News on General Election May
2009
- Oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday may
be Postponed
- Deo slated for Lok Sabha Speaker
- Congress offer accepted by DMK
- Cabinet of Manmohan's Govt to
expand on Tuesday, DMK to get berth
- DMK MP's to attend the oath taking
ceremony
- Karuna to miss swearing-in,
DMK-Cong deadlock continues
- Manmohan Singh to take oath on
Friday
- Prime Minister-President meeting
delayed
- No hard feelings if Cabinet berth
denied, says Lalu
- PM to present the Cabinet list to the
President
- All eyes on Rahul at the UPA meeting
- Sonia Gandhi re-elected as UPA
Chairperson
- BJP attacked by NDA allies for poll
debacle
- Pranab Mukherjee foremost choice
for Finance Minister post
- BSP will support new UPA Govt post
polls
- Presence in Cabinet; only time
will show, says Rahul
- Manmohan Singh to stake claim to
form Govt on Tuesday
- Rahul likely to be the Cabinet
Minister sans portfolio
- Advani to stay as leader of the
opposition for now
- Cabinet resolution to dissolve 14th
Lok Sabha passed successfully
- Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee offers
resignation
- Lalu Yadav extends unconditional
support to UPA
- President set to invite UPA to form
the next Government
- Rahul likely to say no to cabinet
berth
- Cong core group met to form new
Govt
- Sharad Yadav points finger at Modi,
Varun for defeat
- Congress confused to seek support of
the SP
- Rahul Gandhi may join UPA Cabinet
- Sonia invites Lalu Yadav to attend
cabinet meeting
- Cong to form Govt with support of
small allies
- Buddhadeb is likely to skip politburo
meet
- New Government to be formed in two
days
- Amar Singh thinking of supporting
Cong, if approached
- Manmohan Singh wants Rahul
Gandhi to be a part of the cabinet
- Dr. Manmohan Singh to meet Sonia
Gandhi
- Projecting Narendra Modi as PM
candidate was a big blunder, says BJP
- Congress can provide stable
Government, says Sharad Pawar
- BJP's performance very surprising,
says Rajnath Singh
- We will stake claim for Govt formation,
says Congress
- Celebrations across Congress
Headquarters, despair at BJP
- Advani at lead in Gandhinagar
- Manmohan ready to equal
Vajpayee's record
- Congress hints at widening UPA
- UPA looking forward to clear victory
- Lalu trails in Saran but leads in
Pataliputra
- DMK leading by 39 seats in Tamil
Nadu
- UPA leads by 198 seats and NDA by
125
- Congress leading in Delhi
- Latest trends : UPA and NDA neck
to neck
- Counting of votes begins, UPA leads
- BJD to support Congress Govt at centre
- "Bihar is the deciding factor
for support"
- Results of 15th Lok Sabha
elections on Saturday
- Left will not support Cong, says
Forward Bloc
- Manmohan Singh to resign on May 17
- SP gets invitation from Cong to join
Govt
- I have no faith in exit polls, says
Sharad Yadav
- UP govt drops NSA detention against
Varun Gandhi
- Sharad
Pawar eyes PM's post (14th May, 2009)
- Exit
polls are politically inspired, says Amar (14th May,
2009)
- Remove
NSA charge against Varun, says SC (14th May, 2009)
- Leaders
of Third Front, BSP to meet, says Karat (14th May,
2009)
- "Won't
allow NDA-BJP to come in power" (14th May, 2009)
- Exit
polls predict Congress-led alliance to be ahead (14th
May, 2009)
- 62%
turnout in final phase of Lok Sabha Polls (14th May,
2009)
- Satta
Bazaar, predicts Manmohan as PM again (14th May, 2009)
- Major
highlights of India's national elections 2009 (14th
May, 2009)
- 'Several
parties are trying to approach me' (13th May, 2009)
- Varun
Gandhi approaches SC to scrap NSA (13th May, 2009)
- Polling
ends for final phase of Lok Sabha Polls (13th May,
2009)
- Final
Phase of Lok Sabha polls begins (13th May, 2009)
- Left
will get less number of seats, says Somnath (13th May,
2009)
- Conflict
between Azam and Jayaprada continues (13th May, 2009)
- BJP
candidate Varun comments at Cong and BSP (12th May,
2009)
- UP Govt
challenges revocation of NSA on Varun (12th May, 2009)
- I will
retire from politics after LS polls, says Amar (12th
