Raman Singh to address 1,200 meetings in month-long drive
By IANS,
Raipur : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh will address 1,200 public meetings in a six-phased `vikas yatra' to be launched May 23 from the Maoist hotbed Dantewada by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani.
Singh, heading the BJP government in the state since December 2003, described the tour as a "warm up to assembly polls due in November". He will visit all the 90 assembly seats and address at least a dozen public meetings in each segment.
"As a chief minister, I want to hold a direct dialogue with the people to know their views about my government," he said.
Boy killed, 3 wounded in grenade attack on NC candidate in Kashmir
By IANS,
Srinagar : A boy was killed and three other people were injured as separatist guerrillas attacked a candidate of the National Conference Tuesday afternoon in Sopore town of Baramulla district in North Kashmir.
Police said the militants lobbed a grenade on Muhammad Ashraf Ganai, the NC candidate from Sopore as he reached Brath village on the outskirts of the town to visit a relative.
The grenade exploded killing Ishfaq, 8, while three other people were injured. The NC candidate, who was inside the house when the attack took place, escaped unhurt.
Veteran CPI leader A.B. Bardhan continues to be critical
New Delhi : Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader A.B Bardhan, who suffered a paralytic stroke, was still in "critical condition", a doctor...
Jyoti Basu’s life now in jatra
By Pradipta Tapadar, IANS,
Kolkata : Less than a month after his death, India's communist legend Jyoti Basu's life has become the subject of jatra, West Bengal's popular folk theatre form.
Anjali Opera, a 10-year-old troupe based in the city's jatra hub Chitpore, has decided to portray the political life of the leader, who holds the record for the longest chief ministerial tenure in India. The production has been christened "Alor Sikha Amar Jyoti" and will start its shows in East Midnapore district from February end.
Speaker’s column: what Somnath Chatterjee said
By IANS,
New Delhi : For the second day Tuesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had his hands full while presiding over the debate on the crucial vote of confidence for the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
His one-liners in Bengali-accented Hindi through the day kept the House in good humour. In his stentorian voice, Chatterjee was either rebuking MPs or asking them to cooperate.
Some of his quotes were :
- "Your shouting is a disease and it is spreading," to members who were disrupting proceedings.
Gujarat, Karnataka by-polls Sep 13
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bye-elections to one vacant seat in the Gujarat assembly and two seats in the Karnataka assembly will take place Sep 13, the Election Commission announced Friday.
The poll panel said the model code of conduct will come into force with immediate effect.
In Gujarat, bye-election will be held in Kathlal constituency, while in Karnataka it will be held in Gulbarga Dakshin and Kadur constituencies.
CPI-M again attacks Manmohan on foreign policy
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has once again attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for what it calls his pro-American foreign policy even as Congress leaders are trying to get the support of Left parties and their Third Front allies to form the government at the centre.
"The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government led by Manmohan Singh has virtually surrendered to US imperialist pressures and committed India to ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," the CPI-M said in an editorial in People's Democracy, its mouthpiece, Thursday.
Two new Punjab ministers have controversial past
Chandigarh: Two of the three new ministers being inducted by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in his cabinet Tuesday have had a controversial...
Modi a friendly person, visit to further strengthen ties: Bhutan PM
Thimphu : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday begins a two-day visit to Bhutan, the Bhutanese leadership has described the Indian leader as "a...
RSS believes only Hindus are Indians!
By Ram Puniyani
RSS is one of the major organizations in the country which influences and controls different political and semi political organizations, calling themselves as the Sangh Parivar. It does claim to be a cultural organization, but it is implementing its political agenda of achieving Hindu Nation by creating organizations, which implement its ideology and political agenda at different layers, by different means.
Not contesting elections due to surgery: PM
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday his recent heart surgery was the main reason he was not contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
"The fact is that I had recently undergone surgery. I need to take time to recover to full vigour and that is the prime reason (for not contesting the elections)," Singh told a large group of women journalists in a rare interaction.
Manmohan Singh underwent multiple coronary bypass surgery in January, due to which he had even missed the Jan 26 Republic Day celebrations.
Delhi Metro fares up 36 percent, BJP protests
By IANS,
New Delhi : A week after bus fares went up sharply in the Indian capital, the Delhi Metro Wednesday announced a 36 percent increase in fares fuelling sharp reactions from commuters.
