Page 924 - Politics
Lekhi failed to fulfil her promises: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday released a "report card" of BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi in which it slammed the New Delhi lawmaker for not fulfilling her promises she made to the city in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Fadnavis thwarts revolt against BJP candidate in Bhiwandi
A revolt against BJP candidate Kapil Patil in Bhiwandi Lok Sabha constituency has been resolved after the intervention of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. After Fadnavis intervened, Kunbi Sena leader Vishwanath Patil, rebel Shiv Sena leader Suresh Mhatre and Yogesh Kathore agreed to withdraw their nominations on Friday. Patil had filed his nomination as an Independent candidate against BJP-Shiv Sena alliance candidate. Mhatre is a strong candidate and both the Kunbi and Agri communities, that have a sizable presence in Bhiwandi constituency, had extended their support to him. His nomination was seen a threat to BJP candidate Kapil Patil, said sources. According to BJP sources, Fadnavis has assured Kunbi Sena leader Vishwanath Patil a ticket for the Legislative Council and asked him to withdraw his nomination. Mhatre too has been given the assurance, they added.
Sudan tells UN transition to civilian rule could be shortened
Sudan's UN envoy said Friday that a two-year transition period to civilian rule announced by the military council that seized power in the country could be shortened as protesters kept up their demands for change. Addressing the UN Security Council, Sudan's charge d'affaires Yasir Abdelsalam offered assurances that the military council would support an inclusive civilian-led government. "The (military) council will be the guarantor of a civilian government to be formed in collaboration with political forces and stakeholders. No party will be excluded," said Abdelsalam. "The transitional period could be shortened depending on developments on the ground and agreements between stakeholders," he told the Security Council. The military rulers who removed president Omar al-Bashir from office on Thursday have offered dialogue with all political groups on forming a civilian government. Protesters, who took to the streets months ago to demand an end to Bashir's rule, have kept up their ...
Naveen accuses Centre of neglecting farmers at Hinjili
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre accusing it of neglecting the farmers. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president held a roadshow in Hinjili assembly constituency from where he is seeking re- election for the 5th time in a row. Besides hitting out at the Centre, Patnaik sought the blessings of the people during his brief address. Raising the issue of farmers in his home constituency assumed significance as most of the voters in the area are peasants. Braving the scorching sun, a large number of people lined up on both sides of the roads as the chief minister waved at the crowd while moving in a high-tech bus. "The victory of our party president is certain. We are only concerned about increasing his margin," a senior BJD leader of Hinjili said. There are around 2.18 lakh voters in the Hinjili assembly constituency from where Patnaik had won for the first time in the assembly in 2000, by 26,417 votes. The margin increased
Ex-union minister Krishna Tirath rejoins Congress
Former union minister Krishna Tirath on Friday rejoined the Congress party after a gap of four years. Tirath, a union minister in UPA-2 government, had quit the party in 2015 to join the BJP ahead of assembly elections in Delhi. Welcoming her back into the party fold, AICC general secretary in-charge of party affairs in Delhi P C Chacko said she needs no introduction as she is well known to all. "We welcome her back in Indian National Congress. Krishna Ji had a long stay in Congress Party. First, she was Metropolitan councilor, then she was 3 times MLA in Delhi, she was minister in the State Government then she was Deputy Speaker, she was two times MP and she was Cabinet Minister, she was our PCC Vice-President, Working Committee Member and secretary AICC. "She has contributed immensely to the Congress Party and she is very important person in Delhi. For some time, she was not with us, I welcome her back to the Congress Party today," he told reporters at the AICC headquarters. Tirath .
Beware of 'tax frauds' who come to Kerala: Modi
Taking pot shots at his arch political rival without naming him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned people to beware of 'tax frauds' who come to Kerala.
Fadnavis gets clean chit in model code violation complaint
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been given a clean chit in a case of violation of the model code of conduct that was reported to the district election office. An oral complaint was made by a Congress spokesperson to the district election officer stating that Fadnavis was using his official residence Varsha to conduct political meetings after the code of conduct came into force (on March 10). The model code of conduct lays down that government residences cannot be used for political purposes. "We conducted an investigation into the complaint, but we did not find any substantial proof. We were informed that the CM meets a lot of visitors at this residence everyday, but that does not amount to any violation," Shivaji Jondhale, Mumbai city collector and election officer, said. An official from the election department said that even if such a meeting took place, it is very difficult to prove the same as there are no records. Meanwhile, the election office has lodged an ..
