NDA still undecided on support for Kalam
New Delhi : The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Thursday kept the newly-formed third front in suspense after it declined to come out in support of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second term and also did not commit itself on the candidature of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Congress orders probe into Sonia poster as Durga
New Delhi : The Congress Thursday took strong exception to a poster showing party president Sonia Gandhi as goddess Durga in the party office in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, and has ordered an inquiry.
Left Front should be empowered in districts: Basu
Kolkata : Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) patriarch and former West Bengal chief minister Joyti Basu Thursday urged his party workers to consolidate the Left Front's base at the district level.
Congress discusses presidential poll strategy
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday discussed the party's strategy for the coming presidential elections with members of the Congress Working Committee, party chief ministers and other leaders.
Sonia as Durga in poster, Hindu groups angry
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) : A poster depicting Congress party president Sonia Gandhi as goddess Durga has angered Hindu groups, who have termed it "derogatory".
Karunanidhi criticises Jaya for not meeting Kalam
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Thursday termed as "indecent" AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalitha's failure to turn up for an appointment of the third front with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to invite him to seek re-election.
Maharashtra BJP meets amid Shiv Sena assertion
Nagpur : A crucial two-day meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Maharashtra unit executive committee begins here Friday amid claims by its ally Shiv Sena of going it alone in the next assembly elections.
Kalam candidature rejected by Left and other parties
New Delhi : Attempts to mobilise support for a second term for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam received a jolt Thursday with the Left and heavyweight Nationalist Congress Party dismissing the idea and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad advising Kalam to "quit gracefully".
Patil resigns as Rajasthan governor
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, presidential candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left-Bahujan Samaj Party combine, Thursday submitted her resignation as Rajasthan governor.
CPI-M rejects Third Front plea to support Kalam
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday rejected the proposal by the regional United New Progressive Alliance (UNPA) to support President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second term in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Actress Vani Tripathi turns to politics
New Delhi : Popular television actress Vani Tripathi has taken to politics seriously and has become the national secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) youth wing. The TV star believes she had the "courage" to join the political system instead of just being a critic.
30 years later, Jyoti Basu is active at 94
Kolkata : As the Left Front celebrates a record breaking three decades in power in West Bengal, the man who was at the helm for over a quarter century is still in demand: the irrepressible Jyoti Basu.
Kalam says ‘maybe’ in battle for presidency
New Delhi : Incumbent president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam threw a spanner in the works of the presidential elections Wednesday indicating he might contest a second term if there was consensus around him - and give it a "few days" to develop - but he was rebuffed by the ruling UPA.
Kalam’s polite ‘no’ to second term
New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Wednesday virtually rejected a plea to contest for a second five-year term, saying he will not fight the presidential poll unless all political parties backed him.
Left Front completes 30 years battling crisis of identity
Kolkata : West Bengal's Communist government completes a remarkable 30 long years in office with a dramatic ideological U-turn over promoting industry that has left its legion of supporters stunned.
Congress enters channel war in Kerala with Jai Hind
New Delhi : Hoping to cash in on the television boom and its potential as a political tool, the Congress is joining Kerala's intensifying channel war with its first endeavour - Jai Hind.
UPA-Left sets in motion Pratibha Patil nomination for presidential poll
Third Front leaders to meet Kalam on re-election
New Delhi : Leaders of regional parties who have formed the United New Progressive Alliance (UNPA) are slated to meet President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam here Wednesday afternoon to formally request him to stand for re-election.
BJP is insulting Kalam: Lalu
Patna : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was only "insulting" President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in suggesting his candidature while it knows well that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil has a clear edge, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said Tuesday.
CPI-M against second term for Kalam
Hyderabad : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday ruled out supporting the Third Front's suggestion of a second term for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
If consensus is for Kalam, BJP will support him: Rajnath
Raipur : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Tuesday said that if political parties evolve a consensus on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second term, his party would support him.
Will decide on June 25 on president: Thackeray
Mumbai : Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Tuesday evening said the party would decide on June 25 on whom to support for the presidential elections, but ruled out supporting President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose name is being proposed by the third front as its nominee.
