Former IPS official and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi, who has been heaping praise on Narendra Modi in the past couple of months, today dropped hints of joining politics.        

 

"I no more rule out entering indian political service on capability basis. I am moving towards some flexibility in this," Bedi tweeted.         When asked whether she was contemplating joining BJP, Bedi refused to answer.        

 

Bedi, who was part of core team of Anna Hazare during his agitation for a strong Lokpal legislation, has openly been hailing Modi's leadership saying he could lead the country effectively.        

 

"Feel as if the country was orphaned past several years. It finally has a guardian who is caring and capable! We can now focus on creativity," she tweeted after election results were declared on May 16.        

 

"All who were spreading lies and apprehensions about @narendramodi got punished! Indian Voter saw it all! It's a victory of good intentions!," she said in another tweet.        

 

Yesterday, expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny had called upon BJP, AAP and Congress to consider Bedi for the post of Delhi chief minister, saying holding fresh assembly elections would be a wastage of public money.

The new Jitan Ram Manjhi government today decided to call a special session of Bihar assembly on May 23 to seek the trust vote on the floor of the House.       

 

The decision to call the special session of the assembly at 11 am on May 23 (Friday) to seek trust vote was taken at the first meeting of the state Cabinet under new Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Principal Secretary Cabinet Coordination Brajesh Mahrotra told reporters.        

 

The vote of confidence would not be a problem for the Manjhi government as in the 237-member assembly, JD(U) enjoys the support of 117 MLAs including the Speaker, two Independents and one from the CPI.        

 

The four-member Congress has given a letter of support for Manjhi government taking the tally to 124. BJP, on the other hand has a strength of 88, while RJD has 21 Legislators.        

 

Meanwhile, the new CM who has inherited the entire Cabinet of Nitish Kumar besides inducting two Independents, has kept all the departments which were with the former chief minister.        

 

However, he has added the SC & ST department which he was holding in Kumar's cabinet.

Odisha Raj Bhavan is all set to conduct the swearing-in ceremony of the new council of ministers under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik tomorrow, a governor's secretariat release said.        

 

"The swearing-in ceremony of the new council of ministers led by Sri Naveen Patnaik will be held on May 21 at 10.10am in the Raj Bhavan premises, Bhubaneswar," it said.        

 

Adequate security arrangements in and around the Governor House has been made, Commissioner of police R P Sharma said. With a large turnout of people expected to witness the oath taking ceremony, LED screens have been installed outside the Raj Bhawan.        

The Telugu Desam Party today termed as a "joke of the millennium" the offer of "issue-based support" by YSR Congress to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.        

 

The TDP, a key ally of BJP and principal rival of YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh, sought to know what were the issues on which the outfit headed by Jaganmohan Reddy would extend support to the new administration.        

 

"Is it Jagan's bail issue or getting the criminal cases against him weakened? Is it the issue of protecting the properties already attached by the Enforcement Directorate or preventing attachment of more properties? Are these the issues on which you will extend support to the NDA?" TDP Politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said in a statement in Hyderabad.        

 

The YSRC president, who failed in his bid to grab power in Andhra Pradesh, met Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday and announced his party was ready to extend "issue-based support" to the NDA government despite the BJP having majority of its own in the 16th Lok Sabha.        

NDA ally Shiv Sena, which won 18 seats in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, has demanded two Cabinet berths in the Narendra Modi-led dispensation at Centre, CNN IBN reports.

 

The party, which routed ruling Congress-NCP combine in Maharashtra alongwith BJP, Swabhimani Shethkari Sangathana and RPI-A, has also asked for two Minister of State berths.  

 

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders were seen greeting Narendra Modi at the Parliament Central Hall earlier in the day.  

Six members of a gang allegedly belonging to former Naxal leader Nayeem, who is on the radar of Andhra Pradesh police in connection with the murder of TRS leader K Ramulu, were arrested in Thiruvananthapuram today, police said.         Ramulu, a member of Telangana Rashtra Samiti executive committee and brother of former top Maoist leader Sambashivudu, was shot dead by unidentified persons on May 11 in Nalgonda town of Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, fugitive Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem had emerged as the prime suspect behind the killing of Ramulu.        

 

"We have got information on arrest of six persons in Trivandrum. It is still not clear whether they are members of Nayeem's gang. Their involvement in the killing of Ramulu is also not confirmed...however, we are sending a police team to Kerala to interrogate the arrested persons," Nalgonda district Superintendent of Police T Prabhakar Rao told PTI.

