Page 784 - Politics
Raj: Poll body finds 3 paid news cases, adds cost incurred to candidates' election expenditure
The Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) has found three cases of paid news and decided to add the money spent on them to the poll expenditure of the candidates concerned, the District Election Officer said Tuesday. The candidates are BJP's Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Ramcharan Bohra and Congress' Krishna Poonia, it said. While Rathore is the BJP candidate from the Jaipur Rural Lok Sabha seat, Singh is party's nominee from Jaipur. Poonia is the Congress' candidate from Jaipur Rural. The MCMC for the Lok Sabha elections, formed under the District Election Officer (Jaipur), Jagroop Singh Yadav, made the decision in its meeting held here on Monday, a statement issued said. Yadav said the committee has considered news broadcast on TV channels related to Poonia and Rathore and a news article published in a newspaper related to Bohra as paid news. The committee decided to register the cost of paid news in the election expenditure account of the candidates, he said.
Nearly 66 per cent voter turnout in phase 3 of LS polls: EC
Nearly 66 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday, the Election Commission said. In the third phase, voting was held in 116 Lok Sabha seats, including all constituencies in Gujarat and Kerala, with BJP president Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and several Union ministers among prominent candidates in the fray. Voter turnout in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections is 65.61 per cent till 8.00 pm, a mobile application launched by the EC said. This was by far the biggest phase in terms of constituencies. In the first two phases, election was held to 91 and 95 seats on April 11 and April 18 respectively. Election to 543 seats is being held in seven phases. The counting of votes will be on May 23. The third phase of polls was marred with violence in West Bengal where a person was hacked to death in Murshidabad. In Kerala, 11 deaths, all due to 'natural' reasons, were reported, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain told ...
NIA arrests 14th accused in ISIS inspired group case
The NIA Tuesday arrested an alleged member of an ISIS-inspired terror module that was planning to carry out terror attacks in and around the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh, officials said. Mohd Faiz was taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency, making him fourteenth accused allegedly linked to Harkat-Ul-Harb-E-Islam, an ISIS-inspired group, to be arrested, they said. He will be produced before the Patiala House Court tomorrow, they said. "He was instrumental founding the group and bringing in other members. Investigation has revealed that he was closely involved in the procurement of arms and ammunition for the group to carry out terrorist acts," NIA spokesperson alleged. The case allegedly pertains to a group of pro-IS terrorists who formed a terrorist gang which was engaged in acts preparatory to commission of terror attacks with a view to wage war against the government, the official said. "The group was found to be inspired by the ideology of ISIS and ...
Modi says Mamata would have bought PM's post if it was up for auction from Saradha-Narada scam money
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday took a sharp jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the PM's post is not up for auction that it can be bought with the money looted from "Narada, Saradha" scams. Observing that Banerjee is "dreaming" of becoming the prime minister, Modi also ridiculed the TMC chief's 'Bengal model of development', which she plans to implement across the country if voted to power, as the "Tolabaji (extortion) model". Banerjee, one of the most strident critics of the BJP, has been saying that Bengal and Trinamool Congress(TMC) will play an important role in the formation of the next government at the Centre. She had also organised a rally of opposition parties in Kolkata in January. Modi said he felt "pity" for Banerjee as the PM's post can never be bought by money looted in Saradha and Narada scams. "To become the PM of a vast country like India a person has to earn the respect and blessings of its 130 crore people," he said at a poll rally in ...
Opposition parties in UP believe in motto of self-fulfillment: Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday attacked opposition parties in the state, saying they believe in the motto of self-fulfillment. "With the power of your vote, hit the alliance and the Congress at the same time and others will automatically leave the election battlefield," he said. During a rally, he asked the crowds whether Bundelkhand was getting electricity during SP-BSP regime? Their governments did not provide electricity, so that they could easily rob the resources of the state, he alleged. Adityanath said the three opposition parties do not have leaders, leadership or any policy. "They all believe in the motto of self-fulfillment, and therefore it is time to teach them a lesson in this election," he said. Attacking BSP supremo Mayawati, the UP chief minister said, "Behenji's party never has any manifesto. Bidding for tickets takes place in her office. She has nothing to do in favour of the public, she just cares about her own welfare." On the 72-hour ...
62 pc voting in Gujarat amid EVM snags; Modi, Shah cast vote
Gujarat Tuesday recorded a high voter turnout of 62.36 per cent across the 26 Lok Sabha seats in a single phase polling amid reports of glitches in EVMs and stray incidents of intimidation and violence. Key political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, party veteran L K Advani, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Congress leader Ahmed Patel and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani exercised their franchise at different places in the state. The turnout figure of 62.36 per cent, just a notch below what was posted in 2014, is tentative and is expected to increase. In the 2014 general elections, the voter turnout was 63.6 per cent - the second highest in the state's history after the all-time high of 63.77 per cent recorded in 1967. There were complaints of EVMs malfunctioning at some booths in the state, but Election Commission (EC) officers said the faulty machines were promptly replaced with new ones and the polling was not ...
