Page 649 - Politics
Nearly 30% voting in Rajasthan LS polls (3rd Lead)(11 a.m.)
Amid calls of boycott and EVM malfunctioning, Rajasthan recorded 29.65 per cent voter turnout on Monday in the first four hours of polling to the state's 12 constituencies in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, according to officials.
SC stays disqualification of rebel AIADMK MLAs
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the disqualification proceedings against three rebel AIADMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu.
KCR to meet Vijayan, Stalin to pump up efforts for non-Cong, non-BJP front
Stepping up efforts to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of regional parties, Telangana Rashtra Samiti supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has lined up meetings with his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and DMK president M K Stalin. Whiie Rao will meet Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday evening, he will call on Stalin at his residence in Chennai later this week on May 13, a statement by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. JD(S) leader and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has also reached out to the Telangana chief minister. According to a statement issued by the CMO, Rao and Vijayan, who heads the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala, will discuss "contemporary politics". "In view of the Parliamentary elections, both the CMs will discuss contemporary politics," it said. Rao will visit the Rameshwaram and Srirangam temples before returning home, the statement said. Discussing the Rao-Stalin meeting, it said, "Both the leaders are likely to ...
Polling underway in 14 LS seats in UP, over 23 % polling till 11 am
Nearly 23 per cent turnout was recorded Monday in the first four hours of polling in 14 Lok Sabha seats of UP where Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi are in the fray. Among early voters in the state capital included Home Minister Singh, BSP supremo Mayawati, Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma, BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, DGP OP Singh and Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar. Election officials here said polling was going on smoothly, barring some complaints of EVM malfunctioning, which were attended to immediately. Union minister and the BJP's Amethi candidate Smriti Irani alleged that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was "ensuring booth capturing" in the constituency. Irani and Gandhi are contesting against each other in the seat. "Alert @ECISVEEP Congress President @Rahul Gandhi ensuring booth capturing," Irani said on Twitter. She also tagged a video in which an elderly women is seen ...
Darbar Move: Civil secretariat reopens in Srinagar
Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, Monday opened here after functioning in winter capital Jammu for six months as part of the nearly 150-year-old practice known in the state as 'Darbar Move'. The other 'move offices', including Raj Bhavan, police headquarters and several commissions, also opened here in the morning. Governor Satya Pal Malik inspected the traditional guard of honour given to him by a police contingent at the civil secretariat lawns. The practice of 'Darbar Move' -- under which the state government functions in Jammu during six months of winter and in Srinagar during summer -- was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape extreme weather conditions in the two regions of the state. However, the practice was continued even after Independence with the aim of providing governance benefits to both Kashmir and Jammu regions of the state for six months by turns. While Jammu and Srinagar cities benefit from this practice as the roads and other .
North Korea tests new missile and Trump's resolve
North Korea appears to have tested a new short-range missile and President Donald Trump's resolve to keep it from doing more of the same in the future. The test early Saturday was quickly played down by Trump and his top advisers, who noted it was not the kind of long-range missile leader Kim Jong Un has refrained from launching since 2017. But the sudden activity on the North's east coast, complete with fiery photos of a purported bull's eye out to sea, alarmed Washington's regional allies and suggests that Kim's missiles are improving even as the Trump administration wrestles with how to get him back to the negotiating table. Kim personally supervised the test of what experts believe was a short-range ballistic missile first displayed by the North at a military parade early last year, along with a drill involving 240 millimeter- and 300 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers. There remains some uncertainty over what was tested. South Korea's military reported that various ...
Smriti accuses Rahul of 'booth capturing' in Amethi, 21.83 pc polling till 11 am
Polling for the keenly watched contest in Amethi, long considered a Gandhi family turf, began on a contentious note on Monday with BJP candidate Smriti Irani alleging that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was "ensuring booth capturing". The first four hours of voting that began at 7 am saw 21.83 per cent polling in the constituency, a local state government information officer said. Irani, who crisscrossed the area from early morning, visiting booths to meet party workers, accused Gandhi of capturing booths. "Alert @ECISVEEP Congress President @Rahul Gandhi ensuring booth capturing," the Union minister said on Twitter. She also tagged a video in which an elderly women is seen alleging that her hand was forcibly put on the 'panja' (hand) election symbol of the Congress though she wanted to vote for the 'kamal' (lotus), the BJP's symbol. There is no written complaint on the matter. Irani also questioned the absence of the Gandhi scion from Amethi. He is expected to arrive here later in the ..
