Patil’s win might help South Asian women: daily
By IANS
Dhaka : The election of Pratibha Patil as the first woman president of India could lead to more women taking part in decision making in South Asia, a Bangladeshi newspaper said Monday.
Although India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have had women prime ministers, The New Age noted that this had not particularly boosted women's welfare and led to their greater participation in national life.
Many await Kalam – the veena-playing missile man
By Papri Sri Raman, IANS
Chennai : They all know him and they all want him back. And each one has a story to tell if you mention A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
India has elected a new president in Pratibha Patil, and what Kalam proposes to do after he leaves Rashtrapati Bhavan is a matter of intense speculation.
Ruling BJP in MP jolted, 7 MLAs indulged in cross-voting in presidential polls
Pratibha Patil overcomes bitter campaign to become President
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : From her days as a lawyer in Jalgaon to becoming the first woman President of India, Pratibha Patil has seen the rough and tumble of politics including an unusually bitter campaign on her way to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The 72-year-old Congress loyalist held several posts in Maharashtra besides being Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and Governor of Rajasthan but her role in the cooperative movement in her state was at the centre of a controversy in the run-up to the presidential election.
Manmohan calls on Shekhawat
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday called on outgoing Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at his residence here.
"It was a courtesy call by the prime minister and they spent about 15 minutes exchanging pleasantries. Besides, the prime minister is also a member of the Rajya Sabha of which Shekhawat has been chairman as vice president," an aide of Shekhawat told IANS.
Kalam to bid farewell to parliament Monday
By IANS
New Delhi : Outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who leaves office July 25, will bid adieu to parliament Monday.
Kalam will address MPs in his last speech at the high domed Central Hall where he had last outlined the government's policies to all MPs in a joint address this February.
As president, this will be Kalam's last visit to parliament before he moves into 10, Rajaji Marg July 25 when India's first woman president Pratibha Patil takes oath.
Triangular contest for vice president’s post
By IANS
New Delhi : Three Muslim candidates including a woman are now in the fray for the post of vice president, with the main opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) deciding Sunday to field former Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptullah.
The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and its Left allies Saturday announced former diplomat Hamid Ansari, 65, would be their candidate while the 'third front' United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) has already fielded Samajwadi Party MP Rasheed Masood, 60.
123 deal: CPM raises Hyde Act issues
By IANS
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) - part of the Leftist combine that supports the ruling coalition from outside - cautioned the government Sunday against accepting objectionable portions of the Hyde Act in the proposed 123 civil nuclear agreement with the US.
NDA fields Najma Heptullah for vice president
By IANS
New Delhi : The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Sunday decided to field former Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptullah as its vice presidential candidate.
The decision came a day ahead of the closing of nominations for the Aug 10 election.
After Nandigram, all eyes on Haldia poll result
By IANS
Kolkata : Haldia, an industrial township near trouble-torn Nandigram in West Bengal, witnessed a peaceful but high-voltage municipal election Sunday which assumes significance for the ruling communists who were challenged by the combined strength of the opposition hoping to cash in on the Nandigram carnage.
Students to recreate Kerala’s first assembly
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : The first Kerala assembly - with the first democratically elected communist government in the world - will come alive again as school students will take up the roles of 130 legislators and enact some of its important proceedings here Monday.
BJP looks for cross voters in presidential polls
By IANS
Ranchi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jharkhand will soon call a meeting to identify legislators who voted in favour of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil in the presidential polls.
Of the total 81 votes in the state, Patil secured 49 while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) supported candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat got only 28 votes. Two votes were termed invalid.
Hostile witnesses give ‘breather’ to Badal, family
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS
Chandigarh : Being in power does matter at crucial times and no one knows it better than Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family. The move by 11 key witnesses to turn hostile in court last week in a disproportionate assets case against the Badals has given the family a breather.
The witnesses, mostly serving and retired government officers and engineers, turned hostile in a Ropar town court, where the disproportionate assets case against Badal, his family members and other associates is being pursued.
Patil to be Rashtrapati or Rashtrapramukh?
By Sharat Pradhan, IANS
Lucknow : With Pratibha Patil's election as India's first woman president, a group working for women's rights plans to launch a campaign for a new nomenclature for the top constitutional post, given the masculine gender of the current Hindi term Rashtrapati.
Chhattisgarh BJP in political hara-kiri mode?
By Sujeet Kumar, IANS
Raipur : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ever since it came to power in tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh in December 2003, has surprised its own members apart from people by sending some of its top tribal leaders into political exile.
With the sacking of one of the senior most tribal leaders, Nankiram Kanwar, from the council of ministers July 2, the party has sidelined its five top tribal leaders in the state.
