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.
BJP-backed independent leads in Jharkhand by-poll
Ranchi : In what could be a blow to Jharkhand's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) backed independent candidate Indersingh Namdhari was Tuesday leading in the Daltonganj assembly constituency.
Congress retains Ullal assembly seat in Karnataka
Bangalore : The opposition Congress Tuesday retained the Ullal assembly constituency in coastal Karnataka by defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by 8,032 votes in the by-election held Saturday.
BJP leading in Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) : The Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday took an early lead of about 30,000 votes over the Congress in the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-election.
BJP set to oust rivals in Chhattisgarh by-polls
Raipur : Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday seemed set to oust its rivals in the assembly seats of Khairagarh and Malkharoda, elections for which were held Saturday.
NCP-Congress alliance takes early lead in Goa
BJP leads in Chhattisgarh
Raipur : The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday established early lead in the two Chhattisgarh assembly constituencies of Khairagarh and Malkharoda.
Goa vote count begins
Panaji : Counting of votes polled in the Goa assembly elections began Tuesday, the main contestants for power being the ruling Congress and the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP).
The vote count was underway in all 40 constituencies for which 202 candidates were in the fray.
Car factory does not need over 600 acres: Jyoti Basu
By Sujoy Dhar
IANSKolkata : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu, after an unprecedented meeting with his arch-rival Mamata Banerjee of Trinamool Congress Monday, recognised her anti-land acquisition movement, admitted his party workers were launching attacks on Nandigram villagers and citicised the Tata Motors project in Singur.
Congress authorises Sonia to decide presidential candidate
New Delhi : The Congress party Monday authorised its president Sonia Gandhi to decide its presidential candidate if the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) reached a consensus over a Congress candidate.
Jyoti Basu to meet Mamata to resolve Nandigram imbroglio
Kolkata : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu Monday made a surprise move as he called up Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and invited her for a meeting at his residence to resolve the imbroglio over Nandigram violence and restore peace in the trouble-torn region.
War of words marks Goa’s 2007 elections this month
By Frederick Noronha
IANSPanaji (Goa) : Goa's weekend elections, now awaiting results to emerge on June 5, has been among the most-bitterly fought since first post-colonial elections here in 1963. Much of that polarisation got reflected in the media.
BJP hopes hinge on IIT engineer in Goa
By Frederick Noronha
IANSPanaji (Goa) : He's the poster boy of IITian achievers in the world of politics. His fans have seen him as a do-er and achiever. Manohar Parrikar is the man on whom the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) fortunes depend wholly on in Goa.
DMK celebrates Karunanidhi’s 84th birthday
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi turned 84 Sunday as party members organised a birthday bash and offered him flowers and gifts.
Jayalalitha accuses DMK of political vendetta
Chennai : Accusing the DMK government of indulging in political vendetta, Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha Sunday said her party had received a notice threatening demolition of its headquarters here.
Mayawati orders release of 4,000 prisoners
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government Sunday decided to set free about 4,000 prisoners and under-trials with immediate effect to mark the anniversary of Chief Minister Mayawati's election to the office for the first time 12 years ago.
62 percent voting in Madhya Pradesh assembly seat
Bhopal : Nearly sixty-two percent voters turnout was recorded Saturday in the by-elections to Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri assembly seat, considered a pocket borough of the erstwhile Scindia royal family.
70 percent turnout in Karnataka by-election
Bangalore : The lone by-election in Karnataka in the Ullal assembly constituency Saturday witnessed heavy polling, with about 70 percent of the 155,200 electorate voting by the closing hour at 5 p.m.
Braving monsoon showers, Goa votes for new assembly
Panaji : An estimated 65-70 percent of the 1.01 million electorate in Goa braved monsoon showers to elect a new 40-member legislative assembly in one of India's smallest, but politically most unstable, states.`
Sixty percent voting in Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) : Nearly sixty percent voting took place Saturday to elect a new Lok Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency after the sitting member was expelled over a cash-for-queries scam.
Peaceful polling in Chhattisgarh assembly by-polls
Raipur : Heavy voters turnout was recorded Saturday in the by-elections to the two assembly seats in Chhattisgarh that were earlier won by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress.
