Page 789 - Politics
Debutants from Cong and AAP up against BJP's incumbent in south Delhi LS seat
The south Delhi Lok Sabha seat will see two debutants from the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress locking horns with sitting MP and BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri. While the Congress has fielded Olympian Vijender Singh, the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Raghav Chadha for the seat. Bidhuri had defeated AAP candidate Colonel Devinder Sehrawat by a margin of 1.07 lakh votes in 2014. In 2009, the Congress' Ramesh Kumar had won the seat defeating Bidhuri. Veteran BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Madan Lal Khurana have won from the seat in previous years.
Kerala turnout crosses 65% till 5 p.m.
Technical glitches notwithstanding, 65 per cent of Kerala's over 2 crore strong electorate had cast their votes by 5 p.m. as polling went on in the state's 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in the third round on Tuesday.
Violence mars third phase of LS polling
Several incidents of violence were reported from many parts of the country where voting is underway for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections today.In West Bengal, a man was killed and at least three Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists injured in the different incidents of violence.The deceased, Tiyarul Kalam, was standing in the queue to cast his vote when he sustained injuries in clashes erupted between Congress and TMC workers in Baligram area of Murshidabad parliamentary constituency. The violence broke out over allegations of proxy voting at booth number 188.In another incident, three TMC workers were injured after being hit by a crude bomb hurled at them in Domkal municipality of Murshidabad Lok Sabha constituency.Some unidentified men hurled the bomb near polling booth 27, 28 in Murshidabad's Raninagar area.In yet another incident, a polling agent was found dead at his house in Buniadpur area of Dakshin Dinajpur district. The cause of his death is not clear yet.Meanwhile, West .
Opposition demand 50% VVPAT vote count, to approach SC
Opposition parties on Tuesday renewed their demand for verifying 50 per cent of the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) voter slips with the electronic voting machines (EVMs), and announced plans to launch a fresh challenge in the Supreme Court on the issue.
BJP, Cong candidates file nominations on last day in Delhi
Several prominent candidates including former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh and cricketer-tuned-politician Gautam Gambhir filed their nominations for the May 12 Lok Sabha polls in Delhi on Tuesday, the last day to enter the fray. Many of the candidates took out road shows in the scorching heat in their constituencies before filing their nominations All seven candidates of the Congress -- former Delhi minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, former Delhi Congress chief Jai Prakash Agarwal, former Union minister Ajay Maken, Delhi Congress working president Rajesh Lilothia, former Cong MP Mahabal Mishra along Dikshit and Singh filed their papers . BJP candidates Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans, sitting MP from South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Ramesh Bidhuri and BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi filed their nominations besides Gambhir. Talking to reporters, Dikshit, who has been fielded from North-East Delhi, said, "I have sentiments attached to
Anantnag voting ends peacefully but with low turnout (3rd Lead)
Amid heavy security arrangements, voting ended peacefully on Tuesday in the first phase of the three-phased Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag constituency.
Every leader should be aware of India's 'power of unity', says Saif Ali Khan
Asking people to exercise their right to vote in the general elections, actor Saif Ali Khan on Tuesday said every leader must be aware of the country's "power of unity". Every vote counts, Khan said at a panel discussion. "Not voting shouldn't be an option. You can really affect change. I think one of the things that any government or any leader should fear and be really aware of is the power of unity in this country. "We get together, have this union and decide and discuss to vote, suddenly we will become important to these guys and they'll fear you. So use that and look after your country," the 48-year-old said. The "Sacred Games" star said voting in the country is a "unifying" process. "Voting is the most important thing you can do in a country. I think young people notoriously do not vote. That's the reason we are here today... to speak about the importance of that vote," he added at a discussion on Benetton India's campaign #UnitedByVote along with Bhumi Pednekar and Siddhant ...