This is the third time the hugely popular Delhi Metro, now used by nearly 900,000 people, has upped fares since it started operation in 2002. The revised fares will come into force Friday.
Northern army commander visits Valley
Srinagar: Indian army's northern command chief, Lt.Gen. Sanjiv Chachra Friday visited the Kashmir Valley against the backdrop of recent successful operations resulting in the...
Jan Lokpal debate likely on Saturday: Bansal
By IANS,
New Delhi : The debate on the Jan Lokpal bill is likely to be held Saturday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said...
Severed cow’s head placed at Hindu sanctuary in US
New York : The severed head of cow has been placed at a Hindu cow sanctuary in Pennsylvania and the state police are investigating...
AAP wins in five wards, Congress bags four in Delhi civic bypolls
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been governing the Delhi Municipal Corporations for over eight years now, since before its trifurcation, suffered...
Modi now gets support from Bollywood music composer and Barelvi Ulema
By TCN Special Corespondent,
Poll panel allows petitioners to show EVM’s tamperbility
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Election Commission Monday met petitioners who have filed cases in courts across the country challenging the efficacy of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and agreed to offer machines so they could demonstrate their claims of tamperability.
"We met the Election Commission and demanded it offer us EVMs to demonstrate that these can be tampered with. The commission has agreed and will tell us tomorrow (Tuesday) of the time to give this demonstration," Hari Prasad, managing director of Net India, a Hyderabad based software company, told IANS after the meeting.
Discussion on voting patterns in India and ‘tactical’ voting of Muslims
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Institute of Objective Studies organised a discussion on “Voting Patterns in India with Reference to Tactical Voting by Muslims” on February 27 in the Capital.
Rising prices need to be checked, says Rahul
By IANS
Bangalore : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday admitted that there was an urgent need to check rising prices of food and other essential commodities, at least for the sake of poor.
"It is in our interest that we check rising prices... Prices of food and other commodities have to be kept under control in the interest of the poor too. The prime minister and finance minister are working at it and will do their best to rein in prices," Gandhi said at the end of his five-day tour of Karnataka.
There are only 70,000 of us Parsis left in India: Penaz Masani
By Biswajit Choudhury
New Delhi : There is something highly moving when a woman, whose people face extinction, sings of unrequited love. Love, not just...
Congress headed for worst defeat: Karat
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress will suffer its worst ever defeat in the Lok Sabha election, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said Monday.
Addressing an election rally...
Bangladesh migrants breeding terrorism in Assam: Advani
By IANS
Guwahati: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Friday blamed illegal infiltration from Bangladesh as the main reason for breeding terrorism in Assam and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to clarify his stand on the issue.
"I blame the state and the central government for the blasts in Assam," Advani said.
Advani was on a daylong visit to Guwahati to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the serial blasts that killed 77 people and wounded 300 people.
Four-doctor team conducting free surgeries of pellet victims in Kashmir
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: In an initiative that could be termed as sigh of relief for many youths in Kashmir, Pune-based Borderless...
Subhash Desai elected Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader
By IANS,
Mumbai : Senior Shiv Sena legislator Subhash Desai was Monday unanimously elected leader of the party in the assembly by its 44 newly-elected members.
A Thackeray family loyalist, Desai was elected from Goregaon constituency in northwest Mumbai and has been associated with the party for the past three decades in various capacities.
Subject to the outcome of Sena's negotiations with alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Desai may ultimately occupy the post of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Royal descendants to battle it out in Himachal’s Mandi
By Vishal Gulati, IANS,
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) : Himachal Pradesh's Mandi constituency is set to witness a battle royale in the coming Lok Sabha elections with two candidates from erstwhile princely families crossing swords.
Congress leader and five-time former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who belongs to the former royal family of Bushehr state, will face Maheshwar Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) three-time MP and scion of the erstwhile Kullu ruling family. The two are distantly related.
No caste reference, just political metaphor: BJP
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday denied having made any caste reference in an election advertisement that mocked Aam Aadmi Party...
BJP leader in the dock for booze bash
By IANS,
Gandhinagar : The former vice president of the Gandhinagar district Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit, Prabhatsinh Thakore, is in the dock after a raid at his farmhouse on the eve of Holi unearthed alcohol plus bar girls specially ushered in from the country's metros.
