Timeline Refresh
A Division Bench, comprising Justice Sathish K Agnihothri and Justice K K Sasidharan, in its order said, "In view of the submissions made by the state that adequate security is being provided to the chief minister, there is no need for issuance of any direction to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of India on the matter at this point of time."
Petitioner R Balaji, an advocate, sought SPG protection to Jayalalithaa apprehending security threat to her following strict actions taken by her against terrorist outfits.
Singh paid tributes to the late South African leader who passed away on Friday last. "A giant among men has passed away. In the demise of Dr Nelson Mandela, South Africa and India have lost a great Gandhian of our age. May his soul rest in peace," he wrote in the condolence book at the Mission.
The prime minister had earlier hailed Mandela as a beacon of hope for those struggling against oppression and injustice and said his passing away is as much a loss to India and the world as it is to South Africa.
The decision was taken at a Privilege's Committee meeting which met here under the chairmanship of Jugal Kishore Sharma, an official statement said.
The summoning is besides a breach of privilege pending against Gen Singh with Jammu and Kashmir assembly speaker Mubarak Gul who issued a notice on October 24 asking him to explain his position on allegation of pay-offs to some ministers from the army's secret funds during his tenure.
The notice was issued in response to a privilege motion moved against former Army chief by 15 ministers and MLAs, including those of National Conference.
Dikshit (75) lost her bid for a fourth term as Delhi's Chief Minister with Congress only bagging eight seats in the 70-member assembly, way behind BJP's 31 and newcomer AAP 28.
Her own defeat at the hands of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal by a whopping 25,000 votes was an additional shock. Has defeat, both of the party and her own sunk in, Dikshit was asked during an interview with PTI.
In a philosophical vein, she responded by saying that "in a democratic set up there is nothing beyond the people. So, they have taken a decision."
What worries her a lot is the fact that the people's verdict in Delhi is fractured with no party in a position to form the government raising the likelihood of a spell of President's rule followed by fresh elections.
"I was so certain that Delhi people will be sensible and will not go in for instability and bad governance. But it has happened," she said
The total number of seats held by the Congress in the state assembly went down from 71 to 58 this time.
Gandhi had addressed more than six election meetings in the state. The Congress Vice-President started off with election meetings at Gwalior and Shahdol held on October 17.
While the number of seats held by the party came down from three to two in Gwalior, the party could win only one seat in Shahdol, although it had won three seats in 2008. Similarly, in Rahatgarh and Indore, Rahul had addressed election meetings on October 24.
Rahatgarh is part of Surkhi constituency, from where sitting Congress MLA Govind Singh Rajput lost by a slender margin of 141 votes.
On November 20, Rahul addressed election meetings at Kukshi in Dhar district and Sidhi. In Dhar district, the number of Congress seats came down from five to two, although its nominee in Kukshi managed to win.
"The kind of situation that we are in, we can say that we will not be able to form a government," said Sisodia.
"If the BJP says they do not want to form a government either, holding fresh elections would be inevitable,'' he added.
Responding to the question about AAP being confident about getting a majority, if the polls were held again, he said it was not a question of confidence but the situation called for it. He added that they were prepared incase fresh elections were held.
"It is not a question of being confident or overconfident, it is about the situation that has emerged. The public has not given a clear majority to AAP or the BJP and therefore fresh elections is the only option and we are prepared for it," he said.
Commenting on their option of merging with either the Congress or the BJP to form a government he said they are never going to merge with either.
"We have always said we will never merge will either the Congress or the BJP to form a government and we will stick to it," he said. "We will not form a government just for the sake of doing it," he added.
The court directed complainant former Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh to approach the Centre on the issue and clarified that if the government fails to grant or refuse sanction to prosecute the accused within the stipulated three-four months, then the permission would be deemed to have been granted.
Dr Singh called up Raje, who is set to become the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and wished her well, PMO sources said. Ms Raje led BJP to an emphatic victory in the Assembly elections, ousting Congress from power.