Samajwadi Party delegation meets UP CEO, alleges anomalies in polling
A four-member delegation of Samajwadi Party (SP) led by a senior party functionary Rajendra Chaudhary met state's Chief Election Officer (CEO) L Venkateshwar Lu to complaint against alleged anomalies in polling in Uttar Pradesh.After meeting the CEO, Chaudhary told ANI, "On the direction of party president Akhilesh Yadav we met the state's chief polling officer. We have given a written complaint to the CEO that there are wide-scale fraud happening at all 10 Lok Sabha seats where elections are taking place today. EVM machines in various booths are malfunctioning. This time also it is the same error that if someone votes for SP, the vote goes to BJP."Accusing BJP of misusing government machinery, Chaudhary said: "The ruling party is misusing the government machinery and its leaders are trying to influence elections. We have given CEO even the details of the booths where the EVMs are malfunctioning. He has assured us that he will immediately look into it and do the needful."Earlier in ...
HIGHLIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION 17.10
Following are the top stories at 17.10 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. LGD24 SC-RAFALE 2NDLD RAHUL SC issues contempt notice to Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on Rafale verdict New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday issued criminal contempt notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his "chowkidar chor hai" remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while referring to the Rafale judgment, which the apex court said was "incorrectly attributed" to it. 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 sources such as Saudi Arabia
Have not taken a decision on quitting BJP: Udit Raj
Sitting MP from the reserved northwest Delhi parliamentary seat Udit Raj Tuesday claimed he was being forced to quit the BJP but said he has not taken a decision on the matter yet. The BJP has not given the former Indian Justice Party chief a ticket for the Lok Sabha polls this time. The saffron party has fielded singer Hans Raj Hans from the seat on which Raj had won in 2014. "I will not contest as an independent candidate. They (BJP) are forcing me to leave the party but I have not taken a decision on quitting. I will consult my supporters across the country," he said. Talking about the possible reasons why he was denied a ticket, Raj said, "When there was bandh in 2018 on SC-ST amendment I protested, that's why the party leadership seemed to be unhappy with me. When there was no government recruitment happening, was I not supposed to raise the issue? I will continue to raise the issues of Dalits." Raj said three to four months ago Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had told him, .
Kejriwal alleges Cong candidate openly seeking votes for BJP in Goa
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday hit out at the Congress over a media report claiming that its candidate in Goa has asked people to vote for the BJP instead of AAP. Is this the reason why Congress refused to do an alliance in Goa? the Aam Aadmi Party chief said in a tweet and tagged a news report which quoted South Goa Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha. "The vote to BJP will at least be acknowledged but all know that the AAP has not even one per cent chance of winning, Sardinha was quoted as saying by the media report. Kejriwal alleged that the Congress candidate was openly seeking votes for BJP.
Notice to Raigarh's Congress candidate for making objectionable statement against PM
A show-cause notice has been issued by the District Election Officer to Congress candidate from Raigarh constituency Laljeet Singh Rathiya for allegedly making objectionable statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rathiya, in his reply, clarified that his statement was not against the prime minister but on the "historic mistake" of implementing demonetisation by Modi. While addressing a public meeting in Narayanpur under Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh on April 16, Rathiya had criticised the prime minister for implementing the note ban, according to official documents. He had claimed that the demonetisation was a historic mistake by the prime minister. After his address, which was video-recorded, a show-cause notice was issued to Rathiya by the District Election Office. Rathiya, in his response, said he had referred to the statement made by Modi in Goa on November 13, 2016 where the prime minister had reportedly asked people to support him for 50 days (during the initial ...
Past governments didn't care about India's security: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the past Congress governments, saying they were only concerned about the interest of a 'namdar' family, not the country's security. He added that these "incompetent and scared" governments also failed to demonstrate India's defence capability in space.
Nepal's President to start nine-day visit to China
Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari will be on a nine-day visit to China from Friday, during which she will address the second international meeting on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi Jinping to consolidate Beijing's influence abroad. Bhandari, who will be leading the Nepali delegation, will also hold bilateral talks with the Chinese President followed by signing of agreements in various areas. The multi-billion-dollar BRI was started in 2013 and envisages massive investments in maritime, road and rail projects across 65 countries from Asia to Europe and Africa that collectively account for 30 per cent of global GDP. The Belt and Road Forum meeting will be held in Beijing from April 25-27. "She will also meet with other senior Chinese leaders during the visit. The President will address the joint meeting of business community from Nepal and China in Beijing," a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said. President Bhandari will visit Xi'an, the ...
