Monsoon session of Indian Parliament begins today
UNPA to oppose India-US n-deal in parliament
No compulsion on Uttar Pradesh farmers for contract farming: Mayawati
MPs to elect vice president in a triangular fight Friday
Achuthanandan should apologise to PM: Chandy
Special parliament session to celebrate 60th Independence Day
Triangular fight for vice president Friday
Sonia hosts dinner for UPA, allies
IIM-A autonomy demand put in cold storage: director
Congress cries foul after violent Punjab civic poll
Rural development ministry to discuss projects with each MP
Nuclear deal cannot be renegotiated, PM tells Left
BJP to Left: walk the talk, vote against n-deal
Mohammed Shahabuddin’s bail plea rejected
NDA unenthusiastic about Najma as vice president
Shutdown supporting unorganised workers affects Left-ruled states
Congress rules out change of leadership in Andhra
Kerala to re-launch People’s Plan
Supreme Court allows Shahabuddin to fly
BJP slams government, allies attack court over quota verdict
CITU shutdown evokes mixed response in West Bengal
Government ready to discuss India-US nuke deal: Dasmunsi
Broadcast Bill kept in abeyance, says Dasmunsi
AIADMK slams 123 Agreement
Left rejects Indo-US nuclear deal, to assess relations with UPA
BJP to approach CEC against Navin Chawla
Left parties reject n-deal, press for review
Nuke deal unacceptable: Left
Kerala CPI-M rift widens, party meeting this week
Plea for Navin Chawla’s dismissal withdrawn
Disturbing arithmetic for BJP in Gujarat
Sonia Gandhi and Patil in Assam to assess flood damage
Court faces scrutiny demand on governor’s order favouring Mayawati
Sonia invites UPA MPs for dinner
Forward Bloc leader Kamal Guha dead
CPI-M observes peaceful shutdown in Nandigram
Malhotra arrested, Sonia ticks off Dikshit detractors
Notice to Goa speaker for disqualifying MLA brothers
CPI-M ignores campaign against Ansari
Indo-US nuke deal to figure in parliament session
BJP says it can not accept n-deal; demands setting up of JPC
Bhajan Lal, son to hold rally in Hooda’s hometown
Vajpayee has the poorest attendance record of the present Lok Sabha
Parliament’s nod must before 123 is signed: BJP
Left to intensify land agitation in Andhra
Trinamool workers injured after clash with CPI-M
Narayanan briefs Advani on 123 pact
No outsourcing of electoral rolls: Gopalaswamy
Electoral rolls to have photographs from 2009 polls
Air India-Indian merger a conspiracy: Shahnawaz Hussain
New Delhi : The planned mega merger of national carrier Air India and domestic airlines Indian was a "conspiracy" of the government, former civil Aviation minister Shahnawaz Hussain said here Wednesday.
He was speaking at a function to mark to the 55th nationalisation day of Air Corporation Employees Unions (ACEU).
Hussain, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Bhagalpur, questioned the government's decision to change Indian airlines logo.
Mahdhani released, leaves for Kochi
Coimbatore/Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala politician Abdul Nasser Mahdhani, acquitted in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bombings case and released from a Coimbatore jail Wednesday, arrived in the city of Kochi where the two main rival political fronts immediately hailed his acquittal.
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief was released on condition that he left Coimbatore immediately. He is expected to fly from Kochi to the capital Thiruvananthapuram Thursday.
Apex court to hear disqualified Goa MLA brothers’ plea
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Wednesday decided to hear next Monday the pleas of two Goa legislators challenging their disqualification by the assembly speaker, apparently to save the Congress-led coalition government in the state.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan fixed the hearing after counsel for the two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) legislators - brothers Pandurang and Ramkishan Dhavalikar - claimed the speaker's action was "illegal and unconstitutional."
Goa opposition MLAs clueless in Delhi
New Delhi : Goa's opposition legislators, who are currently in the capital, seemed to be clueless about their future course of action as they had not even sought a fresh appointment with President Pratibha Patil.
Some legislators of the opposition Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had arrived here Tuesday to meet Patil and urge the dismissal of the Congress-led government in the state.
Dasmunsi’s remark on Dutt sentencing personal: Congress
New Delhi : The ruling Congress party Wednesday distanced itself from Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi's remarks on actor Sanjay Dutt's sentencing in the 1993 Mumbai bombings even as the minister reasserted his sentiments over the verdict.
"The minister was expressing a personal opinion and there is absolutely nothing wrong in it," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.
73 Al Umma men guilty in Coimbatore blasts, Mahdhani acquitted
Coimbatore : A court here Wednesday convicted 73 leaders and activists of the banned radical outfit Al Umma in the 1998 serial bombings that killed 58 people here though it acquitted Kerala-based People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nasser Mahdhani of all charges.
The court said there was "not sufficient evidence" against Mahdhani and found him "not guilty" of the charges against him.