May, 2009)
- BJP
seeks support from key players (12th May, 2009)
- BJP
accuses Naveen of violating polls code (12th May,
2009)
- 'Left
to join Govt if it has a meaningful role' (11th May,
2009)
- Nitish's
secularism exposed in NDA rally, says Lalu (11th May,
2009)
- Jayaprada
to complain against Azam with EC (11th May, 2009)
- Campaigning
for last phase of LS polls ends on Monday (11th May,
2009)
- PM and
Advani to address election rallies in Amritsar (11th
May, 2009)
- NSA
revocation a slap on Mayawati's Govt, says Varun (11th
May, 2009)
- NSA
against Varun Gandhi revoked (9th May, 2009)
- Congress
removes Moily as AICC media head (9th May, 2009)
- Tussle
between Amar and Azam intensifies (9th May, 2009)
- Karat
working towards a non-Cong Secular Govt (9th May,
2009)
- Majority
people voted in Delhi than Mumbai (9th May, 2009)
- L
K Advani surprised over Mulayam's remark (8th May,
2009)
- I
will quit Samajwadi Party, threatens Amar Singh (8th
May, 2009)
- Lalu
may not be a part of cabinet meet on Friday (8th May,
2009)
- "I
have never seen a weak Sikh", says Rahul Gandhi
(6th May, 2009)
- Another
FIR against Dutt and Amar for 'jhappi' remark (6th
May, 2009)
- Why
can't a Dalit be PM, asks Mayawati (6th May, 2009)
- Manmohan
Singh calls for a plan panel meeting (6th May, 2009)
- Rahul
confident of Left support to Manmohan (6th May, 2009)
- Nitish
rebuffs Cong, says I will never leave NDA (6th May,
2009)
- Congress
lacks culture of sharing power: Advani (5th May, 2009)
- Congress
may dump Lalu from UPA (5th May, 2009)
- Campaigning
for 4th phase elections ends on Tuesday (5th May,
2009)
- Left
parties are my old friend: Nitish Kumar (5th May,
2009)
- Until
JD(U) leaves BJP, no ties with it: Congress (5th May,
2009)
- SC to
hear Modi's contempt case on Monday (4th May, 2009)
- PM
questions BJP's stand on terrorism (4th May, 2009)
- Support
to UPA not ruled out: Sitaram Yechury (4th May, 2009)
- Advani
describes Manmohan as the 'weakest' PM (4th May, 2009)
- Manmohan
Singh as PM is not negotiable: Rahul (4th May, 2009)
- Contempt
of court plea against Narendra Modi (2nd May, 2009)
- I
was kept in the dark about Babri Masjid: Kalyan Singh
(2nd May, 2009)
- No
single Party can form Govt: Lalu (2nd May, 2009)
- Voters
marked on middle finger in Maharashtra (2nd May, 2009)
- PM,
Sonia Gandhi attacks Left (2nd May, 2009)
- 50
per cent turnout in third phase of elections (1st May,
2009)
- Supreme
Court extends Varun's parole till May 14 (1st May,
2009)
- Varun
Gandhi to appeal for extension of Parole (1st May,
2009)
- Lalu
trying to gain the Muslim vote bank (1st May, 2009)
Oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday may be Postponed
According to the sources the remaining Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet oath taking ceremony on Tuesday
could be postponed by a day in the wake of cyclone Aila in West
Bengal and violence in Punjab.
However, it is almost clear that the DMK will be a part of the
Union Cabinet. DMK party chief M Karunanidhi's eldest son M K
Azhagiri is all set to become a minister at the Centre if the second
round of oath-taking ceremony takes place on Tuesday.
An estimated number of 40 Ministers of State and nearly 10 cabinet
ministers will be sworn in on Tuesday.
M.K. Azhagiri is set to be appointed as the Chemicals and
Fertilisers minister. Nilgiris MP A. Raja is expected to be the
InformationTechnology minister. Congress leader Salman Khursheed
could be allocated Minority Affairs ministry.
Karunanidhi's grand nephew and the former UPA minister Dayanidhi
Maran will get Textiles ministry.
National Conference’s leader Farooq Abdullah will get either
the Tourism and Culture ministry or the Sports Ministry.
Former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily is seen to be in
reckoning as the new Law minister.
Besides, the cabinet expansion on Tuesday, a formal announcement of
portfolios of ministers who had taken oath in the first round on
Friday will be made.