Unstable Goa votes for a new assembly
Panaji : Tens of thousands of Goans braved monsoon showers to vote in elections to pick a new 40-member assembly in one of India's smallest but politically most unstable states.
Brisk polling in Karnataka by-election
Bangalore : Undeterred by scorching heat in some areas and intermittent rains in others, hundreds of voters began assembling at the polling booths in Ullal in coastal Karnataka about 375 km from Bangalore to cast their votes since polling started from 7 a.m. Saturday.
Polling underway for Shivpuri assembly seat
By Sanjay Sharma
IANSBhopal : Polling is underway Saturday for Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri assembly seat, considered a pocket borough of the erstwhile Scindia royal family.
Brisk voting for Himachal Lok Sabha seat
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) : There was brisk voting Saturday to elect a new Lok Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency after the previous victor quit parliament over a cash-for-queries scam.
Secular support for Shekhawat?
By Faraz Ahmad
IANS
New Delhi : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu may not like him, but it seems Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat does have "secular" support for his presidential ambitions.
Goa votes amid monsoon showers
Panaji : Amid monsoon showers, Goans voted Saturday to elect a new 40-member assembly in what is expected to be a keen battle between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Polling on for Hamipur Lok Sabha seat
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) : Polling is underway to elect a Lok Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency that fell vacant when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP was thrown out of parliament.
Polling on in Chhattisgarh
Raipur : Polling is underway Saturday in two assembly seats in Chhattisgarh that were earlier won by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress.
Amar Singh blames Congress, BJP for Rajasthan violence
New Delhi : Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh Friday held the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responsible for the ongoing violent protests by Gujjars in Rajasthan resulting in the death of 20 people in clashes between members of the community and police.
Non-Telangana members quit repatriation panel
Hyderabad : Seven non-Telangana legislators belonging to the ruling Congress party Friday resigned from the state assembly committee, which is monitoring repatriation of non-local government employees from the Telangana region.
Himachal’s Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-poll Saturday
Hamirpur(Himachal Pradesh) : Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency is all set for an important Lok Sabha by-poll Saturday that will mainly be contested by the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mayawati reverses Mulayam’s orders, scraps judicial commissions
Lucknow : Reversing several key decisions taken by her predecessor Mulayam Singh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday scrapped three judicial commissions as well as the university status given to a dental college here.
JD-S entry makes Congress jittery in Karnataka by-poll
By Fakir Balaji
IANS
Bangalore : The Ullal assembly by-poll in coastal Karnataka Saturday has turned into a battle of nerves for the opposition Congress as it is pitched against both the ruling parties - Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - while trying to retain the seat.
My father’s enemies tried to trap me: Amit Jogi
Raipur : Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi's son Amit, who has been acquitted in a murder case, said Friday that his father's political enemies tried to trap him in the case.
Bihar panchayat poll winner is Nepali citizen
Kathmandu : Less than a week after he won the panchayat election in the Indian frontier town of Jogbani in Bihar, Ram Shakal Yadav has hit the headlines in Nepal for a different reason.
Mayawati’s appointment as chief minister challenged in apex court
New Delhi : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati's appointment as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh was Thursday challenged in the Supreme Court on the ground that she cannot hold the post while being a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Basu shuts the door on Shekawat’s presidential hopes
Kolkata : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu Thursday virtually ruled out support to Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, saying that the Left parties would never support someone with "communal" links for the post of president.
No to presidential candidate with communal links, says Basu
Kolkata : Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu Thursday told Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat that the Left would never support a candidate with communal links for the post of Indian president.
Jaitley meets RSS leader in Nagpur
Nagpur : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Mohan Bhagwat here soon after he was given the responsibility for the party affairs in Uttar Pradesh.
Panskura victory oxygen to anti-land acquisition stir: Mamata
Kolkata : Rejoicing over the victory in civic elections in Panskura of East Midnapore district Wednesday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the result had clearly indicated the growing support of people to the West Bengal opposition's movement against forcible land acquisition.
Nandigram costs Left in civic polls, Mamata rejoices
Kolkata : The ruling Left Front in West Bengal got the first electoral jolt after violent protests over land acquisition for industry in Nandigram as it lost the Panskura municipal body elections in East Midnapore to the Trinamool Congress-Congress combine.