According to police, liquor was being served and a dance party was in full flow when Deputy Superintendent of Police Usha Rada and her men landed up.
Kerala ex-minister M.P. Gangadharan dead
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 31 (IANS) Congress leader and former Kerala minister M.P. Gangadharan died Monday here at a private hospital, family sources said.
Amar blogs on Big B’s bonhomie with Modi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's new-found camaraderie with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has found a supporter in Amar Singh.
The expelled Samajwadi Party leader has slammed the media and "political rivals" for playing up Bachchan agreeing to be the brand ambassador of Gujarat.
Bachchan had organised a special screening of his movie "Paa" for Modi in Gandhinagar on Jan 6 and also expressed his wish to be Gujarat's brand ambassador. The chief minister followed it up with a formal offer to the Bollywood icon, who accepted it Feb 1.
BSP carves `nuisance value’ in state elections
By Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi, IANS
New Delhi : The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) may be faring miserably in terms of seats in many states but it is definitely giving sleepless nights to other political parties.
Although the BSP is not able to put up a showing anywhere close to what it did in Uttar Pradesh in May when it took power on its own, it is simply undoing the prospects of other parties, in particular the Congress.
‘जनता दल’ के अवतरण में अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय की निर्णायक भूमिका
By सिद्धान्त मोहन, TwoCircles.net,
नई दिल्ली : आज नरेन्द्र मोदी और भाजपा के विजय रथ पर लगाम लगाने के लिए जनता दल के पुनर्गठन और सक्रिय राजनीति में साझा रूप से प्रवेश करने के कयासों को पुख्ता कर दिया गया. सपा सुप्रीमो मुलायम सिंह यादव के साथ हुई बैठक में सपा, राजद, जदयू, जदस और आईएनएलडी ने फ़िर से एक होकर जनता दल को उसकी पुरानी शक्ल लौटाने का प्रयास करने का वादा किया.
Trinamool to protest railway budget, abuse by BJP MPs
Kolkata : The Trinamool Congress would launch state-wide rallies from Tuesday evening to protest the "deprivation and humilation" meted out to West Bengal in...
Left slams Orissa government for using force on agitators
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Left parties Saturday slammed Orissa's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government for using force against villagers protesting a project by South Korean steel major Posco in the state's Jagatsinghpur district.
"The Left parties condemn the firing and the resort to force by the armed police against thousands of men and women who were resisting and blocking the predatory moves of Posco to take over large tracts of fertile land in Jagatsingpur-Paradeep area of Orissa," the Left parties said in a statement here.
SP invites Anna to UP to lead anti-corruption movement in the state
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
CBI is Congress Bureau of Intimidation: BJP
By IANS,
Patna : Charging the government with using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to work for its political ends, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Saturday demanded a parliamentary probe into the "misuse" of what he termed the "Congress Bureau of Intimidation".
"While the nation is facing innumerable threats to its internal security, government is forcing the CBI to work for its political designs. The CBI has become a tool of intimidation," Gadkari said in his inaugural address at the BJP's two-day national executive meet here.
Centre clears Sahai as Delhi’s home secretary
New Delhi : In an apparent move to end the bitter row between Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the...
Sushma Swaraj opposes BSR Congress’ merger with BJP
New Delhi: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj Thursday opposed any merger or tie up with BSR Congress, a party floated by an aide of the...
Telangana action committee leaders begin hunger strike
By IANS,
Hyderabad: Leaders of all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana Saturday began a hunger strike to demand that the central government immediately initiate the process for formation of the state.
Two legislators each of ruling Congress party and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) began the relay hunger strike at Indira Park here.
Kalyan meets Samajwadi party leaders amid speculation
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh Sunday met Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav amid speculation that he was planning to quit the BJP again.
While what transpired at the meeting was not immediately known, a senior Samajwadi Party leader told IANS: "There are talks going on for some time between him (Kalyan Singh) and our leaders. Kalyan Singh is not feeling comfortable in the BJP."
TRS ahead as campaigning ends for by-polls in Telangana
By IANS,
Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) appears to be ahead of its rivals as campaigning came to an end Sunday for by-elections to 12 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region scheduled for Tuesday.
Leaders and candidates of the three major parties conducted road shows and door to door campaign in a last minute bid to woo the voters.