The Rajasthan Congress President, CP Joshi will be the new Rural
Development Minister. Also, Kamal Nath will get Commerce and Company
Affairs. Kapil Sibal is seen as front-runner for the ministry of
Commerce or Human Resource Development. The health ministry could go
to Ambika Soni, the tourism minister in the previous UPA Government.
Deo slated for Lok Sabha Speaker
Senior Congress leader and veteran
parliamentarian from Andhra Pradesh V. Kishore Chandra S. Deo is
slated to become the new Speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha. Both the
JD(U) and NDA led BJP are looking forward for the post of Deputy
Speaker. BJP's women's wing leader and six- time MP from Indore
Sumitra Mahajan is heading the race while the names of JD(U) MPs
Mangani Lal Mandal, Jai Narayan Nishad and Maheshwar Hazari are also
into consideration.
According to the sources of DMK, UPA tried hard to keep the post of
the Deputy Speaker with it by floating former minister T.R. Baalu's
name for the office but the party's senior leader is not ready to
accept the post. It would be a demotion for Baalu, who had been a
Union Cabinet Minister for more than a decade, if he accepts the
post of the Deputy Speaker, as it is equivalent to MoS as per the
protocol.
The Congress seems too eager for the post of the Speaker. UPA is
expected to continue the convention of giving the post of the Deputy
Speaker to the NDA. The BJP leadership is putting forth the name of
Mahajan for the post, at present.
Congress offer accepted by DMK
On Sunday DMK accepted the offer of three
Cabinet berths offered by the Congress and thereby sent a list of
its MPs to the Congress leadership.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi held discussions at his
residences in Gopalapuram and CIT colony but no official word was
passed for the nomination of the Cabinet berths in the party.
As per the sources, the party’s south zone organising
Secretary, M.K.Azhagiri, DMK’s rising Dalit leader and strong
orator, A Raja, and the Chief Minister’s grand nephew,
Dhyanidhi Maran, were the names nominated for the post of the
Cabinet. The Information Technology, Textiles and Chemicals and
Fertilizers are the ministeries that have been offered by the
Congress.
Cabinet of Manmohan's Govt to expand on Tuesday, DMK to get
berth
As few Cabinet Ministers of the Manmohan Singh
Government will take charge on Monday, the procedure of allocating
the remaining Cabinet berths continues.
On Friday, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with nineteen
other ministers took oath to office and secrecy.
Some other ministers like Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) nominees
MK Azhagiri, Dayanidhi Maran and A Raja will be sworn in on Tuesday.
These ministers are likely to take part in the Tuesday's ceremony as
the deadlock over portfolio distribution between the Congress and
DMK came to an end.
Also, the youth brigades of the Congress that includes Sachin
Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada and Naveen Jindal are
likely to take oath on Tuesday.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and senior Congress
leader Salman Khursheed may also take part in the ceremony.
Former ministers Vilas Muttemwar and Mukul Wasnik are also expected
to be sworn in as ministers.
According to the sources, in the second round of oath taking
procedure on Tuesday, more Cabinet Ministers, ministers of state as
well as junior ministers will be inducted.
DMK MP's to attend the oath taking ceremony
DMK leader T R Baalu told mediapersons on
Friday that all their MP's will attend the swearing-in ceremony of
Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of India.
On Thursday after several rounds of meeting with the UPA, the DMK
announced that they are not pleased with the Congress formula on
ministerial allocation and they would provide only outside support
to the Congress.
A miffed DMK chief Karunanidhi before leaving for Chennai on Friday
morning along with his son M K Azhagiri left instructions that all
the DMK MP's must attend the oath taking ceremony of Manmohan Singh
as the Prime Minister of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening.
Senior DMK leader T R Baalu in Chennai said, "All DMK MPs will
attend the swearing-in ceremony. DMK is not worried. Congress is our
friend."
Karuna to miss swearing-in, DMK-Cong deadlock continues
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi is all
set to leave for Chennai on Friday morning that shows the
continuation of the deadlocks between the DMK and Congress.
Karunanidhi and his associates will leave for Chennai to hold the
party's executive meeting and discuss the breakdowns in talks over
allocating portfolio for the party in the new Government.
As per the sources, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh discussed and decided for renegotiation with
DMK till early hours this morning.
DMK Chief M Karunanidhi was also called by Gandhi and Singh late
last night for their last ditch attempt to appease him.
During the meeting at PM's residence, the Congress President seek
routine after the DMK bargaining hard for more berths in the
Cabinet.
DMK, which already has 18 MPs is demanding for more berths. And the
question arises that how many the Congress is willing to give. The
DMK is demanding for portfolios like shipping, surface transport,
communications and environment.
