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Thu, 23 February 2017
1 arrested in Rs 2,000 note from ‘Children Bank of India’ case
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23:20 1 arrested in Rs 2,000 note from Children Bank of India case
One person was on Thursday arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district in connection with a fake Rs 2,000 note which was dispensed from a State Bank of India ATM in Delhi.
The arrested person has been identified as Mohammad Isha, 27. He is an employee of Brinks Arya Pvt Ltd. which is responsible for installing currency notes in ATMs.
Isha was the custodian of the cash at the time it was being filled inside the ATM machine.
Yesterday, a call centre employee registered a complaint at the Sangam Vihar Police Station in the national capital when he withdrew Rs 8,000.
However, the withdrawn notes were found to be fake.
The fake note read 'Children Bank of India' in English and 'Bharatiya Manoranjan Bank' in Hindi.
The arrested person has been identified as Mohammad Isha, 27. He is an employee of Brinks Arya Pvt Ltd. which is responsible for installing currency notes in ATMs.
Isha was the custodian of the cash at the time it was being filled inside the ATM machine.
Yesterday, a call centre employee registered a complaint at the Sangam Vihar Police Station in the national capital when he withdrew Rs 8,000.
However, the withdrawn notes were found to be fake.
The fake note read 'Children Bank of India' in English and 'Bharatiya Manoranjan Bank' in Hindi.
22:13 BMC polls: Uddhav, BJP leaders indicate post-poll alliance
With Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections throwing no clear winner as the BJP has won 82 seats and the Shiv Sena 84, senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil said that both the parties should join hands in Mumbai.
"Enough of bitterness. Now, it's time to come together again," Patil, minister in Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry said, indicating that the bickering allies in the state government could come together after today's fractured
verdict.
Even Union minister Uma Bharti thinks that the BJP ans Sena should come together in the BMC.
"BJP aur Shiv Sena ka toh bohot purana pyaar hai, iss pyaar se koi na koi parinaam nikal hi aayga," she said.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray also asserted that the city mayor would be from the party, an indication that he could go for a hard bargain if the two saffron parties were to come together again.
"Is there any other option than the two parties coming together, given the number of seats each one has bagged? Will they (Shiv Sena) take support of Congress?" said Patil, known to have excellent rapport with the central BJP leadership.
"Instead of indulging in unscientific things, like taking Congress along, both the parties should do things which are scientific and come together to govern Mumbai," Patil said.
"Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray should decide the power-sharing formula. Both are good friends," the minister said.
21:17 BJP to observe 'vijay utsav' across country on Feb 25
The BJP will celebrate its impressive show in the Odisha and Maharashtra civic polls as 'vijay utsav' (victory celebration) on February 25 across all its district offices in the country.
Its president Amit Shah made the decision today following the declaration of Maharashtra results where it has achieved "unprecedented success", its national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
Shah also congratulated Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state unit chief Raosaheb Patil Danve over the results.
"I express heartfelt greetings to the people of Maharashtra for expressing their faith in the BJP's development and 'sabka saath sabka vikas' (with all, for everybody's development) ideology," he said in a tweet.
21:00 Maha civic polls: PM thanks people for reposing faith in BJP
Elated over BJP's performance in Maharashtra civic polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra for reposing their faith in the "politics of development" and "good governance".
Noting that the "overwhelming blessings" in Maharashtra came after Odisha, he thanked "each and every Indian for continuously placing their faith in BJP" and said "We are working determinately to create a strong & inclusive India."
In a series of tweets, he praised BJP workers, particularly Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state party president Raosaheb Danve Patil, for tirelessly working for the people.
"It has been a great start to 2017! First the unprecedented support in Odisha & now the overwhelming blessings from people of Maharashtra," he said in a tweet.
"Extremely thankful to the sisters & brothers of Maharashtra for reposing their faith in BJP & in politics of development & good governance," Modi said.
The prime minister said through hardwork, determination and work on the ground, "BJP is now a strong force both in urban & rural Maharashtra. Congrats to Karyakartas."
He added, "BJP is unwavering in the resolve to serve Maharashtra with unparalleled diligence, transparency & taking the state to even greater heights."
The BJP today made big gains in Bombay Municipal Corporation polls as it came a close second to the Shiv Sena bagging 80 seats in the 227-member cash-rich body. Sena got 84 seats.
The BJP was also set to gain control of at least six civic bodies -- Pune, Nashik, Ulhasnagar, Akola, Nagpur and Amravati -- out of the 10 corporations for which the elections were held on Tuesday. The party also did well in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation.
20:13 Congress's opposition to DeMo is costing it dearly: Jaitley
Elated by BJP's good show in civic polls in Odisha and Maharashtra, Finance Minister Arun Jatiley took potshots at the Congress, saying it has become "a crowd around a fading dynasty".
The Congress party's stiff opposition to demonetisation has cost the party dear as the government's decision got overwhelming support from the poor, the senior BJP leader said in a Facebook post.
The BJP registered an unprecedented win in municipal elections in Maharashtra and made significant gains in eastern state of Odisha.
