Page 874 - Politics
Odisha's development stalled by BJD: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) saying that the development of Odisha has been stalled by the state government for the prevailing percentage commission (PC) culture.
Police fire in air to disperse crowd in TN district
Police on Tuesday night fired in the air in self-defence to disperse members of AMMK party who tried to prevent the officials from searching the party office in Andipatti in the district.
Azam Khan barred from campaigning for 72 hours
The Election Commission (EC) has barred Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan from campaigning for 72 hours starting 10 a.m on Wednesday for making objectionable comments during the the ongoing election campaign.
3 RJD leaders join JD(U)
Three RJD leaders on Tuesday joined the ruling JD(U) in Bihar alleging that the RJD did not give due importance to the Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) in distribution of tickets for Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The three leaders - former MP Mangni Lal Mandal, ex-MLC Ram Badan Rai and former MLA Jagat Narayan Singh - joined the JD(U) when one of the seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections has been held in the state. Mandal who was the national vice president of RJD, and Rai had resigned from the RJD a week ago. JD(U) state president Bashishtha Narayan Singh said their presence would strengthen the party. Speaking on the occasion, Mandal said that Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has done justice to the EBCs by nominating them in six out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, whereas the RJD, which claims to be the party of backwards and EBCs, has given merely one seat to this bloc. He alleged that RJD has given tickets to musclemen, illiterates, criminals and those having wealth.
Officials search Kanimozhi's residence in TN
Ahead of the April 18 Lok Sabha polls, election officials Tuesday held searches at the residence of DMK leader Kanimozhi in Tuticorin in south Tamil Nadu from where she is contesting. Official sources indicated that the searches were held following "some inputs," but they did not elaborate. Income Tax officials were also "assisting," the local poll officials, they told PTI. The outcome of the searches were not known immediately. Following information about the searches, a large number of DMK workers gathered in front of Kanimozhi's house expressing solidarity. DMK president M K Stalin in a statement at Chennai said the raids were an outcome of "fear of a damning defeat," for BJP's candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan in Tuticorin. She is also the BJP's State unit president. "This is murder of democracy," Stalin said and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has buried the autonomous feature of the Election Commission through such actions. The DMK chief said his party would
NPF suspends 7 MLAs for backing ruling party nominee in polls
The opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) Tuesday said it has suspended seven of its MLAs for openly supporting the ruling NDPP nominee for the lone Lok Sabha seat of Nagaland for which polling was held on April 11. The NPF, which has 26 MLAs in the state assembly, had decided not to field any candidate in the seat and support Congress candidate K L Chishi. The ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) has nominated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)'s Tokheho Yepthomi for the seat. The Disciplinary Action Committee of the NPF had issued show cause notices to the MLAs for issuing a statement extending support to Yepthomi. NPF president Dr Shrhozelie Liezietsu said in reply to the April 1 show cause notices, they had admitted that they defied the party's decision and also reiterated their stand to take side with the political opponent of the NPF in the Lok Sabha elections. The Disciplinary Action Committee examined their reply to the show cause notices and ...
Kanimozhi's residence raided by IT, DMK hits out (2nd Lead)
Income Tax officials and the Election Commission's static surveillance team on Tuesday carried out a joint search at the house of DMK Lok Sabha candidate K. Kanimozhi in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukodi on Tuesday, an official said.
Phase-II: AIADMK to defend maximum of 35 seats, BJP 26 (Lead with corrections)
As 95 Lok Sabha constituencies go to the polls in the second phase of elections tomorrow, AIADMK has the maximum number of 35 seats to defend, followed by the BJP, which has 26 at stake.
Trump expresses Notre Dame 'condolences' to Macron: White House
President Donald Trump on Tuesday relayed Americans' "condolences" to French President Emmanuel Macron over the fire at Notre-Dame cathedral, the White House said. "We stand with France today and offer our assistance in the rehabilitation of this irreplaceable symbol of Western civilization. Vive la France!" Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Sanders called Notre Dame, which was heavily damaged in the blaze, an "iconic structure" that "has served as a spiritual home for almost a millennium." The statement called France the oldest US ally and said "we remember with grateful hearts the tolling of Notre Dame's bells on September 12, 2001, in solemn recognition of the tragic September 11th attacks on American soil. Those bells will sound again." The White House's measured words contrasted with Trump's shocked, off-the-cuff reaction on Monday, when he asked whether the French fire services shouldn't be bringing water tankers to try and extinguish the blaze from the ...
(For Early Wednesday release) Phase-II: AIADMK to defend maximum of 36 seats, BJP 26
As 97 Lok Sabha constituencies go to the polls in the second phase of elections tomorrow, AIADMK has the maximum number of 36 seats to defend, followed by the BJP, which has 26 at stake.
Opposition has lost credibility: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the opposition Congress and its allies saying they have lost their credibility and faith of people.