Karunanidhi flays newly formed front for comment on Patil
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Tuesday flayed the newly formed United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), saying that AIADMK chief Jayalalitha's reference to UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil "as a joke on the nation" was in bad taste.
Kalam not to contest presidential polls
New Delhi : The presidential race Tuesday appeared to have narrowed down to a straight contest - between United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil and National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-supported independent Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's office signalling his disinterest in a second term.
M.M. Jacob, R.K. Dhawan nominated to CWC
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday nominated former Meghalaya governor M.M. Jacob and senior party leader R.K. Dhawan as permanent invitees to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the apex decision making body of the ruling party.
Kerala opposition’s unique protest over fever deaths
Thiruvananthapuram : Members of the Congress-led opposition in Kerala Tuesday remained glued to their seats in the assembly even after it was adjourned - to protest against a raging fever that has killed 76 people.
Mayawati’s sermons to party legislators
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has been repeatedly issuing sermons to her party legislators to maintain discipline or else face the music.
Achuthanandan plans sops for Keralite diaspora
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Tuesday said that the state government is working out a slew of programmes for the welfare of non-resident Keralites (NRKs).
Birthday boy Rahul stays away, Congress workers celebrate
New Delhi : While birthday boy Rahul Gandhi was incommunicado, Congress workers celebrated the day Tuesday by distributing notebooks and clothes to the poor, and organising blood donation camps and even a wrestling competition!
Pressure on Kalam to seek second term
New Delhi : Pressure seems to be mounting on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to run for a second term, with sections of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also joining the 'Third Front' clamour for his continuation as the country's head of state.
J& K Cabinet to meet today: Major reshuffle in civil, police departments likely
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : The state cabinet is scheduled to meet tomorrow under the chairmanship of chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reliable sources told News Agency of Kashmir that the meeting besides discussing routine agenda would also order some major reshuffle in civil and police administration.
"Some important transfers in police and civil administration were expected to be ordered in the meeting", one of the cabinet Minster told NAK, on the condition of anonymity.
Punjab police seek warrant against Dera chief
Bathinda (Punjab) : The Punjab police Monday sought an arrest warrant against Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh on the charge of hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
Shekhawat prefers consensus on Kalam, meets Vajpayee
No comment from Kalam on candidature
New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam made no comment on the eight-party Third Front's announcement Monday that it will try to convince him to be their candidate for the presidential polls.
I will be glad if Kalam is consensus candidate: Shekhawat
New Delhi : Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, named presidential candidate by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said Monday evening that he would be glad if President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a consensus candidate.
Andhra Congress questions Naidu’s ‘Sivaji’ fixation
Hyderabad : The ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh Monday questioned Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's motive behind urging his party members to watch Tamil superstar Rajnikant's latest blockbuster "Sivaji: The boss".
Shekhawat gets NDA backing, Third Front roots for Kalam
New Delhi/Chennai : The battle for India's presidency intensified Monday with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announcing its formal support to Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and an eight-party front urging political parties to give President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam another five-year tenure.
NDA sans Shiv Sena declares support for Shekhawat
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Monday announced its support to Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who will be an independent in the July presidential election, but NDA ally Shiv Sena was not on board with the decision.
Rajnath to take stock of Chhattisgarh government’s performance
Raipur : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh is arriving here Tuesday to take stock of the Chhattisgarh government's performance and draw up a strategy for the next year's state assembly elections
Third Front to persuade Kalam to bid for second tenure
Chennai : The battle for India's top constitutional post intensified Monday with the newly formed eight-party regional group announcing its support to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second term.
Left keen on vice president’s post
New Delhi : Even as a contest is on for the post of India's president, Left parties are making guarded moves to see if Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee can become the vice-president to succeed Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
‘Third Front’ wants Kalam re-elected, seeks support
Chennai : Hours after Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat announced Monday his candidature for the presidential poll as an independent, a newly formed alliance of eight parties said it wanted President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to get another five-year term and sought all-party backing for the move.
Third Front pitches for Kalam
Chennai : The Third Front of eight political parties Monday urged President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to continue as the country's head of state for another five years.
NDA supports Shekhawat, Shiv Sena undecided
New Delhi : The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Monday formally decided to back Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the presidential elections as a "non-party independent candidate".
