Page 755 - Politics
No Modi wave in country, BJP will be ousted: Punjab CM
There is no "Modi wave" in the country and the BJP, which has no achievements to show, will be ousted from power, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed Friday. The chief minister also exuded confidence that the Congress will win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "In the absence of any Modi wave and with no achievements to boast of, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a state of complete regression and will be ousted from power," said Singh, who accompanied his wife and Congress's Patiala Lok Sabha candidate Preneet Kaur for filing of nomination papers at the deputy commissioner's office. His son Raninder Singh, daughter Jai Inder Kaur and grandson Nirvan were also present. "We will win for sure, we will win all the 13 seats, including Bathinda (from where opposition Shiromani Akali Dal's Harsimrat Kaur Badal is contesting the polls)," Singh said in reply to a question on the party's prospects in the elections. The mood in Punjab has completely changed from what it ..
Opposition banks on don-turned-politician's influence to take fight to NDA in Bihar's Munger
The dark shadow of criminals-turned-politicians in Bihar politics has receded over the years but it looms over Munger as Anant Singh, an MLA and accused in numerous criminal cases, works to win a section of upper castes votes to spice up the contest between opposition candidate and his wife Neelam Devi and JD(U)'s Lalan Singh. Political watchers said Lalan Singh, a confidant of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, should have been a clear favourite but the influence of Anant Singh in a section of Bhumihars, who are otherwise seen as a solid vote bank of the JD(U) ally BJP, may challenge the conventional political equations. Spearheading his wife's campaign, Anant Singh, a three-term MLA, often tells voters that he has always been accessible to them and can get their work done while charging his rival with arrogance and inaccessibility. Seeking to consolidate their votes and not letting local factors affect their poll prospects, top leaders of ruling National Democratic Alliance, ...
DGCA launches probe after plane carrying Rahul Gandhi develops snag
Aviation regulator DGCA has launched a probe after an aircraft carrying Congress president Rahul Gandhi developed engine trouble on Friday and was forced to return to Delhi.Gandhi was on his way to Bihar for an election rally.A senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, "M/s Forum 1 Aviation Hawker 850 XP aircraft VT-KNB returned to Delhi after takeoff due to a technical snag."He said, "The aircraft landed safely in Delhi at 10.20 am. There were 10 people on board including eight passengers and two crew members. The DGCA has initiated an investigation as per the laid down procedure."Gandhi had tweeted, "Engine trouble on our flight to Patna today! We have been forced to return to Delhi. Today's meetings in Samastipur (Bihar), Balasore (Orissa) & Sangamner (Maharashta) will run late. Apologies for the inconvenience."The Congress chief was scheduled to land at Patna airport and then proceed to Samastipur for the rally.
Sunny Deol 'filmy fauji', I'm a real one: Amarinder
Dismissing the possibility of any threat to Sunil Jakhar, the Congress candidate for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, against BJP's Sunny Deol, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said that the latter was just a "filmi fauji" with no ground support in the constituency.
Heads of 7 political outfits, state units in fray in Punjab
The prestige of at least seven heads of regional parties and state units of national outfits are at stake in Punjab as they will slug it out in the high-stakes electoral battle. Prominent among those are Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Congress state president Sunil Jakhar and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) counterpart, Bhagwant Mann. Badal is leading the electoral contest from the front as he jumped into the fray by contesting from Ferozepur parliamentary constituency, considered a stronghold of the Akalis. The SAD chief's gambit of taking the plunge in the parliamentary elections after a gap of 15 years is expected to boost party's rank and file, political pundits opined. Badal had contested the Lok Sabha polls from Faridkot thrice -- in 1998, 1999 and 2004. The SAD, which claims to be the "only custodian" of Sikh issues, had been facing tough times over the sacrilege of religious scriptures and pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a ...
Have decided to hang my boots in electoral politics, don't want post-retirement job: Birender Singh
Union minister Birender Singh, whose son is making his poll debut from Haryana's Hisar seat, said the BJP is yet to decide on his resignation but he has decided to hang his boots in electoral politics and don't want any "post-retirement" assignment. The veteran Jat leader, who ended his decades-old association with the Congress before the 2014 general election, also said there is no scope for reemergence of the grand old party. The Union steel minister and Rajya Sabha MP on April 14 offered to resign from the two posts, citing BJP's "anti-dynasty politics" stand, after his son, Brijendra Singh, was fielded as the party's candidate from Hisar, the industrial hub of Haryana. "I have done what I should have done but the party leadership has not taken any call yet," the 73-year-old leader told PTI in an interview. "We are in the middle of an election, sometimes resignations can be seen otherwise too, but I have made it very clear that I am ready to relinquish both the posts," he ...