Rival fronts hail acquittal of Mahdhani, BJP unhappy
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : While Kerala's rival political fronts and the supporters of People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nasser Mahdhani expressed happiness over his acquittal Wednesday in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bombings, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not happy with the verdict.
The blasts on Feb 14, 1998, had taken place during the election tour to Coimbatore by BJP leader L.K. Advani. It had left 58 people dead and injured 250.
New minister inducted into Himachal cabinet
Shimla : The Virbhadra Singh-led cabinet in Himachal Pradesh was expanded Wednesday with the inclusion of legislator Sujan Singh Pathania.
Pathania, who is a legislator from Kangra district, has been given transport and health portfolios. With this, the number of ministers in the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government has gone up to 11.
Elections are due in the state early next year.
Mahdhani’s Kerala supporters jubilant over acquittal
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Supporters of People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Mahdhani came out on the streets across Kerala Wednesday to celebrate his acquittal in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts.
Mahdhani is expected to be released Thursday morning and will be brought to Thiruvananthapuram by a helicopter. The ailing Mahdhani will be taken to hospital immediately for treatment, sources close to him said.
Sonia asks Congress workers to gear up for 2009 poll
By IANS
Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh) : Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been meeting party workers and urging them to gear up for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls during her three-day visit to her constituency here.
Gandhi, scheduled to return to New Delhi Wednesday, was busy meeting local Congressmen in different assembly segments of the parliamentary constituency, which has been the political bastion of her family for decades.
This is her first visit to Rae Bareli after the Congress' debacle in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in May.
Abdul Mahdhani acquitted in Coimbatore blasts case
By IANS
Coimbatore : A sessions court here Wednesday acquitted Kerala-based People's Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Mahdhani of all charges in the 1998 serial bomb blasts in which 58 people were killed while it found one of the main accused, Al Umma chief S.A. Basha, guilty "of criminal conspiracy".
Left drifting away from Congress in Andhra
New Delhi : The Communists who fought the 2004 general election as allies of the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh are drifting away from it. The police firing on Left workers in Khammam seems to have been the trigger for what many predict could be an eventual parting of ways.
Six Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists were killed and eight injured Saturday when police fired at protestors at Mudigonda, about 200 km from here, during the Left-sponsored state-wide agitation seeking land for the poor.
Police ‘forced’ to open fire in Nandigram: Jyoti Basu
Kolkata : West Bengal Police were "forced" to open fire on protesters on March 14 in Nandigram leading to several deaths and it could not be compared to last week's police firing on Left protesters in Khammam in Andhra Pradesh, where it was "unwarranted", Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) patriarch Jyoti Basu said Monday.
"Police were forced to fire that day (March 14)," Basu said, adding, "Nandigram till today is an area which seems to be a world outside West Bengal."
Kamat survives BJP challenge in Goa
Panaji/New Delhi : Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat barely survived a confidence vote Monday after three legislators were disqualified and the speaker pitched in to save the government, a move the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed "unconstitutional".
Speaker Pratapsing Rane, a long-term Congress loyalist who finally used his casting vote to save the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government, restrained three legislators who had switched sides last week from voting in the house and taking part in its proceedings.
Dissenting dissidents – the men and woman who ruled Goa
Panaji : Goa is known for its political instability with legislators resigning from their seats and re-contesting to circumvent anti-defection laws. Below is a list of chief ministers who have taken over in Goa since the former Portuguese colony had its first elections in late 1963.
* Dayanand Bandodkar, prominent mine-owner and initially not elected to the legislature, but took over as chief minister after the December 1963 elections.
Kamat wins scary BJP challenge in Goa
Panaji : Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat clung to power by surviving a confidence vote Monday, after three legislators were disallowed from voting and the speaker gave his casting vote to save the government.
Before the vote, Speaker Pratapsing Rane, a long-term Congressman, restrained three legislators who had switched sides last week from voting in the house and taking part in its proceedings.
Achuthanandan is always complaining: Chandy
Thiruvananthapuram : Leader of opposition Oommen Chandy Monday said that Kerala's biggest problem is that the chief minister is perpetually complaining about the decisions taken by his own government.
"V.S. Achuthanandan chairs the Left Democratic Front and once the decisions are taken he comes out and complains. Likewise, he makes decisions during cabinet meetings and then complains about it. This is the bane of the state," Chandy told reporters.
Kamat wins vote of confidence in Goa
Panaji : Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Monday won a vote of confidence in the state assembly by a voice vote.
Kamat, who heads a Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition, won the vote even as the opposition Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a walkout from the house.
Governor S.C. Jamir ordered the vote following withdrawal of support to the government by two legislators.
BJP dissidents to guide party in Chhattisgarh
Raipur : In a bid to end infighting in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh, party strategists have set up a panel dominated by dissidents and critics of Chief Minister Raman Singh to outline a plan for the BJP to retain power in assembly elections next year.