Election Commission issues notification for presidential polls
By IANS
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.
Congress’ direct attack on PM; both houses see adjournments
New Delhi: Stepping up the offensive, the Congress on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "very close" to former IPL chief Lalit Modi,...
ग्राऊंड रिपोर्ट खतौली उपचुनाव : भाईचारे की फसल बनाम नफरत की खेती के बीच...
उत्तर प्रदेश में मैनपुरी और रामपुर के साथ खतौली में भी उपचुनाव हो रहा है। खतौली के विद्यायक विक्रम सैनी को मुजफ्फरनगर दंगो में...
Lok Sabha adjourned during zero hour
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 p.m. after members of the DMK and the AIADMK clashed over the 2G spectrum allocation.
During zero hour, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar invited M. Thambidurai, the AIADMK floor leader, to raise the issue.
He said that the exchequer had lost Rs.1 lakh crore on the spectrum allocation. "Where has the money gone?" he asked.
He also referred to a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that allegedly referred to Communications Minister A. Raja's involvement.
Mahendra Nath Pandey: BJP’s Brahmin face in UP
New Delhi : BJP's Lok Sabha MP from Chandauli, Mahendra Nath Pandey, has been an active member of the party in Uttar Pradesh for...
Thackeray cautions BJP, bats for Advani
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray Saturday cautioned ally BJP against virtually dumping a senior leader like L.K. Advani.
"There is talk that a 'Modi...
Arrest Trinamool MP: Rights group
Kolkata : A rights group Tuesday demanded the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul whose rape remark has triggered outrage countrywide.
Association for Protection...
UP government blocking central schemes: BJP chief
Lucknow : The Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh has been blocking several central welfare schemes, the reason why the benefits are not reaching...
We never intervened in functioning of CBI: Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress party Tuesday denied allegations by the Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that it was using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political ends in the disproportionate assets case filed against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
“The track record of the Congress-led government shows that we have never used the CBI for any kind of political gains. The CBI is acting on the orders of the court, not ours,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.
DGCA demands full security for politicians flying around Madhya Pradesh
By IANS,
Bhopal : The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked the Madhya Pradesh government and private operators to take measures to ensure the security of top political leaders flying around the state for the election campaign, officials said Thursday.
The state authorities have been asked to make sure that improvised helipads or airstrips are away from the place where people have assembled and the surface of the helipads does not have loose soil that might raise dust and reduce visibility at the time of landing.
254 candidates file papers for Chhattisgarh’s 11 seats
By IANS,
Raipur : A total of 254 candidates have filed nomination papers for the 11 Lok Sabha seats from Chhattisgarh with 107 doing so Monday - the last day, election officials said.
Filing of nomination papers had begun March 23 and the scrutiny will take place Tuesday while April 2 would be the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers. The state goes to polls Nov 16.
The main contest will be between the two major national parties- state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress that heads United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre.
Delhi university gets a president from ABVP for a change
By IANS,
New Delhi : Nupur Sharma of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) - the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - was elected the president of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) for 2008-09 here Saturday.
Sharma, who is a student of law, got a total of 10,345 votes to defeat Sonia Sapra of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) by a margin of 1,639 votes.
"Besides my own work agenda, I will work on the issues which have been taken up by my predecessor," said Sharma, a member of ABVP, said.
PRP legislators take Congress membership
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The process of merger of the Praja Rajyam Party with the ruling Congress was completed Monday with its legislators and leaders taking Congress membership here.
BJP demands probe into Ahmed Patel link to Goa casino scam
By IANS,
Panaji : The Goa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) charged Monday that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel had pressurized Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to increase the number of casinos in Goa from seven to nine and has demanded a vigilance inquiry.
Congress-BJP tie-up in Gondia a miracle: Sena
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday dubbed the decision of the BJP and the Congress to jointly take power in Maharashtra's Gondia Zilla Parishad...
Congress to set up internet kiosks across India to attract youth
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : The Congress party is setting up hundreds of internet kiosks across the country, including 50 in Gujarat, to promote an online campaign to register youth members and inform them about the central government's initiatives, party sources said here Thursday.
"Our online campaign strategy is being worked out by a dedicated IT team. The installation of internet kiosks in Gujarat is one aspect of the campaign. Its final shape will emerge within the next one week," Arjun Modhwadia, Congress spokesperson for Gujarat, told IANS.