Kerala assembly session likely to be stormy
Thiruvananthapuram : The Kerala assembly session beginning Tuesday is likely to be stormy with the Congress-led opposition taking on the government over a variety of issues ranging from encroachment to health issues.
Panthers Party withdraws support from Coalition in Kashmir
Jammu : Panther's Party today withdrew its support for the Congress-led coalition in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the government failed to settle down various issues of common masses including some important one like  of refugees.
The decision to this effect was taken in a delegate session called by
the party at Jammu today.
Army rule-out troop’s reduction in J&K
Pratibha Patil likely to file nomination on June 23
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, presidential candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties, is likely to file her nomination papers on June 23.
Pratibha Patil to file nomination on June 23
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, presidential candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties, will file her nomination papers on June 23.
As Patil gets busy, NDA not very hopeful
New Delhi : The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) pledged Sunday to formally field Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Monday in the presidential elections amid growing signs that his supporters were no more sure of his victory against the ruling coalition's Pratibha Patil.
Samajwadi Party undecided over presidential poll
New Delhi : Unable to decide its stance on the upcoming presidential election, the Samajwadi Party Sunday authorised its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to take a final decision, even as it claimed that it was "born not only to fight communal forces but also to eradicate these from the political scene".
Panthers Party pulls out of Kashmir coalition
Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh Sunday withdrew support to the Congress-led coalition government in the state alleging partial behaviour towards the Jammu region.
UAE Indians hail Pratibha Patil’s candidature
Dubai : Indian expatriates in the UAE have welcomed the nomination of Pratibha Patil as the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate, saying the move will boost the country's image.
In Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kalam was a man of change
Liz Mathew
IANS
New Delhi : As he prepares to vacate Rashtrapati Bhavan next month, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will leave behind his distinctive stamp in the way he has brought in innovations and changed the style of functioning of the presidential palace - something which none of his predecessors had done.
AIADMK not to support Pratibha Patil
Chennai : The AIADMK will not support Pratibha Patil, the Congress nominee for the presidential election, party chief J. Jayalalitha said Saturday.
I will not be a rubber stamp: Pratibha Patil
New Delhi : Asserting her own individuality, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate Pratibha Patil Saturday dismissed apprehensions of her becoming a mere figurehead if elected president as she kicked off her campaign in right earnest.
Pratibha Patil kicks off presidential campaign
New Delhi : Kicking off her presidential campaign in right earnest, ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil Saturday met top leaders of the coalition, even as efforts were underway to get other parties to support her for the July 19 polls.
Crucial CPI-M meet begins in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram : The top brass of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) began its meeting here Saturday, the first since the suspension of Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan from the party's politburo over their public row last month.
Election Commission issues notification for presidential polls
New Delhi : The race for India's next president formally kicked off Saturday with the Election Commission issuing a notification for the July 19 election.
Bihar minister apologises for pushing woman
Patna : Bihar's Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Saturday apologised for pushing an elderly woman in Bhagalpur district when she went up to him to ask for a job, a day after he vehemently denied the allegation.
Pratibha Patil in Delhi, meets Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate for president, arrived in Delhi Saturday to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and held discussions with her in the run-up to the July 19 election.
Pratibha Patil will make a good president: ex-colleague
Kochi : Wincy Chacko, 80, who had worked for several years with Pratibha Patil when both were with the Maharastra Congress in the 1970s, feels she would make a good president if elected as "she is down-to-earth and has no airs".
Divide in NDA over presidential candidate
New Delhi : With key partner, Shiv Sena, appearing to be favourably inclined towards the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate Pratibha Patil, a split appears likely in the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
‘Fantastic’, says Kalam of Pratibha Patil’s candidature
Nagpur : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Friday described as "fantastic" the choice of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as the United Progressive Alliance presidential candidate.
New front candidate wins Malegaon mayoral polls
Malegaon (Maharashtra) : Mayoral elections in the sensitive power-loom town of Malegaon Friday saw a newly created political outfit Teesra Mahaaj (third front) winning the post of mayor while the Congress won the deputy mayor's post.
Patil prepares for presidential elections
New Delhi : A triangular fight for the job of India's president loomed Friday - a day after United Progressive Alliance (UPA) named Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as its surprise candidate, upsetting opposition calculations.