BJP sources said senior party leader and former union minister Ramesh Bais, a known critic of Raman Singh, will head the eight-member panel that will advice the party how to increase its popularity so that the government can survive an expected anti-incumbency.
Manmohan Singh ‘regrets’ police firing in Khammam
New Delhi : Ahead of his one-day visit to Hyderabad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. Rajasekhara Reddy Monday to express "regret" and convey his condolences to the kin of those who died in police firing in Khammam district two days ago.
12-hour shutdown in Nandigram, one farmer killed
Nandigram : Life was badly hit here Monday during a 12-hour shutdown called by a group opposed to government takeover of farm land after a police assault on protestors even as a farmer was killed in a clash.
The Trinamool Congress backed Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) organised the protest to denounce the police use of batons a day earlier that injured about 35 people.
A farmer, Bapan Patra, 35, was also killed Sunday in firing between the BUPC and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters.
Mayawati to be immortalised on celluloid
Agra : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati will soon be immortalised on celluloid with an ambitious commercial film being produced on her life.
Titled "Bahenji The Great Sister," the film is set to be released in January 2008.
CPI-M to target ‘unwritten agenda’ in India-US deal
New Delhi : The Left parties, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), are set to be quite critical of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) when the proposed India-US nuclear deal comes up for discussion in the monsoon session of parliament.
CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury told IANS: "When the issue comes up (for debate in parliament), we will question whether there is an unwritten agenda."
CPI-M fuelling violence in Nandigram: Mamata
By IANS
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Sunday alleged that Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) members were fuelling fresh violence in troubled Nandigram in West Bengal after their victory in the municipal polls in neighbouring Haldia.
"For the last three days the situation was flaring up. The CPI-M party workers are constantly hurling crude bombs and firing at Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) members of Nandigram," Banerjee alleged.
Pressure mounts on Andhra chief minister to resign
By IANS
Hyderabad : Pressure from the Left and other opposition parties Sunday mounted on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to resign following the killing of six communists in police firing in Khammam district.
A meeting of opposition parties demanded the resignation of the chief minister while top leaders of the Left parties warned that the incident would have "far-reaching repercussions".
Goa government’s fate to be decided Monday
By IANS
Panaji : The week starting Monday will decide if Goa will stay with the Congress, go over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or come under president's rule.
While the BJP-led alliance has better chances of coming to power, all other possibilities are also being speculated here.
Currently, the hastily cobbled Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) led by BJP (14 legislators) has the Save Goa Front and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (2 each), United Goans Democratic Party (1) and an independent.
Achuthanandan threatens to protest outside PM’s house
By IANS
Wayanad (Kerala) : Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Sunday threatened to protest in front of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence along with his cabinet and central ministers from Kerala if New Delhi did not help the state overcome economic losses caused by heavy rains.
A day after police firing, situation tense in Khammam
By IANS
Hyderabad : The situation in Andhra Pradesh's Khammam district remained tense Sunday as activists of the left parties continued their protests, parading the bodies of six people who died in police firing a day earlier.
Wrapped in red flags of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the bodies of the six were kept outside the district collector's officer in Khammam town, about 15 km from Mudigonda, the scene of the police firing.
Himachal minister to resign after TV expose
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister G.S. Bali late Saturday was set to step down after a TV news channel's expose purportedly showed him in company of "call girls".
Private channel Star News late Saturday showed Bali dancing and drinking with women on his birthday Friday at a party in the resort town of Dharamsala. The channel says the women were call girls from New Delhi.
Sonia seeks report on Andhra police firing
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the violent turn taken by two Left parties' protests in Andhra Pradesh Saturday, with at least eight people being killed in police firing, and sought a report from Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
Gandhi appealed to all to shun violence and bring about peace, a party spokesperson said after a two-hour meeting of the Congress Working Committee here.
Congress applauds Sonia for presidential poll victory
New Delhi : The Congress Working Committee (CWC) Saturday congratulated party president Sonia Gandhi for her "leadership" that led to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil's victory in the presidential election.
The apex decision-making body of the party, meeting for the first time after the July 19 election, applauded Gandhi's "leadership and untiring efforts, which led to the impressive victory of the first woman president of India".
Congress party congratulates PM on n-deal
New Delhi : The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the apex decision-making body of the party, Saturday congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the government for successful negotiations on the India-US civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement.
Manmohan Singh briefed the top body of the Congress, which leads the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), on last week's parleys between two sides in Washington on the historic deal that will open up the doors of global nuclear commerce for India after three decades.
Andhra CM orders judicial probe into police firing that killed eight
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Saturday announced a judicial probe into the police firing on communist parties' agitation seeking land for the poor that left at least eight Left activists killed and eight others injured in Khammam district.
Reddy also suspended Additional Superintendent of Police M. Ramesh Babu and transferred District Superintendent of Police R.K. Meena.
