Page 7 - Politics

Last rites of Sushil Kumar Modi performed at Patna, accorded state honours

Sushil Modi passed away at Delhi's All-India Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday evening after battling cancer for seven months. He was 72

Expect politicians to lead by example, not erode fabric of society: EC

The Election Commission on Tuesday said it expects star campaigners, particularly of the national parties, to lead by example in the remaining three phases of the Lok Sabha polls and not vitiate the delicate fabric of society. The commission also said that it is "primarily" the responsibility of the leaders to "correct the course" of their statements or utterances in the remaining phases of the ongoing election. The statement comes against the backdrop of the poll authority issuing show-cause notices to BJP president J P Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on complaints of model code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "At the outset, Commission expects top leaders of political parties, especially of the major national parties, most of whom are star campaigners, to set good examples of campaign discourse expected of them in the current elections," the EC statement said. It is primarily the leaders' responsibility to correct the cour

Sanjay Singh confirms Maliwal's allegations, says action will be taken

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's PS Bibhav Kumar "misbehaved" with AAP RS MP Swati Maliwal on Monday at the CM's residence and the AAP supremo will take strict action in the matter, party leader Sanjay Singh said. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Singh said it is a "condemnable incident". "Yesterday, Maliwal had gone to meet Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. While she was waiting to meet him in the drawing room, Bibhav Kumar misbehaved with her. This is a highly condemnable incident. Kejriwal has taken cognizance of it and will take strict action in the incident," he added. Maliwal on Monday went to the Civil Lines Police Station and alleged that a member of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted' her at the chief minister's official residence, police officials said. Police have not yet received a formal complaint.

NBW issued against Amanatullah, son; MLA's aide nabbed in petrol pump case

An aide of AAP's Delhi MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested while non-bailable warrants were issued against the legislator and his son in connection with a case of assault registered here following a quarrel at a petrol pump, police said on Monday. Iqrar Ahmed (50), who was apprehended near Kalindi Kunj, was not named in the FIR lodged on May 7 at Noida's Phase 1 police station after an argument broke out between Khan's son Anas Ahmed and some workers at a petrol pump. The Delhi lawmaker also got involved later. Amanatullah Khan, who represents Okhla in Delhi Assembly, was the only named person in the FIR. His son was mentioned as the "unidentified son of MLA Amantullah Khan" while the other accused were identified as "others in two cars". "On Monday, with the help of local intelligence and electronic surveillance, accused Iqrar Ahmed, who was wanted in the case lodged at Phase 1 police station, was arrested. He was held near the border of Kalindi Kunj," a Noida Police spokesperson ..

LS polls enter fourth phase as rhetoric over religion, inequality sharpens

The world's most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote, with ballots set to be counted on June 4

Anand Sharma will definitely be minister in INDIA govt, says CM Sukhu

Former Union minister Anand Sharma will "definitely" be a minister in an INDIA bloc government at the Centre, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Sunday. Sharma, who served as the Union minister for commerce and industry between 2009 and 2014, is the Congress candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat. Campaigning for Sharma in the Jwalamukhi assembly segment, Sukhu highlighted the former Union minister's contributions to the state during his previous stint in the central government. "Kangra needs an MP whose voice is heard across the country. Anand Sharma has been fielded from Kangra as he is a tall leader and contributed a lot to Himachal as Union minister," Sukhu said. The National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kangra, spice park in Nadaun, regional passport office in Shimla, expansion of industrial areas in the state, and the Shimla-Matour four-lane highway are results of his vision. If Sharma wins, his berth in an INDIA bloc government is certain,

Putin reappoints his PM, a technocrat who has kept low political profile

Russian President Vladimir Putin reappointed Mikhail Mishustin as the country's prime minister on Friday, a widely anticipated move to keep on a technocrat who has maintained a low political profile. Mishustin and other technocrats in the Cabinet have been credited with maintaining a relatively stable economic performance despite bruising Western sanctions for Russia's role in Ukraine. Most other Cabinet members are expected to keep their jobs, though the fate of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu appeared uncertain. In line with Russian law, Mishustin, 58, who held the job for the past four years, submitted his Cabinet's resignation on Tuesday when Putin began his fifth presidential term at a glittering Kremlin inauguration. Mishustin, the former head of Russia's tax service, steered clear of political statements and avoided media interviews during his previous tenure. The speaker of the parliament's lower house, Vyacheslav Volodin, announced that Putin submitted Mishustin's candidacy

Congress too made mistakes, will need to change its politics, says Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party too has made mistakes and will have to change its politics in future. The remark came at an event in Lucknow where he accused the Narendra of being a monarch and not a prime minister, calling him a front for two three financiers. Answering a question from a member of the audience at the event on the Constitution, the former Congress president said he was 100 per cent prepared to take on Narendra Modi in a debate, but he knew that the prime minister will not agree. "The Congress party will also have to change its politics in the coming times. This will have to be done. I also want to say that the Congress party has also made mistakes and I am saying this while being from the Congress party," he said in his speech. However, he did not elaborate on what change he felt the Congress needed. The Samvidhan Sammelan was organised by the Samruddha Bharat Foundation. Gandhi claimed that the ruling BJP will be restricted to less than 180

Satyanarayan to Sam Pitroda: Key details about Congress leader's life

Sam Pitroda resigned as the chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Strap after a political storm over his alleged racist remarks. Here's a look at the Congress leader's career and past controversies

Dushyant Chautala writes to Haryana governor, wants govt to take floor test

The former BJP ally also sought the imposition of President's rule in Haryana after three Independent MLAs withdrew their support for the BJP government