Amit Jogi toils with tribals – for career’s sake
By Sujeet Kumar, IANS
Raipur : Amit Jogi, the controversial 29-year-old son of Congress leader Ajit Jogi, has settled for a month in an extremely backward village of Chhattisgarh with fishermen and tribals to "experience the difficulties of the common man".
His stay in Tala village has been kept secret here as it is considered part of his move to prepare for a career in public life - in the footsteps of his father, who is a former chief minister.
“Pratibha Patil” elected as India’s first woman president
By IRNA
New Delhi : India, in its 60 years of independence, today elected first woman president, Partibha Patil as its 13th President. She has broken the male dominance at the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President House).
She has defeated her rival and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) backed Independent candidate Bhairon Singh Sekhawat with a margin of 300'000 votes.
Pratibha Patil, the new woman president will succeed A P J Abdul Kalam and will be sworn in on July 25.
NC terms LC Chairman’s election as unconstitutional, say it would approach Gov.
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : National Conference Legislative Council members have said that they would approach Governor and appeal him to exercise his constitutional powers to declare the election as null and void.
Dr Farooq Abdullah again misses train to the VP office
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : Like inconsistency in game shows players the exit door, Farooq Abdullah's U turn by opting to vote for UPA presidential candidate could fetch him nothing; reports say that after a vault face from Congress the former Chief Minister could get nothing even from CPM leadership to whom he had approached to plead his case.
Kalam tells children not to stop dreaming
By IANS
New Delhi : Outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in his farewell interaction with the staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan, told their children not to stop dreaming and recited a poem to inspire them to work for his cherished ideals.
Speaking in Hindi, Kalam, who relinquishes office July 25 and will be succeeded by Pratibha Patil, told the children that they should not stop in their quest for knowledge and help the country through hard work and farsightedness.
"Main nirantar chadhta raha, chadhta raha,
Shikhar kahan hai, mere ishwar
Pratibha Patil elected India’s first woman president
By IANS
New Delhi : India Saturday made history by choosing a woman as head of state for the first time as ruling coalition candidate Pratibha Patil won the presidential election as expected by a comfortable margin.
Immediately after the results were announced, she was congratulated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and declared that her win was "victory of principles" and a "victory of right thinking".
Rajasthan village jubilant over daughter-in-law Pratibha’s victory
By IANS
Sikar (Rajasthan) : There was jubilant beating of drums and dancing at Choti Losal village here Saturday as hundreds of people celebrated the victory of daughter-in-law Pratibha Patil in the presidential election.
As news about Pratibha Devisingh Patil's victory spread, hundreds of people began converging on the village, the hometown of her in-laws.
Pratibha Patil and 11 predecessors at Rashtrapati Bhavan
By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil will be inaugurated president Wednesday and hold the 13th term at the high office in India's 60-year post-independent history. Rajendra Prasad held the first two terms at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Following is the list of the presidents and their tenures:
Rajendra Prasad (Jan 26, 1952 - May 13, 1962)
S. Radhakrishnan (May 13, 1962 - May 13, 1967)
Zakir Hussain (May 13, 1967 - May 3, 1969)
V.V. Giri (Aug 24, 1969 - Aug 24, 1974)
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (Aug 24, 1974 - Feb 11, 1977)
Vote against divisive politics, says PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday described the landslide win of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil, as a "vote against the politics of divisiveness".
Among the first to arrive along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi to congratulate the 72-year-old lawyer who was elected the first woman president of India Saturday, Singh said, "This is a vote against the politics of divisiveness."
It’s a victory of principles: Pratibha Patil
By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, elected Saturday as the first woman president of India, said hers was a "victory of principles the people in the country have upheld."
"It is the victory of principles the people of this country have upheld," Patil told reporters in English immediately after she was declared as the winner in the July 19 presidential election.
Patil, clad in red-bordered yellow silk saree with her head covered in traditional style, thanked the people of the country.
Jalgaon on top of the world as Pratibha Tai wins
By Shyam Pandharipande, IANS
Jalgaon (Maharashtra) : People dancing in gay abandon in streets to rapturous sounds of drum beats, trumpets and fire-crackers - Jalgaon city in Maharashtra erupted in celebrations as the news of Pratibha Patil's victory in the presidential poll reached her home town Saturday afternoon.
India gets first woman president in Pratibha Patil
By IANS
New Delhi : India has got its first woman president in Pratibha Patil who won one of the bitterest political campaigns to the top post in the country's 60-year-old post independence history.