CPI-M demands action against cops for Andhra firing
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday condemned the police firing in Andhra Pradesh, which killed at least eight Left activists who were staging protests, and demanded firm action against the officers responsible for it.
"The police resorted to brutal firing on people participating in a peaceful rasta roko (road blockade) as part of the bandh (shutdown) to protest police repression and the refusal of the government to concede their genuine demands," the CPI-M politburo said in a statement here.
Eight Left activists killed in Andhra police firing
Hyderabad : The communist parties' agitation seeking land for the poor in Andhra Pradesh took a violent turn Saturday as at least eight activists were killed in police firing on protestors in Khammam district.
A woman and an eight-year-old boy were among those killed in Modigonda, 15 km from Khammam town and about 250 km from here.
Eight people were injured in the incident. The condition of three of them was stated to be critical.
Let Parrikar prove majority in Goa, BJP tells president
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday paraded 20 MLAs before President Pratiba Patil to prove that it had majority in the Goa assembly even as state Governor S.C. Jamir directed Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to go for a vote of confidence on Monday.
BJP president Rajnath Singh took the MLAs, who have been brought from Panaji, to Rashtrapati Bhavan and sought the president's intervention to direct the state governor to allow BJP assembly leader Manohar Parrikar to form the government immediately.
Achuthanandan ups ante against corruption within CPI-M
Mayawati pursuing another dream – Periyar statue in Lucknow
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is out to fulfil another of her pet projects - a memorial in the name of noted Tamil social reformer E.V. Ramaswamy Periyar, who was also an atheist.
Periyar, who founded the 'Self-Respect Movement' way back in the mid-1920s in Tamil Nadu and also launched a major drive against untouchability, was one of the main icons of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Chhattisgarh BJP begins brainstorming meet
Raipur : The faction ridden Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh began a brainstorming meet Saturday at Champaran in Raipur district to firm up a strategy for the assembly polls scheduled next year, which the saffron party has named 'Mission-2008'.
The two-day meet is being held in the backdrop of a protest by seven BJP legislators a few days back. The MLAs had even rushed to New Delhi to lodge their grievances about Chief Minister Raman Singh's "style of functioning" with party president Rajnath Singh.
Dr Farooq Abdullah refuted to represent his candidature for V.P. post
Srinagar : Chief of National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah, strongly denied the reports in a section of the press that he had approached UPA for his nomination as the Vice President of India. Such reports are baseless, incorrect, misleading and politically motivated, said Dr
BJP chief to take Goa MLAs to Rashtrapati Bhavan
BJP denies complimenting government over nuclear deal
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party Friday said it continued to have concerns about the 123 bilateral civil nuclear cooperation between India and the US and rejected a news report that it had praised the government for a "superb job" in clinching the deal.
"We reject this news report attributed to sources. It's sheer disinformation. Our concerns over the agreement remain in place," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said when asked to comment on a report in a leading English daily.
BJP says change of guard will take place in Karnataka
New Delhi : Despite its ally Janata Dal-Secular's volte face on change of guard in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday maintained that the party would head the government from October.
BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar expressed confidence that Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa would become the chief minister, heading the BJP-JD-S government, Oct 3, in line with the power sharing agreement.
The coalition government, he added, would last until mid-2009 when fresh elections are due.
BJP ready to line up Goa MLAs, Congress clutching on
New Delhi : Eager to claim power in Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday said it would parade its MLAs before the governor to prove its support, but the ruling Congress, reduced to a minority, insisted it still had the constitutional right to attempt to save its government.
BJP chief Rajnath Singh said his party-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) is ready to parade its MLAs before the governor or the president to prove its numbers.
Haryana minister appointed state Congress president
Chandigarh : Haryana Education Minister Phool Chand Mullana, appointed the new state Congress president, resigned from the Bhupinder Singh Hooda cabinet Friday.
Mullana was named president of the state unit by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The party also named Kuldeep Sharma, son of senior Congress leader Chiranji Lal Sharma, as working president of the party.
Blame game on in Congress over Goa fiasco
New Delhi : With the 49-day-old Congress government on the brink of collapse in Goa, the blame game began Friday with some party leaders blaming their national leadership and others accusing the opposition of attempting a "backdoor entry" to power.
Congress party leaders here, however, are confident of proving a majority in the assembly where the state government is likely to face a floor test Monday.
India’s Regional Politics Remain Immature
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The jubilation for the victory of India?s first women president Prathibha Patil seems to have drowned one of the ugliest episodes of the Indian democracy. Tamil Nadu?s main opposition party the AIADMK and its ally the MDMK defied its own whip and voted for Bhrion Singh Shekhawat, an independent candidate backed by the National Democratic Alliance in the recently concluded presidential election.
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Haryana deputy chief minister targets party chief
Chandigarh : Haryana's Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan Thursday filed a defamation suit against his own Congress party's state working president Ram Prakash for accusing him of cross-voting in the presidential poll.
