality -- and not "political stars".
Rahul Gandhi says time up for PM Modi
With polling for two more phases of Lok Sabha polls left, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said time for change has come and that "time was up" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi claimed that young and the old are voting in large numbers for NYAY, the Congress' "Nyuntam Aay Yojna" (minimum income guarantee scheme) to eradicate poverty, noting it showed how powerful the idea was. The Congress has announced that under the scheme, the party, if voted to power, will give Rs 72,000 per year to 20 per cent poorest families in the country. "Across India, it's not just young people who are coming out in large numbers to vote for NYAY; older more experienced voters too have understood how powerful the idea is. "Modi Ji, your time is up. The time for change has come," he said on Twitter. The Congress had announced last month 'Ab Hoga Nyay' as its battle cry for the Lok Sabha polls and launched a campaign centred around the theme of 'justice' while alluding to the party's proposed
Cong, its allies have given up their fight in this LS poll: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said after five phases of election, the Congress-led opposition has given up the fight and the "situation is clear" now that the BJP will form government at the Centre. He said with the blessings of the people, the BJP-led NDA formed the government in 2014 and in the past five years, India's stature has increased in the world. "Now, the situation is quite clear, with the blessings of countrymen, when results will be out by May 23 evening, it will once again be 'Phir ek Bar (Modi government again)'," the prime minister said in a rally in Haryana's Fatehabad. "The Congress and their 'mahamilavati' allies have given up the fight, and their intention to form a 'kichdi aur majboor sarkar' in Delhi has fallen flat, Modi said. He alleged that the Congress has done "brashtachar ki kheti and the proof is in Haryana and elsewhere. Ten Lok Sabha seats of Haryana go to polls in the sixth phase on May 12.
Hamdard Pakistan offers RoohAfza supply for India's shortage
The Pakistani company Hamdard has offered to supply RoohAfza in India, after media reports of shortage of the summer refreshment syrup during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.
BJP spreads hatred to conceal lies: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for propagating lies over the past five years, and spreading hatred to conceal falsehood.