Patil, 72, was voted Saturday as the 13th president of the country. She won by 306,810 votes against her rival Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who contested the July 19 presidential election as an independent backed by opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Bouquets pour in for Patil, sombre atmosphere at Shekhawat home
By IANS
New Delhi : Jubilant supporters of Pratibha Patil, set to become India's 13th president, began their celebrations by beating drums and sending bouquets to her residence here. In contrast it was very quiet at the home of her rival, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, as the counting for the presidential poll was underway.
Patil sweeps Kerala, five votes found invalid
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil bagged 132 votes in Left-ruled Kerala even as five votes were found invalid during the counting for the presidential poll Saturday.
Kerala has 140 legislators with 98 members in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and 42 belonging to the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
Three legislators did not vote while two were incapacitated due to illness, including K.M. Mani of UDF, who is recuperating from a surgery in the US.
Patil on victory spree, Shekhawat draws zero in three states
By IANS
New Delhi : Ruling alliance candidate Pratibha Patil was set for a landslide victory in the presidential poll after counting of votes from nearly half the states till Saturday afternoon, while her rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat failed to get votes from three states.
A visibly jubilant Patil, who has been haunted by accusations of fraud and corruption by the opposition, told reporters here: "I am happy I will be elected. I am looking forward to my stint as president."
Jubilation at Patil’s in-laws’ village
By IANS
Sikar (Rajasthan) : It was jubilation time in Choti Losal village here Saturday as people danced to music played by a DJ in celebration of the almost foregone victory of daughter-in-law Pratibha Patil in the presidential poll.
Much before the result was declared officially for the July 19 poll, the hometown of Pratibha Devisingh Patil's in-laws erupted in joy.
Pratibha Patil heading for big win
By IANS
New Delhi : Ruling alliance nominee Pratibha Patil was heading for a huge victory, winning more than the expected votes even in opposition ruled states as counting for the presidential poll in seven states was over till Saturday afternoon.
In the seven states for which the votes of legislators are being counted, Patil won 67,7710 votes leaving her rival Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, an independent backed by the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with just 35,670 votes.
The votes of MPs will be taken up late afternoon.
Bouquets pour in for Patil, sombre atmosphere at Shekhawat home
By IANS
New Delhi : Jubilant supporters of Pratibha Patil, set to become India's 13th president, began their celebrations by beating drums and sending bouquets to her residence here. In contrast it was very quiet at the home of her rival, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, as the counting for the presidential poll was underway.
Counting begins, India set to have first woman president
By IANS
New Delhi : Counting began Saturday for the presidential election with the country set to have its first woman president in its 60 years of independence.
In one of the most bitterly fought presidential elections, ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) combine's Pratibha Patil is slated to win with a huge majority.
The counting began at 11 a.m. in Room No. 62 of parliament building where 692 MPs registered their votes Thursday to elect the 13th president of the country.
Hamid Ansari: Right choice for V-P post
Christian Community welcomes Prof. Hamid Ansari’s choice as Vice President of India
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : The Christian Community has welcomed Prof. Hamid Ansari's choice as Vice President of India
"We are delighted at the ruling United Progressive Alliance and the Left parties' nominating Prof. Hamid Ansari, currently chairperson of the National Minorities Commission, as their candidate to be Vice President of India. Given the political arithmetic, his election as Vice President of India soon is a foregone conclusion".
Ghulam Nabi Lone is Kashmir legislative council chairman
By IANS
Srinagar : Ghulam Nabi Lone (Hanjura), the candidate of Jammu and Kashmir's ruling Congress-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alliance, was Friday elected chairman of the upper house of the state's bicameral legislature.
The post had fallen vacant after the term of Abdul Rashid Dar of the National Conference ended last year.
Acting chairman P. Namgyal of the Congress had run the house during the intervening period and also conducted Friday's election for the new chairman.
Mayawati keeps UPA on tenterhooks on vice president choice
By IANS
Lucknow/New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said here Friday that she was yet to make up her mind on supporting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate for the vice presidential election.
"UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi did propose a name for vice-president, but we have not been able to take any decision in that regard so far," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief told a press conference in Lucknow Friday evening after visiting New Delhi earlier in the day.
Giving assent to profit bill was ‘most testing’: Kalam
By IANS
New Delhi : In a farewell interaction with the media, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Friday said giving assent to the Office of Profit bill was the "most testing time" of his five-year tenure that he said would be remembered for his turning the imperial presidential palace into a "peoples' bhavan (mansion)".
As over 200 media persons from the capital gathered at the huge Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kalam met each of them exchanging pleasantries and answering pointed questions.