Trouble between Naidu and sister-in-law camps intensifies
Hyderabad : The war of words between the camps of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu and his sister-in-law and union minister of state D. Purandareshwari has intensified with her husband D. Venkateswara Rao recalling the events of 1995 to hit out at former chief minister.
CPI-M demands judicial probe into Rajasthan killings
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Wednesday demanded a judicial probe into violence in Rajasthan where at least 14 people were killed Tuesday after police fired on agitating members of the Gujjar community.
No-nonsense Mayawati has her party MP arrested, suspended
Lucknow : The punishment was swift. The method unconventional. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister invited her party MP Uma Kant Yadav to her residence only to have him arrested and removed from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for going on a rampage in his hometown Azamgarh.
BSP gets cracking while BJP broods over losses
Lucknow : Just as the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) got cracking on its rank and file, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was still brooding over the humiliating losses that it suffered at the recently concluded assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.
BSP gets cracking while BJP broods over losses
Mayawati traps BSP MP in her home, sends him to jail
BJP criticizes Goa’s Catholic Church on its political stand
Laxman’s ‘Common Man’ comes alive
By Shyam Pandharipande
IANS
Mumbai : From Gandhi's sprightly gait and Jinnah's disconcerting scowl to Nehru's princely visage and Maulana Azad's trademark stubble, he has seen it all. He could decipher every nuance of Indira's frown and decode the lack of expression on Narsimha Rao's face.
EC crackdown on sops to voters in Goa
By Frederick Noronha
IANSPanaji : Goa's notorious politicians are falling foul of the Election Commission ahead of assembly polls over sops to voters in the form of T-shirts, liquor, money, computers and more.
Kalyan axed in BJP reshuffle
New Delhi : Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, who led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a dismal defeat in the state assembly elections this month, was Tuesday replaced by Arun Jaitley as the party's state in-charge.
BJP wants CBI probe into Virbhadra money transaction scam
Muslims to rule Malegaon civic body
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Malegaon :Â Muslims of this handloom town called the "Manchester of Maharashtra" are all set to rule the local civic body. For, the Indian Muslim Congress Party (IMCP), a front supported by local Ulema and community leaders, emerged as the single largest party in the elections to the Malegaon Municipal Corporation declared here Monday.
In the 72-member house, the IMCP won 26 seats. It has also managed to secure the support of two Independents.
Toss decides winners in Bihar election
Patna : In a rare instance of its kind, winners were decided in two Bihar civic body wards by toss of coin after four candidates polled the same number of votes.
Jharkhand opposition demands white paper on steel plant deal
Ranchi : Opposition parties in Jharkhand are demanding a white paper on a deal signed between the state government and a firm, whose capital is reportedly less than the agreement's worth, to set up a steel plant in the state.
Cowherd elected civic body councillor in Bihar
Patna : A cowherd has been elected a councillor defeating powerful candidates in the urban civic bodies elections in Bihar.
Why political parties do not want Kalam
By Liz Mathew
IANSNew Delhi : Lack of political acumen, unfamiliarity with the constitution and even his thinking on critical issues: The Indian political class is citing these and more reasons why they do not want A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as president for another term although he clearly seems to enjoy overwhelming public support.
Independents to rule Bhiwandi civic body again
Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) : Independents have been favoured to rule the Bhiwandi civic body again with 21 of their group winning the local elections after the counting of votes Monday.
Mayawati recommends CBI probe into Mulayam’s land allotments
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government headed by Mayawati Monday recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in land allotments made during the previous regime headed by her bete noir Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Hectic UPA parleys on president, DMK prefers ‘winnable’ Shinde
New Delhi : The search for India's next president intensified Monday among partners of the ruling United Progressive Alliance with Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK signalling its support for Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
Front restarts process to resume Nandigram peace talks
Kolkata : The all-party peace talks on Nandigram, which collapsed last week, may resume with the Left Front Monday saying a meeting would be held June 2 to end the standoff between the communists and Trinamool Congress.
DMK prefers Shinde as president
New Delhi : The DMK prefers Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde as the next Indian president but will settle for anyone the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left pick, party sources said Monday.
NTR’s son Balakrishna hints at entering politics
Hyderabad : N. Balakrishna, Popular Telugu film actor and son of late thespian and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, Monday said he might join politics at an appropriate time.