Hitting out at the current Congress leadership, Jaitley said that if the current representative of the "dynasty lacks the ability to lead the party or the country, the party suffers. It becomes a crowd around a fading dynasty. This now seems obvious in the case of the Congress".
The Congress, he said, has "lost its image as a responsible political organisation".
"From a natural party of governance, it has moved to the fringe. Its policies have alienated its constituency of the poor aam aadmi," he added.
Jaitley further said parties which adopt dynastic succession as an alternative to merit-based leadership creation suffer from a natural disadvantage.
"Tall leaders do not grow in such parties. The strength of the party overlaps with the charisma of the current generation of the dynasty," he said.
Referring to note ban decision, the minister said the Congress' stand on demonetisation of high value currency "is costing it dearly".
20:11 No security stamp on hand baggage tag at seven airports
Fliers from seven airports, including Delhi and Mumbai, will no longer have to get security stamp on their hand baggages with authorities scrapping the system following successful trial runs.
In a circular today, civil aviation security regulator BCAS said the system of putting security stamp on hand baggage tags would be immediately done away with at seven airports -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Cochin.
19:39
Over 61 per cent polling in phase 4 of Uttar Pradesh assembly election: EC
19:32 Mumbai mayor, next CM will be from Shiv Sena: Uddhav
Even as his party needs post-poll alliance to claim the cash-rich BMC, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray said that Mumbai mayor and the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be from his party.
After months of acrimonious campaign for India's richest civic body, the Shiv Sena was narrowly in the lead, winning 84 seats, followed closely by the BJP with 82.
Uddhav is satisfied with the election outcome and said, "The Shiv Sena has done better in these election. Even Muslim voters have turned towards the Shiv Sena."
A party needs 114 seats to stake claim to the mayor's post.
19:23
BJP's Atul Shah won ward no 220 of BMC after lottery in presence of Municipal Commissioner
18:52 Delhi: Fire breaks out at forest area near Rajghat
A fire broke out at forest area near Rajghat in New Delhi.
Five fire tenders have reached at the spot.
More details are awaited.
18:18 AIADMK asks OPS to move out of official residence
Former Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam has received a notice to vacate his official residence in Chennai, which was allotted to him when he was a minister in 2012. Pannerselvam terms the move as vindictive and says he has every right to continue for two months paying the rent at a market rate. OPS, however, has
found a private bungalow in Chennai which belonged to an AIADMK party activist and that is where he will move in shortly.
found a private bungalow in Chennai which belonged to an AIADMK party activist and that is where he will move in shortly.
18:14 My life in Rangoon
If you've had quite enough of the Maharashtra civic polls, take a break and go back in time with the engaging piece of a woman's reminiscences of Rangoon in the swinging sixties.
Monica Sindhwani's family lived in Myanmar for generations but left Rangoon for India, when she was just 20. Married to a retired Indian Army officer, she relives her memories of the pagodas, the greenery and the home she left nearly 40 years ago, with Rediff.com's Archana Masih, on the eve of the release of Vishal Bhardwaj's epic film, which is set in Rangoon of the 1940s. Do read
Monica Sindhwani's family lived in Myanmar for generations but left Rangoon for India, when she was just 20. Married to a retired Indian Army officer, she relives her memories of the pagodas, the greenery and the home she left nearly 40 years ago, with Rediff.com's Archana Masih, on the eve of the release of Vishal Bhardwaj's epic film, which is set in Rangoon of the 1940s. Do read
18:07
BJP spokesperson Shaina NC with party workers celebrate the party's spectacular results at the Dadar HQ. Pic: Sahil Salvi.
18:02 More reactions
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: People have rejected Congress and NCP and shown faith in BJP's pro-poor agenda.
Anupam Kher: Abhi to 'Party' shuru hui hai. Jai Ho!!:)
Anupam Kher: Abhi to 'Party' shuru hui hai. Jai Ho!!:)
17:59 Victory due to PM Modi, says Maha CM Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis addressing a press conference after the BJP's spectacular results in the civic body polls. To chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai by party workers, Fadnavis credits the results of the 'win' to the "PM Narendra Modi's guidance'. "I thank the people of Maharashtra, it's an unprecedented victory," says Fadnavis
"The way PM Modi has started the trend of transparency in India, am thankful people of Maharashtra have accepted that. This huge victory for BJP is on the agenda of transparency," Fadnavis said. "But theres a tie for number one spot," he added.
"We won 31 seats previously, and now 81 which is a quantum jump. We lost 20 seats with very less margin. There's been a good show in the Zilla Parishad polls too. Out of 9, will form govt in 8 civic bodies on our own -- Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Ulhasnagar, Solapur, Nashik. I don't think of myself as a king, I think of myself as a worker," says Fadnavis.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, whose son won, doesn't rule out an alliance with former ally Shiv Sena. "The Shiv Sena and Congress joined hands even before the elections. In UP, too, Congress joined hands with SP. Will Congress now help Shiv Sena just to stop Mumbai BJP?" asks Kirit Somaiya.
"The way PM Modi has started the trend of transparency in India, am thankful people of Maharashtra have accepted that. This huge victory for BJP is on the agenda of transparency," Fadnavis said. "But theres a tie for number one spot," he added.