Hamid will be UPA vice presidential candidate
By IANS
New Delhi : The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has decided to field National Commission for Minorities Chairman and retired diplomat Syed Hamid Ansari as its candidate for the vice presidential election.
A consensus on his name was announced by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the UPA.
His name was proposed by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), that supports the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
NDA could back Atwal, UNPA’s Masood files papers
By IANS
New Delhi : The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is inclined to nominate Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal for the post of vice president, though it will await the results of the presidential elections before announcing its candidate.
Though the name of former Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptullah has been doing rounds as the NDA candidate for the second highest post in the country, alliance sources indicated she is no more the frontrunner.
Jyoti Basu hopes of a Left win in Haldia
By IANS
Kolkata : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu Friday said the ruling Left Front in West Bengal will win the July 22 election to Haldia municipality in East Midnapore despite its debacle in the Panskura civic poll in the same district following the Nandigram wave favouring the opposition.
"We will win. Though last time we won all the seats, this time I am not sure if we would win all but we will win the municipality," Basu told reporters after a meeting of the state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) secretariat.
Maya presents another wish list to PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday presented one more wish list before the central government, including a law for job reservation in the private sector for weaker sections, as Congress president Sonia Gandhi consulted her on the vice presidential election.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a long list of demands working out to a Rs.800 billion central assistance package for her state.
Both BJP, Cong claim SP votes in presidential poll in MP
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : With the fate of presidential candidates for the next President of India sealed in ballot boxes both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), and the main Opposition Congress party in Madhya Pradesh have made claims and counter claims saying their candidate bagged more votes from 14 legislators belonging to other parties and independents.
Hanjoora becomes J&K’s Upper House Chairman
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : The Upper House of the state legislature today elected PDP Member Ghulam Nabi Lone (Hanjoora) a consensus nominee of coalition candidate as Legislative Council Chairman, while the National Conference members stood out from the election.
Ashok Sharma of Congress moved the motion proposing Lone as the chairman of the J&K Legislative Council, while Ved Prakash Gupta seconded the motion.
Jharkhand minister seeks voluntary retirement
By IANS
Ranchi : Unhappy with the performance of the state government, a Jharkhand minister has sought voluntary retirement.
Bhanu Pratap Shahi, the health minister of Jharkhand, offered his voluntary retirement to Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Thursday while attending a dinner after the presidential polls.
Lambasting his own government, Shahi told reporters: "The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has done nothing significant in its ten-month rule.
CPI-M defends Patil after presidential poll
By IANS
New Delhi : After keeping silent throughout the month-long presidential poll campaign marked by mudslinging, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has come out in defence of Pratibha Patil, who is set to become the country's first woman president.
Sonia consults Mayawati on vice president, Left roots for Ansari
By IANS
New Delhi : Left nominee for vice president former diplomat Hamid Ansari was one of the candidates whose names were sent by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Friday for evolving a consensus on the issue.
Mayawati, also Uttar Pradesh chief minister, said Gandhi had suggested "a few names" for the post of vice president for her party's consideration.
Governor turns down bill to curb panchayat powers in Karnataka
By IANS
Bangalore : Karnataka's move to curb the powers of gram panchayats (village governing councils) has been shot down by Governor T.N. Chaturvedi with a stinging criticism that the step is uncalled for.
In an unusually long message to the state legislature, while returning the bill to amend the Karnataka Panchayat Raj act, the governor said he wanted the legislators "to reconsider the need, propriety, timeliness and relevance of the bill."
Left sources indicated that the nominee of V.P. could be a Muslim and a...
By IANS
New Delhi : The Congress Friday made contact with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to firm up the selection of a candidate for vice president, a day after MPs and legislators across the country voted for a new head of state.
Mayawati, also the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief, said that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi has suggested "a few names" for her party's consideration to the post of vice president.
Mountbatten considered Indian partition ‘crazy’, ‘unworkable’
By IANS
New Delhi : Lord Mountbatten considered the 1947 partition of India a "crazy" and "unworkable" idea and was disappointed that Pakistan did not make him its governor general after independence, his daughter says.
Lady Pamela Hicks told the "India Tonight" programme on CNBC to be broadcast Monday night that her father was aghast that the sub-continent had to be broken up into India and Pakistan, with the latter in two parts.
Chhattisgarh BJP legislators revolt against chief minister
By IANS
Raipur : As many as 22 legislators of Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have stepped up their offensive against Chief Minister Raman Singh with seven of them leaving for New Delhi to brief the party leadership about their grievances.
The rebel campaign is being led by senior tribal leader Nankiram Kanwar, who was dropped from the council of ministers on July 2 by Raman Singh in a cabinet reshuffle.