Smriti Irani accuses Rahul Gandhi of 'booth capturing' in Amethi
Union Minister Smriti Irani accused her opponent Congress president Rahul Gandhi of "booth-capturing" as the polling is underway at Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in the fifth phase today."He has come now to capture booth. Rahul Gandhi is so frustrated and helpless that he has crossed every limit of the law and has forcibly made an elder woman to cast her vote for Congress. He needs to give an answer to the nation. He is already a land thief and now is also stealing votes," said Irani.She said she has apprised Election Commission about the same. "I tweeted an alert to administration and Election Commission (alleging booth capturing in Amethi), hope they will take action. People of the country have to decide whether this kind of politics of Rahul Gandhi should be punished or not," she added."If he doesn't get the mandate, he will steal the mandate," Irani said.Irani is facing Rahul Gandhi from Amethi Lok Sabah seat. Gandhi has been winning the seat since 2004. In the last Lok Sabha ...
Voters turn out in large numbers in Rajasthan
Nearly 30 per cent turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Monday in 12 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan where two former Olympians are among the 124 candidates in fray. The maximum voter turnout of 31.93 per cent was in Ganganagar (SC) seat while Nagaur, Dausa, Churu and Alwar registered 30.34, 30.04, 30.02 and 30.01 per cent voting. Polling began at 7 am in Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. 16 of the total 134 candidates are women. 23,783 polling stations have been set up in 12 constituencies where 2.30 crore voters are registered. Two former Olympians, a former IAS officer and a former IPS officer are among the candidates whose fate will be decided by voters. Jaipur rural, Bikaner, Dausa, Alwar are some of the keenly watched constituencies among the 12 seats. Former Olympians Rajyavardhan Rathore, union minister of state, and Krishna Poonia are in contest in Jaipur rural ...
Banda: Nuniya Mollah residents boycott polls to protest water shortage
Facing a severe spell of water scarcity, residents of Nuniya Mollah in Banda have taken up cudgels against the local administration for not doing enough to resolve their issues. They have decided to boycott this year's Lok Sabha elections to protest against the apathy of the administration."We are facing severe shortage of water. Officers come and go but water never comes. The taps are dry. So we have decided to boycott the elections. No water, no vote," said Subiya, a local woman.Another resident says, "Nobody wants to cast their vote. Who will vote if you will not give water?"Locals allege that the water tankers sent by the administration are not enough to meet their demands."What has Narendra Modi government done for overcoming water scarcity? We are struggling for each drop of water. If the administration will not help us resolve the water crisis, we will not cast our vote," said a man.The locals have also put up a banner that reads 'Pani nahi to vote nahi' (No vote if no ...
Country won't forgive Modi for Rajiv remarks: Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has strongly condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modis utterances on late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, saying the "country will not forgive him for the remarks".
Mayawati hints at her PM ambition
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati has indicated that if she gets a chance to become the Prime Minister, she will contest the Lok Sabha election from Ambedkar Nagar.
West Bengal refuses to hold a review meeting for Fani with PM Modi
The state government of West Bengal has refused to hold a review meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Cyclone Fani.Prime Minister Modi, who flew down to Bhubaneswar on Monday to visit the areas hit by Fani and take stock of the situation, wanted to do the same for West Bengal.The Centre had written to the Mamata Banerjee-led administration about a review meeting of the prime minister with the state government officials today.However, the West Bengal government replied that since the government officials are busy with election duty, hence the review meeting should not be held."For the purpose of supervision of elections arrangement, the Chief Secretary, West Bengal and State Home Secretary will have to be stationed in the headquarters from morning till the end of elections on 06.05.2019. Hence it will not be possible for Chief Secretary, West Bengal, Home Secretary and other senior officers of the Government of West Bengal to be away from headquarters on 06.05.2019," the ...