Kangana campaign: Visiting temples, taking selfie requests, jabbing rivals

Actor Kangana Ranaut, who is the first Bollywood celebrity to contest Lok Sabha elections from Himachal Pradesh, has been maintaining a distance with the media during campaign but has been welcoming to common voters: dancing with them at times, interacting in their dialects and obliging to their selfie requests. She has so far been concentrating on small gatherings and roadshows, where people first try to get a glimpse of her from close quarters and then potentially get clicked with the "Queen" star. Selfies and group photos with the actor, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, are in vogue as it is the first time a celebrity is contesting elections in Himachal Pradesh. Videos of Ranaut, who hails from Mandi, dancing with local women and sweeping temple premises during her campaign have gone viral. To forge an instant connect, she often interacts with her prospective voters in their dialects and emphasises that she a daughter of Mandi. Known for her unfilt

'Anupamaa' star Rupali Ganguly joins BJP, says 'big fan' of PM Modi

Popular TV actress Rupali Ganguly, also known for her role in the popular show 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai', joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi

Amit Shah attacks Congress over sex scandal involving Deve Gowda's grandson

Reports have also emerged that the BJP knew about the existence of the purported obscene clips before Prajwal Revanna was nominated as a NDA candidate from Hassan constituency

Will not step down over party's loss in special elections, says Japan's PM

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday his governing party's major defeat in last weekend's by-elections was largely due to a political fundraising scandal and that he would not step down or replace party executives to take responsibility. Instead, Kishida said he will push anti-corruption measures and political reforms. As I take the results seriously, I believe as president of the governing party we must tackle the challenges we face one by one and achieve results, and this is the way I will take responsibility," Kishida said. By doing so, I will regain the people's trust. Kishida said the scandal dealt a big and heavy hinderance to the party. The scandal centres on dozens of lawmakers in Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party who allegedly pocketed profits from ticket sales to political events by falsifying accounting reports. Asked if he would take responsibility for the election loss, Kishida denied he would step down or replace top LDP posts, and pledged to pursue par

Caste major factor in selection of candidates in Gujarat: Analysts

Political parties may claim that the caste arithmetic does not play a role in candidate selection but analysts say it is still a major factor in Gujarat, even though urbanisation has weakened caste identities in some parts of the state. In rural areas, however, caste is still a dominant factor, they said. Patidars constitute 11-12 per cent of Gujarat's 6.5-crore population and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), scattered across many sub-communities including Thakors in north and Kolis in central Gujarat and Saurashtra, constitute around 40 per cent. The BJP has fielded six Patidars, seven OBCs and three Kolis. The Congress and the AAP, part of the opposition INDIA alliance, have fielded six Patidars, seven OBCs and two Kolis. Vidyut Joshi, sociologist and former vice-chancellor of Bhavnagar University, told PTI that Gujarat's first four chief ministers were either Brahmin or Vanik. Patidars entered the political scene after the 70s when Chimanbhai Patel became the chief minister in 19

Ex-PM HD Devegowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna named in sex scandal: Details

A 47-year-old house help from the Revanna family has filed a complaint against Prajwal and his father, HD Revanna, accusing them of sexual harassment

BJP MP, ex-Union Minister Sreenivasa Prasad passes away at age of 76

Veteran politician, BJP MP and former Union Minister V Sreenivasa Prasad died on Monday, family sources said. The 76-year-old Lok Sabha member from Chamarajnagar was ailing for some time and being treated at a private hospital, where he passed away early today. Prasad is survived by wife and three daughters. He was a six-time MP from Chamarajanagar and also served as MLA from Nanjangud in Mysuru district for two terms. On March 18 this year, Prasad announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking his 50 years in public life. He first contested Assembly elections as an independent in 1974. Prasad joined the erstwhile Janata Party in 1976 and switched over to the Congress in 1979. He also had a stint with the JD(S), JD (U), and the Samata Party before crossing over to the BJP. Prasad served as the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004. He returned to the Congress fold later, got

INDIA bloc's plan is to give PM's post to parties for one year each: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that the INDIA bloc has come up with a "formula" under which the parties in the opposition alliance will get the PM's post for one year each, in case they come to power. "With such a system, the good of the country cannot be expected," he said at an election rally here, as he urged the people not to waste their vote. "I have heard that the INDI Alliance has invented a new formula...if the country has to be given into someone's hands, we will think before giving it or not? Will you give it to anyone? We will think whether the person is able to handle the country or not, the track record will be analysed or not?" Modi asked the people. Questioning the INDIA bloc on which person or leader among them the people could hand over the country's responsibilities to, he asked, "Is there any name? Will you accept without any name, keeping you in the darkness? Will the country accept it?" He claimed, "So they (INDIA bloc) have come up with a formu

Vietnam Parl chief Hue quits over violations in latest leadership upheaval

The statement said his resignation had been accepted and would be removed from the Central Committee and the powerful Politburo. It did not specify what the violations were

LS polls: Steady voting in Kerala, 33% turnout recorded at 12:20 pm

Polling in all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala for the 2024 general election commenced at 7am on Friday amidst tight security arrangements with the state witnessing 5.62 per cent turnout after the first hour of voting. People queued up since early morning outside the over 25,000 polling booths in the state to avoid the hot weather that was likely as the day progressed. Long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths in all Lok Sabha seats in the state. As the polling commenced, there were reports of EVM breakdowns in various booths across the state, delaying the election process in those places. However, the machines were replaced and the voting continued smoothly. Polling was carried out amidst tight security arrangements which included deployment of over 66,000 security personnel and live monitoring of the election process by an extensive webcasting system. Voting began after a mock poll was carried out by casting votes in favour of all candidates, including NOTA, whose