Azad says NC’s vote for Patil shows its wisdom
‘If you have list of corrupt people hand it over to proper forum’: CM
News Agency of Kashmir
Â
Srinagar : Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today welcomed the decision of National Conference to vote for UPA candidate for President’s post, Mrs. Pratibha Patil, saying it showed the wisdom of the State’s major opposition party.
Five MPs abstain, three Samajwadi Party MPs vote
By IANS
New Delhi : Sultan Asaduddin Owaisi, the sole MP of the Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) that is part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) did not cast his vote for the presidential election Thursday, while some Samajwadi Party members defied party orders and cast their votes.
The MIM had recently objected to certain remarks attributed to UPA candidate Pratibha Patil.
Airlines ferrying ballot boxes told to be punctual
By IANS
New Delhi : The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed all airlines bringing ballot boxes of the presidential elections from state capitals to New Delhi Friday to stick to their flight schedules.
All the officers on duty will be returning by Executive Class and their seats have been blocked so that they are able to keep the ballot boxes in the adjacent seat in keeping with Election Commission directives.
Poll panel note created confusion: Jayalalitha
By IANS
Chennai : AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha said a note by the Election Commission created confusion among MPs and legislators of her party, who voted in the president election Thursday despite her earlier announcement that they would abstain.
Except for Jayalalitha herself, all 59 MLAs of her party in Tamil Nadu, along with six of its ally, Vaiko's MDMK, voted in the election to choose India's 13th president.
23 Congress legislators in Chhattisgarh suspended
By IANS
Raipur : As many as 23 members of the Chhattisgarh's opposition Congress party were suspended from the state assembly Thursday, the concluding day of the monsoon session, after they rushed to the speaker's podium pressing a demand to probe the death of three school kids.
Amarinder Singh visits former media adviser in prison
By IANS
Patiala (Punjab) : Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh Wednesday visited his ex-media adviser Bharat Inder Singh Chahal in the Patiala prison here and warned the ruling Akali Dal not to indulge in political vendetta.
"If they (Akalis) think they can go on like this, they are mistaken. When our government returns to power, we will ensure that we don't spare anyone either," a visibly upset Singh told reporters.
Trinamool to abstain from voting in presidential election
By IANS
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress Wednesday decided to abstain from voting in Thursday's presidential election since their preferred candidate A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was not given nomination to contest the poll.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee told reporters after a meeting of her party leaders and legislators here that her party would not vote either in favour of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominated candidate Pratibha Patil or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Patil gets more support, cross voting worries BJP
By IANS
New Delhi : On the eve of the presidential election, ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pratibha Patil Wednesday received unexpected support from the National Conference, brightening her chances to become India's first woman president.
Jailed Shahabuddin allowed voting in presidential poll
By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Wednesday granted permission to jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammed Shahabuddin to cast his vote in the presidential poll Thursday.
Acceding to an urgent plea made by Shahabuddin, lodged in the district jail of Siwan in Bihar, a bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan directed the district and jail authorities to escort him in custody to the Bihar assembly in Patna to enable him cast his vote in the election.
Pratibha Patil plays family card in MP for garnering BJP MLAs’ votes
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : A meeting of Madhya Pradesh Congress legislatures was held here on Wednesday in the State Vidhan Sabha premises to chalk out a strategy for the polling in the presidential election tomorrow.
Legislators set up vegetable shop in assembly premises
By IANS
Hyderabad : In a novel protest against price rise in the state, legislators of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Wednesday set up a vegetable shop inside the premises of the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly.
Women legislators of the party sold various types of vegetables at the makeshift shop while other legislators of the party purchased them. The prices of the vegetables were displayed prominently to highlight the government's failure to control price rise.
Kerala set to give thumbs up to Pratibha Patil
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala is all set for the presidential poll to be held Thursday and almost all votes from the state are likely to go to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil.
Polling will take place in the Kerala Assembly building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. State assembly secretary N. Jayakumar Wednesday said that all arrangements were in place for the poll.
Cross voting in presidential poll worries BJP
By IANS
Bhopal : With 18 ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in Madhya Pradesh staying away from a meet to discuss the presidential polls, the party is worried that some of its members may vote for rival United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil.
The BJP is contemplating issuing notices to the legislators who remained absent from the Tuesday night meeting at the chief ministers house.
India to elect a new president Thursday
By Liz Mathew, IANS
New Delhi : Around 4,500 MPs and state legislators are eligible to vote Thursday to elect India's 13th president to succeed the popular A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, even as some are expected to boycott the election that is tipped to catapult a woman into Rashtrapati Bhavan for the first time.
