Page 846 - Politics
90-year-old Bengal woman casts her vote, thanks EC
A 90-year old woman, who had failed to exercise her franchise in the previous municipal polls and urged Special Police Observer for West Bengal, Vivek Dube to arrange adequate security for making elections free and fair, finally managed to cast her vote on Thursday.
Nearly 70% polling in TN Lok Sabha polls (Roundup)
Polling concluded in 38 of 39 Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly constituencies, where by-elections were held on Thursday, in Tamil Nadu.
BJP nominates three councilors for mayoral elections
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari Thursday nominated three party councillors -- two women and a Dalit Sikh -- for the mayoral elections in three municipal corporations here. Expressing confidence, Delhi BJP general secretary Rajesh Bhatia said Avtar Singh, a Mallah Sikh, will create history by becoming the mayor of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). "No Dalit Sikh has ever become mayor of Delhi's civic bodies," he said, adding that Singh represents the Civil Lines ward. The move assumes significance as elections to seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital and mayoral polls will take place next month. The BJP's decision to field Singh is also expected to send a positive signal among Sikhs here. Anju Kamalkant and Sunita Kangra, both belonging to the schedule caste category, were nominated as mayoral candidates for the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) respectively. The BJP has majority in the three civic ...
Opposition accuses Trinamool of proxy voting
West Bengal's opposition parties on Thursday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of resorting to proxy voting in a number of booths of the high-profile Raiganj constituency.
36 file nominations in Delhi on Thursday for LS polls
Thirty-six candidates filed their nominations on Thursday, taking the total tally to 48 for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi scheduled for May 12. Twelve candidates, including 10 from unrecognised parties, filed their nominations on April 16. Nomination filing will not happen on April 19, on account of it being Good Friday, a gazetted holiday. AAP's West Delhi candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar's affidavit was found to be incomplete by the district election officer Thursday, which issued him a notice. A candidate from Rashtriya Samrasta Party filed his nomination from northwest Delhi parliamentary constituency. Three candidates, including one from little known Republican Party Of India and an Independent filed their nominations for the Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency. Six candidates filed their nominations from the south Delhi parliamentary constituency, including a candidate from little known outfits Sanatan Sanskriti Raksha Dal, Proutist Bloc, India and two Independents. Eight ...
67.84 pc turnout in second phase of LS polls: EC
A 67.84 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on Thursday in 95 seats spread in 11 states and a Union Territory, the Election Commission said. Barring sporadic incidents of violence, the polling went off peacefully, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said. Polling was held for 95 Lok Sabha seats in 11 states, with Tamil Nadu voting in 38 of its 39 constituencies, and the union territory of Puducherry. While elections were cancelled in Tamil Nadu's Vellore constituency over fear of abuse of money power, poll was postponed to April 23 in Tripura (East) seat as there were apprehensions that law and order could be disturbed by miscreants. Two violence-related deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, including that of a woman polling personnel who was killed by suspected Maoists on Wednesday in Odisha. Another death was reported Thursday. Two other people, including a voter and a polling officer, died of apparent heart attack. There was .
Congress supports competitive banking sector: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said his party affirms its belief in the competitive banking sector and promised that it will merge all the public sector banks and create six-eight big banks, if his party is voted to power.
Pass order related to slum project: Congress to Lokayukta
The Congress Thursday demanded that the Lokayukta pass an order in the case relating to Tardeo's MP Mill Slum Redevelopment Project, in which Maharashtra Minister Prakash Mehta had allegedly taken decision which could benefit a developer. Maharashtra Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant made the demand in a letter to the Lokayukta, the party said in a statement here. In 2017, the opposition had accused Housing Minister Mehta of directing government agencies to transfer floor space index available for a slum rehabilitation project to the Tardeo project, which would have allegedly benefited the developer concerned. Mehta had denied any wrongdoing. The government had in August that year announced a probe by the Lokayukta in the case. "It is learnt the last hearing in the matter was held in October 2014... The probe is on for two years and the matter was last heard six months ago, yet no order has been given till now," Sawant said in the letter. "So, requesting you to ...