On a day when AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung fuelling speculation about government-formation, Delhi Congress today ruled out extending support to the party if it tries to return to power.        

 

DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said that under no circumstances Congress would extend support to AAP to form government and the party would prefer fresh assembly elections to backing Kejriwal who "betrayed" the people of Delhi by quitting power in February.        

 

"It is Congress' decision that under no circumstances we will we extend support to AAP. There is no question of supporting AAP again," Lovely told a press conference.        

 

Accusing Kejriwal of helping BJP in  Lok Sabha polls, he said the result of the parliamentary election has proved that AAP was a 'B' team of the saffron party.

The magestic forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan is gearing up for a gala swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi next Monday as the 15th Prime Minister of the country in the presence of over 3,000 invitees.         

 

Following the footsteps of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi has expressed his desire for being sworn at the sprawling forecourt so that a large number of visitors can be accomodated to witness the function. Earlier, Chandrashekar was another Prime Minister who took oath at this venue.         

 

BJP had a landslide victory in the just-concluded polls to elect members for the 16th Lok Sabha and crossed the magic figure of 272 in the 543-member House on its own for the first time in its history.         

 

Modi will be administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee on May 26 at 6 pm.         

At least five people were killed and 15 injured today after parts of a freight train derailed and collided with a passenger train south of Moscow, officials said. The emergencies ministry said the accident occurred at 1:00 pm local time (0900 GMT) near the town of Naro-Fominsk, about 80 kilometres southwest of Moscow, as the passenger train was travelling from the Russian capital to Moldova's capital Chisinau.

President Pranab Mukherjee hosted a farewell dinner for Dr Manmohan Singh's council of ministers, to which Sushma Swaraj was invited as she was Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. 

Tamil Nadu government today began work on increasing the Mullaiperiyar dam level to 142 feet as per the orders of the Supreme Court, with a 12-member team taking up shutter renovation work. 

That the 16th Lok Sabha won't have a Leader of the Opposition since none of the non-NDA parties has secured 54 seats (10 pc of the Lok Sabha's strength) is well-known, but what is not is the seating arrangement that is being worked out in the House.

Janata Dal-United's Jitan Ram Manjhi has been sworn in as the new chief minister of Bihar after Nitish Kumar stepped down on Monday.     

BJP leader Kalyan Singh is said to have cautioned Narendra Modi not to include three BJP leaders in his government, as they will damage the image of the new prime minister. 

The news in New Delhi is all about the swearing-in of the second NDA government on Monday at 6 pm, and the corridors of power are agog over who from the Congress will attend Narendra Modi's finest hour yet.

A communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan following Narendra Modi's meeting with the President earlier in the day said this: 'As Shri Narendra Modi has been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party and BJP has the majority support in the House of the People, the President appointed Shri Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India and requested him to advise the names of others to be appointed Members of the Council of Ministers.'

NDTV reports: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has sacked 36 state leaders with minister rank after his Samajwadi Party's rout in the national election.

The Samajwadi Party won just five seats in Uttar Pradesh, India's most politically vital state with 80 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP and its allies won 73 seats, leaving just two for the Congress.

President Pranab Mukherjee invites Narendra Modi to form the government.

He asked Modi to suggest names of other ministers to be sworn in on May 26 at 6 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan communique.

During their brief interaction Pranab congratulated Narendra Modi on his "grand victory" in elections.

PM designate Narendra Modi stakes claim to the government. The President has formally invited Modi to form a government. 

He is now addressing a presser outside Rashtrapati Bhavan. He said that he will take oath on Monday, May 26 at 6 pm.

Modi will now head to Ahmedabad, where he will he holding a rally in Maninagar. 

Narendra Modi and Pranab Mukherjee exchange greetings at Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

PM designate Narendra Modi meets President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan. They exchange bouquets. 

PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi arrives at Rashtrapati Bhavan where he will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and stake claim to the government.   

The funeral of Rediff.com contributor M P Anil Kumar will be at the Bopodi Gas Shavadahini crematorium near CME bridge, in Pune, on May 21.

BJP President Rajnath Singh says Narendra Modi will be sworn-in as the prime minister on May 26.  

The National Democratic Alliance delegation will meet President Pranab Mukherjee shortly. Senior leaders L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan.   

NDA leaders will apprise Pranab of Modi being their leader.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati dissolves all committees of her party following rout in Lok Sabha polls, according to party sources.

It made news when Dr Manmohan Singhs Prime Ministers Office went on Twitter with a verified account @PMOIndia.

The prime minister maybe vilified by his party colleagues for not being too expressive, but the PMO Twitter account was very active, posting updates on his engagements, speeches,, photographs etc.