"We won 31 seats previously, and now 81 which is a quantum jump. We lost 20 seats with very less margin. There's been a good show in the Zilla Parishad polls too. Out of 9, will form govt in 8 civic bodies on our own -- Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Ulhasnagar, Solapur, Nashik. I don't think of myself as a king, I think of myself as a worker," says Fadnavis.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, whose son won, doesn't rule out an alliance with former ally Shiv Sena. "The Shiv Sena and Congress joined hands even before the elections. In UP, too, Congress joined hands with SP. Will Congress now help Shiv Sena just to stop Mumbai BJP?" asks Kirit Somaiya.
17:13 Who will be Mumbai's Mayor?
Independents will be the king makers; BJP and SS, stuck at 81 and 84 respectively are claiming support of four independent, out of which Raja Rehbar Khan has already declared his support to the BJP.
17:13
Maharashtra Chief Minister Dev Fadnavis felicitated by supporters for BJP's performance in local body polls.
17:10 Will NOT ally with BJP, Sena's Manohar Joshi says
Senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi says the party will not ally with the BJP. "We are not considering an alliance with the BJP. But the final call on this will be taken by the party chief Uddhavji," Joshi said while leaving Matoshree this afternoon.
Sena senior leader Anil Parab said that the party was talking with independents to retain power in the BMC. "Sena has lost some seats by a small margin. Since we have won 84 seats in BMC, the mayor will be from Sena," Parab said.
MUmbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said that the BJP's win was in fact bigger than Shiv Sena's. "While Shiv Sena seats gone up marginally from last elections, our seats have gone up three times," Shelar said.
The BJP has won record seats in the Mumbai municipal corporation polls -- the country's richest municipal body. They have more than doubled their tally of 31 seats in 2012 with a whopping 81 now.
Final tally.
Shiv Sena 84, BJP 81, CONG 31, OTH 14, NCP 9, MNS 7.
File pic.
Sena senior leader Anil Parab said that the party was talking with independents to retain power in the BMC. "Sena has lost some seats by a small margin. Since we have won 84 seats in BMC, the mayor will be from Sena," Parab said.
MUmbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said that the BJP's win was in fact bigger than Shiv Sena's. "While Shiv Sena seats gone up marginally from last elections, our seats have gone up three times," Shelar said.
The BJP has won record seats in the Mumbai municipal corporation polls -- the country's richest municipal body. They have more than doubled their tally of 31 seats in 2012 with a whopping 81 now.
Final tally.
Shiv Sena 84, BJP 81, CONG 31, OTH 14, NCP 9, MNS 7.
File pic.
16:30
BJP leader Vinod Tawde celebrates: Congratulations to all the candidates on their success. Next 5 years is a continuous journey to stand true to the faith entrusted by people
16:22
Slightly premature celebrations in the Shiv Sena camp. Pic: Satish Bodas.
16:12 BJP wins 81 Mumbai seats, Sena just three seats ahead at 84
Elections to the BMC have taken a dramatic twist with the Bharatiya Janata Party surging ahead late afternoon to be almost neck-and-neck with the Shiv Sena which till then had seemed the clear winner in the high-stakes municipal elections in Mumbai.
The BJP has now won in 81 of the 227 civic wards in Mumbai, with the Shiv Sena just three seats ahead at 84. With three more results to come in, it seems unlikely that the national party can overtake its former ally, but what the results indicate is that the BJP cannot be kept out of power.
The declared results are: Shiv Sena 84; BJP 81; Congress 30; NCP 9, MNS 7; Others 13. Three results are yet to be declared.
BJP's Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar declares party's win on 81 seats and claims support of 4 other corporators.
BJP's Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar declares party's win on 81 seats and claims support of 4 other corporators.
15:30 PM's kick-ass speech in UP targets Akhilesh's donkey jibe
The donkey occupied the prime slot in PM Narendra Modi's speech at Bharaich today.
At the rally in Uttar Pradesh today, he began his address opaquely referring to himself as the "donkey of Gujarat". "The people of this country are my master, I take inspiration from the donkey because I work for people day and night," said Modi on the state's fourth of seven rounds of voting.
The PM targeted Akhilesh's 'donkey' earlier speech this week, saying he was surprised that caste politics was being used on donkeys too. "Mai hairan hoon ki aap ki jaati-wadi maansikta, ki pashu mein bhi unch-neech ka bhav dekhne lag gaye? Gadha aapko itna bura lagne laga? Gadha bhi humein prerna deta hai, woh humesha apne maalik ke prati wafadar hota hai aur zimmedariyon ko nibhata ha," the PM said.
The reference to the donkey alludes to Akhilesh Yadav's remark on the donkeys of Gujarat saying, 'Main sadi ke mahanayak se appeal karta hoon ke Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar mat karein (I appeal to the superstar of the
century to not campaign for the donkeys of Gujarat) was taken
as more loaded than witty. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan is the face of Gujarat tourism and one of the ads features the ass of the Rann of Kutch.
Akhilesh went on, "Ek gadhe ka vigyapan aata hai, main iss sadi ke sabse
bade mahanayak se kahunga ke ab aap Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar mat kariye (There's an ad on TV which shows donkeys. I appeal to century's biggest star...please stop endorsing donkeys of Gujarat)," Akhilesh had said.