67.44% voter turnout reported in Karnataka
An estimated 67.44 per cent voter turnout was reported tentatively in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka, for which polls were held in the second phase Tuesday, with the Congress-JD(S) alliance and BJP locked in a fierce contest. Shimoga, where state BJP chief and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra is pitted against another former Chief Minister S Bangarappa's son Madhu, recorded the highest turnout of about 76.45 per cent, poll officials said. The lowest was reported in Raichur with 57.85 per cent, they said, giving the polling percentage, which is expected to slightly go up in the final tally. The election was by and large peaceful, with no major incident reported, they added. In Gulbarga, a key constituency where Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, is pitted against Umesh Jadhav of BJP, 58.27 per cent voting has taken place so far. Uttara Kannada, where Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde is locking horns with Anand ...
AIADMK announces candidates for assembly by-elections
Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK on Tuesday announced its four candidates for the upcoming assembly by-elections in four constituencies.
African summit urges Sudan 'democratic transition' within 3 months: Egypt
African leaders at an emergency summit in Cairo urged Sudan's military rulers on Tuesday to implement a democratic transition within three months, the Egyptian presidency said. Egypt and representatives from several other African nations agreed on "the need for more time" for Sudanese authorities and political actors "to implement peaceful, organised and democratic transition measures", it said in a statement. They also urged the African Union to extend by three months a deadline, currently the end of April, for Sudan's military council to hand power to a civilian authority or face suspension from the regional bloc. That would partially ease international pressure on the council to hand over to civilian rule. The army toppled longtime president Omar al-Bashir on April 11, but protestors have continued to hold mass rallies demanding a swift transition to a non-military government -- calls the council has so far resisted. Heads of state and senior officials from states including ...
Denied tickets, Udit threatens to quit BJP, Maheish vows to strengthen it
The BJP dropped its two sitting MPs -- Udit Raj from North-West Delhi and Maheish Girri from East Delhi -- from the list of its Lok Sabha candidates from the national capital, but the two had contrasting reactions to the rejections. While Raj threatened to quit the party, Girri promised to strengthen it, and accompanied Gautam Gambhir, who has been fielded in his place, as the ex-cricketer filed his nomination papers. Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans filed his nomination papers from North West Delhi, on which Raj laid his claim, saying that according to the party's internal survey report he was the "best performer" among BJP MPs in the national capital. "I am waiting for ticket if not given to me I will do good bye to party," he tweeted this morning, before the BJP announced Hans Raj Hans' name. Udit Raj said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had told him three-four months ago that he would not be given a ticket. "I am the best performer in the BJP's internal survey. Nobody talked to
KPCC chief allays fears over longevity of Cong-JD(S) govt
: Karnataka Congress president Dinesh Gundu RaoTuesday said there was no danger to the Congress-JD (S) government in the state andhinted at a 'reverse operation' against the opposition BJP. "Byelections are there for two seats, parliament election results will come. Once there is new government at the Centre, 'Operation Kamala (Lotus)' will fall flat... They could not do'Operation Kamala' when they had everything," Rao said. 'Operation Kamala' (Operation Lotus) is a reference to BJP's successful attempt to engineer defection of opposition legislators to ensure the stability of the B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka in 2008. Speaking to reporters here, Rao said once the new government is formed at the Centre, BJP would have no strength; their trick of blackmailing using the income tax department,enforcement directorate and the CBI would end. "Nothing will happen to our government, many from BJPwant to join our party, they are tired of (that party), let'ssee what ...
Imran Khan comes under Oppn's attack for acknowledging terrorists used Pak soil against Iran
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday came under attack by the Opposition for acknowledging in Tehran that in the past militants had used his country's soil to carry out attacks in Iran. Addressing a joint press conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the end of his two-day trip (April 21-22) to Tehran, Khan had said, "I know Iran has suffered from terrorism (perpetrated) by groups operating from Pakistan. We (need to) have trust in each other that both countries will not allow any terrorist activity from their soil. We hope this will build confidence between us". During a discussion on Khan's visit to Iran in National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khurrum Dastigir said, "Prime Minister's statement is against the national security as for the first time he has admitted the use of (the country's) soil for terrorism in Iran." "No prime minister has ever made such a confession on foreign soil," Dastagir said, adding that only a day earlier, "the
Modi attacks Mamata, Trinamool for using Bangla actors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took potshots at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for roping in actors from neighbouring Bangladesh to campaign for her party Trinamool Congress in the 2019 polls.