Sonia and Singh discussed names from both Congress and its pre-poll
allies for the berths in the Cabinet and allocation of portfolios to
the council of ministers.
The schedule for the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's swearing is at
Rashtrapati Bhawan at 6.30 pm on Friday in the presence of the
President Pratibha Patil.
Manmohan Singh to take oath on Friday
On Friday, Manmohan Singh will be sworn in for
a second term as the Prime Minister of India.
According to some official sources, the swearing in ceremony will
begin at 1830 hrs IST at the Ashoka Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan where
Manmohan Singh will be adminstered the oath of office and secrecy by
President Pratibha Patil.
The budget session is also expected to be help in the first week of
July, the sources said.
It is expected that the Congress-led UPA alliance will retain some
of the key ministerial portfolios such as finance. However, there is
a certain degree of disagreement in the UPA camp as some of its
allies are also demanding important portfolios.
Janardhan Dwivedi, a senior Congress leader said, “We have
support of 322 parliamentarians and we are not worried about falling
short at all."
Prime Minister-President meeting delayed
The meeting that was scheduled for this morning
between the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha
Patil for the formation of the new Government got delayed and might
take place in the later part of the day. The list of the Cabinet
Ministers that had to be presented by Manmohan Singh to Pratibha
Patil is yet to be finalised.
Some of the small UPA allies are trying hard to have more Cabinet
berths.
Congress feels pressurised from its ally DMK who has taken nine
ministerial berths and TMC (Trinamool Congress) chief Mamta Banerjee
asking for one more ministerial portfolio than what the DMK gets.
On May 22nd, Thursday evening the Prime Minister and his Council of
Ministers will be swearing at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Manmohan Singh was appointed Prime Minister for a second
consecutive term yesterday post UPA collaboration staked its claim
for the formation of the government with the support of 322 MPs.
Parliament is likely to be convened on June 2nd. President did not
asked PM to prove his strength in the House , as the party had the
comfortable mark of coalition with 543 members.
No hard feelings if Cabinet berth denied, says Lalu
With the least expectation of getting the "sympathetic
treatment" from the Congress leaders, on Tuesday, the RJD chief
Lalu Prasad Yadav said that he will not feel bad over being denied a
cabinet berth.
On asking whether he would get a berth in the UPA Government, Lalu
said, "Why are you asking me this question? It is the Prime
Minister's prerogative." He didn't say anything against Sonia
Gandhi and said that he shares the amicable relationship with the
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
As told to the mediapersons Lalu said, "ups and downs were
part of a politician's life," and he will not feel bad with the
denial of Cabinet berth by the Govt. He reprised that he had
provided unconditional support to the UPA continuosly and had
succeeded of not letting the BJP Govt come to the power. Lalu
further added, he was not disappointed and will go back to the
public to gain their support again.
PM to present the Cabinet list to the President
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet
President Pratibha Patilon Friday, May 22 at 1030 hrs IST, to
present the list of Ministers of the Cabinet.
Earlier the President Pratibha Patil had written to Manmohan Singh
and called on him to form the next government. In her letter to
Manmohan Singh, she mentioned that, as he heads the single largest
party and the largest pre-election alliance and had received the
majority of support to the newly constituted 15th Lok Sabha, she
appoints him as the PM. Also, requesting him to advice her the names
of other members to be appointed in the Council of Ministers.
The oath of office and secrecy would be administered on Friday, May
22, 2009, at Rashtrapati Bhavan at a mutually convenient time.
All eyes on Rahul at the UPA meeting
The first meeting of the UPA post elections had
heavy discussions, as Rahul Gandhi's presence was seen as an
advantage where the leader will perform an important role in the
collaborations.
Those who attended the party meeting said that this was the first
time Rahul had attended a UPA meeting and it only seemed to signify
that he will play a major role in Congress dealing with it sallies.
Rahul is also expected to come up with his agendas in a day to
come. Even the coalition parties are assessing Rahul's style and
priorities.
In the UPA meeting DMK leader M Karunanidhi praised the coalition's
poll performance while proposing Sonia as chairperson. The meeting
decided to set up a group to identify common points on manifestoes.
Karunanidhi advised that large funds were needed to help Sri Lankan
Tamils to which PM-designate Manmohan Singh said he would examine it
once the UPA Government was formed.
National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah spoke of the need for
unity and about confronting "communal" forces. NCP leader
Sharad Pawar said the 33% reservation for women in legislatures bill
should be fast-tracked.