Modi hit back today saying, "Akhilesh should know when Congress was in power as part of UPA, it came out with postal stamps on donkeys of Gujarat. Akhileshji aap jahan ke gadhe ki baat kr rahe, wo whi jagah h jahan Gandhi, Sardar Patel ne janm liya, Krishna ne use apna karmbhoomi banaya."
As voting has progressed in Uttar Pradesh, whose result will be used to weigh the PM's chances of winning the next general election in two years, speeches by the main leaders have devolved into invective.
At the rally in Uttar Pradesh today, he began his address opaquely referring to himself as the "donkey of Gujarat". "The people of this country are my master, I take inspiration from the donkey because I work for people day and night," said Modi on the state's fourth of seven rounds of voting.
The PM targeted Akhilesh's 'donkey' earlier speech this week, saying he was surprised that caste politics was being used on donkeys too. "Mai hairan hoon ki aap ki jaati-wadi maansikta, ki pashu mein bhi unch-neech ka bhav dekhne lag gaye? Gadha aapko itna bura lagne laga? Gadha bhi humein prerna deta hai, woh humesha apne maalik ke prati wafadar hota hai aur zimmedariyon ko nibhata ha," the PM said.
The reference to the donkey alludes to Akhilesh Yadav's remark on the donkeys of Gujarat saying, 'Main sadi ke mahanayak se appeal karta hoon ke Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar mat karein (I appeal to the superstar of the
century to not campaign for the donkeys of Gujarat) was taken
as more loaded than witty. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan is the face of Gujarat tourism and one of the ads features the ass of the Rann of Kutch.
Akhilesh went on, "Ek gadhe ka vigyapan aata hai, main iss sadi ke sabse
bade mahanayak se kahunga ke ab aap Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar mat kariye (There's an ad on TV which shows donkeys. I appeal to century's biggest star...please stop endorsing donkeys of Gujarat)," Akhilesh had said.
Modi hit back today saying, "Akhilesh should know when Congress was in power as part of UPA, it came out with postal stamps on donkeys of Gujarat. Akhileshji aap jahan ke gadhe ki baat kr rahe, wo whi jagah h jahan Gandhi, Sardar Patel ne janm liya, Krishna ne use apna karmbhoomi banaya."
As voting has progressed in Uttar Pradesh, whose result will be used to weigh the PM's chances of winning the next general election in two years, speeches by the main leaders have devolved into invective.
14:51 Sasikala's nephew Dinakaran takes charge as AIADMK's dy gen secy
TTV Dhinakaran on Thursday took charge as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)'s deputy general secretary.
"Thiru TTV Dinakaran takes charge as AIADMK's Deputy General Secretary," AIADMK tweeted. Dhinakaran was appointed as the Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK by party leader VK Sasikala Natarajan on February 15.
Sasikala took the decision following the Supreme Court's verdict wherein she was sentenced to four-year imprisonment in disproportionate asset case.
Dhinakaran, who is the nephew of Sasikala was expelled from the party in 2011 by the late former chief minister J Jayalaithaa, but a comeback after her death.
"Thiru TTV Dinakaran takes charge as AIADMK's Deputy General Secretary," AIADMK tweeted. Dhinakaran was appointed as the Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK by party leader VK Sasikala Natarajan on February 15.
Sasikala took the decision following the Supreme Court's verdict wherein she was sentenced to four-year imprisonment in disproportionate asset case.
Dhinakaran, who is the nephew of Sasikala was expelled from the party in 2011 by the late former chief minister J Jayalaithaa, but a comeback after her death.
14:39 Kerala to launch sex offenders registry, first in the country
The Kerala government will launch a registry of sex offenders, the first of its kind in the country, Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam said today. The registry will contain all identification details of sex offenders and would be kept in public domain, he said while detailing plans to check atrocities against women in the state. "It will be the first in the country," he said.
14:38 Kerala: Main accused in actress molestation case surrenders in court
Pulsar Sunil, the prime accused in last weeks abduction and molestation of a popular actress in Kerala, was arrested by the police Thursday after he surrendered in court in Ernakulam. The police had been on the lookout for Sunil and had come close to nabbing him from Coimbatore in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
The actress, who was travelling on the night of February 17 from Thrissur to Kochi, was abducted from her car by a gang allegedly led by Sunil. After taking photos and videos, the men dropped the actress near the home of a film producer. Martin, the man who was driving the actresss car, was the first to be arrested by the police.
The victim had told the police in her complaint that Sunil committed the crime at the behest of others and that he had told her that he had been hired to kidnap her. If she resisted, he would have to use force, Sunil reportedly told the actress.
The CM had shrugged off a question on reports that the son of a top party politician may be involved in the case. The BJP leadership had brought up the name of the son of a leading politician and the role of a CPI-M activist from Kannur in the kidnapping case.
The actress, who was travelling on the night of February 17 from Thrissur to Kochi, was abducted from her car by a gang allegedly led by Sunil. After taking photos and videos, the men dropped the actress near the home of a film producer. Martin, the man who was driving the actresss car, was the first to be arrested by the police.
