Page 864 - Politics
Tamil Nadu -- cradle of freebies, competitive populism
From womb-to-tomb, there is something free, it is said in Tamil Nadu. It becomes more visible particularly during the election seasons.
First time voter gifts Rahul his portrait
An 18-year-old first time voter, who called out to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at an election rally here Wednesday, is elated she could meet him and hand over his portrait which she had drawn. Waving and holding aloft the congress leader's portrait, Rincy shouted 'Rahul ji' to draw his attention as he concluded his election speech. Gandhi walked towards the young girl and accepted the portrait and was seen talking to her. Rincy, who hails from Mukkam, has finished her 12th standard and is studying for the medical entrance examination. "I am a first time voter and will give my vote to Gandhi who is prime ministerial candidate," she told television channels. After Rahul Gandhi addressed the election rally at Thiruvambady, Rincy said she saw him walking towards the crowd and called out to him. Rincy said she was surprised he heard her and accepted her gift. Women and children were seen in large numbers in all the rallies addressed by Gandhi in the last two days in Kerala.
EC bars NaMo TV telecast during silence period
Cracking the whip on NaMo TV, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday ruled that the BJP-sponsored channel cannot telecast political programmes in poll-going constituencies during the "silence period" in any phase of the ongoing elections, sources said.
Stage set for 2nd phase of LS poll covering 11 states, 1 UT
Union ministers Jitendra Singh, Jual Oram, Sadananda Gowda and Pon Radhakrishnan, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja and Kanimozhi are among the 1,600-odd contestants in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls to be held in 95 seats Thursday across 11 states and the union territory of Puducherry. Thirty eight of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu will go to polls besides 18 assembly constituencies. Polling in Vellore Lok Sabha seat, which is currently represented by the AIADMK, was cancelled Tuesday by the Election Commission following recovery of huge amount of cash allegedly from an associate of a DMK leader recently. The EC also announced postponement of polling in Tripura (East) Lok Sabha seat to the third phase on April 23, saying the prevailing law-and-order situation there is not conducive for holding free and fair polls. Besides Tamil Nadu, polling will also be held in 14 seats in Karnataka, 10 in Maharashtra, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each
Gehlot says Kovind remark 'twisted' as BJP hits back
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made Ramnath Kovind the President ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections in Gujarat to balance caste equations and garner votes from a particular community.
Omar, Mehbooba maintain Twitter niceties in poll time
He condemned the attack on her convoy and she did the same when a leader of his party was targeted with a grenade a day later. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah may be arch political rivals but make sure to maintain civility when the other's party is attacked. Soon after a grenade attack outside the residence of National Conference (NC) leader Mohammad Ashraf Bhat in Tral, Pulwama, on Tuesday, PDP president Mehbooba took to Twitter to express her concern. NC's Hasnain Masoodi was campaigning in the area and is believed to be the target of the attack. "Very sorry to hear about the grenade attack on NC's Anantnag candidate Justice Hasnain Masoodi. Relieved to know that he is safe and no casualty or damage was reported. May Allah protect everyone," Mehbooba, who is contesting against Masoodi in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency, tweeted. Abdullah was quick to respond. "Thank you for your concern. Allah was kind. Thankfully, the programme had .
NaMo TV can't stream pre-recorded content 48 hrs before polls: EC
The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday put a bar on NaMo TV airing any pre-recorded content in 48 hours before polling date. The directive comes a day ahead of voting in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.Live coverage can be done on NaMo TV but any pre-recorded content cannot be streamed for 48 hours before the polling date under the 'silence period' stipulated in the electoral law, the EC said.State chief election commissioners (CECs) have been informed to take strict cognisance of the same.Under the 'silence period', there is a ban on campaigning by political parties and their candidates and television or any digital media cannot carry any election-related matter.This period allows a voter to make a decision on whom to vote for without being influenced by political campaigning.Last week, the EC had directed the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi to ensure the prohibition of political content being broadcast on NaMo TV.In a letter, the top electoral body had stated that "any ...