Netanyahu expected to receive formal nod Wednesday to remain PM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to receive formal backing to remain premier for a fifth term Wednesday, but tough negotiations to form a coalition government await following last week's elections. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin must choose who will form the next government and is expected to pick Netanyahu to do so on Wednesday night after final election results are announced. Rivlin's office said Tuesday he planned to meet with his choice for premier at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) Wednesday and that both would speak publicly about an hour later. The final vote results, published Tuesday evening by the central elections committee, put Netanyahu's right-wing Likud at 35 seats, the same as his main rivals from the Blue and White alliance led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz. Together with allied right-wing and religious parties, Netanyahu has received the backing of 65 lawmakers from the 120-seat parliament, who told Rivlin over Monday and Tuesday meetings they thought the
Egypt MPs back constitution changes to extend Sisi rule: State media
Members of Egypt's parliament on Tuesday approved changes to the constitution that will allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2030, state media reported. The changes to extend presidential terms are part of amendments initially introduced in February by a parliamentary bloc supportive of Sisi and updated this week after several rounds of debates. "The president's current term shall expire at the end of six years from the date of his election as president in 2018," reported the official Al-Ahram news website and broadcaster Nile TV. "He can be re-elected for another (six-year) term." MPs approved other sweeping changes to the constitution including allowing the military a greater influence in Egyptian political life as well as granting Sisi greater control over the judiciary. "The final votes on all the amendments package have yet to be tallied," MP Mohamed Abu Hamed told AFP. The amendments are expected to be put to a public referendum later this month. Critics .
'Rahul deserves award for being the biggest liar in world'
Senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of "lying" to people about fulfilment of his promise to waive loans of farmers which he had made ahead of the last year's assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. Taking potshots at Gandhi, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said Gandhi should be presented with the "world's biggest liar" award. Addressing a poll rally in Halol town in Panchmahal district, Chouhan said, "Ahead of the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi had promised to waive loans of farmers within 11 days of forming the government. Though three-and-a-half months have passed, farmers are still waiting. They are asking when that promise will be fulfilled". Halol assembly segment falls under Chhota Udaipur Lok Sabha constituency. Chouhan claimed that incumbent chief minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath is now sending SMSes to farmers stating that their loans cannot be waived right now due to the Model Code of .
Mumbai Police file FIR against UPL on EC complaint
The Mumbai Police on Tuesday registered an FIR against agrochemical manufacturer United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL) for allegedly preparing electronic poll propaganda material for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress said.
BJP demands ouster of Bengal Addl CEO
Amid a row over famed Bangladesh actor Ferdous Ahmed's campaign for a Trinamool Congress candidate in West Bengal, the BJP on Tuesday demanded immediate removal of the Additional Chief Electoral Officer of the state Sanjay Basu, accusing him of working as a "mouthpiece" the state's ruling party.
Cong delegation meets CEC, demands probe into 'suspicious black box' in Modi's helicopter
The Congress Tuesday demanded an investigation into the transportation of a "suspicious black box" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter during poll campaign in Karnataka's Chitradurga. A Congress delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and submitted five memorandums on various issues including hate speeches by BJP president Amit Shah and its Himachal Pradesh chief Satpal Singh Satti during campaigning for Lok Sabha elections. The Congress delegation was led by party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and also included AICC secretary Pranav Jha. "We have raised five main issues before the Election Commission and it has assured us of action. The EC has said that it has already initiated action on some issues raised by us and will take further action on the other issues," Singhvi told reporters after the meeting. He said a level-playing field must be maintained during elections. "It is strange that the prime minister, holding such a high post, carries a black ..
First Red Cross humanitarian aid arrives in Venezuela
The first shipment of Red Cross humanitarian aid arrived in crisis-wracked Venezuela on Tuesday following approval from President Nicolas Maduro's government, the organization confirmed. "It is with great joy and responsibility that we would like to reveal that right now the first Red Cross humanitarian aid shipment is entering Venezuela," said Mario Villarroel, president of the organization's Venezuelan branch. The shipment, which arrived at the airport serving Caracas, includes desperately needed medication, medical supplies and power units "that will be distributed in various hospitals," added Villarroel. Venezuela has suffered more than four years of recession marked by shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine. The United Nations says a quarter of its 30 million population is in urgent need of aid. Last week, Maduro and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) came to an agreement to allow in the humanitarian aid. Supplies destined for Venezuela's ...
Is Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil helping his BJP nominee son
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, is giving a tacit support to his son Sujay, who is the BJP contestant from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat, sources have said. The Vikhe Patil senior is working behind the curtains, they said, adding that the Congress leader is in touch with the supporters of his father late Balasaheb Vikhe Patil in Rahuri, Parnerand other areas in Ahmednagar district, and exhorting them to support Sujay. "He is supporting Sujay in his role as a father," they said. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who has been a traditional opponent of the Vikhe Patils, has made the Ahmednagar contest a prestige battle. Pawar had refused to vacate the constituency, which is with the NCP as per the seat-sharing deal with the Congress, for Sujay who eventually joined the BJP. The constituency is divided into pro and anti-Sujay camps. According to sources, some Congress workers who are close to Sujay consider him as a political ...
Raj Thackeray is enacting Pawar-written script: BJP
The BJP alleged Tuesday that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who has been campaigning against the saffron party, was receiving his "script" from NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Thackeray, whose party is not contesting the Lok Sabha elections but who is holding rallies and urging people to "remove" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah from politics, reportedly met Pawar at a hotel Monday. "Pawar met Thackeray with a new script for his future political rallies at Balaji hotel in Solapur Monday night. Thackeray is currently holding his 'touring talkies' shows across Maharashtra and entertaining people, for which he needs a script, which was provided by Pawar," said Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Vinod Tawde. At a rally in Solapur, Thackeray had claimed that Harisal village in Maharashtra's Amravati district, touted as the first "digital village" in the country, does not have Internet service at present, and no shop there accepts digital .