The victim had told the police in her complaint that Sunil committed the crime at the behest of others and that he had told her that he had been hired to kidnap her. If she resisted, he would have to use force, Sunil reportedly told the actress.
The CM had shrugged off a question on reports that the son of a top party politician may be involved in the case. The BJP leadership had brought up the name of the son of a leading politician and the role of a CPI-M activist from Kannur in the kidnapping case.
14:05 Sanjay Nirupam offers to quit over Cong's poor show
Congress's decimation in the Maharashtra local body polls in many ways reflects its steady erosion in national politics as well. The Congress (22) is a poor #3 in the BMC polls, which it had ruled till 1995. The party chief Mumbai, Sanjay Nirupam, has offered to quit. Nirupam, a former Shiv Sainik has never been able to elevate the fortunes of the party in the city. Before him, Gurdas Kamath, who was Cong chief, resigned from the party citing differences with Nirupam.
13:52 Shiv Sena is king of Mumbai, BJP in rest of Maharashtra
While the Shiv Sena is inching its way to a clear majority in the BMC polls, elsewhere in Maharashtra the BJP is clearly in the lead.
The BJP figures (results) so far.
Pune 46
Nagpur 22. Sena hasn't even opened an account yet.
Nashik 21
Solapur 22
Akola 14
Amravati 11
Zilla Parishad polls it's neck and neck: 92, Sena 94, Cong 94
The Shiv Sena, vying to retain control of the cash-rich BMC, took an early lead followed by the BJP, according to trends emerging from 10 municipal
corporations and 25 zilla parishads in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena snatches back its stronghold Dadar from MNS leading on 6 out of 7 seats. In fact, the Sena is so confident of retaining its majority in the BMC that it has already begun celebrating. This is the Shiv Sena's first elections after Bal Thackeray's death and if they can go it alone without the BJP, it will be a big boost for Uddhav.
Counting of votes for 132 wards of Thane Municipal Corporation underway; SS leading in 10 wards, NCP on 1 & MNS on 1. BJP winning big in Pune and may get majority if trends continue. BJP sweeps Nagpur, leads in all wards counted so far.
The prime focus is on the cash-rich 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation with the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena at the forefront of this battle of might. The results will determine the fate of 21,620 candidates for 5,777 seats up for grabs in the 10 municipal corporations, 25 zilla parishads and 283 panchayat samitis for which the elections were held in two phases.
Nearly 56 per cent voters had exercised their right to franchise during the elections to the 10 municipal corporations held on Tuesday. The Mumbai civic body BMC recorded about 55 per cent turn-out.
Image: A Shiv Sainik waves the party flag outside Sena Bhavan in Dadar. The Sena leads in the Dadar seats, which was with the MNS earlier. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
The BJP figures (results) so far.
Pune 46
Nagpur 22. Sena hasn't even opened an account yet.
Nashik 21
Solapur 22
Akola 14
Amravati 11
Zilla Parishad polls it's neck and neck: 92, Sena 94, Cong 94
The Shiv Sena, vying to retain control of the cash-rich BMC, took an early lead followed by the BJP, according to trends emerging from 10 municipal
corporations and 25 zilla parishads in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena snatches back its stronghold Dadar from MNS leading on 6 out of 7 seats. In fact, the Sena is so confident of retaining its majority in the BMC that it has already begun celebrating. This is the Shiv Sena's first elections after Bal Thackeray's death and if they can go it alone without the BJP, it will be a big boost for Uddhav.
Counting of votes for 132 wards of Thane Municipal Corporation underway; SS leading in 10 wards, NCP on 1 & MNS on 1. BJP winning big in Pune and may get majority if trends continue. BJP sweeps Nagpur, leads in all wards counted so far.
The prime focus is on the cash-rich 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation with the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena at the forefront of this battle of might. The results will determine the fate of 21,620 candidates for 5,777 seats up for grabs in the 10 municipal corporations, 25 zilla parishads and 283 panchayat samitis for which the elections were held in two phases.
Nearly 56 per cent voters had exercised their right to franchise during the elections to the 10 municipal corporations held on Tuesday. The Mumbai civic body BMC recorded about 55 per cent turn-out.
Image: A Shiv Sainik waves the party flag outside Sena Bhavan in Dadar. The Sena leads in the Dadar seats, which was with the MNS earlier. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
13:40
Congress leader Milind Deora tweets: Conclusion one can draw from BMC election results is that Mumbaikars seem content living with potholes, flooding, malaria & water tankers. Congress leads in 20 wards.
13:37 Mumbai voted for us, says jubilant Shiv Sena
#BMC Polls 2017: Shiv Sena leading in 88 wards, BJP in 54 wards, Congress in 20 wards, MNS in 10 wards, Others in 14 wards.
Shiv Sena sweeps Marathi heartland -- Parel, Lalbaug and Dadar. Bags 11 out of 13 seats. MNS wiped out. Congress and BJP win one seat each. Scuffle between Shiv Sena and BJP workers at Dadar.
The BMC has been controlled by the Shiv Sena for the last 20 years and its biggest challenge is from the BJP, its ally since 1992. The two parties contested separately this time after the Sena called off the partnership ahead of the elections.