BJP pits Malegaon accused Sadhvi Pragya against Cong's Digvijay Singh in LS polls
Bringing its Hindutva plank to the fore, the BJP on Wednesday fielded Malegaon blast case accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal against Congress heavyweight and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh. Out on bail, Thakur has been discharged by a court on charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the 2008 case but is still facing trial under other criminal provisions. The BJP's choice of the 48-year-old saffron activist underlines its efforts to corner the Congress as its top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, have often accused the opposition party of coining the "Hindu terror" phrase and slapping "false" terror cases on Hindutva activists when the UPA was in power. At a rally in Odisha, Shah on Wednesday described Digvijay Singh as the "creator" of "saffron terror" phrase. The BJP has decided to take the matter to the "people's court" by fielding Thakur against
India earned respect at global level during BJP govt: Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday said the country has earned respect across the world during the last five years of the Modi government. The senior BJP leader, who was speaking at an election rally here, attacked the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), saying organisations cannot get success on the basis of negative thinking. "The country has earned respect at the global level during the BJP government...We made an anti-satellite missile which only Russia, China and the US had," Singh said. India is on the sixth spot "as far as economy is concerned whereas in 2014 it was ninth. We want the country to become a superpower and 'vishwa' guru," he said. The home minister said after the Mumbai attack in 2008, "the then Congress government did nothing, but after the Pulwama terror attack, Indian forces went inside Pakistan and carried out its operation." The Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out a strike on a terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot after 40 ...
BJP speeds up candidate selection process in Delhi amid AAP-Cong alliance talks
The BJP has speeded up its candidate selection process in Delhi, amid increased speculation that the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party may form an alliance in the national capital for the Lok Sabha polls. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, who is campaigning in West Bengal, was summoned back for an important meeting on candidate selection on Wednesday, sources said. The party is "keenly watching" developments related to the alliance but it is ready with its strategy to tackle any emerging situation, a top BJP leader said. "Some adjustments may be there in case of an (AAP-Congress) alliance. But, even in the worst case scenario, only 2-3 sitting MPs may be replaced with fresh candidates," he said. The nomination process for seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi began Tuesday. The last date for filing nominations is April 23. A decision on alliance between the AAP and the Congress is likely in next few days, even the two sides continue to have major differences over scope of alliance and ...
Even if you mistakenly vote for Congress, it would be sin: PM Modi
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told the electorates here that they should avoid bringing Congress to the power, saying it would be a "sin", even if the voters "mistakenly" voted for the grand old party."From 2004 to 2014, there was a remote-controlled government. When Congress was in power, there was injustice in Gujarat. Many police officers were sent to jail for wrong reasons and even BJP chief Amit Shah was put behind the bars," Modi said at a public rally here referring to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.Accusing the Congress of speaking in the language of Pakistan, the Prime Minister hit out at the grand old party's promise of reviewing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in its manifesto."Congress is putting the security of our soldiers at risk. Even if you mistakenly press their button, it would be a sin. If you vote for them, they will leave no stones unturned to destroy this country," Modi said.Urging the electorates to vote on the development ...
Chase away Central forces: Trinamool leader
A leader of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress has asked women party workers to "chase away" the Central police forces with brooms if they do excesses, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party to approach the Election Commission.
Deuba slams communist party-led govt's interventionist policy
Opposition Nepali Congress chief and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday accused the Communist party-led government of intervening in the academia and the media against the spirit of democratic norms and values. Addressing the media in Mahendranagar in western Nepal, Deuba alleged that the government was hell-bent on meddling in various state organs instead of working to meet people's needs. "Due to its interventionist policy, the government has failed to accomplish anything in one year," the former prime minister said. Deuba claimed that the government had interfered in many sectors and worked against the spirit of democracy. "Democracy will be strong only when the press is strong," he said, adding that the government was harassing the media and this was not acceptable to his party. Deuba asked the government to hold talks with the Netra Bikram Chand-led Maoist faction and resolve the political issue in the country. "It is the government's responsibility to hold ...
Bhosale fumes over Beed banners claiming his support for BJP
NCP MP from Maharashtra Udayanraje Bhosale Wednesday said his name was being used to "mislead" voters after banners claiming his support for the BJP's Beed candidate reportedly cropped up in the Marathwada constituency. Bhosale, who is seeking another term from his home turf Satara in western Maharashtra, also pitched for his party's victory in Beed. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Pritam Munde, a daughter of late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde, from Beed against NCP's Bajrang Sonawane. "I have learnt that my name is being used to mislead voters in some constituencies, for example, Beed," Bhosale said in a statement. "Hence, I urge voters to strengthen Maharashtra's position in the country by electing candidates of the NCP, Congress and allies," the MP added. Bhosale also accused the BJP-Shiv Sena combine of not implementing programmes for the welfare of farmers, the unemployed youth, small traders, industrialists, women, Dalits and deprived sections. "Since, they have ...