In his plea before the district and session court here, Chander Mohan, who is the elder son of former chief minister and Congress leader Bhajan Lal, has charged Ram Prakash and a local newspaper of trying to defame him.
Pratibha’s Day One: Meets PM, visits memorials
New Delhi : President Pratibha Patil Thursday had a busy first full day in office, meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting the memorials of former presidents and prime ministers.
The prime minister and his wife Gursharan Kaur called on the new president at Rashtrapati Bhavan for a 20-minute meeting, a communiqué from the presidential palace said.
New President starts to constitute her secretariat
New Delhi : Maj. Gen. K.J.S. Oberoi, the general officer commanding, was Thursday named President Pratibha Patil's military secretary.
Christy Fernandes, currently tourism secretary, was earlier named secretary to the president.
The other appointments announced by the President's Secretariat include Vijay Thakur Singh as social secretary, Barun Mitra as joint secretary and Faiz Ahmed Kidwai and Vishal Chauhan as deputy secretaries.
N-deal: PM meets Vajpayee, BJP still has apprehensions
New Delhi : The government Thursday intensified efforts to forge a political consensus over the India-US civil nuclear deal with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the 123 pact will not impact India's strategic interests and its indigenous three-stage nuclear energy programme.
Vajpayee, however, conveyed to the prime minister that his party will take a stand on the 123 pact finalised in Washington last week only after the government reveals the contents of the draft agreement.
Goa political crisis: trial of strength Monday
Panaji : The six-week-old Congress-led government in Goa lost majority Thursday after five legislators withdrew support, but managed to postpone a trial of strength on the floor of the assembly to Monday even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed a alliance and staked its claim to form the government.
PM meets Vajpayee, briefs about n-deal
New Delhi : Keen to develop broad political consensus on the India-US civil nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday briefed former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other BJP leaders on details of the 123 pact that was finalised with the US last week.
It’s still a triangular contest for Vice President
New Delhi : A triangular contest was on the cards for the vice presidential election Aug 10 as the three candidates who were cleared following the scrutiny of papers remained in the fray Thursday, the last day for withdrawing nominations.
The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), along with the Left Front and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and others, has fielded National Commission of Minorities chairman and former diplomat Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
DMK’s Kanimozhi, CPI’s Raja take oath as Rajya Sabha MPs
New Delhi : DMK leader Kanimozhi, the poet-daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, took oath as Rajya Sabha member Thursday at a small ceremony in Parliament House attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, indicative of the clout the regional party has in the ruling alliance.
Another DMK member Tiruchi N. Siva and Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja also took oath in Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan's chamber.
Manmohan Singh presented a shawl to Kanimozhi after she took the oath.
Munnar eviction drive rocks Kerala assembly
 By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Proceedings in the Kerala assembly were disrupted Thursday after the opposition protested the alleged backtracking of the state government in the Munnar eviction drive just to protect the party offices of the Communists there.
Jharkhand minister’s remark irks Sikh community
Ranchi : The Sikh community in Jharkhand has taken out processions in different parts of the state and have demanded the removal of Health Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi over his reported remarks disparaging the community.
Shahi had reportedly made the remarks two days ago in reaction to former assembly speaker Inder Singh Namdhari's statement on "why Bhanu was offering voluntary retirement scheme as he should resign if he has the courage".
Day 1 for President Patil: meeting people from home and PM
New Delhi : India's new president, Pratibha Patil, will spend her first day in office Thursday meeting people from her "home states", Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and has reserved the evening for a formal interaction with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The president, India's first woman head of state who was sworn in Wednesday, will meet Manmohan Singh at 7.15 p.m. for their first formal interaction, said Rashtrapati Bhavan sources.
BJP to stake claim as Congress loses majority in Goa
Panaji : The six-week-old Congress government of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat lost majority in the Goa assembly Thursday following overnight defections, paving the way for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to stake its claim to form the government.
In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, the two-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) withdrew support to the government.
Congress’ Kamat government in minority following resignations
By Frederick Noronha, IANS
Panaji : Post-midnight intense political activity and defections in Goa has led to the Digambar Kamat-led Congress government being reduced to a minority after ruling this state for hardly six weeks.
Elections were held to the Goa assembly on June 2 and 53-year-old businessman-realtor Digambar Kamat became chief minister on June 8, 2007.
In the June polls, the Congress-NCP got 19 seats and the BJP 14 in the 40-seat assembly. Smaller parties and independents played king-makers' roles.
When a new president came marching in
By Murali Krishnan, IANS
New Delhi : As she walked in gingerly in a cream-coloured Gadhwal sari pulled lightly over her hair, a striking olive green border to match in what has now come to symbolize her trademark style, a hushed silence descended over parliament's majestic Central Hall.
Pratibha Patil, 72, was set to make history to become the first woman President of India and in turn break the male dominance over Rashtrapati Bhavan.