As leads rolled in, the Shiv Sena's Anil Desai said there was "no chance" of his party taking support of the BJP if it is short of majority at 114 of the BMC's 227 seats. The BJP's Madhav Bhandari said, it was too early to predict the result.
BJP MP Kirit Somaiya's son Neil (pictured alongside) wins from ward number 108 (Kurla, West).
Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM wins 5 seats in Solapur Municipal Corporation.
Ex-Shiv Sena Mayor Shraddha Jadhav wins consecutively for the 6th time from ward no. 202 (Parel).
Image: Celebrations outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, Mumbai. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
Shiv Sena sweeps Marathi heartland -- Parel, Lalbaug and Dadar. Bags 11 out of 13 seats. MNS wiped out. Congress and BJP win one seat each. Scuffle between Shiv Sena and BJP workers at Dadar.
The BMC has been controlled by the Shiv Sena for the last 20 years and its biggest challenge is from the BJP, its ally since 1992. The two parties contested separately this time after the Sena called off the partnership ahead of the elections.
As leads rolled in, the Shiv Sena's Anil Desai said there was "no chance" of his party taking support of the BJP if it is short of majority at 114 of the BMC's 227 seats. The BJP's Madhav Bhandari said, it was too early to predict the result.
BJP MP Kirit Somaiya's son Neil (pictured alongside) wins from ward number 108 (Kurla, West).
Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM wins 5 seats in Solapur Municipal Corporation.
Ex-Shiv Sena Mayor Shraddha Jadhav wins consecutively for the 6th time from ward no. 202 (Parel).
Image: Celebrations outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, Mumbai. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
13:37
Congress city president Sanjay Nirupam takes responsibility of defeat. Offers to resign.
Shiv Sena's sitting corporator and leader of the House Trushna Vishwasrao loses to Congress' Sufiyan Vanu.
Shiv Sena's sitting corporator and leader of the House Trushna Vishwasrao loses to Congress' Sufiyan Vanu.
13:26
Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar's brother Vinod loses to Sena's Swapnil Tembvalkar
11:13 Congress slams Amit Shah's 'derogatory' Kasab remark
Hitting back at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah over his 'Kasab' remark, Congress on Thursday said only a failed leader can use such derogatory language.
"Only a failed leader can use such derogatory and cheap language," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI.
Criticising BJP president, Surjewala further said that using abusive language and fake phrases is habit of Amit Shah. Condemning Shah's statement, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi yesterday said that it was violation of the model code of conduct, adding that BJP president's statement shows the communal mindset of the saffron party.
"We need to end acronyms. Through Amit Shah's statement BJP's repulsive thinking is brought out. It shows party's communal mindset which is reprehensible It was a clear violation of the model code of conduct. It was a violation of rule and law.," Singhvi told ANI.Amit Shah drew flak from the opposition for devising 'KASAB' as an acronym for describing Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party.
"Only a failed leader can use such derogatory and cheap language," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI.
Criticising BJP president, Surjewala further said that using abusive language and fake phrases is habit of Amit Shah. Condemning Shah's statement, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi yesterday said that it was violation of the model code of conduct, adding that BJP president's statement shows the communal mindset of the saffron party.
"We need to end acronyms. Through Amit Shah's statement BJP's repulsive thinking is brought out. It shows party's communal mindset which is reprehensible It was a clear violation of the model code of conduct. It was a violation of rule and law.," Singhvi told ANI.Amit Shah drew flak from the opposition for devising 'KASAB' as an acronym for describing Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party.
11:08 Civic polls in numbers
Vital stats on the Maharashtra civic polls.
A total of 17,331 candidates are in the fray for 3,210 seats.
The stakes are high for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who led their respective parties from the front and were involved in a no-holds-barred campaign, relegating the opposition Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and other players like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen to the background.
Apart from Mumbai, the municipal corporations which went to the polls included Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur.
As many as 43,160 polling booths were set up and around 2.76 lakh election staff and equal number of police personnel were deployed for the conduct of the elections.
More than 1.80 crore electorate were eligible to exercise their franchise in the zilla parishads and panchayat samitis while the total number of urban voters stood at 1.95 crore.In Mumbai, there are 2,275 candidates and 92 lakh voters.
A total of 17,331 candidates are in the fray for 3,210 seats.
The stakes are high for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who led their respective parties from the front and were involved in a no-holds-barred campaign, relegating the opposition Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and other players like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen to the background.
Apart from Mumbai, the municipal corporations which went to the polls included Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur.
As many as 43,160 polling booths were set up and around 2.76 lakh election staff and equal number of police personnel were deployed for the conduct of the elections.
More than 1.80 crore electorate were eligible to exercise their franchise in the zilla parishads and panchayat samitis while the total number of urban voters stood at 1.95 crore.In Mumbai, there are 2,275 candidates and 92 lakh voters.
10:44 Maha civic polls: Sena leads in Mumbai, BJP in Nagpur
Sena leads in 12 seats in Mumbai as against seven for the BJP and 1 for the Congress of the 227 seats in the fiercely-fought Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Counting for polls to 10 municipal corporations and 25 zilla parishads across Maharashtra began this morning.