Sheila Dikshit, Vijender Singh, Gautam Gambhir file nominations on last day
Former Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, cricketer-turned politician Gautam Gambhir, Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh and sufi singer Hans Raj Hans were among prominent names from the Congress and the BJP who filed their nominations on Tuesday, joining nearly 350 candidates in the fray for the May 12 Lok Sabha polls in the national capital. Contesting the parliamentary polls after more than two decades, the Congress old-timer and three-time chief minister Dikshit, who filed her nomination from North-East Delhi, will take on BJP's Manoj Tiwari and AAP's Dilip Pandey in a triangular contest, reflective of the overall poll scenario in seven seats in the national capital. Apart from Dikshit, all other Congress candidates --former Delhi minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, former Delhi party chief J P Agarwal, former Union minister Ajay Maken, Delhi Congress working president Rajesh Lilothia and former MP Mahabal Mishra also filed their papers on Tuesday, the last day of nominations ..
Congress petitions EC against Modi, Shah
The Congress on Tuesday petitioned the Election Commission against Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, saying both had conducted illegal rallies over the past 24 hours.
After early calm, Bengal poll day marred by killing, clashes
West Bengal saw its first poll-related fatality in the ongoing general elections on Tuesday, as a Congress worker succumbed to his injury following a political clash in phase three of the Lok Sabha polls on a day marred by clashes, bombings and intimidation.
HIGHLIGHTS AT 2100
Following are the top stories at 2100 HRS LGD26 SC-LD BILKIS Bilkis Bano case: SC directs Gujarat govt to give her Rs 50 lakh compensation, job, accommodation New Delhi: The Supreme Tuesday directed the Gujarat government to give Rs 50 lakh compensation, a job and accommodation to Bilkis Bano who was gang raped during the 2002 riots in the state. DEL20 RAFALE-LDALL RAHUL SC issues notice to Rahul, seeks his response on contempt petition in Rafale case New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday issued notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking his response on a contempt petition for "incorrectly" attributing his 'chowkidar chor hai' remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi to it in the Rafale case but exempted him from personal appearance. DEL9 BIZ-IRAN-INDIA-OIL India to stop importing oil from Iran; make up lost volumes from alternate sources New Delhi: India will stop importing crude oil from Iran following the US move to end sanction waivers, and will use alternate supply ...
Record turnout in Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad in LS polls
Billed as a key seat given the presence of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on the ballot, the Wayanad Lok Sabha segment witnessed a record turnout of voters Tuesday as polling was held in the State's 20 constituencies. The voting percentage was 76.21 as of 6 pm when the polling time officially ended, three per cent more than what was recorded in 2014 (73.2). According to official sources, a large number of people were still in the queue at polling stations and the figure would go up when the final figures are tabulated. Buoyed by the large turnout, the Congress-led UDF claimed a 'record breaking margin' for Gandhi in Wayanad when the votes are counted on May 23. The CPI-M-led LDF admitted that Gandhis candidature was the reason for the massive turnout in polling stations but claimed that the hard work done by the Left workers for their candidate P P Suneer also contributed towards it. "He (Rahul) will get record-breaking margin in Wayanad," AICC general sSecretary K C ...
BJP is anti-poor and pro-rich: Patnaik
Dubbing the BJP as pro-rich, BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday said the saffron party had lost the assembly polls in the Hindi heartland for betraying the poor, farmers, women and youths. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his poll campaigns in the state during the day at Kendrapara and Balasore had accused the Naveen Patnaik government of failing on all fronts in the 19 years and had assured the people to usher in five times the development brought by BJD in five years if BJP is voted to power. "The nation is not built on tall talks as are being indulged in by BJP leaders," Patnaik said adding the saffron party has lost the confidence of the people of the country during its five-year rule at the Centre. He ridiculed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to the people of Odisha to ensure a 'double engine' government (government by the same party both at the Centre and the state), Patnaik asked "Why did BJP lose its second engine in Madhya ...
PM's jibe at Mamata, says she would have bought PM's post if it was up for auction from 'Narada-Saradha' scam money
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday took a sharp jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the PM's post is not up for auction that it can be bought with the money looted from "Narada, Saradha" scams. Observing that Banerjee is "dreaming" of becoming the prime minister, Modi also ridiculed the TMC chief's 'Bengal model of development', which she plans to implement across the country if voted to power, as the "Tolabaji (extortion) model". Banerjee, one of the most strident critics of the BJP, has been saying that Bengal and Trinamool Congress(TMC) will play an important role in the formation of the next government at the Centre. She had also organised a rally of opposition parties in Kolkata in January. Modi said he felt "pity" for Banerjee as the PMs post can never be brought by money looted in Saradha and Narada scams. "To become the PM of a vast country like India a person has to earn the respect and blessings of its 130 crore people," he said at a poll rally in ...