Reacting to the partys stunning defeat in the Assembly elections in Delhi, its three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday blamed her party and said that she did not get the required support.
She said since she had lost her own seat, it was but natural for the party's loss to be fobbed off on to her.
In the just concluded executive committee meeting of the KJP, the party sent out all sorts of mixed signals.
On one hand, the party authorised Yeddyurappa to take any decision he wanted on the other hand they resolved to fight the Parliamentary elections with vigour.
His party members told him not to commit anything to the BJP unless there is an official written communication.
The party workers also felt that it would be better if they allied with the BJP instead of merging with it.
Yeddyurappa however said that he would launch a state wide KJP campaign from December 20th but also added that he would not put forth any conditions to the BJP.
He also denied all news that him joining the BJP would have conditions and added that there is no need for that. -- Vicky Nanjappa.
Kejriwal says this is the first time people are seeing honesty in politics. He says politicians are corrupt, not politics.
He also beseeched Anna Hazare to support him.
He said AAP was ready for a repoll and he would not support either party since it was run by the mafia.
"It is our responsibility to give a popular government to the people of Delhi. We will find a solution and try our level best to give an alternative to the people of Delhi by forming a government under the leadership of Harsh Vardhan," former BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who was also the party's in charge for the Delhi elections, told a news channel.
Asked whether the BJP was mulling over drawing support from the debutant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said: "This question does not arise, neither there is any proposal from their side."
The party's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, Harsh Vardhan added that the party would not resort to horse trading to form the government.
"As we don't have majority, we are not thinking about forming the government. If the other parties are not ready to form an alliance with us, we won't disturb them or resort to horse trading," Harsh Vardhan told a news channel.
"The 27-minute film seeks to make sense of who the victim was and what she meant to her parents. We have talked to important people related to the story and that includes the doctors in the hospital and the policemen to make sense of the key moments of the girl after the gruesome incident," says Sumnima Udas, who covered the story.
The film, part of the network's series "World Untold Stories" has visuals from the hospital room to the court room along with interviews with her parents, the police investigators, doctors and others who were directly involved in the case.
The documentary film, which premiered here recently, is set to be shown globally.
Taking a dig at the Congress, which got a drubbing by the BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi and the prevalent AAP wave, the editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said that the Assembly election results in four states show how weak the base of the Congress has become.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
BJP 17 of 31
AAP 3 of 28
INC 2 of 7.
15 of 22 reelected;
Avg assets
BJP Rs 12 cr
AAP Rs 1.8cr
INC Rs 10.3cr
South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told a news conference in Johannesburg on Sunday that there has been unprecedented interest to attend Mandela's funeral week.
The dignitaries who have confirmed attendance at upcoming memorial events include US President Barack Obama, Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff, French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
President Mukherjee will lead a five-member delegation to the memorial service.
Pic: The PM pays tribute to Nelson Mandela at the South African embassy.
Though Mamata insisted that her visit to the capital was "in the interest of Bengal, not any personal work", the visit nonetheless assumed significance because she had earlier floated the idea of a non-BJP and Non-Congress front of regional parties with an eye on Lok Sabha polls
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a last minute decision not to participate in a memorial service for the late South African President Nelson Mandela, despite having notified the South African government that he would attend the event.
"There is no doubt that the results in Assembly elections in four states are anti-Congress. But there is no reason for BJP to jump in joy.
"There is no wave in favour of BJP... The results show that BJP performance will be dismal in the Lok Sabha elections," Kumar told reporters in the Assembly premises.
"The gamble BJP took (by appointing Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate) has doomed it... Delhi is the test case of this," said Kumar, who led JD(U) to severe ties with the BJP after 17 years over the elevation of Narendra Modi as party's prime ministerial nominee.