Talks to select Israel's premier to start Monday, aired live
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will begin consulting political parties on Monday before deciding who to charge with forming the next government, his office said Friday. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the task is most likely to fall to incumbent premier Benjamin Netanyahu following Tuesday's elections. In a first, the presidential statement said Rivlin has ordered the consultations be open to public scrutiny. "The meetings with the parties will be broadcast live on all platforms, to ensure transparency for Israeli citizens," it said in English. The talks at the president's official Jerusalem residence will kick off with Netanyahu's Likud party, followed by the Blue and White alliance of his defeated centrist challenger, former military man Benny Gantz. Likud came out just ahead of Blue and White in the general elections with 36 seats in the 120-member parliament compared to 35 for its rivals. Meetings with smaller parties will continue throughout Monday and Tuesday, the statement ..
Naidu slams ECI, alleges 30-40 % EVMs either malfunctioned or
Claiming that there was a "silent wave" in the state in his favour, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu Friday, however, accused the Election Commission of India of making the election process a "big farce." Addressing a press conference a day after polling for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats was completed, the Chief Minister spit fire on the ECI over the manner in which the election process was conducted, alleging that 30-40 per cent EVMs in the state either malfunctioned or did not function. "This is a very big farce. Disaster for the nation. I can say it is a big confusion, big mess, big farce," Naidu said in a restless tone. He claimed that as per "official information" 4,583 EVMs got stuck in the state and noted that it was a "major crisis." He found fault with the Deputy Election Commissioner's clarification that there was no problem with the EVMs in AP. "I have never seen such an insensitive, unrealistic, irresponsible and useless Election ...
AAP releases 'report card' of BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi as New Delhi MP
The Aam Aadmi Party has come out with a "report card" of BJP's New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi and slammed her for not taking any concrete steps in the last five years towards development of the national capital. The "report card" has been brought out by the AAP as part of a campaign under which it is releasing such compilation on each MP who was elected from the national capital in 2014. The AAP has come out with "report cards" of BJP Delhi president Manoj Tiwari, North East Delhi MP, and senior party leader Harsh Vardhan, MP from Chandni Chowk. "Being New Delhi MP, in 2014 she was appointed to head NDMC meetings, even there all promises made to the people turned out to be imaginary," AAP leader Gopal Rai said. "During 2014 elections she promised houses for all in NDMC areas, what is the status of this promise five years later? During the past five years Lekhi did not utter a word on either demonetisation, GST or sealing in Delhi," he said. Reacting to it, Lekhi lashed out at the AAP, .
TTV slams Narayanasamy, Rangasamy for 'neglecting' development
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T T V Dinakaran slammed Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy for not persuing the demand for statehood to the union territory when he was a minister in the previous UPA government. Had Narayanasamy initiated steps while being a Central Minister to get statehood he would have faced no need to have tussle with Lt Governor Kiran Bedi as had been seen now, he said here. Canvassing for his party's nominees in the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory and bypoll to the assembly, he also accused Narayanasamy and AINRC chief N Rangasamy of doing nothing for the development of Puducherry and only engaging in trading of charges. "Both the samies - Narayanasamy and Rangasamy - have not done anything for development of Puducherry. People should shun both the Congress-DMK and AINRC-led alliances in the April 18 Lok Sabha elections," he said here. Dinakaran said that voters in Puducherry should therefore support the AMMK to break ..
Sidhu to address three rallies in Goa on April 20
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu is scheduled to address three election rallies in Goa on April 20, a senior Congress leader said here on Friday. Sidhu is one of the star campaigners of the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls in the country. Talking to reporters, Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said the cricketer-turned-politician will address public meeting at three places. "The first meeting is scheduled in Mapusa assembly constituency. But the other two places of his meeting are yet to be finalised," he said. Election for the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Goa and bypolls to three Assembly seats in the state will be held on April 23. The Congress has fielded Chodankar and Francisco Sardinha from North Goa and South Goa Lok Sabha seats respectively.
