Political Parties

Political parties disregard court's orders: Bombay HC on illegal hoardings

The Bombay High Court pulled up political parties for ignoring its orders on illegal hoardings, directing municipal authorities and police to take strict action against violations in Maharashtra

Lawyers, activists call for extending POSH Act to political parties

Legal experts and activists have voiced the urgent need to bring political parties under the ambit of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, known as the POSH Act, citing the need for gender equality and accountability. The reaction comes after the Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a plea seeking direction to political parties to follow the procedure for the protection of women in the workplace under the 2013 POSH Act. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Manmohan asked the petitioner to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) with a representation for the application of the POSH Act. Sonal Mattoo, a lawyer and director of NGO Helping Hands, called for a shift in perspective, urging political parties to focus on the spirit of the law rather than its technical definition. "The problem is they're looking at the letter of the law as opposed to the spirit of the law. If you look at the letter of the law, yes, you will struggle w

Smaller parties look to make big dent in Jharkhand and Maharashtra

In Jharkhand, smaller players, such as Jairam Kumar Mahato's JKLM and in Maharashtra, Prakash Ambedkar-led VBA, Raj Thackeray's MNS, and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM, are key players in several seats

How the humble onion retains its political hegemony when it acts pricey

The onion can sometimes unpeel the political careers of even the most battle-hardened leaders

Sri Lanka set for parliamentary polls on Nov 14, all arrangements in place

Sri Lanka is set to hold its parliamentary election on Thursday with all arrangements in place to ensure a fair and transparent process, a top election commission official has said. Voting will take place at over 13,314 polling stations across the country, from 7 am to 4 pm local time on Thursday. Director General of the Elections Commission Saman Sri Ratnayaka on Tuesday said that all ballot boxes and other equipment needed at the polling stations would be dispatched on Wednesday. The polling station officials will carry out rehearsals from 7 am on Wednesday," Ratnayaka said. Over 17 million voters from the island's 21 million population are eligible to vote. 225 members would be elected from voting based on proportional representation. The western province district of Gampaha would elect the highest number of Members of Parliament 19 with the capital district of Colombo from the same province having 18 MPs elected. The eastern province district of Trincomalee will elect the lo

Arrogance towards regional parties is a recipe for disaster: TMC MP

In an apparent jibe at the Congress after its poll rout, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Wednesday said the attitude of not accommodating regional parties in places where they felt they were winning is leading to its electoral losses. In a post on X, Gohakle, without naming any party, said arrogance, entitlement and looking down on regional parties is a recipe for disaster. "This attitude leads to electoral losses- if we feel we're winning, we will not accommodate any regional party... But in states where we're down, regional parties must accommodate us," the TMC MP said. "Arrogance, entitlement, and looking down on regional parties is a recipe for disaster," he said. The remarks came a day after the BJP clinched a stunning hat-trick win in Haryana overcoming anti-incumbency and dashing Congress' hopes of a comeback. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had also questioned the Congress poll strategy. The chairperson of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), which was keen on hav

When do political parties split? Answer lies in diverging voter interests

When voter interests diverge, parties split. If space allows, both survive. If not, only one remains

Haryana polls: 13% 'criminal' candidates, 52% crorepatis in fray; details

A total of 1,031 candidates are vying for seats in the Haryana Assembly, comprising representatives from national parties, state parties, registered unrecognised parties, and independents

B'desh's Hindu minority seeks political representation, considers new party

Hindu community leaders in Bangladesh are advocating for the formation of a dedicated political party, reflecting an urgent call for political representation to protect their rights and ensure their safety in an environment marked by instability and fear. Hindu leaders from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) and other groups have been at the forefront of discussions about establishing a separate political party or demanding reserved parliamentary seats. There are currently three opinions that are being discussed in detail: first, going back to the separate electorate system from 1954; second, establishing a separate political party for Hindus; and third, reserving seats in Parliament for minorities, BHBCOP presidium member Kajal Debnath told PTI. In the wake of unprecedented violence and political upheaval in Bangladesh, the Hindu community -- the largest minority community in Bangladesh -- stands at a pivotal crossroads. The turmoil began after the ...

SC considers hearing pleas against parties promising freebies during polls

Describing the issue of political parties promising freebies during elections as "very important", the Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will not delete from its list of businesses pleas filed against the practice. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was told by lawyer and PIL petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay that the pleas were already there in the list of business for the day and they needed to be heard. As the bench was seized of another part-heard matter, it was quite unlikely the PILs on freebies will be taken up during the day for the hearing, he said. The lawyer also urged that the pleas be kept on board so they can be heard at a later date. "This will not be deleted (from the cause list)," the CJI said, adding that the issues raised were "very important". The pleas were last mentioned for urgent hearing on March 20 this year. In his plea, Upadhyay also sought a direction to the Election Commission to invoke its powers to

SC dismisses plea seeking to restrain BJP from using lotus as party symbol

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking injunction against the BJP and restrain it from using 'kamal' or lotus as the party symbol. Observing that the plea has been filed for publicity, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale upheld the Madhya Pradesh High Court order which dismissed the suit. "You want name and fame for yourself. Look at the plea, what is the kind of relief claimed by you? Dismissed," the bench said. The top court was hearing an appeal filed by one Jayant Vipat challenging an order of the Madras High Court which dismissed his plea saying there was no merit in the plea. Initially, the District Judge, Dewas, had dismissed the suit and the order was challenged in the high court. "This court is of the considered opinion that trial court has properly considered all alleged grounds which have been raised by appellants and no illegality or perversity has been committed by trial court while passing the impugned order for dismissal of the civil