The members -- R Sambasiva Rao, Sabbam Hari, V Arun Kumar, A Saiprathap, L Rajagopal and G V Harshakumar, have written to Speaker Meira Kumar on the issue.
In the letter, they sought permission to move a motion expressing no-confidence in the Union Council of Ministers under Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
The plan of the MPs appears to be to embarrass the government on the Telangana issue by seeking support of those opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh or creation of smaller states.
Even though we have managed to retain a large part of our traditional votes, there was some shift even in middle class localities to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The Congress was no longer a serious option in Delhi. Residents of Delhi were considering which of the two alternatives to vote for -- the BJP or the AAP.
The AAP may have got lesser votes and seats than the BJP. However, that is not a ground for satisfaction for the BJP. The BJP's march to comfortable majority has not been interrupted by the Congress. It has been interrupted by AAP.
The lesson of the 32 constituencies that the BJP has won clearly reveals that most candidates who were well grounded in the constituencies and appeared to be electorally acceptable have won.
The lesson for the BJP of these results is that the credibility-quotient counts in an election. The image of the leadership, as also of the candidate, must inspire confidence amongst the voters.
The announcement of Dr. Harsh Vardhan's name as the BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate helped the BJP. Those who have a track record of serving their constituency well, have a better chance of being elected. Just getting a party nomination even in a stronghold is not enough. The days of conventional politics are now over.Is the AAP merely a freak phenomenon? Or is it going to be a lasting experiment?
The last word on this cannot be said at this moment. This party is unconventional. It has attempted to exploit the general mood of cynicism. It has made unrealistic promises and does not want to sit in a position of responsibility where it has to walk its talk.
The very suggestion of being in government to implement its policy and promises appears to be scary for this party. In a democracy, the voters vote in order to elect the government.
When there are no clear majorities, the government formation is an art of the possible. The Congress Party can give the AAP outside support in order to form a government.
In power, such a party would be like a fish out of water. It is possible to make exaggerated promises, and capture the imagination of a few by making unimplementable promises.
The strategy of the party is to avoid power rather than be in a position to implement the unimplementable.
Sheila Dikshit created history by becoming the longest-serving chief minister of Delhi. Her supporters had also started making plans for her to assume a greater role in national politics. Some started projecting her as a possible prime ministerial nominee against Narendra Modi (also a three-time chief minister) while others said she would make an excellent home minister.
Giving due credit to its emphatic victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and in Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party's performance has surprised many, these experts, who are closely following the Indian elections, concluded that the Modi factor is not the only reason for the BJP doing well.
"The total number of seats the Congress has won in all the four states today cannot even match the seats @BJP4India won in 1 state!" Modi said on Twitter.
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On Twitter, Modi wrote, "Wishing UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi on her birthday. I pray for her long and healthy life."
In election campaigns, both the political heavy-weights have taken on each other viciously. Modi has always addressed the Congress chief as Madam Sonia and Rahul as Shehzade during his rallies.
Modi had also referred to Sonia's illhealth at a poll rally last month, saying: "Madam, you are ill. Let the shehzada (prince) take over. And let's see then if he can deliver round-the-clock electricity to Chhattisgarh."
Jagan Reddy met many MPs across parties in the Central Hall of Parliament today to garner support for his move not to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
President Pranab Mukherjee to refer the union cabinet decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to the state assembly. The assembly has given 42 days to deliberate.
On her birthday today, Sonia Gandhi, was greeted by Harsmirat Kaur Badal, daughter-in-law of Prakash Singh Badal. Jagan Reddy, who was present did not acknowledge her.
The report was tabled in the Lok Sabha by JPC Chairman P C Chacko after Speaker Meira Kumar disallowed any debate on the issue at the presentation stage during Zero Hour.
This prompted members of DMK, UPA's erstwhile partner, and Opposition members, including those from the BJP, Left, Trinamool Congress, BJD and Shiromani Akali Dal, to stand up in protest.