Kanimozhi tipped to be central minister
New Delhi : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi is likely to be inducted into the union council of ministers as a minister of state.
Pratibha Patil does husband’s ancestral village proud
By Anil Sharma
IANSSikar (Rajasthan) : A village here burst into celebrations when it heard of state Governor Pratibha Devisingh Patil's candidature for presidency. For, the residents of Chota Losal, she is its daughter-in-law.
Left finally has its say on a major political issue
By M.R. Narayan Swamy
IANSNew Delhi : The Indian Left has scored its biggest political victory in three years by vetoing Home Minister Shivraj Patil's candidature and paving the way for Pratibha Patil to become the country's president because it knew the Congress party could not afford to ignore its wish list.
Pratibha Patil is Vidarbha’s daughter-in-law
By Shyam Pandharipande
IANSNagpur : Even as it received outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with its characteristic warmth Saturday, Maharashtra's Vidarbha region had yet another reason to rejoice - the nomination of its daughter-in-law Pratibha Patil for India's highest office by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Pratibha Patil expected to break the jinx
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, the candidate of India's ruling coalition and its allies, will be the fourth woman to contest the presidential elections and the first who is expected to win.
Pratibha Patil set to be India’s first woman president
New Delhi : India looked set to have its first woman president in Pratibha Patil - Rajasthan governor, social worker and a respected Congress politician - after an adamant Left Thursday refused to back Home Minister Shivraj Patil's candidature.
BJP rejects Congress appeal on presidential election
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday night rejected an appeal by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to support United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil for president.
Left welcomes Pratibha Patil’s candidature, BJP terms it ‘desperate’
New Delhi : The Left parties Thursday welcomed the United Progressive Alliance's choice of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as its presidential candidate while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed it a "desperate choice with the Congress party succumbing to Left pressure".
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2007
By TwoCircles.net news desk
 The election to the Office of the President, to be held in the next month, will be the thirteenth of its kind. The earlier elections to this office were held in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002.Â
I had never thought of it: Pratibha Patil
Jaipur : Pratibha Patil, the consensus candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and its Left allies for India's next president, said Thursday it was "a proud moment" and that she had got a hint of her candidature only in the afternoon.
I got a hint only in the afternoon: Pratibha Patil
Jaipur : Pratibha Patil, the consensus candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and its Left allies for India's next president, said Thursday she was "honoured" to be chosen as the nominee, adding that she had been in the dark till the afternoon.
Pratibha Patil set to be India’s first woman president
New Delhi : India looked set to have its first woman president in Pratibha Patil - Rajasthan governor, social worker and a respected Congress politician - after an adamant Left Thursday refused to back Home Minister Shivraj Patil's candidature.
Pratibha Patil: From ping-pong to presidential palace
Jaipur : Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Devisingh Patil was a table tennis champion who studied law before taking to politics to build a career that is set to catapult her into Rashtrapati Bhavan as India's first woman president.
India appears set to get first woman president
New Delhi : India's ruling coalition announced Thursday it was giving the country its first woman president by declaring the candidature of Pratibha Patil, the Rajasthan governor but not a high profile politician, after an adamant Left refused to back Home Minister Shivraj Patil's candidature.
Sonia announces Pratibha Patil as UPA candidate for president
New Delhi : Rajasthan Governor and veteran Congress leader from Maharashtra Pratibha Patil was proposed as the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA)'s candidate for the presidential post, paving the way for her to be India's first woman head of state.
Contrasting vote values of presidential polls
New Delhi : Legislators of all 30 Indian states comprise the electoral college voting for a president, but they all are not equal. While a Sikkim legislator's vote is counted as seven votes, an MLA from India's largest state Uttar Pradesh has a vote value of 208.
Karan Singh ‘available’ for presidential post
New Delhi : Amid rumours that his was one of the names in the Congress list as a possible contender for the presidential post, senior Congress leader Karan Singh met DMK chief M. Karunanidhi here Thursday.
Left lonely as DMK also backs Congress nominee
New Delhi : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Thursday declared his support to a Congress candidate for presidential elections, leaving the Left isolated over its reservations against Home Minister Shivraj Patil, widely believed to be the ruling party's preferred choice.