Salman Khurshid refers himself as Adityanath's 'baap', dares him to debate Batla House case
Congress leader Salman Khurshid has borrowed a popular movie dialogue to call himself UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "baap" and challenged him to a debate on the 2008 Batla House encounter, preferably at a cowshed. Khurshid, the Congress candidate from Farrukhabad, said he is ready to debate the 2008 case "whenever and wherever" Adityanath wants. "It will be better if it takes place in a gaushala, to find out if the cow is with him or me," the lawyer-politician said. "But tell Yogi ji that 'rishtey mein main unka baap lagta hun' (I am like his father)," the 66-year-old leader told reporters on Sunday. He was reacting to the chief minister's comments during an election meeting in Mohammadabad area of Farrukhabad district. Adityanath, campaigning for the BJP candidate from the constituency, had said cases like the Batla House encounter happened during the Congress rule. "One must question Salman Khurshid what relation he had with the people of Batla House. On what grounds, he went .
Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, Dharmendra Pradhan cast votes
Prominent political leaders like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday cast votes at their respective polling booths for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections.Manmohan Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Assam's Dispur. Union Finance Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley cast his vote at Gujarat's Ahmedabad while Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan cast his vote in Odisha's Talcher.The third phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway at 116 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and two Union Territories.The seven-phase Lok Sabha election started on April 11. The first phase witnessed 69.45 voter turnout across the country while the election for the second phase was held on April 18 and witnessed 69.43 per cent voter turnout.Counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Modi misleading the country: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his name would be recorded in history for misleading the entire country. "He will talk about cows, ram temple and patriotism. Are we all sitting here are not patriots? Modi's name will be recorded in history as the first prime minister who misled the entire country," Gehlot told an election rally in Beneshwar Dham in the tribal-dominated constituency of Banswara. He said Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been asking the prime minister for a discussion on issues such as schemes for dalits, youths, minorities, weaker section and women but he does not respond. Responding to the BJP's criticism that the Congress could not bring prosperity despite ruling the country for a long time, Gehlot said the party maintained democratic culture in the country for the past 70 years and India developed and advanced under the party's rule. "Government changed peacefully in the country in 70 years unlike ...
Raid to locate UP minister after SP complaint in Badaun
District authorities Tuesday raided a house here after the Samajwadi Party complained that a state minister was violating poll rules and camping in the constituency from where his daughter is contesting. Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya was not found at the house, but the SP nominee Dharmendra Yadav charged persisted with his allegation. SP president Akhilesh Yadav too had referred to reports about the minister being present in the constituency. The BJP has fielded Sanghmitra Maurya against Yadav, who is seeking re-election from Badaun. Election rules require party functionaries to leave a constituency when campaigning ends - and till polling is over - unless they are themselves registered as voters there. The SP candidate alleged that the minister was staying on in the constituency to influence voting on Tuesday in his daughter's favour. The minister is also in charge of the district in the Yogi Adityanath government. City magistrate Kamlesh Kumar Awasthi said there were ...
Singapore PM promotes heir apparent before power transfer
Singapore's leader Tuesday promoted his heir apparent to deputy prime minister as the city-state's founding family prepares for a sensitive transfer of power to a younger generation. The cabinet reshuffle comes amid speculation elections could be held as early as this year, as part of a carefully orchestrated political transition that has been a hallmark of the country since independence in 1965. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 67, said in a statement that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, 57, will become deputy prime minister from May 1. He will retain his post as finance minister and act as premier in Lee's absence. In November, Heng was named to a key post in the People's Action Party -- which has held power in Singapore for decades -- putting him on course to become the next prime minister in the coming years. The power handover will be a sensitive moment for the financial hub of 5.6 million people, which has been mostly ruled by either Lee or his father, late founding leader Lee ..
Saudi calls for pressure on Iran after US oil move
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called for international pressure to be kept up on Tehran after a US decision to end sanction exemptions for Iran's oil customers. The latest US move was a "necessary step" to hold Iran responsible for its "destabilising policies and support for terrorism", Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. He added the kingdom was keen on "the need for continued international efforts to (compel) the Iranian regime to abide by international laws and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs". The White House on Monday announced it will no longer grant reprieves from unilateral US sanctions on Tehran, in order to "bring Iran's oil exports to zero". Eight countries intially given six-month waivers include China, India and Turkey. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said Riyadh was committed to "stabilise" the oil market. "The kingdom will coordinate with other oil producing countries to .