But speculation has been rife ever since the Bharatiya Janata Partys Narendra Modi won an impressive majority on May 16 and is poised to become the next prime minister. Will Modi, who outshines every other Indian politician on social media (as well as outside of it) inherit the PMOs Twitter handle? Or will he create a new one for his PMO?

Such queries were put to rest today, when Modi was elected leader of the BJPs parliamentary party.

The PMO quickly changed its Twitter handle to @PMOIndiaArchive, describing itself as archival material under the RTI Act for @PMOIndia till 20/5/2014.

With this the decks have been cleared for Modi to inherit the @PMOIndia handle on Twitter.

NDA allies Parkash Singh Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena congratulate Modi after he delvers his address to the BJP parliamentary party.  

"I believe a government should think about the poor, listen to their problems. The new government is dedicated to the poor of India, the crores of youth and the women of India," Narendra Modi says in his address to the Parliament.

Modi says he is an optimistic. Showing a glass of water he adds, "Some say this glass is half empty, some say its half full. I say it's filled with water and air."

"Only an optimistic leader can bring optimism to the country," he said.  
      

PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi says, "This election verdict is about hope not anti-incumbency."

"Salute all those who made sacrifices for India's independence and the makers of India's constitution, who laid the foundation that makes this the largest democracy in the world. Look at the strength of the Constitution."

"A person from a poor family is standing here today. In these elections, the biggest achievement is that the common man's faith in democracy has been reinforced. This is a big thing for any nation. This is the first time a child of independent India will lead the country," he said.     

Narendra Modi says, "On September 13, I was given a responsibility and on September 15, I  began work as a party worker and on May 10, when election  campaign ended. I told Rajnath ji, I have to report. As a disciplined soldier, I reported to the party president that the job you have entrusted me I have tried to discharge but I could not do one thing. On May 9, I had to cancel one meeting... there may have been some deficiencies, I may not have been able to live up to all of your expectations.

"It was said I was here for the first time. This keeps happening to me. I saw the Vidhan Sabha after I became chief minister." 

Narendra Modi's breaks down in Parliament. "I request Advaniji not to use the word kriipa (favour). How can a son do a favour for his mother? The country is my mother, the BJP is my mother."         

Addressing his first speech after being formally elected as the BJP parliamentary party leader Narendra Modi says, "Responsibilities are bigger than posts. We are not here for posts but to fulfill people's hopes and aspirations."

"I have tried my best as a party worker."

PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi begins his speech at the Parliament Central Hall. He begins with a thank you to Rajnath Singh and Advani for electing him the leader.

An emotional Modi says wish Vajpayee was here. "If Vajpayee was here it would be an icing on the cake."         

An emotional L K Advani addresses BJP parliamentary meet.  

Rajnath Singh recalls Narendra Modi's speech in Hyderabad when he said, "Yes, we can. He then added saying, "Yes, we will!."

"We have seen him perform in Gujarat. Our victory is also due to the proven track record of our state governments."

"This is an amazing moment. The people have never participated in a  political change in India as they have this time... highest polling percentage in independent India."
   

Rajnath Singh addresses party leaders in the Central Hall of the Parliament after Modi is elected the leader of the BJP parliamentary party.

"It's a proud moment that our polity is now BJP vs others," said Rajnath as he hails the role of L K Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in making the BJP a bipolar party.

"The BJP has grown bigger than the Congress this time. All sections of the society have voted for us."      

BJP leaders and chief ministers greet Modi on being elected as BJP parliamentary board meet. Leaders then give a standing ovation to Modi.  

Chants of 'Narendra Modi zindabad' in the Central Hall of the Parliament.  

BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Gopinath Munde and other leaders second Advani's proposal as leader of the BJP parliamentary party.   

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani addresses the parliamentary board meet. He proposes Narenrda Modi's name for the prime minister's post.

Murli Manohar Joshi seconds Advani's proposal. "It is a new chapter in history," says Joshi. 

BJP chief Rajnath Singh addresses key meet in the Central Hall of the Parliament.

"Modi has come to the Parliament for the first time. It is a historic moment," says Rajnath.

Follow latest updates on Twitter: @RediffElections  

PM designate Narendra Modi reaches Parliament where the BJP parliamentary meet will begin shortly.   

Narendra Modi leaves Gujarat Bhawan for the BJP's parliamentary party meeting at Parliament's Central Hall.

At the meet, veteran leader Advani will propose Modi's name for the prime minister's post.   