UPA struggles for consensus over presidential candidate
New Delhi : Unable to reach a consensus over a candidate even after the announcement of presidential elections, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is banking on a crucial meeting Thursday between the Left and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to resolve the impasse.
In Chhattisgarh, BJP has reason to smile again
By Sujeet Kumar
IANSRaipur : Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had almost lost hope of retaining power next year after losses in assembly and Lok Sabha by-polls. But things are suddenly looking up.
Muslim party seems destined to sit in opposition
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Malegaon : As the time for elections to the posts of mayor, deputy mayor, etc. slated for Friday is coming nigh, the Indian Muslim Congress Party, a new party floated by Ulama and Muslim community leaders in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Maharashtra - which emerged as the single largest party winning 26 seats in the 72-member Malegaon Municipal Corporation - now finds it difficult to democratically capture the civic body. And the only option left with the IMCP now seems to be sitting in the opposition.
Suspense continues over presidential candidate, Karunanidhi meets PM
New Delhi : Suspense continued over the presidential candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) as DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi suggested two to three names to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their meeting late Wednesday night, ahead of his meeting with Left leaders Thursday.
Pranab scotches rumours of candidature for president
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday clarified that he was not a contestant for the presidential election next month, even as a fresh round of speculations started over his possible candidature.
Apex court dismisses petition against Mayawati
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the appointment of Mayawati as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh without her resigning from the Rajya Sabha, and held there is no bar on an MP being appointed as chief minister.
Presidential poll on July 19, UPA still has no candidate
New Delhi : Nominations open Saturday to elect a new Indian president July 19, it was announced Wednesday, but the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is still undecided on who its candidate would be.
CITU asks minister to intervene in Indian strike
New Delhi : The CPI-M affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Wednesday asked Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to meet the "genuine" demands of staffers of the state-run Indian airlines who are on an indefinite strike.
Unwell Karunanidhi defers Delhi visit
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Wednesday postponed his visit to New Delhi where he was to consult his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners over its candidate for presidential elections.
Presidential poll on July 19, counting on 21st
New Delhi : Elections to pick a new Indian president will take place July 19 and the votes will be counted two days after, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said Wednesday.
Presidential race heats up as UPA gets BSP backing
New Delhi : The race for Rasthrapati Bhavan heated up Tuesday with the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) winning the crucial support of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati for its candidate, widely tipped to be Home Minister Shivraj Patil, even as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) held a series of meetings to decide its strategy.
Left not keen on Patil as presidential candidate
New Delhi : Amid signs that Home Minister Shivraj Patil would be the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) presidential candidate, the Left Tuesday appeared to be mounting pressure on the ruling coalition to change its choice.
Mayawati finally backs UPA on presidency, but mum on candidate
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday finally broke her silence and announced her crucial backing to the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the race for presidential elections, but kept the suspense going over the candidate's name which she indicated she knew.
Lalu celebrates, but RJD is bitter
New Delhi : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has celebrated his 60th birthday in great style, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and VVIPs in attendance. But his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is not happy.
BSP to back UPA in presidential poll, says Mayawati
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday announced her crucial support to the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the presidential elections but left the announcement of the candidate's name to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Mayawati says BSP to back UPA in presidential poll
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday announced that her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would support the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the presidential elections next month, but left the announcement of the candidate's name to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
PM, Sonia begin campaign for presidential poll
New Delhi : Hectic parleys took place Monday for evolving a consensus on India's next president as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad. Later, Gandhi had dinner with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.
PM, Sonia attend Lalu’s birthday bash
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and a host of leaders Sunday evening greeted Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad at his residence on his 60th birthday.
UPA, NDA to intensify battle over president
New Delhi : With the Election Commission expected to notify the presidential election this week, both the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have stepped up rival efforts to place their candidate in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Bill on errant judges runs into more trouble
By Rana Ajit
IANSNew Delhi : MPs have once again objected to a bill for setting up an institutional mechanism to discipline errant judges of the Supreme Court and high courts on grounds that it would need an amendment to the constitution and that it would further dilute parliament's power.