We need socially inclusive economic growth: President Patil
By IANS
New Delhi : India's new president Pratibha Patil Wednesday demanded "socially inclusive" economic growth and hit out at "communalism" as she made her maiden political statement soon after taking charge as the country's first woman head of state.
Musharraf congratulates Pratibha, hopes for better ties
By IANS
New Delhi : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Wednesday congratulated his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil on her election to the top office and hoped for "enhancement of mutual trust and confidence" between the two countries.
"Excellency, it gives me great pleasure to extend to you warm felicitations on your election to the high office of the president of Republic of India," Musharraf said in his felicitation message to Patil, who was sworn in Wednesday as India's 12th president.
Welcome showers for madam president
By IANS
New Delhi : Was it a blessing from the heavens? As President Pratibha Devisingh Patil received the ceremonial 21-gun salute after being administered the oath of office by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Wednesday, there was a brief spell of welcome rain.
The showers, very conveniently, stopped as soon as the new president and her immediate predecessor, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam stepped out of Parliament House.
Text of Pratibha Patil’s inaugural address
By IANS
New Delhi : The following is the text of new President Pratibha Patil's speech at the Central Hall of parliament here Wednesday:
My greetings to you all! I thank the members of Parliament and state legislatures for electing me to this high office. I am overwhelmed by the affection and regard shown to me by so many people across the length and breadth of the country during the past few weeks. I stand here today as the Republic's first servant, humbled by this experience.
CPI-M Kerala headquarter on encroached land: Congress
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Even as the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Kerala government wages a war against encroachers in the state, allegations that the CPI-M headquarter here is built on encroached government land dominated the assembly session Wednesday.
Patil for ‘socially inclusive’ economic growth
By IANS
New Delhi : New President Pratibha Patil Wednesday called for "socially inclusive" economic growth and promised that it would be her "sincere endeavour" to live up to people's expectations.
Patil, 72, speaking soon after she was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, said: "I am fully aware of the great responsibilities placed on my humble shoulders."
Pratibha Patil takes over as India’s 12th president
By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Devisingh Patil was sworn in as India's 12th president Wednesday in an impressive ceremony in the Central Hall of parliament.
Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 72-year-old Patil, who is the first woman president of the country.
Patil took the oath in English. Outgoing president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Patil exchanged seats as the ceremonial 21-gun salute resonated outside.
Left Front retains Haldia municipality
By IANS
Kolkata : The industrial township of Haldia in West Bengal was recaptured Wednesday by the Left Front that won 19 of the 26 seats where a high-voltage municipal election was held July 22 in the shadow of the violent clashes in neighbouring Nandigram.
While the Trinamool Congress won six seats, an ally of the party - People's Democratic Conference of India (PDCI) - secured one, taking the total opposition tally to seven. The PDCI was formed by Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind leader Siddiqullah Choudhury.
Chhattisgarh assembly to debate Maoist menace
By IANS
Raipur : The Chhattisgarh assembly is set to hold a special sitting Thursday to discuss the growing Maoist menace in the state and form a strategy to deal with the rebels.
"Assembly members will have an open discussion in the house on Thursday to firm up a strategy to contain the militants and their relentless attacks," a minister in the BJP government told IANS. "The house will debate the issue as the extremists have crossed all limits."
Nomination papers of Ansari, Heptulla and Masood valid
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : Nomination papers filed by only three candidates for the August 10 Vice Presidential poll -- Mohd Hamid Ansari of UPA-Left, Najma Heptulla of NDA and Rasheed Masood of the Third Front -- were Tuesday found valid on scrutiny.
Out of 33 persons who had jumped into the fray, the nomination papers of all other persons were rejected on different grounds, Rajya Sabha sources said.
Rajya Sabha Secretary General Yogendra Narain is the Returning Officer for the Vice Presidential election.
Cabinet panel to discuss nuclear agreement Wednesday
By IANS
New Delhi : The India-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement negotiated in Washington last week will be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday where views of his cabinet colleagues would be elicited to formulate the next course of action.
The draft 123 agreement is said to run into 30 pages and CCPA will be discussing the agreement in detail, according to sources.
Well-wishers throng Pratibha Patil’s residence
By IANS
New Delhi : A day before she takes oath as president, Pratibha Patil was busy Tuesday meeting visitors, mostly from Rajasthan and Maharashtra, and posing for photographs with them at her residence here.
"It was a busy day for her as visitors have been coming from morning to greet her. Her family members would be reaching here soon to be present at the oath taking ceremony tomorrow," one of her staff members told IANS.
Karnataka legislative council completes century
By IANS
Bangalore : The Karnataka legislative council Tuesday created history as it completed 100 years after its conception during the days of the royalty in pre-Independence India.
The council held a special session to mark the centenary with an address by Governor T.N. Chaturvedi.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to attend another function planned for Aug 3, according to council chairman B.K. Chandrashekar.