The BMC, Asia's richest civic body, has been controlled by the Shiv Sena for the last 20 years and the party says it is coming back again. The two parties contested separately this time after the Shiv Sena called off the partnership ahead of the civic polls. 55 percent voted in the BMC elections on Tuesday, the highest voter turnout in 25 years.
Leads so far:
Thane: BJP 1, Sena: 3
Mumbai: BJP 5, Sena 9, Cong 1
Nagpur BJP 3
Pune BJP 12 NCP 6
Nashik BJP 4 Sena 2 NCP 2
The BMC, Asia's richest civic body, has been controlled by the Shiv Sena for the last 20 years and the party says it is coming back again. The two parties contested separately this time after the Shiv Sena called off the partnership ahead of the civic polls. 55 percent voted in the BMC elections on Tuesday, the highest voter turnout in 25 years.
Leads so far:
Thane: BJP 1, Sena: 3
Mumbai: BJP 5, Sena 9, Cong 1
Nagpur BJP 3
Pune BJP 12 NCP 6
Nashik BJP 4 Sena 2 NCP 2
10:25 Sena leads in BMC polls
BMC Polls 2017: Counting underway in Mumbai; Shiv Sena takes early lead on ward no 200 and 202, while BJP leads on ward no 218.
10:18 Why Indians vote for dons and criminals
"The voter thinks that the State is not going to impartially deliver services, provide justice, basic law and order, social insurance -- so as a voter it's very rational that I may choose a criminal who will help me navigate the State. A weak State allows a criminal politician to be the person who provides that guarantee to mediate whatever problem the citizen has with the State."
Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow at the Washington, DC-based global think- tank, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, explores the nexus between crime, democracy and the marketplace for criminals in his first book, When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics. He speaks to Archana Masih/Rediff.com. Do read.
Image: RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin who has been convicted for a variety of crimes, including murder.
Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow at the Washington, DC-based global think- tank, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, explores the nexus between crime, democracy and the marketplace for criminals in his first book, When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics. He speaks to Archana Masih/Rediff.com. Do read.
Image: RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin who has been convicted for a variety of crimes, including murder.
10:09
DMK delegation led by MK Stalin to meet President Pranab Mukherjee today to highlight the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
09:50 Ramjas College violence: Students demand ABVP members' arrest
Protests will on continue today after teachers, students and journalists were wounded on the Delhi University campus a day earlier in clashes over the disruption of a literary festival at the Ramjas College, allegedly by members of the ABVP.
The All India Students Association of the Delhi University has called for a joint protest with students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University at the Delhi Police headquarters at ITO. They are demanding that the arrest the ABVP members who allegedly attacked students and teachers on Wednesday.
The National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Congress, has also called for a peace march from the JNU arts faculty to the Maurice Nagar police station.
The students are demanding action against the ABVP members who had allegedly heckled and threw stones at students gathered for a seminar at a conference hall on Tuesday, where controversial JNU student Umar Khalid was invited to speak.
09:36 Bharti Airtel to acquire Telenor India
Telecom operator Bharti Airtel Will acquire the business of Telenor India for an undisclosed sum in all seven circles where it holds spectrum.
Airtel today said it has "entered into a definitive agreement with Telenor South Asia Investments Pte Ltd to acquire Telenor (India) Communications Private Limited."
In a separate statement, Telenor said that the transaction will not trigger any impairment. As of fourth quarter 2016, the remaining value of tangible and intangible assets in Telenor India amounted to NOK 0.3 billion. The transaction is expected to close within 12 months," Telenor said.
09:15 Sasikala seeks table fan, mattress again in jail
AIADMK general secretary Sasikala, whose chief ministerial ambitions were crushed after she was convicted in the disproportionate assets case, who is now lodged in a prison in Bengaluru is hoping to get better facilities in view of her age and poor health.
Chinamma is fine, though weak. Her sugar level and blood pressure are normal. She is adjusting to the prison life. She has applied for better facilities. We hope she gets them," said V Pugazhendi, secretary of the AIADMK's Karnataka unit.
"We are hoping the authorities will consider her request for better amenities like a cot, mattress, table fan and attached bathroom so that she can take care of her health till she gets transferred to the Central Jail in Chennai," she added. Sasikala's similar requests of home cooked food and mineral water were denied by authorities.
Presently, she is serving the remainder of her sentence alongwith her sister-in-law Elavarasi and her nephew VK Sudhakaran. However, the sentence could be extended should she fail to pay her hefty Rs 10 crore fine.
09:03 Australia wins toss, to bat first
JUST IN: Australia have won the toss and have decided to bat first in the first test match between the two teams taking place in Pune.
09:01 This is war between 2 ideologies & the student community will fight back: Umar Khalid
Umar Khalid, the student at the heart of the violence witnessed at Ramjas College in New Delhi on Wednesday, condemned the incident said that the attack was not to target him but it was an attempt to curb free speech and expression.
"It is an attempt to curb the voice of every student of Delhi University."
He added: "On the second day of the seminar on Wednesday, I was there to address issues on adivasis and raise their concerns from this platform." He said it was the university's duty to discuss on social issues and "it's their work to raise these sort of discussions through such platforms" but alleged that the ABVP members never want to propagate such issues to exert their own politics.