Gujjar-Meena conflict was politically motivated: Sachin Pilot
By Faraz Ahmad
IANSNew Delhi : Sachin Pilot, Congress MP from Dausa who is a Gujjar himself, says the Gujjar-Meena conflict in Rajasthan earlier this month was "politically motivated" and "once you politicize the issue....it spins out of control."
RJD to support UPA presidential candidate
New Delhi : The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Sunday said it would support any candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for the presidential elections to be held next month.
Mayawati in Delhi, stays indoors
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, currently in the national capital, remained indoors all of Sunday as she was preoccupied with "personal engagements", said officials of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government.
Suspension of Rajasthan MLAs nothing serious, says BJP
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership Sunday termed reports of suspension of its two party legislators in Rajasthan as "nothing serious" and said the issue would be resolved through discussions.
Rajasthan BJP suspends two Gujjar MLAs
Jaipur : The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan Sunday suspended two of its Gujjar MLAs, who had participated in a community meeting to demand tribal status, for anti-party activities.
Government will last five years with Left support: Mukherjee
New Delhi : Terming criticism from its Left allies as "general impressions", External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee says that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will complete its five-year tenure with communist support.
India can flourish only as centrist democracy: Sonia
Amsterdam : Criticising forces "of bigotry" that threaten "the very essence of India", Congress president Sonia Gandhi said here Saturday that India can "flourish only as a centrist democracy".
Cabinet reshuffle soon: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said he would reshuffle his cabinet soon after the inauguration of a new president.
NDA must support UPA-Left candidate for president: PM
New Delhi : Maintaining that a decision on the presidential candidate will be taken soon by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said the opposition should support that candidate.
PM to intervene for allies’ consensus over next president
New Delhi : The Congress may get Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on board to woo allies to support its presidential candidate, with Home Minister Shivraj Patil appearing to be the party's choice.
Mayawati denies prime ministerial ambition
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday denied media reports that she aspired for the prime ministerial post and said she had "never given any interview" where she had made such a statement.
Patil may be Sonia’s choice, but Left unhappy
By Liz Mathew
IANSNew Delhi : Home Minister Shivraj Patil has emerged as the Congress frontrunner for the presidential post, with the strong backing of party chief Sonia Gandhi. But the Left has serious reservations about him.
Advani, Rajnath may not attend Modi’s bash
By Faraz Ahmed
IANSNew Delhi : Narendra Modi may have become the longest serving Gujarat chief minister, but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Rajnath Singh and L.K. Advani have no plans to attend the planned celebrations.
Dark horse Digambar Kamat gets Goa chief minister’s slot
Panaji : The Congress has chosen Digambar Kamat, the once powerful minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to head its new government in the coastal state of Goa.
Digambar Kamat to be Goa’s new chief minister
New Delhi : Congress leader Digambar Kamat will be sworn in Friday as Goa's new chief minister.
CPI-M accuses UPA of jeopardising food security
New Delhi : In a stinging attack, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of harming the country's food security by pandering to Western capital.
Congress must not compete with BJP for narrow sectarian political goals, warns Dr. Dayal
I wish to rule India one day, says Mayawati
By Sharat Pradhan
IANSLucknow : After creating history by becoming chief minister of the country's largest state for the fourth time, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has set new goals for herself - to rule India some day and build a "casteless society".
Eight-party front: national ambition without national leaders
By Sri Krishna
IANSNew Delhi : The Indian political scenario is getting curiouser and curiouser with the emergence of yet another political front Wednesday.
Karunanidhi hints at Jayalalitha’s expulsion from assembly
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Wednesday said that leader of opposition J. Jayalalitha faces possible disqualification from the state assembly as she had failed to disclose details about her real estate holdings worth Rs.36 million during last year's assembly elections.
Eight regional parties form front, oppose nuke deal
Hyderabad : Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha Wednesday announced the formation of an eight-party political front to provide a "viable alternative" to the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and the opposition National Democratic Alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Kerala’s LDF meet turns stormy
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) meeting turned out to be a stormy affair Wednesday as leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) locked horns over the government's anti-encroachment drive in the hill station of Munnar.
Eight regional parties form new political front
Hyderabad : Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha Wednesday announced the formation of a new eight-party front in Indian politics, as a viable alternative to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance.