Plea in SC for restraining political parties from offering loan waivers
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to restrain political parties from offering loan waivers and other monetary schemes in their election manifestos saying that these plans involve public funds and adversely affect the economy. The plea said the Centre as also the states should not be allowed to waive loans and banks need to be restrained from technical write-offs of non-performing assets (NPA) to ensure that their financial condition is not camouflaged. The petition, filed by advocate Reena N Singh, is listed for hearing on April 22 before a bench headed by Justice S A Bobde. Singh said the Centre and states should formulate an agricultural policy which makes the sector profitable and assists farmers in becoming prosperous, increasing their interest in farming. "Political parties should not be permitted to offer loan waiving schemes or any other monetary schemes in their election manifestos," the petition said. "The political parties whether in power or in ...
PM says he called Pak's N-bluff because India is nuclear power
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said he did not fall prey to Pakistan's nuclear blackmail, because India has the "mother of nuclear bombs". Addressing a campaign rally at Surendranagar in Gujarat, Modi was referring to the surgical strikes and air strikes conducted by the country's forces inside Pakistan in response to terrorist attacks in Uri and Pulwama. "Earlier, terrorists from Pakistan would come here and go back after conducting an attack. Pakistan would threaten us, saying it has the nuclear bomb and will press the button (if India retaliated). "We have nuclear of nuclear bombs (the mother of nuclear bombs). I decided to tell them, do whatever you want to do (but we will retaliate)," the prime minister said. "In the past our people would weep, go around the world saying Pakistan did this, did that....It is now Pakistan's turn to weep. "Didn't our jawans kill them by entering their houses? Shall we not kill them by entering their houses? Shall we not take ..
Vikhe Patil, Mohite Patil not sure of BJP poll win: NCP
Maharashtra Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Madha MP Vijaysinh Mohite Patil of the NCP have doubts about the BJP retaining power at the Centre and that's why the duo has not joined the ruling party, the NCP quipped Wednesday. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's son Sujay is contesting the Lok Sabha poll on a BJP ticket from Ahmednagar, while Vijaysinh Mohite Patil's son Ranjitsinh had joined the saffron outfit last month. However, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who is Leader of Opposition in the assembly, and Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, a former state minister, are still in their respective parties. Earlier in the day, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a poll rally in the Madha Lok Sabha constituency in Solapur district. NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik said Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is not sure if his son would win from the Ahmednagar seat. "Mohite Patil shared stage with Modi, but did not join the party. Similar is the case of .
Sidhu an 'unguided missile', needs to be controlled, says Anil Vij
Haryana minister Anil Vij Wednesday termed Navjot Singh Sidhu as an "unguided missile" and said the Congress leader's "remote lies in Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's hands". The remarks came a day after the cricketer-turned-politician stoked controversy by urging Muslim voters of a Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar with sizeable population of the minority community to vote en bloc and defeat (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. "Sidhu is an unguided missile, which needs to be controlled," Haryana's Health and Sports Minister said in a statement here. "Sidhu's remote lies in Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan's hands. As he keeps getting guidelines from there, he acts accordingly here," he alleged. Vij suggested that "such people should leave India and go to Pakistan". He alleged that for votes, Sidhu wants to divide Hindus and Muslims. An FIR was lodged against Sidhu for violating the model code of conduct by exhorting Muslim voters in Bihar to vote en bloc to defeat Modi.
Kashmir, Kashmiriyat incomplete without Kashmiri pandits: Mir
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress Wednesday said it will do everything possible for the safe, secure and dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, asserting the valley is incomplete without them. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief G A Mir was addressing Kashmiri migrants at Muthi camp here. Mir is contesting from the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat against PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference's justice Hasnain Masoodi. Anantnag will head for voting in three phases-- April 23, April 29, May 6. Mir, a two time minister, reached out to displaced Kashmir Pandits in Jammu and said "Kashmir and Kashmiriyat is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits". He said the ultimate goal is to create a congenial atmosphere in the Kashmir valley for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants. "Till that goal is achieved, it is essential that all further necessary measures are required to be taken for their dignified living and to secure the future of ..
New bill to give Thai spy agency sweeping powers
Thailand's spy agency is set to be handed carte blanche powers to obtain information believed to threaten the country's security using "any methods," according to a bill announced Wednesday. The bill, published by palace mouthpiece the Royal Gazette, comes less than a month after disputed elections which saw both the ruling junta and an opposition coalition claim the right to form a government. The law, which was last discussed by Thailand's rubber stamp parliament in early February but has largely escaped public notice, is to be enforced from Thursday, the announcement said. It empowers the National Intelligence Agency -- which handles the country's counter-intelligence and security operations -- to "order government offices and individuals" to turn over any information affecting the country's security. This process is to be run under the approval of the country's premier -- currently junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha. If the initial order to turn over information is ignored, the prime .