A 15-member delegation of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will meet President Pranab Mukherjee this afternoon.

Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi to call on the President at 3:15 pm, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson says.

NDTV reports: As the jockeying for key posts intensifies ahead of the formation of the new government, Narendra Modi reportedly told several MPs not to lobby for key berths.

Modi on Sunday reportedly ticked off a delegation of BJP MPs from Karnataka, led by BS Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar that they should stop angling for ministries and instead work to strengthen the party in their state. 

This morning Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, Smirit Irani, who lost to Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, and BJP's ally in Punjab Parkash Singh Badal met Modi.

Follow latest updates on Twitter: @RediffElections  

The BJP parliamentary board meeting veteran leader L K Advani will be proposing Narendra Modi's name and senior leaders Venkaiah Naidu, Jaitley, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj among others will second it.

The buzz was that Advani could be touted as Lok Sabha speaker sources now say that the party patriarch could be asked to be a guiding light for the party, CNN-IBN reports.

Murli Manohar Joshi could be made the defence minister.

Follow latest updates on Twitter: @RediffElections

United States Senator John McCain has congratulated Narendra Modi and his party on the resounding electoral success in the Lok Sabha elections and hoped to work with his government to revitalise bilateral relations.

"I congratulate Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party for their resounding success in India's election '" an election that was, by itself, a powerful and inspiring demonstration of the vibrancy of the world's largest democracy," McCain said.

McCain, the Republican presidential candidate in the 2004 elections, said, "The successful rise of India as a prosperous nation and a democratic great power is fundamentally in America's national interest. I look forward to working with Mr Modi and his government to revitalize and expand the immense promise of the US-India strategic partnership."

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar meets Narendra Modi at Gujarat Bhawan in New Delhi.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray is also expected to hold talks with Modi. He may give the PM designate a free hand in assigning cabinet berths to Sena leaders, CNN-IBN reports. 

Follow latest updates on Twitter: @RediffElections

With the Congress suffering a shattering defeat, party president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi are said to be averse to taking up the post of Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.

This could brighten the chances of Kamal Nath, the senior-most Congress MP, becoming leader of the Congress in the House.

He can become the leader of the opposition if the Speaker relaxes the rules or recognises the entire UPA as a block, which has 56 MPs.

Prime Minister elect Narendra Modi is expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee today and and take claim to form the new government.

Ahead of his meet with the president, Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board will anoint him as their leader.

Follow latest updates on Twitter: @RediffElections

As if the deadly flooding inundating much of the Balkans wasn't alarming enough, rescuers must now grapple with another concern: the risk of landmines from the Bosnian war resurfacing.

 

"A vast number of landslides have worsened the situation and relief efforts," the Red Cross said, describing the rains as the "worst floods in more than a century."

 

The epic flooding is the worst Serbia has seen since the country began keeping records 120 years ago, meteorologists said. "There are reports that landmines buried during the conflict and not yet removed are in some instances being shifted with the landslides, adding (to) the dangers of people living in the areas as well as rescuers," the Red Cross said.

 

Read more on CNN

The US has charged five Chinese army officers with hacking into private-sector American companies in a bid for competitive advantage, in the first cyber-espionage case of its kind.

 

Attorney General Eric Holder said the alleged breaches were "significant" and demanded "an aggressive response". US prosecutors say the officers stole trade secrets and internal documents from five companies and a labour union.

Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has been found guilty of supporting terrorism by an American court. He was accused of conspiring to aid organisations like al-Qaeda.

 

Prosecutors at the court in New York said Hamza - who was tried as Mustafa Kamel Mustafa - assisted the kidnappers of 16 tourists in Yemen in 1998 and attempted to build a terrorist training camp in Oregon. Hamza denied supporting terrorism.

 

Read more on BBC

Sonia, Rahul averse to Leader of Opposition's post

Modi to be elected BJP, NDA leader on Tuesday

Sonia, Rahul offer to resign, party rejects it

Jaya sacks 3 ministers, six party functionaries

Modi, Advani among 10 Gujarat MPs facing criminal cases

Nitish selects Jitan Ram Manjhi as new Bihar CM

PIX: New navy chief says steps taken to prevent future mishaps

Priyanka admits to submitting multiple applications for DIN

Two Indian journalists leave Islamabad after abrupt expulsion

All Planning Commission members submit their resignations

Union Home Secretary briefs Modi on security situation

What went wrong, Mulayam asks unsuccessful SP candidates

Will befriend Modi; no confrontation with Naidu: TRS

Aarushi case: Rajesh, Nupur Talwar bail plea denied

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