People would oust TMC due to its misrule: BJP candidate Ramprasad Das
Bolpur (West Bengal) [India] Apr 26 (ANI): People of West Bengal would vote for change this time and oust the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government due to its misrule in the state during past several years, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Birbhum, Ramprasad Das."Between 2009 to 2011 people actually used to look up to the present CM, but with her true face revealed during Panchayat election, people are hell-bent on a change," Das told ANI."People are terrified and frustrated. BJP will get vote mostly because people want to vote against the TMC," he added.Birbhum district of West Bengal is scheduled to go to poll on April 29 in the fourth phase of General Elections. Half of the population in this district belongs to tribal communities, where Santhal tribe is in majority.In 2011, TMC formed the government for the first time ousting the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) who ruled the state for nearly 34 years. The TMC at present is serving its second term as state .
Congress will sweep elections in Punjab: Amarinder
Confident of a clean sweep for the Congress in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said that in the absence of a Modi wave, and with no achievements to boast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in a state of complete regression and would be ousted from power.
Will conduct surgical strike on poverty after winning LS polls: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that his party will conduct a surgical strike on poverty in India after winning the ongoing elections."In the next 5 years there will be a surgical strike on poverty and NYAY scheme will be our weapon. It will be unlike what Prime Minister Modi has done in the country, in his five-year rule it has used Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) and demonetisation to attack the poor," said Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in Samastipur.He was joined by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav.The Congress chief also attacked the Modi government for targeting RJD chief Lalu Yadav and his family."Modiji should remember the crimes he is committing against Laluji, he did not let even Tejashwi Yadav meet his father while he was in the hospital, the people of Bihar will never forget this, they will never forgive you for this," he said.Rahul's election rally started late after the aircraft carrying him from Delhi to Patna airport developed a problem .
Agra's 'satta bazaar' sizzles in electoral heat
The Agra 'satta bazaar', infamous for swaying political trends with huge stakes, is sizzling in the political heat generated by the staggered Lok Sabha elections spread over seven phases.
Kerala CPI-M expects to win 18 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats
After the Congress-led UDF said that it may win all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the ruling CPI-M announced that it expects to bag as many as 18 seats and that the BJP will win none.
Ex-CM's son demands removal of PCC chief in Telangana
Senior Congress leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy Friday sought removal of the Telangana Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, terming his leadership as a "failure". The demand of the four-time MLA and ex-Minister comes at a time when the Telangana unit of the Congress is facing a crisis of sorts after putting up a dismal performance in the Assembly elections last December. Congress won only 19 seats in the 119-member Assembly, and since early March as many 11 of those MLAs have announced their decision to cross over to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. There already talk in political circles that if two more Congress MLAs switch sides, they may decide to merge the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) with that of TRS which also means the Congress would lose its tag of main opposition. Speaking to PTI, Shashidhar Reddy, also a former Vice-Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority, called for total overhaul of the party ...
Putin lauds China infrastructure initiative, warming ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative Friday, underscoring warming ties between the neighbouring powers. Putin's comments Friday to a forum in Beijing appeared to downplay the potential for tensions between China and Russia. They also reflect Beijing and Moscow's shared resistance to US global influence. The Belt and Road is rapidly expanding China's economic footprint in Central Asia, Moscow's traditional sphere of influence. But in an interview published Thursday remarking on 70 years of diplomatic relations, Putin praised Russia-China ties. "It would be no exaggeration to say that our countries have approached this anniversary with relations the best they have been in their entire history," Putin said. "This is the result of meticulous and successful work over the past thirty years." In a further sign of growing trust, the navies of the two countries will start several days of joint drills next week. Russian wariness over China's ..