Shekhawat not a BJP/NDA candidate: Sushma
How Congress made a comeback in Goa
Panaji : The Congress, along with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has emerged victorious in Goa though it was supposed to have been hit by scams and corruption charges, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that had "expected to do much better" did not.
India gets another political front
Hyderabad : Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha Wednesday announced the formation of a new eight-party front in Indian politics.
Namdhari’s victory widens gap between BJP and JD-U
Ranchi : The result of the by-election in Jharkhand's Daltonganj assembly constituency has sharpened the schism between allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U).
Modi becomes Gujarat’s longest serving chief minister
By Ashish Mehta
IANSGandhinagar : Narendra Modi, who began ruling Gujarat promising to "play as in one-day cricket", has gone on to become the state's longest serving chief minister.
U.T. Khader wins Ullal bye-poll
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Mangalore : U.T. Khader of Congress Party has won the Ullal bye-election by defeating his nearest rival Chandrashekhar Uchil of Bharatiya Janata Party by 8,032 votes, media reports said here Tuesday.
Mayawati jubilant as Taj corridor corruption case dropped
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was jubilant after Governor T.V. Rajeshwar Tuesday refused to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute her on charges of corruption in an ambitious project to build a shopping mall close to the Taj Mahal when she was in power the last time.
Congress wins by-polls in Manipur
Imphal : Manipur's ruling coalition partner Congress party Tuesday won both the assembly seats for which by-elections were held last week, securing a simple majority in the 60-member state legislature.
Congress-NCP set to form government in Goa hung assembly
Panaji : The Congress was set to retain power in Goa with its ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after winning 19 seats in a fractured verdict and promptly securing more support to gain a majority in the 40-member assembly.
BJP shocked, Congress retains Ullal seat in Karnataka
Bangalore : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which takes over chief ministership of Karnataka in October, suffered a rude shock Tuesday when the Congress mauled it in the battle for the Ullal assembly seat.
Mayawati gets reprieve, attacks BJP, media
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati won a reprieve as governor T.V. Rajeshwar refused to grant permission to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) to prosecute her for alleged corruption in the Taj Corridor project.
Congress bags Goa, but loses out to BJP in by-polls
New Delhi : The ruling Congress did not do spectacularly well, but still had reason to smile Tuesday as it readied to form the government in Goa and won a crucial victory in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dominated Madhya Pradesh.
BJP national executive postponed
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday postponed its national executive meet from June 15-16 to June 25-26 and shifted its venue from Jaipur to Delhi.
BJP wins Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) : Himachal Pradesh's Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur quit Tuesday after losing the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-election to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by 80,059 votes.
BJP backed independent wins Jharkhand by-poll
Ranchi : Jharkhand's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) suffered a major blow Tuesday with the Daltonganj assembly by-election going to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed independent candidate.
BJP wins Chhattisgarh assembly by polls
Raipur : Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday won the assembly by-elections from Khairagarh and Malkharoda, wresting the seats from the Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) respectively.
Five regional parties to meet in Hyderabad
Hyderabad : A crucial meeting of five regional parties will be held here Wednesday to chalk out their strategy for the forthcoming elections to the key posts of India's president and vice-president.
Congress-NCP close to power in Goa’s hung assembly
Panaji : Goa's ruling Congress appeared set to retain power in the state with its ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after winning 19 of the state assembly's 40 seats - just two less than a simple majority.
Congress wins assembly by-poll in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal : The Congress Tuesday won its first assembly by-election in three years of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rule in Madhya Pradesh.
UPA divided over agitation over reduction of tribal seats
Ranchi : The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Jharkhand is divided over launching an agitation to protest the Delimitation Commission of India's (DCI) recommendation to reduce the number of tribal seats in the state.
MP Cong wrests Shivpuri seat in by-poll; BJP’s politics of experimentation rejected
UPA may not decide on next president before June 13
New Delhi : An expected meeting of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies and supporting Left partners to decide on a common candidate for next month's presidential poll is likely to be postponed from June 7 to June 13.
Goa bracing for hung assembly, Congress just ahead
Panaji : Goa was headed for another hung assembly Tuesday with the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locked in a neck and neck race for power from Saturday's elections.