JKNC to support Patil for President; EC clarifies parties can boycott elections
Poll panel turns down BJP argument on third front abstaining
Declaring presidential poll winner an intricate task
CPI for ‘redefining’ Left’s approach to UPA
No mobiles for MPs, MLAs while casting presidential vote
Andhra Congress legislator postpones fast
Nitish government will fall by Oct 28: Lalu
After mudslinging, India set for presidential poll
Pratibha Patil meets Delhi legislators
Farooq Abdullah defers decision to join Third Front
Third Front to put up candidate for vice president
Ballot boxes for presidential poll will travel on separate seats
BJP has hard time keeping flock together for presidential poll
Karnataka chief minister meets Third Front leaders
‘CBI must interrogate Pratibha Patil before presidential poll’
Army disposal jeep, only movable property of Shekhawat
Pratibha Patil swears by secularism
Vajpayee, Fernandes appeal to back Shekhawat
CPI-M opposes India’s military ties with US
Opposition boycotts Bihar assembly over law and order
Soren wants to vote in presidential election
Delimitation Commission’s term extended by another year
Nitish Kumar threatens to quit after NDA criticism
UNPA to meet to resolve differences on presidential nominee
BJP MP Moghe disqualified
Row over brawl involving Andhra chief minister’s brother continues
Congress seeks to clarify numbers in presidential poll
Hearing on Pratibha Patil husband’s plea put off
Nagpur : The Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench Thursday deferred by two weeks hearing on a petition of UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil's husband Devisingh Shekhawat challenging a sessions court's decision against him in a case of abetting suicide.
Rs.2.1 million spent to celebrate minister’s cabinet re-induction
Raipur : A group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and steel industrialists have spent over Rs.2.1 million on advertisements since July 2 to celebrate the re-induction of a minister in Chhattisgarh's BJP government that came to power in December 2003.
BJP wants FIR against UPA ministers for violating campaign code
Ranchi : The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has sent a petition to the Election Commission (EC) of India seeking action against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ministers, including Lalu Prasad, for allegedly violating the model code of conduct while campaigning for Pratibha Patil.
Pratibha Patil to visit Assam for votes
Guwahati : Presidential nominee of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Pratibha Patil is arriving in Assam on a day-long visit Friday to drum up support for election to the country's highest office.
Patil campaigns in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
Bhopal/Raipur : Pratibha Patil, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee, Wednesday asked Congress legislators in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to vote for her in the July 19 election, saying it would be a "victory of crores of people and not mine if I am elected".
Jaitley heads for Uttar Pradesh to set BJP house in order
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Arun Jaitley is going to Lucknow to hold his first meeting July 21 with party legislators in Uttar Pradesh after assuming charge of the state.
Pratibha Patil appeals to elect a woman as India’s President to create history
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Bhopal : Mrs. Pratibha Patil, the presidential candidate of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, (UPA), while braving a series of allegations against her, has appealed to her voters to ensure that India creates history in the July 19 Presidential elections by electing a woman to the highest office.
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They’re bugging my phone – Sushma
New Delhi : Sushma Swaraj, leading the opposition presidential election campaign for vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, says her telephone is being tapped.
Gloves off in presidential campaign: BJP makes phone-tap charges
New Delhi : The war of words between the Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reached a higher decibel Wednesday with the latter accusing the government of tapping one of its leader's telephones and the so-far-reticent Congress launching a scathing counter-attack.
Will Shekhawat be house hunting soon?
New Delhi : After finding a post-retirement residence in the capital for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the government might soon find itself looking for a house for Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat - a task it will be doing after almost three decades.
Apex court stalls action in case against Jayalalitha
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Tuesday suspended a case of electoral malpractice registered against former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha by the Election Commission.
Jaitley launches website against Pratibha Patil
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday intensified its campaign against Pratibha Patil, launching a website and releasing a booklet on its allegations on the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate.
CPI-M publications should work within party ideology: Karat
New Delhi : Questioning the decision of its Malayalam mouthpiece Deshabhimani to get financial support from a person of "dubious" reputation, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary has urged party publications to work within the framework of communist ideology and principles.
Kalam gets flak for remarks on politicians
New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's comment that people were looking to the judiciary as their only hope has been criticised as unbecoming and improper by politicians of both the Congress and the opposition BJP.
Vice presidential election on Aug 10
New Delhi : The election for the post of vice president will be held on Aug 10.
The last date for nominations is July 23 and the papers will be scrutinised the next day, according to an official notification Monday.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations is July 26.