Rahul also made it clear to the members that they should not eye
ministerial berths but focus on organisational work.
Hosting high tea for 25-odd MPs at his residence two days before
the swearing-in of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team, Rahul
gave the message that the revival of the party was of greater
importance than becoming ministers.
Few of the new MPs even told Rahul that the Congress victory was
his making but Rahul corrected the impression and attributed it to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and
others.
Sonia Gandhi re-elected as UPA Chairperson
The important meeting of the UPA to finalize
the cabinet berths ended at 10 Janpath, the residence of Congress
President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting was
attended by all the major pre-poll partners of the Congress.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee,
National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, NCP president Sharad
Pawar and Congress leader Praful Patel were present in the meeting,
along with senior Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram, A K
Antony and Pranab Mukherjee besides Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and
Manmohan Singh.
In the meeting Sonia Gandhi was re-elected as the UPA Chairperson.
Her name was put forward by Karunanidhi and was supported by Mamata
Banerjee.
Now with the conclusion of the UPA meet, Manmohan Singh is likely
to call President Pratibha Patil to stake claim to form Government.
BJP attacked by NDA allies for poll debacle
On Tuesday, NDA allies along with a BJP leader
attacked Bharatiya Janata Party for the poll debacle. They said that
Varun Gandhi's hate speech and projection of Gujarat's Chief
Minister Narendra Modi as the party's next Prime Minister candidate
had cost the alliance.
According to the BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain and Shiromani Akali
Dal leader S.S. Dhindsa, Varun Gandhi's anti-Muslim speech had
hampered the party's electoral prospects. Janata Dal (United) leader
Sharad Yadav also joined him and faulted projection of Modi as PM
candidate that caused 'confusion' among voters.
While talking to mediapersons, Shahnawaz Hussain without naming
Varun said, "Certain statements made by our leaders during
elections had created problems. I would raise this issue in the
party forum where it would be discussed."
Sources said, while campaigning in his constituency Bhagalpur in
Bihar, Hussain had to face tough questions from the minority
community on the Gandhi's alleged hate-speech in Pilibhit.
The wrath of Muslim voters in the constituency made Hussain raise
the issue in the Central Election Committee meeting of the party in
March.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader S.S. Dhindsa also criticized Varun's
hate speech and said, "I think whosoever he maybe in any party,
whoever makes such remarks is bad."
Pranab Mukherjee foremost choice for Finance Minister post
The stage is all set for the formation of the
new Government at the centre with acting Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to stake claim for the formation of a UPA Government in the
Centre on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, a meeting of UPA allies will take place at around
1000 hrs IST to decide the new face of the new cabinet. Manmohan
Singh is expected to call President Pratibha Patil to brief her
about his readiness with requisite support to form the Government.
The tally of UPA increased to an unprecedented 318 on Tuesday after
the BSP and SP provided unconditional support to the Congress-led
UPA alliance. Various other parties like Assam United Democratic
Front, RJD, MIM and independents have pledged their support to UPA.
With several political parties extending their support, the
decision is now left in the hands of the UPA Chairperson Sonia
Gandhi to decide the composition of the new Lok Sabha.
According to some confined sources, Pranab Mukherjee is tipped to
become the next Finance Minister. He beats other contenders like
economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who was Manmohan's first choice to
be the Finance Minister. Pranab is being viewed as a strong
politician who can help Manmohan Singh to fulfill his promise of
reviving the economy within the first 100 days in office.
The names of Salman Khursheed and Kamal Nath are also being
considered for the post of External Affairs Minister.
P Chidambaram may be given the Home Ministry and AK Antony will be
with the Defence portfolio, according to sources.
There are also whispers that the DMK may get two cabinet births and
Trianmool Congress is likely to get three.
BSP will support new UPA Govt post polls
On Tuesday BSP Supremo and UP Chief Minister
Mayawati's BSP that was also a part of the Third Front in the Lok
Sabha elections, announced the unconditional outside support of its
21 MPs to the Congress-led UPA government.
Mayawati, supporting the fact that the President will call the UPA
to form the next Government told at a meeting of party leaders that
BSP has taken the decision to support Congress, keeping in view the
present situation and to keep BJP out of power.
She also said that on the day the election results were out, she
even congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress
President Sonia Gandhi on the UPA success.
On Sunday Mayawati was called by the Prime Minister to seek her
party's positive approach towards amicable coalition with secular
forces.