Raj slams PM for not speaking on jobs, women's safety, farmers
Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Friday said the PM only levels allegations against Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, but refuses to talk about women's safety and farm issues. Addressing a poll rally in Nanded, he said removing BJP chief Amit Shah and Modi from the country's politics was of utmost importance and to make that possible, everyone should be sent a message to go out in large numbers and vote for a new future. Ashok Chavan, the sitting MP from Nanded, is pitted against BJP's Pratap Chikhalikar, an MLA from Loha seat in Latur district. "Modi has fooled people for the last four and a half years.. In every election rally of his, he keeps talking of irrelevant issues, criticises (former PMs) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi. However, he does not talk about rising unemployment, farmers issues and women's safety," he said. Thackeray said the word "pradhansevak" used by Modi has actually been taken from Nehru's ...
Amarinder demands unequivocal apology from Britain
Rej5ecting the regret expressed by British Prime Minister Theresa May as "inadequate", Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday demanded "an unequivocal official apology from Britain" for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, whose centenary is being observed on Saturday (April 13).
SC on poll bonds: Centre should be free to implement it
The Supreme Court on Friday directed all political parties to furnish details of donations received via electoral bonds, a contention opposed by the Centre, but the court reaffirmed that "government must be allowed a free hand to implement the measure in execution of policies framed".
Nothing short of apology will do, says Amarinder on British PM's 'regret' on Jallianwala
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday termed as "inadequate" the expression of regret by British Prime Minister Theresa May on Jallianwala Bagh massacre and said that nothing short of a formal apology from Britain will do. On the eve of the centenary of the gruesome incident, Singh and Punjab Governor V P S Badnore led hundreds of people from all walks of life who took out a candle march to pay homage to the martyrs. The march started from the historic Townhall and culminated at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial as slogans like 'Inquilab Zindabad' rent the air. Amarinder Singh said that Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a heart-wrenching moment in India's history and the people of country want an "unequivocal apology from Britain for the atrocity". Nothing short of a formal apology will do, the chief minister said. The Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution in this regard, he pointed out, adding that the tragedy was one of the most horrific examples of colonial excesses and a moral
Nehru coined 'Pradhan Sevak' - Raj Thakeray to Modi
In a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray said on Friday that the term 'Pradhan Sevak was first coined by Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
After AAP-JJP, SAD-BJP come together in Haryana
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Thursday forged an alliance with the BJP in Haryana and announced that it would not contest any of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state and instead extend support to the saffron party on all. The parties, who are allies in the neighbouring Punjab, will also fight the Haryana Assembly elections, scheduled to take place later this year, together. The development comes hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the fledgling Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) announced their alliance in the state for the May 12 Lok Sabha polls. Last year, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had said the party would contest the parliamentary polls alone in Haryana. Senior SAD leader and party in-charge for Haryana affairs, Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the decision to ally with the BJP in Haryana was taken keeping in view the "need of the present circumstances". "The common goal of the two parties is to see the return of the NDA government at the Centre with a majority," Bhunder told ...
Telangana govt nod for local body polls
The Telangana government has conveyed its readiness to the State Election Commission (SEC) for the conduct of Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections in the state between April 22 and May 14. Recently, the SEC had sent its proposal to the state Government on conduct of the elections for the posts of Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad members whose term would end shortly, an official release said. The Central Election Commission has also agreed to the proposal after completion of the Lok Sabha polls in the state, it said. The single phase poll for 17 Lok Sabha seats were held Thursday. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao held discussions with the officials concerned Friday regarding conduct of elections for local bodies. The state government has proposed to the State Election Commission that the process for conduct of Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections may go on from April 22, 2019 to May 14, 2019, it said. However, the results should be announced only ...
Cong, Left welcome SC verdict on electoral bond; BJP says will wait for final judgement
The opposition Congress and CPI(M) welcomed the Supreme Court order on electoral bonds on Friday, while the ruling BJP said it would wait for the final judgement. The Supreme Court Friday did not stop political funding through electoral bonds but brought several checks on it to bring transparency by directing all political parties to furnish receipts of amounts received and details of identity of donors in a sealed cover to the Election Commission. Reacting to the judgement, BJP spokesperson and Supreme Court lawyer Nalin Kohli said, "Whatever is the order of the Supreme Court, it has to be complied with and it is always complied with." "As far as issues raised by the government is concerned, they have been placed before the court for its consideration. And we will await the final judgement," he said. Welcoming the verdict, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, "This so-called corrupt invention of bonds is nothing, but a direct assault on the Indian constitutional basic ...