Chandra Shekhar cremated with full honours
New Delhi : The body of Chandra Shekhar, who rose from an impoverished childhood to become India's prime minister, was Monday consigned to flames on the banks of the Yamuna river near Rajghat at a state funeral attended by the nation's political elite, socialist comrades-in-arms and hundreds of loyal followers of an essentially lonely politician.
National mourning halts campaign
New Delhi : The campaign for the presidential poll took a break Monday with major political parties calling off their programmes following the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar.
Poll panel files petition against Jayalalitha
Chennai : The Election Commission Monday filed a petition in a Tamil Nadu court against AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha for filing nominations from more than two constituencies in the 2001 assembly elections in the state.
Chandra Shekhar, former PM, cremated with full honours
New Delhi : The body of Chandra Shekhar, the man who rose from an impoverished childhood to become prime minister of India, was Monday consigned to the flames on the banks of the Yamuna near Rajghat - a cremation attended by the nation's political elite, socialist comrade-in-arms and hundreds of loyal followers of an essentially lonely politician.
Chhattisgarh assembly pays tributes to Chandra Shekhar
Raipur : The Chhattisgarh assembly Monday paid rich tributes to former prime minister Chandra Shekhar who died in New Delhi Sunday.
CPI-M to protest UPA policies, support to continue
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is unhappy with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government and its policies, but it does not plan to withdraw support to it as it would "only help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the rightwing forces," says a party document.
Ministers doll up houses in impoverished Jharkhand
Ranchi : Economically backward Jharkhand may be struggling to fulfil the basic needs of those 54 percent of its population who live below the poverty line, but ministers are busy blowing up millions on renovating their official homes.
Kalam to leave personal touch as he moves out
New Delhi : With barely two weeks to go before he leaves the presidential palace, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has planned a special farewell party for the Rashtrapati Bhavan staff - the first such gesture from a president. `
Old comrades, diehard socialists pay last homage to Chandra Shekhar
New Delhi : There was no mass mourning or emotional hysteria. The mood was sombre and the crowds rather thin.
High court defers hearing on plea against Patil
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Monday deferred till Sep 24 the hearing of a petition asking the Election Commission to cancel the nomination papers of United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) presidential nominee Pratibha Patil.
Kerala assembly adjourns after tributes to Chandra Shekhar
Thiruvananthapuram : The Kerala assembly was adjourned Monday after condoling the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar.
Mamata wishes Basu on his birthday
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee late Sunday met communist patriarch and former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, who turned 94, and wished him good health.
State funeral for Chandra Shekhar, cabinet condoles death
New Delhi : The union cabinet Sunday condoled the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar who would be cremated with full state honours near Rajghat Monday.
Presidential poll: legislators can vote from other states
New Delhi : Legislators of a state, unable to cast their votes for the July 19 presidential election in their state assembly or parliament, can exercise their franchise in other state assemblies too, the Election Commission said Sunday.
Former PM Chandra Shekhar dead; had appointed Manmohan as adviser
New Delhi : Chandra Shekhar, India's 8th (Eds: correct) prime minister who headed a shaky minority government for just seven months in 1990-91 but remained one of the country's most respected politicians, died here Sunday morning after a long battle against bone cancer. He died a week after his 80th birthday.
Chandra Shekhar to be cremated near Rajghat
New Delhi : Former prime minister Chandra Shekhar will be accorded a state funeral Monday with his cremation slated to take place near Rajghat next to the memorials to former presidents Zail Singh, Shankar Dayal Sharma and K.R. Narayanan on the banks of the river Yamuna.
Tamil Nadu leaders condole Chandra Shekhar’s death
Chennai : Political leaders in Tamil Nadu Sunday condoled the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, saying it was a "mammoth loss to the nation".
Chandra Shekhar brought Singh into government for first time
New Delhi : It is a little known fact that before then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao brought Manmohan Singh into the cabinet as finance minister in 1991, it was his predecessor Chandra Shekhar who inducted him into the administration as his economic adviser a year earlier.
Kalam condoles death of Chandra Shekhar
New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Sunday condoled the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar saying the country had lost a personality who contributed to nation building.
Former PM Chandra Shekhar dies; had appointed Manmohan as adviser
New Delhi : Chandra Shekhar, India's 8th (Eds: correct) prime minister who headed a wobbly coalition government for just seven months in 1990-91 but remained one of the country's most respected politicians, died here Sunday morning after a long battle against bone cancer. He was 80.
Uma Bharati to protest canal project, police slaps case
Tiruchirapally : Bharatiya Janashakti Party leader Uma Bharati has announced plans to lead a march from Rameswaram to Ayodhya to protest a canal project that could destroy the Ram Setu or Adam's Bridge in south India.