The party's National Executive and Parliamentary Board met on
Tuesday morning to discuss these issues before deciding on giving
unconditional support from outside to the new Government.
Presence in Cabinet; only time will show, says Rahul
On Tuesday, the Youth Congress Leader Rahul
Gandhi brushed aside all the speculations of him joining the cabinet
by saying that only time will show his presence in the cabinet.
When asked by the mediapersons whether he will join the cabinet or
prefer to work for the party after the superb performance of the
Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi said, Only time
will show.
The Youth Congress Leader was greeted by the newly elected MPs at
the Congress Parliamentary meeting.
Manmohan Singh to stake claim to form Govt on Tuesday
Manmohan Singh will stake claim to form the
Government on Tuesday. Manmohan Singh along with Congress President
Sonia Gandhi will meet the President Pratibha Patil with the letters
of support from the UPA's alliance partners, independents and other
parties.
The Congress-led UPA alliance has 262 MPs and is still 10 short of
achieving the magic figure 272. It seems that UPA will have no
problem in reaching this mark, as there are several politicians
queuing up to offer support. But before the meeting with the
President, Manmohan Singh will be formally named as leader of the
Congress in the Rajya Sabha.
Also, Sonia Gandhi will be elected as Chairperson of the Congress
Parliamentary Party and Pranab Mukherjee as leader of the Congress.
Manmohan Singh after staking claim for the formation of the next
Government, will be appointed by the President as Prime Minister and
he will be asked to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha.
After he proves his majority, the swearing in of the cabinet will
take place on 22 May and the confidence vote will take place after
that.
Rahul likely to be the Cabinet Minister sans portfolio
After the heavy discussion for Rahul Gandhi's
ordination into the cabinet, the senior leaders of the Congress
party gave the suggestion to make Rahul a minister without
portfolio, a device that will allow him to pursue organisational
tasks while gaining experience in Government.
After the triumph of the party in the 15th Lok Sabha, the proposal
by the senior Congress leaders has been put forward, who think that
Rahul should be in the cabinet.
The "Rahul doctorine" has overpowered the Party's
thinking, and has provided them the layout to work on the areas
where it has accord with the national or regional rivals. He is
expected to focus on the states like UP and Bihar — accounting
for 120 Lok Sabha seats — which are critical to the leader's
project of restoring the party to its old glory.
Advani to stay as leader of the opposition for now
BJP leader LK Advani on Monday has finally
agreed to continue as the leader of the opposition for now in the
15th Lok Sabha.
This decision was reached at a meeting of the BJP top brass to
establish its future course of action following its miserable
performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
BJP President Rajnath Singh confirmed the decision and said that
Advani will continue to be the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
as an interim arrangement.
Earlier, there were growing conjectures that Advani might not
continue as the Leader of opposition, following the dismal
performance of the party in the Lok Sabha elections.
Cabinet resolution to dissolve 14th Lok Sabha passed
successfully
The final Cabinet meet ended at the Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh's residence, 7 Racecourse Road in the
capital.
The meeting constituted of the resignation of the Council of
Ministers to the Prime Minister. The Union Cabinet successfully
passed the resolution to dissolve the 14th Lok Sabha followed by the
resolution of appreciation for the Prime Minister.
Today later in the day the Congress-led UPA Government will stake
claim to form the Government. For submission of the resignations the
Congress and its allies will meet President Pratabha Patil and show
they have the support, for the formation of a new Government at the
Centre.
The party has fallen short by around 10 MPs to meet the marked rank
of 272, somehow managed to attract smaller allies and support of
some independents to meet the number.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee offers resignation
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee taking the responsibility of CPM's humiliating defeat
in the Lok Sabha elections has offered to resign.
According to the Sources, Bhattacharjee will abstain from Monday's
politburo meeting in New Delhi. The absence of Buddhadeb is cited as
a protest move against party General Secretary Prakash Karat.
Lalu Yadav extends unconditional support to UPA
On Monday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief
Lalu Prasad Yadav said that his party will provide an
'unconditional' support to UPA to form the next Government.
Lalu Yadav spoke to the reporters after the last cabinet meeting
for 14th Lok Sabha concluded at PM Manmohan Singh's residence on
Monday.
˜We offer unconditional support to the Manmohan Singh led UPA
government.' Lalu Yadav said.
Lalu Yadav's party managed to win only 4 seats from Bihar out of
the 28 seats it contested in Lok Sabha polls.