Iran's president names new CEO of national carrier, Iran Air
Iranian media say President Hassan Rouhani has appointed a new chief for the national carrier, Iran Air. The state-owned IRAN daily said on Monday that the decision to name Touraj Zanganeh the CEO of the airline was made during a Cabinet meeting on Sunday night. Zanganeh succeeds Farzaneh Sharafbafi, who was the first female CEO of Iran Air. She is on a list of individuals under US sanctions since last May. Zanganeh was previously CEO of Meraj Air Meraj Air, an Iranian government airline that's been on the US sanctions list over suspicions of ferrying weapons and other cargo to Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. He was also an Iranian Air Force commander and was in charge of flights of high-ranking officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Complainant has right to know about dissent in EC decisions: Ex CECs
A dissent given by an election commissioner has to be noted in files and the complainant has a right to know whether the order passed by the Election Commission was unanimous, two former chief election commissioners have said. Amid the controversy surrounding dissent by one of the election commissioners in giving clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in at least three cases of poll code violation and one to BJP chief Amit Shah, the two said every dissent needs to be out on record. "Whether a violation of the model code of conduct is found or not, the decision is usually communicated to the complainant by a secretary. But the communication should be clear that the decision was taken unanimously or by a majority," said one of the former CECs. He said the dissent note need not be sent along the communication, but the complainant has a right to know who dissented. "Like in the case of the Supreme Court, the dissent should be uploaded on the EC website," the other CEC said. He said ...
Lavrov to meet Pompeo in Finland today
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to hold talks with the United States secretary of the state, Micheal Pompeo on Monday, reported TASS.The two officials will meet on the sidelines of the ministerial session of the Arctic Council in Finland.This came days after United States President Donald Trump telephoned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin."Had a long and very good conversation with President Putin of Russia. As I have always said, long before the Witch Hunt started, getting along with Russia, China, and everyone is a good thing, not a bad thing we discussed Trade, Venezuela, Ukraine, North Korea, Nuclear Arms Control and even the 'Russian Hoax,' Very productive talk!" Trump tweeted.It is still unclear what Lavrov and Pompeo are intended to discuss.This also follows Lavrov's meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in Moscow.Russia and the US have taken diametrically opposing stands in Venezuela's political crisis. The two countries have traded ...
Low turnout recorded in first two hours of polling
A low voter turnout was recorded in the first two hours of polling on Monday in 51 constituencies spread across seven states in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.According to the Election Commission, the estimated turnout was 2.44 per cent till 9 am.In Uttar Pradesh, where 14 seats are at stake, the voting percentage was 4.75 till 9 am while in Bihar it was 3.74.In Rajasthan, the estimated voter turnout was 0.68 per cent, while West Bengal and Jharkhand recorded 2.39 and 2.05 per cent respectively.Jammu and Kashmir registered a voter turnout of 0.28 per cent till 9 am.
Amid grenade attack in Pulwama, J&K registers 3.6% polling
Militants hurled a grenade at a polling station in Pulwama district on Monday even as Ladakh and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats recorded a turnout of 3.6 per cent in the first three hours.
SC asks Cong MP to bring on record EC orders giving clean chit to PM Modi, Amit Shah
The Supreme Court Monday asked Congress MP Sushmita Dev to bring on record the Election Commission's orders giving clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on complaints of Model Code violations. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta has now listed the plea of Dev, a Congress MP from Silchar Lok Sabha seat in Assam, for hearing on May 8. Senior advocate A M Sighvi, appearing for Dev, alleged that the poll panel has passed unreasoned orders dismissing the complaints of the Congress party on violations of MCC (Model Code of Conduct) by the prime minister and Shah who are accused of using armed forces in their campaign. The bench asked the lawmaker to file an additional affidavit bringing on records the orders passed by EC on the complaints of MCC violations by the top two BJP leaders. The EC has given clean chit to Modi for two of his speeches -- one in Latur last month urging first time voters to dedicate their votes in the
PM asks voters to enrich democracy, exercise their franchise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged people to turn out in large numbers to cast their vote in round five of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls. "A vote is the most effective way to enrich our democracy and contribute to India's better future. I hope my young friends turnout in record numbers," he tweeted. Modi has often taken to Twitter on election day to issue appeals to voters to exercise their franchise. Many political bigwigs, including Rajnath Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, are in the fray in the fifth phase of the elections being held in 51 constituencies across seven states.