Political Leaders

'I mustered courage to quit, but many cannot': Ex-AAP leader Kailash Gahlot

Gahlot's shock resignation followed just months before the Delhi Assembly elections. He joined the BJP a day later on Monday and cited internal challenges in the AAP as the reason behind his decision

Nitin Gadkari says he was offered support for PM's post, but he declined

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said a political leader once offered to support him if he were to enter the race for the Prime Minister's post, but he declined the offer stating he did not nurse such an ambition. The senior BJP leader was speaking at a journalism awards function in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Saturday. "I remember one incident -- I would not name anyone -- that person said 'if you are going to become prime minister, we will support you'," Gadkari said, without specifying when the conversation took place. "But, I asked why you should support me, and why should I take your support? To become the prime minister is not the aim in my life. I am loyal to my conviction and my organisation, and I am not going to compromise for any post because my conviction is foremost for me," he said. In his speech, the minister underlined the importance of ethics in both journalism and politics. Recalling a meeting with a senior CPI functionary, Gadkari said he told the communist lea

Lok Sabha elections: Meet the sons and daughters of political families

Karnataka has become a hotbed for political dynasties, with the Congress fielding five candidates who are either sons or daughters of current ministers in the Congress-led Karnataka government

Vladimir Putin: From the KGB to running Russia for nearly three decades

With an 87 per cent vote share, 71-year-old Putin has cemented his power, and if he completes his six-year tenure, he will become the longest-reigning Russian leader ever

Highlights of the day: 400 farmer unions to be at 'Mahapanchayat' in Delhi

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Over 80% of Taiwanese favour maintaining status quo with China: Survey

The fastest growing category of people were those who want to maintain the status quo indefinitely; it rose from 9.8 per cent in 1994 to 33.2 per cent last year, rising sharply since 2020

Abhishek Ghosalkar shot dead on Facebook Live; here's what is known so far

The suspected assailant, Mauris Noronha took his own life after the shooting, which was captured on camera during a Facebook live session. Here is what is known so for on the case

Bihar political turmoil: BJP legislative party meeting underway in Patna

BJP leaders arriving at the party office said that discussion will be held to chalk out the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

Senior Cong leader T H Mustafa dies at 82 due to age-related ailments

Senior Congress leader and former state minister T H Mustafa died on Sunday at a private hospital here due to multiple age-related ailments. He was 82 and is survived by wife and eight children, family sources said. Mustafa was a former Food Minister in the K Karunakaran cabinet and a five-time legislator. He was undergoing treatment for various ailments at the private hospital where he breathed his last at 5.43 AM, hospital sources told PTI. Leaders cutting across party lines condoled Mustafa's demise. Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Mustafa had left his mark on the public life of Kerala as a minister, a legislator and a Congress leader. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, said Mustafa strengthened the Congress and led it well in Ernakulam district. KPCC chief K Sudhakaran termed Mustafa's demise as a 'great loss' to the party. "He has played a major role in strengthening the Congress party in Ernakulam District. He was a great orator and an .

Cong leader Milind Deora quits party, likely to join Shinde-led Shiv Sena

Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years." Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general ..

Shah condoles death of Vijayakanth, says he inspired patriotism in people

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday condoled the death of DMDK founder-leader and veteran Tamil actor Vijayakanth, and said he had inspired patriotism among people both through his onscreen and offscreen roles. Vijayakanth had been ill and kept a low-profile for the past 4-5 years and his wife Premalatha formally took over the reins of DMDK on December 14 as general secretary. "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of DMDK leader and respected film veteran Vijayakanth Ji. Affectionately referred to as the captain, Vijayakanth Ji inspired patriotism among people both through his onscreen and offscreen roles. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti Shanti," Shah wrote on 'X'. The 71-year-old DMDK leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor died in Chennai on Thursday following illness.

China's top political advisory body CPPCC removes 3 defence executives

CASIC is a state-owned enterprise that makes spacecraft and missile systems, while Norinco is a weapons producer for the People's Liberation Army

BJP removes WB leader Anupam Hazra from party's national secretary post

The BJP's decision came on a day when BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were in Kolkata for a host of political programmes

India could soon be left without an organized political opposition

Just this week, more than 140 opposition lawmakers - two-thirds of the opposition's entire contingent - were suspended

The XX factor: Women now make or mar a party's electoral fortunes

The trailblazer's crown sits firmly on the head of J Jayalalithaa, widely recognised in Tamil Nadu as the mother of welfare schemes

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's former private secretary Pandian joins BJD

"What favours Pandian is there is no negative wave against him in the party," said Brahmananda Satpathy, senior political science professor

BJP harps on need to overcome hurdles, usher in political change: Annamalai

The BJP faces a challenging time ahead and the party should gear up to oppose many people, its Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai said and expressed his resolve to overcome all hurdles to usher in a 'political change.' As president of the party, he said he is prepared to take on individuals and he wanted the cadres to be prepared to take on those who oppose them and eventually win and ensure a regime change. In a veiled reference to the AIADMK, which walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance on Monday, Annamalai addressing party workers during his 'En Mann, En Makkal' (My land, My people) padayatra at Pollachi late on Monday night, he said "we have seen the need for a political change. This is a challenging time. We need to oppose many." He said he is determined to overcome the challenges. "If I don't do certain things, then I will lose the trust you have placed on me...we need to face challenges, overcome hurdles, take a stance to oppose some individuals," he added. In

Like, share, subscribe, vote: 2024 polls may be dubbed 'YouTube election'

A 'WOKE-UP' CALL: A politician or political party that's better at tapping into this vortex of attention will be reaping free mindshare from voters

Rajya Sabha mourns death of former MPs Yoginder K Alagh and R C Singh

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday mourned the death of its former member Yoginder K Alagh and R C Singh with MPs standing in silence in their places as a mark of respect. When the House met for the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed that Alagh passed away on December 6 at the age of 83 years. Alagh, who taught economics during his lifetime, served as a member of the erstwhile Planning Commission and was vice chancellor of JNU. He represented the state of Gujarat in the Upper House from November 1996 to April 2000. "In the passing away of Alagh the country has lost an eminent economist and an able Parliamentarian," he said. An agriculturalist and social worker Singh, who was an MP of Rajya Sabha from June 2008 to April 2012, died on December 10 at the age of 78 years. "In the passing away of Singh, the country has lost a veteran trade unionist and an able parliamentarian," he said. MPs stood in their places in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

Delhi HC to hear PIL against political persons holding govt posts on Friday

The Delhi High Court will hear on Friday a public interest litigation (PIL) matter objecting to the appointment of persons holding important positions in political parties as public servants at various government posts. The petition, filed by lawyer Sonali Tiwary, says the "principle of political neutrality of public servants" prohibits them from taking part in political activities but there is "non-conformance to the above principle", which is not only causing huge losses to the public exchequer, but also propagating the beliefs of the political parties. The PIL is listed for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad. Citing the example of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra, who is the chairman of the India Tourism Department Corporation, and BJP Parliamentary Board member Iqbal Singh Lalpura, who is the chairperson of the National Minorities Commission, the petitioner has contended that those occupying "such ..