However, despite of Lalu's unconditional support, the Congress may
not consider him to be a part of the next Government. According to
sources in the Congress, Lalu's railway ministry could be handed
over to Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamta Banerjee in the next
UPA Government.
President set to invite UPA to form the next Government
President Pratibha Patil is set to call the
Congress-led United Progressive Alliance that has emerged as the
single largest alliance with 262 Lok Sabha seats to form the next
Government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to call the
President on Monday after a cabinet meeting.
On Saturday evening the President met a constitutional expert and
also a former Attorney General of India Ashok Desai to seek his
recommendation on constitutional niceties about the formation of the
next Government.
After a clear verdict emerged in favour of the UPA, Patil met
former Attorney General, Soli Sorabjee, another constitutional
expert at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.
The Congress-led UPA has emerged as the single largest party with
262 seats, which is over 100 seats ahead of its nearest rival (BJP)
and is 10 seats short of reaching the magic figure of 272 in the
Parliament.
The Congress is now preparing to approach the President along with
the letters of support from at least 20-30 more MP's that will be
important for a confidence vote in Parliament.
On Monday, Pratibha Patil will receive the list of newly elected
Lok Sabha members that will be submitted by a three-member Election
Commission (EC) team headed by Chief Election Commissioner Navin
Chawla.
Also, it is expected that Manmohan Singh will call the President
and offer his resignation on Monday just after the cabinet meeting.
It is a formality till Pratibha Patil invites Manmohan Singh to form
the next government within two weeks.
It was considered to be President Pratibha Patil's toughest test
since she took over the office 22 months ago. But a clear verdict in
favour of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has
made her job easy.
Rahul likely to say no to cabinet berth
While celebrations are still a part of the UPA
camp, decisions about forming the upcoming Government will take the
centrestage now.
According to the sources Rahul Gandhi may say no to any cabinet
berth offered. The Congress' General Secretary was foreseen as a
likely candidate for the HRD or Rural Development Ministries.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as the party core group paid
credit to Gandhi for the party's victory.
On Sunday The (CWC) Congress Working Committee passed a resolution
acclaiming Rahul’s energy, exuberance and enthusiasm in the
election campaign saying it sent a "new message of hope to the
people".
The unanimously-passed resolution at the CWC meeting said, "Rahul
Gandhi was, in many respects, the lead campaigner and addressed over
hundred rallies in a space of around 22 days. His energy, exuberance
and enthusiasm sent a new message of hope to the people of the
country, especially youth."
The resolution also said, "he has embarked on a historic task
of party-building from the grassroots and is also showing the way to
a whole new politics itself," in reference to the role of
Gandhi in reviving the Party's image in Uttar Pradesh.
Cong core group met to form new Govt
The Congress core group had a meeting on Sunday
for the discussion of the political situations and issues related to
the formation of the new Govt followed by the performance of the UPA
(United Progressive Alliance) in the Lok Sabha elections.
According to the party sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her Political Secretary Ahmed Patel
and Defence Minister A K Antony, attended the strategy meeting, held
at Seven Race Course Road.
In this first high-level meeting, top Congress leadership discussed
on taking the support of the Independents or parties of the Fourth
Front like Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal to form the
Government.
The UPA is running short of 12 seats to reach the majority mark of
272 in the Parliament.
The next meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is
scheduled to take stock of the situation followed by the poll
results. The party's leadership would hold discussions with the
allies to finalize the details of Government formation post the CWC
meeting.
Sharad Yadav points finger at Modi, Varun for defeat
On Sunday, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad
Yadav said that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Varun Gandhi and
Narendra Modi had “damaged” the alliance in the elections.
According to Yadav, Gandhi’s alleged hate speeches in
Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, were “unconstitutional”.
"It may be right or wrong or he (Varun) might have denied but
his statement has caused immense damage. His statement was
unconstitutional. It was against the country's unity and must have
affected the polls," said Yadav.
He also said the BJP’s projecting Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi as a future Prime Ministerial candidate had hurt the
NDA.
"It was a factor. When the issue had come up, it created
confusion among the people's mind. Since the NDA had already
declared a Prime Ministerial candidate (LK Advani) unanimously,the
issue should have been dismissed immediately," he said.
Congress confused to seek support of the SP
On Sunday, the Congress party was not sure on
taking the support of the Samajwadi Party (SP), which has emerged as
the single largest party in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance now just require 10
more seats to attain the magic figure of 272 to get simple majority
in Lok Sabha and can do without the SP's support.