Rs 100 donations each will help Jan Suraaj raise Rs 200 cr: Prashant Kishor

Political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor on Tuesday exuded confidence about raising at least Rs 200 crore for Jan Suraaj, tipped to become a political party in less than two months, through a system of "decentralised donations". The IPAC founder, who hopes to take the political landscape in Bihar by storm, disclosed his strategy here in reply to queries from journalists about his plans to shore up resources for the new party which will make its debut in assembly polls due next year. "Funding is a question that seems to be weighing down on people's minds for long. Of course, unlike the established political parties, we cannot depend on generous donations from the mafia involved in the illicit liquor trade and sand mining. So we will go for a system of decentralised donations," said Kishor. He said the Jan Suraaj will seek donations of a tiny amount of Rs 100 each from 2 crore people across the state and expressed confidence that they would readily oblige. "We will ask th

Thailand's Pheu Thai party gets endorsements to nominate PM candidate

Thailand's populist Pheu Thai party on Thursday was given support by its major coalition partners to nominate one of its two candidates as the new prime minister, a day after former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was removed by court order over an ethical violation. Sorawong Thienthong, secretary-general of Pheu Thai, told reporters at Parliament on Thursday that the party executives are meeting later in the day to decide on its prime ministerial nomination in Parliament, with a vote scheduled for Friday. Pheu Thai's Srettha was ousted on Wednesday after less than a year in office. The Constitutional Court found him guilty of a serious ethical breach regarding his appointment of a Cabinet member who was jailed in connection with an alleged bribery attempt. It was the second major ruling in a week to shake Thai politics. The same court last week dissolved the progressive and main opposition Move Forward party, which won last year's general election but was blocked from power, saying

BJP office-bearers to meet on Aug 17 for upcoming membership drive launch

The BJP's national office-bearers are expected to meet on August 17 to finalise the launch of the party's membership drive, which will culminate with the election of a new party president. Besides those holding an office in the BJP's organisational team at the national level, the meeting will also be attended by sate party presidents and general secretaries in charge of the party's organisation in different states. There has long been a buzz that the ruling party may appoint a 'working president' before a president is formally elected as the membership drive required to be completed for the election to take place may stretch over six months. With incumbent president J P Nadda joining the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government as a Cabinet minister, he is expected to be replaced as per the party's convention of 'one person one post'. However, unlike 2019, when Nadda had emerged as the obvious successor to Home Minister Amit Shah at the helm of the party after he did not join th

Will not seek any post in Jan Suraaj political party: Prashant Kishor

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Monday made it clear that he "will not be seeking any post" once his Jan Suraaj campaign evolves into a full-fledged political party later this year. The IPAC founder expressed his sentiments in a lengthy post on X, a day after he told a well-attended meeting of Jan Suraaj that on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, the drive will metamorph into a political party. "After more than two years of padayatra through thousands of villages and small towns of Bihar, we formally started the process of party formation to give a better alternative that would end decades of misery and ensure a better future for the children of Bihar," he said. On Sunday, the process began with the first of the eight office bearers' convention before the official launch of the party on Oct 2, he added. "Over the next two months 1.5 lakh Jan Suraaj office bearers together with lakhs of participating 'Sansthapak Sadasyas' (founding members) of Jan Sur

An unfair landslide?

The fairness or unfairness of the first-past-the-post voting system goes beyond mere vote shares

H D Revanna alleges conspiracy behind abuse charges against son Suraj

JD(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister H D Revanna on Sunday termed the allegations against his son and MLC Suraj Revanna of sexually abusing a male party worker as a "conspiracy" and said he has faith in God and the judiciary. Not wanting to react to anything, he said when time comes he will tell everything. Suraj Revanna -- the brother of former MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women -- was arrested in Hassan earlier in the day on charges of "unnatural offences" against him, police sources said. He was booked on Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing a party worker a few days ago and under different sections of the IPC, including "unnatural offences." "I won't react to anything. Let the (CID) do it (investigation). Who said don't (investigate)? I won't say anything on this. I have respect for the judiciary. I know what's happening in the state," Revanna said. While speaking to reporters here, he said, "I won't react to anything. I have

Political controversy: CISF questioning of DMK MP MM Abdulla sparks debate

CISF asks DMK MP to 'explain his purpose of visit' inside Parliament. MP writes to the Vice President. TMC Rajya Sabha MP questions if govt aims to obstruct INDIA MPs from carrying out their duties

Taiwan issues warning over Chinese influence in political party recruitment

The statement was prompted by social media posts made by Taiwanese singer R-chord on June 14 and actress Alexis Ho on June 15

Nehru's idealism, Ambedkar's social justice: Yogendra Yadav on Rahul Gandhi

Political commentator Yogendra Yadav analyses the Congress' performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, noting that Rahul Gandhi believes in 'socialist principles of economic equality'