Orissa abduction: Uproar in assembly
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members Saturday created an uproar in Odisha assembly over the abduction of a tribal member by Maoists early Saturday.
Modi misleading farmers, says AAP
Ghaziabad: The AAP on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of cheating farmers by aggressively promoting takeover of their land.
Addressing Aam Aadmi Party supporters...
BJP demands ban on contraceptive ads
By IANS,
Panaji : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday sought a ban on contraceptive pill advertisements on television, saying it encouraged unprotected sex and increased the possibility of AIDS.
Speaking during Question Hour in the Goa assembly, BJP's Damodar Naik said the state health department should urge the central government to ban "I-Pill ads".
"On one hand you promote the use of condoms to prevent AIDS and on the other hand television channels are promoting I-Pill. The state government should talk to the central ministry and ban these advertisements," Naik said.
Sonia in New York on Oct 2 for Non-Violence Day
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : India's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be in New York for two days next month in connection with the UN observing Oct 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as International Day of Non-Violence.
The day before, on Oct 1, Gandhi will also attend a reception hosted in her honour by the Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) at Manhattan's Marriott hotel.
Opposition steals show over price rise in parliament
By IANS,
New Delhi: Parliament got off to a stormy start on the first working day of the monsoon session Tuesday as a united opposition vociferously protested against rising prices of essential commodities and demanded as top priority a debate on the issue.
The noisy protests by the adamant opposition led to repeated disruptions and finally both houses were adjourned for the day.
As the government ruled out the opposition's demand for adjournment motions that entail voting, opposition MPs refused to let the houses function and threatened to repeat the action Wednesday.
Kalyan Singh may derail ties with Samajwadi Party: Congress
By Pranshu Negi and Nakshab Khan, IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress is all for a tie-up with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, but it will "take appropriate action" if the latter admits to its fold former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kalyan Singh who presided over the razing of the Babri mosque.
This is the view of Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad, who is also minister of state for home affairs.
Trinamool to hit the streets Monday against rail fare hike
Kolkata : After the opposition Congress and the CPI-M, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress would hit the streets from Monday in protest against the...
Brahma justifies denial of permission for Modi rally
New Delhi: Election Commissioner H.S.Brahma Friday backed Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav's decision not to allow a rally of Narendra Modi in the city...
CPI-M to pressurise Congress to back Third Front
By T.G. Biju, IANS,
New Delhi : As speculation mounts over the formation of the next government, the CPI-M remains divided over backing a UPA dispensation and is discussing how to pressure the Congress to support a Third Front led grouping if its partners get enough seats.
The issues were discussed in detail at an informal meeting of senior Left leaders in Kolkata Sunday, said a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader who was present.
‘Former minister Ajit Panja on life-support system’
By IANS,
Kolkata : Former union minister and Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Panja, who was suffering from cancer, has been "put on life-support system" after his health condition worsened, hospital officials said here Thursday.
The 72-year old politician, who was suffering from oral cancer, was admitted to Peerless Hospital on the outskirts of Kolkata Oct 25 due to his deteriorating health.
BJD set to win Odisha Lok Sabha by-poll
Bhubaneswar: BJD candidate Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh is all set win the Kandhamal Lok Sabha by-poll Sunday as she is ahead of her nearest rival...
Kabir Suman not to resign
By IANS,
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman Wednesday said he would not resign from the Lok Sabha or the party for the time being in deference to his mentor and writer Mahasweta Devi's wishes, but said Mamata Banerjee was not the "leader of my conscience".
"I am not resigning now. My mentor and leader Mahesweta Devi has ordered me not to resign. And the common people of my Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency have also requested me not to resign. I will continue my job as MP and work for the development of people," Kabir Suman said at a media meet here.
BJP holds rally against ‘mafia rule’ in Maharashtra
By IANS,
Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday organised a rally on the first day of the Maharashtra assembly's budget session to protest what it called "mafia rule" in the state.
BJP, Congress locked in a close fight in Rajasthan
By IANS,
Jaipur : Rajasthan, the largest state of India, is likely to witness a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress as it goes to polls Thursday to elect a 200-member assembly.
Over 36 million voters are eligible to vote and decide the fate of 2,194 candidates, including 1,023 independents, who are in the fray. There are 42,573 polling stations. The BJP has at present 121 legislators and Congress 53.