Khalid also added: "During this seminar, panellists were about to discuss rights of the adivasis but ABVP members did not allow that to happen. The government has asked ABVP activists to look or incapacitate such types of activities among students. Furthermore, this is a war between two ideologies and the student community will fight back."
He said the police were a mute spectator during the entire period and the only difference was that now the incident happened in DU and not in JNU. But, the principal's statement shows there is still an element of fear or prejudice against some students from JNU or belonging to a certain ideology and it is seen as a convenient option to clamp down rather than letting free discourse take its way.
08:43 Mallya makes appearance at F1 event in UK
Businessman Vijay Mallya, who is wanted in India for a Rs 9,000 crore loan default, was seen at an event in UK promoting a new Formula One car launched by his team Sahara Force India.
Mallya was seen with his two drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon in a photograph uploaded by official Formula One website.
The businessman has been on the radar of the Indian agencies for a long time now and the government has been in talks with the UK government for his extradition over charges of multi-crore loan default by a consortium of Indian banks.
08:32 Starting 10 am today, fate of Mumbai's civic body to be decided
All eyes are on the outcome of the fiercely-fought BMC elections as counting for polls to 10 municipal corporations and 25 zilla parishads across Maharashtra begins at 10 am this morning.
About 56 per cent voters had on Tuesday exercised franchise across 10 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including for the all-important Mumbai civic body BMC which recorded a 55
per cent turn-out.
BJP and its bickering ally in the state government Shiv Sena, who could not form an alliance for the civic poll in the megapolis or elsewhere this time, fought keenly, lashing out freely at each other during the bitter campaign.
The stakes are high for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who led their respective parties from the front and were involved in a no-holds-barred campaign, relegating the Opposition Congress, the NCP and other players like the MNS and the AIMIM to the
background.
Apart from Mumbai, the municipal corporations which went to the polls were Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur.
In Mumbai, there were 2,275 candidates and 92 lakh voters.
08:04 1 soldier killed, 6 hurt injured after terrorists attack army convoy in J-K
An Army soldier and a woman was killed after terrorists opened fired at a patrolling party of 44-RR at Mulu Chitragam area of South Kashmir's Shopian district.
"In the attack seven army soldiers sustained bullet injuries. Injured soldiers were admitted in a hospital, where one jawan succumbed to his injuries. A woman has also been killed in cross firing."
More details are awaited.
00:42 BSF lodges protest with Pak over detection of tunnel along IB
The Border Security Force on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers over detection of trans-border tunnel along the International Border in Samba sector in Jammu and Kashmir, during a commander-level flag meeting.
"Today, on BSF request, a commanding officer of BSF and Wing Commander of Pakistan Rangers level flag meeting was held at International Boundary of Jammu near BoP-Octroi," a BSF spokesperson said.
During the meeting, various issues, including recent detection of tunnel along the International Border (IB), firing in Ramgarh Sector and return of J&K police constable Sohan Lal, who inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan in 2014 were discussed, the official said.
Other routine issues relating to management of border and maintaining of cordial relation and peace and tranquillity along the IB were also discussed, he said.
"The meeting was attended by eight officers from our side and was led by Commandant (Station Hq Jammu) P K Anand. From Pakistan Ranger side five officials including 12 Wing Cdr Lt Col Irfan Khan attended the meeting," the spokesperson said.
"Today, on BSF request, a commanding officer of BSF and Wing Commander of Pakistan Rangers level flag meeting was held at International Boundary of Jammu near BoP-Octroi," a BSF spokesperson said.
During the meeting, various issues, including recent detection of tunnel along the International Border (IB), firing in Ramgarh Sector and return of J&K police constable Sohan Lal, who inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan in 2014 were discussed, the official said.
Other routine issues relating to management of border and maintaining of cordial relation and peace and tranquillity along the IB were also discussed, he said.
"The meeting was attended by eight officers from our side and was led by Commandant (Station Hq Jammu) P K Anand. From Pakistan Ranger side five officials including 12 Wing Cdr Lt Col Irfan Khan attended the meeting," the spokesperson said.
00:03 NASA finds 3 habitable planets outside solar system
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced on Wednesday that it has found seven earth-like planets outside our solar system, three of which could be habitable.
Using the Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that the star Trappist-1 is circled by at least seven earth-sized planets, including three that could have oceans of liquid water to support life.
The system is 39 light years away from the Earth.
"This is really the first time we have seven planets which can be called terrestrial which are in the temperate zone," astronomer Michael Gillon at the University of Lige in Belgium told reporters on a conference call. "So many is really, really surprising."
Read more.
Photograph: @NASA/Twitter
Using the Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that the star Trappist-1 is circled by at least seven earth-sized planets, including three that could have oceans of liquid water to support life.
The system is 39 light years away from the Earth.
"This is really the first time we have seven planets which can be called terrestrial which are in the temperate zone," astronomer Michael Gillon at the University of Lige in Belgium told reporters on a conference call. "So many is really, really surprising."
Read more.
Photograph: @NASA/Twitter
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