News

PM ‘certain’ of win as Iraqis vote despite dozens of attacks

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Iraqis today defied a rash of militant attacks to vote in the country’s first elections since US troops withdrew, with premier Nuri al-Maliki proclaiming “certain” victory as he cast his ballot.

Queues formed from early morning at tightly-guarded election centres despite a surge of violence targeting polling stations and campaign gatherings in the days leading up to the vote.

The stream of voters slowed later in the morning but the tempo was expected to pick up again in the afternoon before polls close at 6:00 pm (local time).

Wave in favor of Third Front; SP to play major role: Akhilesh

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today claimed there was a popular wave in favor of a non-Congress and non-BJP government at the centre in which the Samajwadi Party would play a major role.

“There is no possibility of BJP forming the next government in the country… The public mood appears in favor of a non-Congress and non-BJP formation in which, obviously, Samajwadi Party will have a major role to play,” Yadav said.

He was addressing a rally in Sahson, 40 kms from here, campaigning for former MP Dharamraj Singh Patel from the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency.

Chandrababu Naidu may see vote axed for not maintaining secrecy

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The election authorities have ordered a probe against TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who did not maintain secrecy after casting his vote here Wednesday, and indicated the vote may be deleted.

Chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal said he had directed the returning officer of Khairatabad assembly constituency to submit a report.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief told reporters that he cast his vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

60 percent polling till 3 p.m. in Telangana’s first election

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About 60 percent polling was recorded till 3 p.m. for 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 state assembly seats in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, officials said.

Barring minor incidents, balloting was on peacefully amid tight security at 30,574 polling booths across 10 districts of Telangana including Hyderabad.

While nine districts recorded heavy polling, the turnout was low in Hyderabad. Chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal said 51 percent votes were polled in the city. Highest turnout of 65 percent was recorded in Medak district.

Advani casts vote in Guj, parries queries on Modi

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BJP leader L K Advani today described this year’s Lok Sabha polls as the “most remarkable election ever held in the history of India” but parried queries on the prospects of Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister.

Advani, along with his son Jayant and daughter Pratibha Advani, cast his vote at a municipal school in Shahpur area in Ahmedabad west constituency, where BJP’s sitting MP Kirit Solanki is locked in a battle with Congress candidate Ishwar Chavda and AAP nominee J J Mewada.

Not unhappy with Cong leadership: ND Tiwari

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Congress veteran Narayan Dutt Tiwari today refuted media reports suggesting that he was unhappy with the party leadership for being denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

“Newspaper reports suggesting that I was unhappy with the party leadership for being denied a ticket are unfounded. The fact is that I did not want to contest the polls this time,” he said in a statement here.

“I have been a loyal soldier of the Congress party with great faith in its political ideology. So the question of my unhappiness with the party leadership does not arise,” he said.

UAE to host high-level meet ahead of UN climate summit

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The UAE will host a high-level meeting next month to generate momentum for the UN climate summit scheduled to be held on September 23 this year in New York.

The Abu Dhabi Ascent meeting will be held on May 4 and 5 and will explore areas for action that will have a high-impact in reducing emissions and building resilience, including adaptation, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, cities, climate finance, energy efficiency, forests, renewable energy, short-lived climate pollutants and transport.

Tragedy for the state if India becomes communal: Farooq

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Union Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah today said if India becomes communal it will be a tragedy for the state.

After casting his vote here, he said his previous comments which evoked controversy were from his heart.

“Whatever I had said was from my heart. I have never said anything to get votes. I have placed truth before people. People have to see,” he told reporters.

“If India becomes communal that is a tragedy for the state. That is what we should be afraid of,” Farooq said when asked if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister after the elections.

4 killed, 1 injured as lorry hits tractor in AP

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Four persons were killed and one was injured when the tractor they were travelling in was hit by a lorry in Andhra Pradesh’s Mahabubnagar district in the wee hours today, police said.

The mishap occurred in the Manopad police station limits around 2 AM.

The lorry, while trying to overtake the tractor, hit it from the rear side, resulting in a boiler on the tractor falling on the victims, they said.

Modi triggers row with conference after vote, EC seeks report

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Narendra Modi today set off a controversy when he openly sought votes for BJP while holding aloft his party’s ‘Lotus’ symbol immediately after casting his ballot, with Congress moving the Election Commission accusing him of model code violation.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, the poll body sought a report from the returning officer.

Iraq PM optimistic as elections begin

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Wednesday he is “certain” that his party will win the country’s landmark parliamentary polls.

“Our expectations are great, and our opportunities are greater and our victory is certain, but we are waiting to see the size of our victory,” Maliki told reporters after casting his vote at a polling center in Rasheed Hotel in the heavily fortified Green Zone in downtown Baghdad.

Al-Maliki described the polls as a great success for Iraq despite the withdrawal of US troops from the country in 2011, Xinhua reported.

India’s story is work in progress, still long way to go: PM

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In his farewell speech to the Planning Commission, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India’s growth story is “work in progress” and there is still a long way to go.

“India’s development story is a work in progress…But there is a lot of distance that is still to be covered,” he said in his last interaction with members of the Planning Commission.

Singh, who is Chairman of the Commission, made a case for reorienting the body to remain relevant in the globalised world.

IPL’s charm diminishes but CSK most searched team

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It seems election fever and allegations of match-fixing have taken a toll on this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Google Search trends reveal that this year’s IPL is struggling to match up the interest of the previous year.