UN's Libya envoy warns Tripoli fight could spark 'conflagration'
The UN's Libya envoy warned Thursday of "a widening conflagration" in the North African country, saying international divisions had encouraged strongman Khalifa Haftar to launch his assault on Tripoli. Despite days of heaving fighting, Ghassan Salame told AFP there was a stalemate south of the capital between Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and the internationally recognised government. "After the very first successes of the Libyan National Army two weeks ago, we are witnessing a military deadlock," he said. Fighting broke out on April 4 when Haftar and his LNA, based in the country's east, launched an offensive to take Tripoli, the western seat of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). The GNA on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against Haftar for allegedly ordering deadly air strikes against civilian areas, its press office said. A spokesman for the GNA said it was seeking an international arrest warrant against Haftar for "war crimes", as two UN ...
AAP candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar's affidavit found 'incomplete'; issued notice
AAP's West Delhi candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar's affidavits were found to be incomplete by the district election office Thursday, which sent him notices. Jakhar (47), who is making his electoral debut, was among the 36 candidates who filed their nominations Thursday for the Lok Sabha polls. He has declared movable and immovable assets worth over Rs 3.28 crore. An advocate, Jakhar, has shown an income of Rs 9,78,458 in his last year's income tax return, while his wife, Anju Jakhar, a government servant, has shown an income of Rs 15,23,293 during the same period, according to the affidavit. He has declared movable assets worth Rs 1,85,25,444.05 which include deposits and cash possessed by him, his wife and his dependents. The AAP candidate has immovable assets worth Rs 1,22,50,000, including an inherited agricultural land in Mitraun village here worth Rs one crore, the affidavit said. Jakhar has also filed an income tax return of Rs 2,58,243 as part of Hindu Unidivided Family (HUF) ...
Vaghela supports Cong candidate; says BJP will miss 272-mark
Former Gujarat Chief Minister and NCP leader Shankersinh Vaghela Thursday came out in support of Congress candidate from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency C J Chavda, who is pitted against BJP president Amit Shah. Speaking separately in Vadodara, Vaghela said UPA 3 government will be formed at the Centre after the Lok Sabha election results are announced on May 23. Vaghela, a former Congress leader, addressed a rally in support of Chavda, a sitting MLA, at Sanand near Ahmedabad. The former Chief Minister, who joined the NCP in January, came out in support of Chavda even when the Sharad Pawar-led party has not entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in Gujarat for the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and the NCP had tried to stitch an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, but their effort did not materialise. The NCP is contesting on its own on seats like Patan and Surendranagar. The Gujarat NCP was keen to contest on three seats with support of the ...
Development of inflation, middlemen took place during Cong regime: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the development of a few families, middlemen, and inflation took place when the Congress party was in power at the Centre."During the Congress regime and its allies, three types of development took place -- development of some families, development of middlemen, and development of inflation," said Prime Minister said while addressing an election rally here."Congress Aayi, Mehngai Laayi - is the tagline of the Congress party," he said.Attacking Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance in Karnataka, Prime Minister Modi said: "It is such an alliance where there is a disagreement at every stage, but they agree for four things -- abusing nationalism, supporting dynasty politics, corruption and abuse Modi morning and evening.""Cong-JDS alliance is only concerned about its vote bank. They are not concerned about either people's welfare or that of the nation. Your vote will decide if those saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' will get respect or 'Tukde-Tukde
Over 66 pc turnout recorded in second phase of LS polls: EC
A 66.63 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on Thursday in 95 seats spread in 11 states and a Union Territory, the Election Commission said. Barring sporadic incidents of violence, the polling went off peacefully, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said. Polling was held for 95 Lok Sabha seats in 11 states, with Tamil Nadu voting in 38 of its 39 constituencies, and the union territory of Puducherry. While elections were cancelled in Tamil Nadu's Vellore constituency over fear of abuse of money power, poll was postponed to April 23 in Tripura (East) seat as there were apprehensions that law and order could be disturbed by miscreants. Two violence-related deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, including that of a woman polling personnel who was killed by Maoists on Wednesday in Odisha. Another death was reported Thursday. Two other people, including a voter and a polling officer, died of apparent heart attack. There was reports of