Patil’s husband to be occasional guest at Rashtrapati Bhavan
By IANS
New Delhi : Five happy family members of president-elect Pratibha Patil will move into Rashtrapati Bhavan along with her after she takes oath Wednesday. But none of them, including husband Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat, is likely to stay in the presidential palace throughout her five-year tenure.
The kin awaiting the thrilling journey from 9, South Avenue in the heart of the capital to Rashtrapati Bhavan are, besides the husband, son Raosaheb and daughter Jyoti Sisodia as well as their spouses, a family source told IANS.
Andhra chief minister apologises to Naidu
By IANS
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy tendered an unconditional apology in the state assembly Tuesday for allegedly passing a derogatory remark about opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu's mother.
While denying that he insulted Naidu's mother, the chief minister told the house that if Naidu felt hurt by what he said Monday, he was tendering an unconditional apology.
AGP seeks leadership change for revival in Assam
By IANS
Guwahati : Assam's beleaguered opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is making a desperate attempt for revival with a majority of the grassroots workers seeking a change in leadership and to reunite the party that witnessed a vertical split two years back.
The cracks within the regional AGP, that got a drubbing in the last two assembly elections at the hands of the ruling Congress, widened further when 15 of the 19 legislators and an MP defied a party whip to abstain from voting in last week's presidential elections.
Ladoos for Pratibha’s marital village
By IANS
Sikar (Rajasthan) : The residents of Choti Losal village in Rajasthan will get ladoos (sweets) after Pratibha Devisingh Patil is sworn as the president of the country Wednesday.
On July 7, 1965, Pratibha was married to Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat whose ancestors once lived in Choti Losal, about 150 km from state capital Jaipur.
Devisingh's family had migrated to Amravati in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, more than a century ago.
Scrutiny over, three in fray for vice presidential poll
By IANS
New Delhi : A triangular fight was confirmed Tuesday for the post of vice president as the nomination papers filed by three candidates - Mohammed Hamid Ansari, Najma Heptulla and Rasheed Masood - were found valid after scrutiny.
According to the Rajya Sabha secretary general's office, 33 people filed their papers for the Aug 10 vice presidential election, but only three were found valid.
Probe corruption during my rule, Chandy says
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's opposition leader Oommen Chandy Tuesday challenged the government to order any inquiry into corruption that may have taken place when he was chief minister in 2004-06.
"We are prepared to face any inquiry. And if you order the inquiry, I will step down from the post of leader of the opposition (in the assembly)," said Chandy.
Eye on 2008 polls, Chhattisgarh BJP offers sops
By IANS
Raipur : Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hit by considerable infighting, is now thinking of ideas to increase its vote bank to retain power in the 2008 assembly polls.
The state government announced at a party meet that cycles would be distributed to underprivileged girls.
At the party's working committee meet held at Surguja district in northern Chhattisgarh, senior BJP leaders discussed ways to attract voters from the "weaker pockets".
TDP legislators suspended from Andhra assembly
By IANS
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Tuesday denied making derogatory remarks about opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu as the issue continued to create an uproar, leading to TDP members being suspended from the assembly for the day.
Haryana Congress feud bared post-presidential poll
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS
Chandigarh : The undercurrents of a major feud within the ruling Congress in Haryana has been bared after the presidential election despite United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil getting more votes than the party's strength in the state assembly.
The shadow boxing by Congress politicians against one another - mainly the bigger faction led by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the other of his bete noire Bhajan Lal and his MP son Kuldip Bishnoi - has now come out in the open.
Patil to be inaugurated India’s 12th president Wednesday
By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil will be inaugurated as India's first woman president and the nation's 12th in the Central Hall of Parliament House Thursday after having won decisively one of the murkiest battles for the top office.
Patil, 72, will be administered the oath of office in the presence of Supreme Court Chief Justice G. Balakrishnan at 2.30 p.m., followed by a 21-gun salute.
Patil to be inaugurated India’s 12th president Wednesday
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil will be inaugurated as India's first woman president and the nation's 12th in the Central Hall of Parliament House Thursday after having won decisively one of the murkiest battles for the top office.
Kalam to address nation on Tuesday
By IANS
New Delhi : Outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will address the nation Tuesday over state-run Doordarshan and All India Radio.
The address, his last to the nation before demitting office, will be telecast over all channels of Doordarshan from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will also be broadcast over all channels of All India Radio (AIR), in English followed by Hindi from 7.30 p.m. onwards, according to an official release from Rashtrapati Bhavan.
PM recalls Tilak’s role in freedom struggle
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday paid tribute to Lokmanya Bal Gangdhar Tilak on his 151st birth anniversary and said he would have been a happy person on the election of Pratibha Patil as the country's first woman president as they both belong to Maharasthra.
Andhra chief minister insults Naidu, TDP members suspended
By IANS
Hyderabad : The Andhra Pradesh assembly Monday witnessed chaotic scenes after Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy launched a personal attack on opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, leaving the house stunned.