I act against my own men found guilty: Mamata
Kolkata : Amid controversy surrounding Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul's rape remark that sparked widespread outrage across the country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata...
Bengal appoints state election panel chief, LF cries foul
Kolkata : The opposition Left Front (LF) Wednesday accused the West Bengal government of "violating administrative conventions" in selecting state civil service officer S.R....
ETI Dynamics, Greenhouse Capital to export clean technology
New Delhi: New Delhi-based ETI Dynamics and Auckland-based Greenhouse Capital on Tuesday announced a partnership to invest $100 million in exporting clean technologies from...
In Pictures: Community kitchen at Dhobi Ghat offers hope, succor to displaced people
Following the Dhobi Ghat Pathshala, the women-led Dhobi Ghat Jhuggi Adhikar Manch established the Dhobi Ghat Community Kitchen with the help of the All...
American critics of Hindu nationalism risk sustained attacks
From politicians to academics, Americans who speak against Hindutva face harsh backlash, protests, and violent threats.
Pieter Friedrich | TwoCircles.net
UNITED STATES — When US...
Madhya Pradesh BJP candidate shot dead after polling ends; 60 pc cast votes in...
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: The elections in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh proved to be fatal for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP), candidate Sunil Nayak when he was shot dead on Thursday evening at about 5.45 pm after the polling for the state legislative assembly had ended all over the state 45 minutes earlier. He was a sitting MLA and a former minister in the BJP-ruled state.
TMC’s election manifesto promises new colleges, better housing facilities for Minorities
By Zaidul Haque, Twocircles.net
Kolkata: The All India Trinamool Congress, which released its election manifesto a few days ago, seems to have paid more...
Why has AAP government not appointed Lokayukta: Maken
New Delhi: Congress leader Ajay Maken on Friday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government for not being able to fill the Lokayukta post, a...
Imperative to ensure that people vote: CEC Brahma
New Delhi : It was an imperative need of Indian democracy to ensure that people vote, Chief Election Commissioner H.S. Brahma said on Wednesday.
"Our...
Goa BJP legislator appeals for ‘help’ to drug peddler
By IANS,
Panaji: A Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) legislator and former minister in Goa Tuesday appealed to the home minister to help an alleged drug peddler of Goan origin arrested by the Mumbai police.
Dayanand Mandrekar, a former agriculture minister, was speaking during a discussion on supplementary demands during the budget session of the Goa legislative assembly on Tuesday.
PM, top celebs to witness Fadnavis’ swearing in
Mumbai : The swearing-in ceremony of the BJP's first government in Maharashtra promises to be a grand affair with top personalities and celebs expected...
PM should act against Ramesh, says BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take action against Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh for his critical remarks in Beijing on the government's policy on Chinese companies.
"His remarks are unbecoming of a minister. The government should take action. We expect the prime minister to act," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
He said some lobbyists had penetrated the government and added that the minister's rationale for questioning government policy towards Chinese companies was flimsy.
BSP’s Rae Bareli candidate charged with violating poll code
By IANS,
Lucknow : R.S. Kushwaha, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli seat, has been charged with violating the model code of conduct for using mikes without permission, police said Saturday.
A case against Kushwaha has been registered for defying the model code of conduct for using mikes and loudspeakers without the necessary permission to address an election meeting in Mirzapur Aehari village in Rae Bareli, police inspector B.R. Mishra told IANS over telephone.
Tribal refugees to cast votes through postal ballot in Mizoram
By IANS,
Aizawl : About 8,000 Reang tribal refugees, sheltered in camps in neighbouring Tripura, would cast their votes in Mizoram assembly elections next week through postal ballots, officials Sunday said.
The election to the 40-seat Mizoram assembly is scheduled Dec 2 and the results are expected Dec 8.
"We welcome the Election Commission's decision and want all the eligible voters to exercise their franchise," said Elvis Chorkhy, president of the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF).
Karunakaran wants to join Congress, son defiant
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Even as K. Karunakaran wants to go back to the Congress, his son and state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president K. Muraleedharan has said he will not join the party.
"Let me make one thing very clear. Even if Karunakaran returns to the Congress party, I and the state unit of the NCP under no circumstances will return. If he wants he is free to join the Congress, I will never go," Muraleedharan told reporters here Saturday.