India will be poverty free only after Congress ouster: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday mocked the Congress' promise to eradicate poverty, and said India will actually be freed of poverty the day it gets rid of the Congress. Singh said the indication after second phase of election is clear that the BJP will return to power. Addressing election rallies at Howrah and Malda districts, Singh said since the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress has been promising eradication of poverty. "Now, Rahul Gandhi is also pledging that. The fact is the day the country becomes free of the Congress, it will also get freedom from poverty," the senior BJP leader said. Lashing out at the TMC in Bengal, Singh alleged that democracy has ceased to exist under its rule in the state. "Violence has been unleashed on opposition parties. Is it a sign of democracy? In Bengal, we will fight till we restore democracy," he asserted. He alleged that the TMC has replaced democracy by "goondaraj". Under the TMC rule, "all the three -- the mother,
Rahul's candidature in Wayanad a message for appeasement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala was not to give any message to south India, but a message for appeasement politics. Canvassing votes for BJP candidates here at a rally Thursday night, he wanted to know why Gandhi was not contesting from either Thiruvanathapuram or Pathanamthitta constituencies in the state. Gandhi has filed his nomination in Wayanad as a second seat in addition to his traditional constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh with the Congress saying it was a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected. "Congress naamdhaar says he came to Wayanad to give a message to South India. Could he not give a message from Thiruvananthapuram... the state capital or from Pathanamthitta where he could have given a bigger message. This message is not for south, but a message for appeasement politics," Modi charged. Thiruvananthapuram and Pathnamthitta,
67.79 per cent turnout in 14 LS seats in Karna
An estimated 67.79 per cent voter turnout was reported in the elections to 14 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka in the first phase Thursday with the polls being by and large peaceful with no major incident reported. The main contest is between the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance and the BJP. The key constituency of Mandya, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil is pitted against actress Sumalatha Ambareesh, recorded the highest voter turnout of about 80.23 per cent. The lowest turnout was reported in Bangalore Central constituency with 49.75 per cent, election officials said. In other constituencies of the city that has a history of low voter turnout, Bangalore North recorded 50.51 per cent, Bangalore South 54.12 per cent and Bangalore Rural 64.09 per cent. "These are tentative final figures....it may go up. it is better than last election," a senior poll official said, adding that the election was by and large peaceful, with no major incident reported. Voter ...
North East, Bengal, Odisha will be 'biggest surprises' this elections: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday said North East, Bengal and Odisha will be the "biggest surprises" of this Lok Sabha polls, with the first two rounds of voting clearly showing an upsurge in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, a high voter turnout was witnessed in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday covering 95 constituencies in 11 states and union territory Puducherry. As many as 91 constituencies went to polls in the first phase on April 11. "After the first two rounds of voting, the upsurge in favour of PM Shri @narendramodi and the NDA is clearly evident," Jaitley tweeted. The senior BJP leader further said that India is on way to reject political instability and chaos and to elect an NDA Government with the BJP majority. "North East, Bengal and Odisha will be the biggest surprises of this Lok Sabha election," the minister, who is in-charge of the BJP's publicity committee, said. Lok Sabha polls are being held in seven-phases for 543 seats on ..
Second phase election peaceful except 'few incidents': Bengal CEO
The second phase of Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal on Thursday was "peaceful" except for a few incidents which have been addressed, state Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab said here.
Trump tried to seize control of Mueller probe, report says
Public at last, special counsel Robert Mueller's report revealed to a waiting nation Thursday that President Donald Trump had tried to seize control of the Russia probe and force Mueller's removal to stop him from investigating potential obstruction of justice by the president. The report said that in June 2017, Trump directed White House Counsel Don McGahn to call the acting attorney general and say that Mueller must be ousted because he had conflicts of interest. McGahn refused deciding he would rather resign than trigger what he regarded as a potential Saturday Night Massacre of Watergate firings fame. For all of that, Mueller said in his report that he could not conclusively determine that Trump had committed criminal obstruction of justice. The Justice Department posted a redacted version of the report online Thursday morning, 90 minutes after Attorney General William Barr offered his own final assessment of the findings. The two-volume, 448-page report recounts how Trump ...
IJA condemns 'dastardly attack' on journalist in Bengal
The Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) on Thursday condemned the "dastardly attack" on ABP Ananda journalist Partha Pratim Ghosh near Raiganj in West Bengal's North Dinjapur district when he was covering the second phase of the 2019 polls.