Yashwant Sinha, Harin Pathak (both BJP), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Kalyan Banerjee (Trinamool) shouted that the report was a "fraud" on the Constitution, while DMK members walked out of the House.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani also rose to say something to the Speaker but could not be heard in the din.
It was not merely Delhi he had set out to take, it was always a place called India.
That objective lies plainly stated on his Twitter handle for anyone to grasp. "Political revolution in India has begun,' it goes, "Bharat jaldi badlega.' (India will soon change.)
Sankarshan Thakur reports.
She also tweeted that she was ready to mediate between BJP, AAP.
The riot erupted late on Sunday in tightly-controlled Singapore's congested Little India district after a 33-year-old Indian worker was run over by a private bus. Read more
Not only did it push the incumbent Congress into a distant third place, the AAP even deprived the main opposition BJP of a majority in Delhi, underlining its potential to damage both of India's two main parties.
Read more
After a meeting of top party leaders at party chief Arvind Kejriwal's residence, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said, even if Lt Governor Najeeb Jung invites the party to form the government it will decline such an offer citing lack of majority.
"We are not going to form the government. We will sit in the opposition and play the role of a constructive opposition. As per the Constitution the largest party has to take the responsibility of forming government," Yadav said.
"We have not got majority so it is very surprising that the number one party (BJP) is not ready to form the government and telling us to do so," he said.
Yadav also strongly ruled out taking support of Congress to form government.
The BJP has also expressed its reluctance to stake claim, saying it did not have the numbers to provide a stable government.
More ignominious than the failure to win Madhya Pradesh after two successive defeats and the fall of the Congress government in Rajasthan was the party's miserable third-place finish in Delhi.
The Congress trailed way behind the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal, which has made a sparkling debut. Read more
The hung verdict in Delhi assembly polls has raised intriguing questions about government formation in the national capital. Read
heavy price for it. He will being a fast from tomorrow in protest against the Centre's failure to pass the Bill.
Hazare on Sunday said Arvind Kejriwal could become the chief minister one day and warned the Congress that people will teach them a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections.
Hazare, who had refused to campaign for Kejriwal's party, expressed happiness over the AAP's performance in the Delhi elections where Sheila Dikshit has served as the chief minister for 15 years.
"Delhi is the centre of the country's politics. It is not an easy
task to defeat a government which is ruling there with just a broom in
hand. The old parties have a lot of money. I feel happy that in such a
situation, his party has emerged victorious," Hazare
told reporters when asked about the AAP's performance.
The Congress was leading in seven seats and the MNF in one in Mizoram according to latest trends available.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is seeking a fifth term. Congress candidates were also leading in Tuivawl, Tawi, South Tuipui, Hachhek and Tuichawng.
The Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee L. Thangmawia was leading in Lengteng seat where Forests Minister H. Rohluna of Congress was trailing.
The ruling Congress and the opposition Mizoram Democratic Alliance, comprising MNF, MPC and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), contested from all 40 constituencies.
Speaking after the counting of votes in these four states, he said measures taken to enhance voter participation had paid dividends.
He credited district magistrates and electoral officers for their efforts including door to door campaigns, and distribution of photo voter slips for enhanced voting in the elections.
He revealed that the Election Commission has now begun a revision of electoral rolls for the 2014 general elections and added that voters' lists would be published by January 6.
He said the Election Commission has recommended punishment of two years in jail and immediate disqualification for candidates who had filed false affidavits.
Sonia Gandhi has called for a meeting with top party leaders after the phenomenal thrashing it took yesterday, scoring 4-0. The meeting is expected this evening.
Arvind Kejriwal, the man of the moment, will also hold a meeting with AAP top brass to discuss the way ahead.
Read on Rediff.com: The six big lessons of the assembly polls
Also read: 12 ways the Congress can fight back
Basit who holds a Masters Degree in International Relations joined Foreign Service of Pakistan in October, 1982.
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