रियल लाइफ हीरो : गांव में जाकर ग़रीब बच्चों को पढ़ाता है यूपी पुलिस...
स्टाफ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
गोंडा जनपद के नौजवान सिपाही मोहम्मद ज़फ़र अली का नाम इस समय काफी सकारात्मक चर्चा बटोर रहा है। गोंडा की जनता और तमाम...
Crucial AGP conclave in Assam for new president
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Guwahati : Assam's beleaguered opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is making a desperate attempt for revival with a majority of the grassroots leaders seeking a change in leadership and are for reuniting the party that witnessed a vertical split two years ago.
The AGP, currently in shambles, is holding its triennial conference in Guwahati with a three-day programme from Wednesday with the primary agenda being to boost the party's sagging morale and get a new president.
Be cautious in coercive action against social media users: Congress
New Delhi : The Congress Monday advocated caution on the part of the new government when it came to taking "coercive action" against those...
Criticism of institutions dangerous for democracy: Sushma Swaraj
By IANS,
New Delhi : In a veiled dig at the Congress, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj Tuesday said criticism of institutions such as the Comptroller...
Rahul to hold rallies in three states Tuesday
New Delhi : Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will hold rallies in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Tuesday, his office said.
Gandhi will first hold...
Undeclared curfew in parts of Srinagar ahead of poll
By IANS,
Srinagar : Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in parts of the old city in Srinagar to scuttle anti-poll protests during Wednesday's balloting in Srinagar for the seventh and final phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
The curfew like restrictions have been imposed in areas falling under the Nowhatta police station.
Lower cash donation limit won’t affect BSP: MP
New Delhi, (IANS) : The government decision to lower the limit of cash donations to political parties to Rs 2,000 won't affect the BSP,...
CPI-M condemns police crackdown in JNU
New Delhi : The CPI-M on Friday denounced the "indiscriminate arrests of Left and progressive student leaders" at the JNU here, calling it a...
BSP tries to win over jailed MPs
By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Wednesday continued its efforts to win over jailed MPs from the state to defeat the Congress-led government in the July 22 trust vote.
Akbar Ahmed Dumpy, a Lok Sabha member from Azamgarh in eastern Uttar Pradesh, called on jailed MP Afzal Ansari from the Samajwadi Party.
While what transpired between them was not known, informed sources said the BSP was building bridges with as many MPs as possible amid allegations from the Samajwadi Party that the BSP was into horse-trading.
Poll panel receives application for registration of ‘YSR Praja Party’
By IANS,
Hyderabad: The Election Commission has received an application for registration of a new political party 'YSR Praja Party', named after former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was popularly known as YSR.
The poll panel, in a statement Friday, said one S. Venkataramana Reddy of Kadapa district submitted an application July 5. It could not be confirmed if Venkataramana is a follower of YSR's son Jaganmohan Reddy or had filed the application at his behest.
"This application is being examined in the Commission in accordance with due procedure," the panel said.
Akhilesh to be SP National Working President
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was on Sunday proposed as the new National Working President of the ruling Samajwadi Party at...
Cochin airport to be powered by solar energy
Kochi: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday inaugurated a 12 MW solar power plant at the airport here, making it solar energy powered.
The plant...
Congress hints at power sharing in Tamil Nadu
By IANS,
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Congress president K.V. Thangkabalu Tuesday hinted his party might want a share in power if the ruling DMK-led alliance wins the coming assembly elections.
After Delhi rout, alarm bells ring for BJP in UP
By Mohit Dubey,
Lucknow : After a near washout in the Delhi election, alarm bells are ringing in the BJP unit in Uttar Pradesh which...
Patil’s candidature as president Challenged
By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court will hear Tuesday a petition challenging the candidature of Pratibha Patil as president of the country on the ground that she was in debt to the public exchequer and others.
At 95, Basu is still in demand in West Bengal
By Soudhriti Bhabani, IANS,
Kolkata : Failing health and advancing age have forced former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, now 95, to keep away from the Lok Sabha election campaign. But he is still eagerly sought after by Marxists ahead of their toughest electoral battle.
For the first time the ruling Left Front has plunged into the campaign minus the veteran Basu, who for nearly a quarter century presided over the state government led by his Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
83 percent voting as time ends in Bengal
Kolkata : Around 83 percent voting was reported in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal Thursday involving six constituencies...