Former PMs and friends pay tribute to Chandra Shekhar
New Delhi : The tributes were rich and heartfelt Sunday as leaders across the political spectrum condoled the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar and expressed their anguish over a void that would be "difficult to fill".
Jyoti Basu turns 94, urges opposition to back industrialisation
Kolkata : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu turned 94 Sunday and urged the opposition at a function here to back the state government's industrialisation policy, saying what the Left government was doing was "not bad after all".
Uma Bharti plans march to protest canal project
Tiruchirapally : Bharatiya Janashakti Party leader Uma Bharti has said she will lead a march from Rameswaram to Ayodhya demanding that the Ram Setu or Adam's Bridge in south India be protected and given heritage status.
An angry young man of politics till the end
New Delhi : Chandra Shekhar, who was a committed socialist and a rebel all through his life, became prime minister in 1990 by conspiring against the very government he had helped to form the previous year.
Patil in Kashmir, Azad assures full support
Srinagar : Pratibha Patil, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee, visited Jammu and Kashmir Saturday as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad pledged full support to her.
Pratibha Patil in Chandigarh to meet legislators
Chandigarh : Pratibha Patil, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee, arrived in Chandigarh Saturday afternoon to meet legislators and MPs from Punjab and Haryana ahead of the July 19 election.
NDA demands probe into Patil’s ‘misuse’ of MPLAD funds
Presidential campaign gets murkier, BJP targets ‘foreigner’ Sonia
New Delhi : Even as ruling alliance presidential candidate Pratibha Patil Saturday visited Jammu and Kashmir for campaigning, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin.
My election will be a victory of citizens: Patil
Hyderabad : Pratibha Patil, presidential candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Friday said her election to the highest office of the country would be a victory of "crores of citizens of the country".
Tough times for NDA as Shekhawat suffers day of setbacks
New Delhi : The opposition National Democratic Alliance's hopes of giving ruling alliance nominee Pratibha Patil a tough fight in the presidential poll received a double jolt Friday - from the Election Commission and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Vajpayee targets nuclear task force, slams US’ Hyde Act
New Delhi : Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Friday charged that the government's decision to set up a task force on non-proliferation was aimed at "bringing India's policies in conformity with the Hyde Act" passed by the US Congress and which would impact upon New Delhi's freedom to conduct a nuclear test.
Come clean on charges, Congress tells Shekhawat
New Delhi : In a counter-attack, the ruling Congress Friday asked Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is fighting the presidential poll as an independent backed by the opposition, to come clean on the "serious allegations" in the media against him.
It’s getting tougher for Shekhawat, Patil dismisses charges
New Delhi : The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Friday seemed to be losing hope of giving a tough fight to ruling alliance nominee Pratibha Patil in the presidential poll even as she dismissed the charges against her as attempts to malign her.
Mulayam says no to Shekhawat, Shiv Sena adamant on Patil
New Delhi : Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is contesting for president as an independent backed by the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), received a jolt Friday as the Samajwadi Party declined to support him in the July 19 election.
House adjourned over contradictory statements on Tata land
Thiruvananthapuram : The Kerala assembly was adjourned Friday when the opposition Congress asked Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to pinpoint the location of the 1,280 acres in Munnar that the government claimed to have recovered from the Tata group.
Indian Vice Presidential poll on August 10
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : The election for the post of Vice President will be held on August 10 to elect a successor to incumbent Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
The election will be held close on the heels of the Presidential poll on July 19 in which Shekhawat is locked up in a straight fight with UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil.
According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the notification for the Vice Presidential poll would be issued on July 9.
Kerala promises Pratibha Patil 100 percent votes
Thiruvananthapuram : The ruling Left in Kerala and the Congress Thursday set aside their rivalry to support Pratibha Patil, assuring her of 100 percent votes from the state in the July 19 presidential poll.
Patil’s the right choice: PM
New Delhi : Dismissing again all charges against Pratibha Patil as "unsubstantiated", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate was the "right choice" and an "outstanding candidate".
BJP persists with charges as Patil visits southern states
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram : Ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pratibha Patil arrived in Kerala Thursday as part of her cross-country campaign to become India's first woman president even while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued to insist that she was unfit to occupy the nation's highest post.
Vice presidential election Aug 10
New Delhi : Election to the vice president's post will be held on Aug 10, the Election Commission announced Thursday.
BJP’s campaign against Patil demeaning: CPI-M
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) says the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stooped to a new low with its "mudslinging" against Pratibha Patil, the ruling United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) presidential nominee.