The analysis related to the launch week of the cricketing extravaganza showed that there was a loss of interest among the digital audience, Google said in a statement.

Going by the search patterns, IPL-7 doesn’t seem to have taken of well compared to IPL-6, which saw search graphs ticking the peak in initial days of the start of the event.

EC asks Gujarat administration to file complaint/FIR against Modi

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Acting tough, the Election Commission today directed the Gujarat administration to file a complaint or FIR against Narendra Modi for violating electoral laws by displaying BJP’s election symbol and making a speech after casting his vote in Gandhinagar.

“The Commission is of the view that by holding that meeting and also by addressing the same today when the polling is going on in the entire state of Gujarat and in different parts of the country, Narendra Modi has violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1)(a) and 126 (l)(b) of R P Act 1951.

50 pc polling in Telangana by 1 PM

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Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh where polling is being held simultaneously for 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats witnessed an impressive turnout of about 50 per cent till 1 PM.

State Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal told reporters that Nizamabad recorded the highest percentage of 57 while Hyderabad recorded lowest turnout of 32.5 per cent, out of the 10 districts where polling is on.

A total of 1,669 candidates are in the fray for 119 Assembly seats while 265 are contesting for the 17 parliamentary seats across Telangana.

People are seeing ray of hope in Modi: Amit Shah

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Key aide of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, today said people were seeing a ray of hope in the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

Addressing the media after casting his vote in Naranpura area of the city, Shah expressed confidence about BJP’s win.

“There is no doubt in saying that ‘Ab ki baar Modi sarkar’. People are fed up with Congress. They are seeing a ray of hope in Modi,” he said.

Pak cuts off parliament, prime minister’s offices electricity for non- payment of bills

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Pakistan has cut off the electricity supply to several major official buildings for non-payment of bills.

Under the move, the electricity supply has been cut off of parliament, the prime minister’s offices and the president’s official residence.

According to Gulf News, the ‘indiscriminate drive’ was taken by Minister for water and power Abid Sher Ali to recover unpaid bills and warned that all offices and customers who had defaulted would be cut off.

Unfortunate that parties are not reacting to Baba Ramdev’s insulting Dalit remark: Mayawati

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Bahujan Samaj Party ( B SP) chief Mayawati on Wednesday described as unfortunate that parties targetted by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, were not reacting firmly or forcefully to his Dalit remark on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

She said that she could not understand why none of the parties, including the BJP, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party were not reacting to Baba Ramdev’s unacceptable remark on Dalits, when it has already been described as being violative of the SC-ST Act and the Indian Penal Code recently.

Inteqal (30.4.2014)

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Janab Mohd. Ibrahim s/o Mohd. Hussain, retired civil engineer, PWD, died.

Namaz-e-janaza was offered on April 30 at Masjid Salahuddin, Moghalpura after namaz-e-zohar.

Further information can be had on 9849948309 & 9849332806.

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Mohtarma Habeeba Khatoon w/o late Mohiuddin Qureishi died on April 28.

Namaz-e-Janaza was offered on April 29 at Masjid Jahan Ara, Humayun Nagar after namaz-e-zohar followed by burial at qabrastan dargah Yousufain.

26% polling till 12 noon in Telangana

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12:50 pm: Over 26% polling till 12 noon

ANI reports that 26.96 per cent electorate in the Telangana region had exercised their right to cast votes by 12 noon.

11:00 am: Brisk polling in initial hours

Brisk polling was reported in parts of Telangana in the initial hours of election today.

Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal told reporters that “by 9 am, 15.3 per cent voters had cast their ballots. The polling is going on peacefully at all the polling stations.”

Chiranjeevi jumps queue, voters not amused

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An embarrassed Union Minister K Chiranjeevi beat a hasty retreat today after a youth objected to his jumping the queue to cast his vote in a polling booth here.

Chiranjeevi, who came with his family, was escorted towards the polling booth sidestepping a long queue of voters.

An agitated youth confronted Chiranjeevi asking him how he has bypassed the queue, saying that people have been waiting for more than 90 minutes for their turn. “Why do you expect special treatment on a day like this,” the youth asked.

“Grave injustice”, a senior citizen complained loudly.

Farhat Khan to launch anti-Modi campaign at Varanasi

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Majlis Bachao Tahreek spokesman and candidate for Yaqutpura assembly constituency will reach Varanasi (Banaras) on May 7 to participate in the campaign against BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He will meet minority and secular voters of Varanasi and will unmask Modi’s true face and appeal to ensure Modi’s defeat.

Majeedullah Khan Farhat told that after as soon as the polling concludes for general elections on April 30, he would leave for Ajmer Dargah on May 5. He would reach Varanasi on May 7 and would return to Hyderabad on May 10.

Siasat news

Cong has accepted defeat as it plans to support Third Front: Modi

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BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today said Congress has already accepted defeat as the party plans to support a Third Front government at the Centre to keep him out of the race.

The 63-year-old Gujarat Chief Minister was speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Gandhinagar constituency of party veteran L K Advani.

Skirting a direct reply to a question on attacks by Priyanka Gandhi on him, Modi said, “Congress has accepted defeat as it is now saying that it will support the Third Front to keep me out of race.

Servant not the ruler deserves your vote

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The polling day has arrived. For the past several days people listened to the speeches of political leaders belonging to various parties and learnt about their programmes and agendas. Every candidate and every party made lofty claims to lure voters.