Muslim groups, parties demand change in Jharkhand poll date
By IANS,
Ranchi : Various Muslim organisations and political parties have threatened to boycott the first phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections on Nov 27, the Friday before Bakr-Eid.
A letter, requesting a change of dates, has been sent to the Election Commission Monday. The first phase of elections on Nov 27 falls on Friday, a day before Eid on Nov 28, when mass prayers are offered.
Andhra Congress rift deepens after shock deaths termed ‘bogus’
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The infighting in the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh took a bitter turn as loyalists of the late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Wednesday hit back at a senior leader for terming as "bogus" the subsequent reported deaths of 600 people.
A day after Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao said the reported shock deaths following the demise of YSR in a helicopter crash in August were a publicity stunt, some ministers and legislators challenged him to prove this.
Congress MPs from Andhra oppose division
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Congress MPs from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh Monday urged the UPA government to keep the state united.
Trinamool to fight against Congress in Tripura
By IANS,
Agartala : Though it has a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress party in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress said Tuesday it will put up its own candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Tripura.
Tripura Trinamool Congress chairman Arun Chandra Bhowmik told reporters: "We will fight the Congress and the ruling Left Front in Tripura and we are likely to form an alliance with tribal based parties."
हिंदुत्ववादियों के सामने डटी रही मुस्कान खान,कर्नाटक में हिजाब को लेकर माहौल गर्म
जिब्रानउद्दीन।Twocircles.net
कर्नाटक में हिजाब मामले पर कई दिनों से संग्राम जारी है। राज्य में आए दिन हिंदुत्ववादी छात्र कॉलेज और स्कूलों में उत्पात मचाते...
I dont need a stress buster: Sheila Dikshit
By Azera Rahman, IANS,
New Delhi : It is 10.30 a.m. on a sunny winter morning and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's residence is teeming with people - an aged well wisher with a flower bouquet, a group of Residents Welfare Association (RWA) members and enthusiastic party workers. And Dikshit obliges them all, without a sign of stress even though it is three days before voting day.
50,000 Indians to hear Modi at Marhaba Namo event in Dubai
Dubai: All roads in Dubai would be leading to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium where 50,000 Indian expatriates have registered for 'Marhaba Namo' -...
Jayalalithaa visits cyclone-hit Cuddalore
By IANS,
Chenna: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday visited the cyclone devastated Cuddalore district and distributed relief materials among the affected people.
Dhumal in please-all mode in election year
By Vishal Gulati, IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is on a spree to please-all ahead of the state assembly polls later this year.
Don’t foil strike plans, CPI-M tells Mamata
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Left Wednesday asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to foil a strike called Thursday to protest against a string of economic decisions.
Leaving India’s relations in good condition for future government: Salman Khurshid
By Ranjana Narayan,
New Delhi : Outgoing External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid says the UPA government has done “outstanding work” in the field of foreign...
Congress seeks apology from Vijay Goel
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Thursday demanded an apology from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Goel for calling Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit a "cheat" and "trickster".
Sonia’s tough task – reading Deve Gowda’s mind
By V.S. Karnic, IANS
Bangalore : Congress president Sonia Gandhi has a difficult task on hand in deciding whether to form a government with Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka, as both her party and the JD-S are a divided lot on the issue.
She also has to be an astute mind reader to decipher what JD-S president and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda is up to. This is something many Indian politicians have tried to do in the past, and failed.
Omar Abdullah may stake claim to form government
New Delhi : Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday signalled his intention to stake claim to form the government despite a...
Political row as meat banned in Mumbai
Mumbai: A political row has erupted over the ban on sale of meat for four days during the upcoming 'Paryushan' Jain holy festival here.
The...
Congress protests Achuthanandan’s ‘insulting’ Rajiv Gandhi
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Congress leaders in Kerala Sunday condemned Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan for "insulting" Rajiv Gandhi by holding the former prime minister responsible for the anti-Sikh riots that broke out soon after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984.
Congress leaders had created a furore in the state assembly Friday after a slip of the tongue by Achuthanandan, who named Rajiv Gandhi, instead of Sanjay Gandhi as he recalled how the latter's "goons" attacked a judge soon after the emergency was clamped in the country in 1975.