Uttar Pradesh’s top bureaucrat is a man of action
By Sharat Pradhan
IANS
Lucknow : Shashank Shekhar Singh, Mayawati's choice as cabinet secretary in the new Uttar Pradesh administration, is a former helicopter pilot with a reputation for being an upright officer, a man of action and a hard taskmaster.
Hectic activity in UPA camp on presidential polls
New Delhi : The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is expected to finalise its candidate for president in the next few days, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's arrival here Monday intensifying hectic parleys among allies of the ruling coalition.
UPA may finalise presidential candidate this week
New Delhi : The ruling Congress and its allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are expected to finalise their candidate for president in the next few days.
The captain who steers Mayawati’s new ship
By Sharat Pradhan
IANS
Lucknow : That her new stint as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister is going to be different became amply evident the day Mayawati chose an entirely new team of bureaucrats for her core team.
Peaceful voting in Bhiwandi civic polls
Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) : About 55 percent voting was reported in the incident-free civic polls held here Sunday for 83 of the 84 wards in this communally sensitive town near Mumbai.
70 percent voting in Malegaon civic poll amid stray violence
Malegaon (Maharasthra) : A record 70 percent of the 253,410 voters exercised their franchise amid stray incidents of violence as the communally sensitive powerloom town of south Maharashtra went to polls Sunday to elect its civic body.
Homage paid to Nehru on his death anniversary
New Delhi : The 43rd death anniversary of India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was observed Sunday as leaders paid homage to him at his memorial in the capital.
Youth to get prominence in Telugu Desam Party
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) : Andhra Pradesh's main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Sunday began silver jubilee 'Mahanadu' (convention) in this temple town with party president N. Chandrababu Naidu announcing his plans to include young leaders in the party.
Mistakes do happen, says Achuthanandan
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Sunday accepted that leaders too make mistakes, a day after he and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan were suspended from the party's politburo over their public row.
Impressive voter turnout in unique Malegaon civic poll
Malegaon (Maharasthra) : A record 40 percent of the 253,410 voters exercised their franchise in the first five hours of voting as the communally sensitive Malegaon town in south Maharashtra went to polls Sunday to elect its civic body.
Nashik temple priest joining BSP to ‘atone’ for grandpa’s sin
By Shyam Pandharipande
IANSNashik (Maharashtra) : The chief priest of this famous Hindu pilgrimage centre's historic Kalaram temple and a prominent functionary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has created quite a sensation here by announcing his decision to join the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Karat finally shows who’s the boss in CPI-M
By M.R. Narayan Swamy
IANSNew Delhi : Prakash Karat, the quintessential Stalinist in democratic politics, has finally stamped his authority with a decision he alone could have taken: put the hugely popular chief minister of Kerala and his strongman-critic finally in their place by axing them from the party's most important body for indiscipline.
Soni criticizes Aiyar over ‘aam admi’ remarks
New Delhi : Tourism Minister Ambika Soni has attacked Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for breaking the "mantra of cabinet collective responsibility" by airing his criticism of economic policies in the open.
Goa disabled promised better fare while voting
Panaji : Senior citizens and handicapped electors in Goa will be cared for during the June 2 assembly elections. And for the blind, there will be Braille-enabled electronic voting machines.
Karunanidhi’s daughter is DMK’s Rajya Sabha candidate
Chennai : Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK party Saturday decided to nominate Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter M.K. Kanimozhi as a party candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections in the state next month.
CPI-M rules out Chatterjee’s candidacy for president
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday ruled out the possibility of nominating Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as its candidate for the post of president.
Karunanidhi’s daughter nominated for Rajya Sabha
Chennai : Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK party Saturday decided to nominate Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter M.K. Kanimozhi for the Rajya Sabha.
CPI-M move only eyewash: former Communists
Thiruvananthapuram : The suspension of Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and state party secretary Pinnarayi Vijayan from the politburo of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday was termed by former communists here as an eyewash.
Disgusted CPI-M suspends Achuthanandan, Vijayan after public row
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday suspended Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and his rival Pinarayi Vijayan from the politburo in a desperate bid to end their unending public row that has embarrassed the Stalinist party.
Sonia, Mayawati meet over lunch with PM
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the second time in as many days at a launch hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.