The house suspended protesting TDP members on two occasions during the day.
The chief minister made a scathing attack on the TDP president during a heated debate on the issue of mining lease to Obulapuram Mining Corp (OMC) owned by Y.S.R Reddy's friend and the arrest of TDP leaders in Anantapur district.
A simple rasam, sambar dinner for a simple president
By IANS
New Delhi : Tomato rasam and drumstick sambar - the endearing simplicity of the man about to leave Rashtrapati Bhavan with two suitcases was demonstrated through his choice of food at the farewell dinner hosted by the prime minister here Monday.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also likes appam and vegetable stew. Officials of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) know that, and they ensured there was plenty on the Hyderabad House banquet table, along with a variety of pickles - from ginger to palmyrah fruit.
Parliament monsoon session likely from Aug 10 to Sep 14
By IANS
New Delhi : The monsoon session of parliament is likely to begin Aug 10, coinciding with the poll for vice president, and end Sep 14.
The five-week session will have a special midnight session on Aug 14-15 to commemorate 60 years of the country's independence, official sources said.
A special midnight session of parliament on Aug 14-15, 1947 had heralded the birth of independent India, when the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his famous "tryst with destiny" speech.
Kalam exhorts MPs to work for ‘national vision’
By IANS
New Delhi : Outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam told government leaders and MPs in his farewell address to them that they should work together towards a "national vision" of unity and harmony and help in the creation of a "future leadership".
It was Kalam's 11th and last address to a joint session of parliament before demitting office Wednesday.
BJP suspends five Gujarat MLAs
By IANS
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Monday suspended five Gujarat legislators presumably for voting against party candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in last week's presidential poll.
Those suspended are former state home minister Gordhan Jhadaphia, Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani, Bavkubhai Unghad and Dhirubhai Gajera.
The statement by Singh avoided stating why the BJP has chosen to suddenly suspend the MLAs.
BJP suspends five Gujarat MLAs
By IANS
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Monday suspended five Gujarat legislators presumably for voting against party candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in last week's presidential poll.
Those suspended are former state home minister Gordhan Jhadaphia, Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani, Bavkubhai Unghad and Dhirubhai Gajera.
The statement by Singh avoided stating why the BJP has chosen to suddenly suspend the MLAs.
Andhra chief minister’s personal attack on Naidu sparks furore
By IANS
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's personal attack on opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu in the state assembly Monday sparked a furore, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists immediately took to the streets demanding an apology.
The chief minister made a scathing attack on the TDP president during a heated debate on the issue of mining lease to Obulapuram Mining Corp (OMC) owned by Rajasekhara Reddy's friend and the arrest of TDP leaders in Anantapur district.
Once in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Patil will have to clear the air
By IANS
New Delhi : When she moves into the Rashtrapati Bhavan Wednesday, India's first woman president Pratibha Patil will have to make that extra effort to wash off stains thrown up during the presidential campaign.
Although the Congress party asserts that everything the opposition said about her and her family is false, party leaders agree privately that there is a problem on hand.
Najma: A long, distinguished parliamentary tenure
By IANS
New Delhi : Najma Heptullah, one of India's most experienced women parliamentarians, is one of only two women who have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha five times.
A relative of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, her entire political history was in association with the Congress. But in a dramatic switch in 2004, she sailed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after blasting Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her foreign origin.
Few people have been able to explain that somersault.
Discontent in BJP behind cross voting in Madhya Pradesh?
By IANS
Bhopal : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh has started a probe to identify the legislators who voted for United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil in the presidential elections, even as party sources attribute the cross voting to dissatisfaction within the party.
BJP suspends five Gujarat MLAs
By IANS
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Monday announced the suspension of five Gujarat legislators for voting against the party's candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in the presidential election.
Cross voting in some states resulted in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil winning with a majority of over 300,000 votes.
Ansari, Heptullah file nomination for vice presidential poll
By IANS
New Delhi : Diplomat Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Najma Heptullah Monday filed nominations for the Aug 10 vice presidential election, paving the way for a triangular contest.
Ansari, accompanied by a battery of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, filed his papers before Rajya Sabha Secretary General Yogendra Narain, who is the returning officer for the election.
TDP, TRS legislators suspended from Andhra assembly
By IANS
Hyderabad : Legislators of Andhra Pradesh's opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) were Monday suspended from question hour and physically lifted from the assembly for stalling proceedings.
While the TDP tried to raise the issue of police 'highhandedness' against its party's leaders, the TRS MLAs were protesting a government order on irrigation that they said was against the interests of the backward Telangana region.
Left leaders in Andhra continue indefinite fast
By IANS
Hyderabad : An indefinite hunger strike by leaders of two Left parties over land reforms in Andhra Pradesh entered the second day Monday, mounting pressure on the Congress government to distribute surplus land among the poor.