Trump slams Democratic candidates running for 2020 Presidential elections
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) resorted to criticising a hand full of Democratic candidates who have announced their intent to run for the 2020 Presidential elections.He referred to former Vice President and 2020 Democratic Presidential hopeful Joe Biden as "Sleepy Joe" while dismissing former State Representative Beto O'Rourke's candidacy as a "fluke," during his appearance on Sean Hannity's show on Fox News.Multiple Democrats have announced their intent to run for the upcoming Presidential elections, presenting the most diverse pool of candidates to seek a nomination from the party. Former Vice President Biden and senior Democratic leader Bernie Sanders are being projected as tough competition for Trump by most US media outlets.Hannity asked Trump to respond to the names of a few Democratic candidates with a couple of words that came to his mind during his segment.Speaking of Democratic Senator Kamala Harris, Trump told Hannity that "she's got a little bit of a ..
Poll scam money used for Naamdar's campaign: PM targets Rahul
Targeting the Congress on corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the party committed the "Tughlaq road election scam", whose money was being used for the poll campaign of its chief Rahul Gandhi. Addressing a poll rally here, Modi said that in the Congress culture, corruption was the "only protocol". The prime minister also stressed that the law was equal for all and that even his residence should be raided by Income Tax department if he was involved in any wrongdoing. "The food meant for children and pregnant women under a government scheme was snatched from them...the money was siphoned off to Tughlaq Road residence of a Congress leader in Delhi," Modi said. "That money is being used for the poll campaign," he said, attacking Gandhi. The Income Tax Department recently conducted raids on close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath. The Central Board of Direct Taxes had said the department has also detected a trail of Rs 20 ...
Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi joins BJP
After Hans Raj Hans and actor Sunny Deol, Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding more star power to the ruling party in election season.
London, Dublin bid to restore N Ireland government: reports
London and Dublin were set to announce a fresh attempt to revive Northern Ireland's power-sharing devolved administration, reports said Friday, following the killing of a journalist by nationalist paramilitaries. Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, has been without its semi-autonomous government since January 2017 following a breakdown in trust between the main parties. In a rare joint statement, politicians from Northern Ireland's six biggest parties united to condemn the killing of 29-year-old Lyra McKee, shot dead on April 18 while reporting on riots in the second city of Londonderry. Her death has triggered a renewed attempt to mend the fences between the main parties representing the British unionist and Irish nationalist communities. The New IRA (Irish Republican Army) paramilitary splinter group, which violently opposes the peace process in Northern Ireland, admitted responsibility for McKee's killing, saying she was unintentionally shot as they attacked "enemy" ...
Ex-CJ of Sikkim HC to head panel for probe in MLA's killing
Retired Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court Satish Kumar Agnihotri will head the judicial panel constituted to probe the killing of a BJP MLA by Naxals early this month, officials said on Friday. Agnihotri has given his consent to the Chhattisgarh government for heading the judicial panel to investigate the killing of MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel in the Naxal attack in Dantewada, a Public Relation Officer of the state government said here. Mandavi, who represented Dantewada assembly constituency, was killed along with four security personnel on April 9 after Maoists blew up their vehicle with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Shyamgiri area of Dantewada. The next day, the Congress government in the state sought permission from the Election Commission for setting up a judicial inquiry panel into the incident, in view of the model code of conduct in effect for the Lok Sabha election, the official said. After getting approval from the EC, the state ...
AAP alleges Gautam Gambhir has two voter IDs, Kejriwal asks people not to waste their vote
Minutes after Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) East Delhi Lok Sabha candidate, Atishi, alleged that the BJP candidate Gautam Gambir has two voter IDs of two separate constituencies of Delhi and will soon be disqualified for the same, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter and urged people not waste their vote."Voters shud not waste their vote on someone who will get disqualified soon," the Delhi Chief Minister tweeted.Atishi at around 2 pm today on Twitter also urged the citizens not to cast their ballot in favour of Gambhir asserting that he will be disqualified soon."My appeal to the citizens of East Delhi Lok Sabha - pls don't waste your vote by voting for @GautamGambhir; he is going to get disqualified sooner or later for having two Voter ID cards! apnaa vott vyrth naa kreN! #GambhirApradh," she said.Delhi which has seven Lok Sabha seats will go polls on April 12 and the counting of votes will take place on May 23.
India skips BRI forum, Pakistan says CPEC to go ahead
India on Friday skipped Beijing's Belt and Road forum for a second time in protest against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) even as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the controversial project has entered a new phase and would go further ahead.