Congress spokesperson M Veerappa Moily told mediapersons, “The
Samajwadi Party had supported us at the time of the trust vote in
parliament on the nuclear deal (July 2008). But they fought
separately in UP and Bihar. It doesn't mean that they are away from
us and we are away from them."
Moily also said that internal discussion was ongoing on the SP's
hand of support.
"The discussion in the party is going on to consider the SP's
role in the government, which form and how," he said.
The Congress-led UPA has emerged as a single largest party in the
Lok Sabha elections with 262 seats and need only 10 more to get a
simple majority in the house. The SP have claimed the support of 26
new members, including two independents.
It is reported that some of the Congress party leaders had
expressed unwillingness to take the SP's support in Parliament after
the good showing by the Congress. The Congress, confounding poll
pundits won 21 seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul Gandhi may join UPA Cabinet
With the victory of the Congress-led UPA
(United Progressive Alliance), the appointment in the Cabinet has
begun.
Party leaders assured that the UPA doesn't require the support of
any new big allies and the Congress is also likely to keep key
portfolios with it.
Even the party has been demanding to bring Rahul Gandhi into the
Cabinet. Party also pays credit to Rahul for his success
particularly in Uttar Pradesh.
As per the sources, Rahul is likely to be included as the Rural
Development Minister in the Cabinet along with the several MPs.
Cabinet may include Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad and Sandeep Dikshit
as the other young MPs.
Sonia invites Lalu Yadav to attend cabinet meeting
On Sunday, private secretary of the Congress
President Sonia Gandhi said that the UPA chairperson had a
telephonic conversation with the Railway Minister Lalu Yadav last
evening and requested him to attend a meeting of the Union Cabinet
on Monday.
However, the private secretary did not disclosed what transpired
between the two leaders during the telephonic talk.
According to him, the railway minister is scheduled to leave for
Delhi later in the day.
Lalu has not been attending cabinet meetings ever since he forged
an alliance with LJP and Samajwadi Party.
It must be noted that on Saturday, Lalu Yadav admitted that not
contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress was a big
mistake.
"The decision to contest elections without the Congress on our
side was a big mistake and I acknowledge it. However, it is a matter
of great happiness for me that the Congress-led UPA is all set to
form its government at the Centre," Lalu had said.
Cong to form Govt with support of small allies
Beaconed by its resounding triumph, Congress on
Saturday night said it doesn't require any more allies and would
work independently to make way into the Parliament.
Congress' senior leader Kamal Nath said, "I don't think we
need any more allies because we already have the numbers." He
was even asked whether the Congress would seek support from the
RJD's Lalu Prasad and SP's Mulayam Singh Yadav to form the next
government.
"We can't just keep adding parties when we don't need the
numbers," said Kamal Nath, Commerce Minister in the UPA
government. He indicated that the Congress' coalitions with the
smaller parties would bridge the gap in numbers required to clinch
majority in the Parliament.
"We may not need any more allies because there are
independents and smaller formations we could align with," said
Nath. He also added that the matter will be cleared out on the
party's leadership meets on Sunday.
Buddhadeb is likely to skip politburo meet
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Babu may
skip CPM politburo meeting to be held on Monday in Delhi for he may
be busy in looking after the law and order in the state.
The move assumes significance in the wake of the Left Front's
breakdown in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal. The politburo
meeting has been scheduled to discuss the poll outcome.
Bhattacharjee is unlikely to attend the politburo meeting "as
he has to oversee the law and order situation in the state after the
announcement of Lok Sabha election results", sources said. They
even disclosed, "Mostly due to the reason (law and order
supervision) the CM is skipping the politburo meet to remain in the
state."
However, Biman Bose and Nirupam Sen, other members of the politburo
will attend the meeting tomorrow, said CPM sources.
New Government to be formed in two days
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and rest of the
cabinet will resign on Sunday and the process for formation of a new
Government headed by him is expected to be completed by Monday.
Later, a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Board will be called
which will be followed by a meeting of UPA.
According to Congress sources, the entire process is expected to
get completed in a couple of days.
Earlier, the Prime Minister also said he would try to convince
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to join the cabinet.
Amar Singh thinking of supporting Cong, if approached
On Saturday, Samajwadi Party's (SP) General
Secretary, Amar Singh, congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and Congress President Sonia Gandhi for winning in the Lok Sabha
elections and is thinking to support the party if approached.
"I congratulate the Prime Minister and Congress President on
this verdict. The Central Parliamentary Committee of the party will
sit and decide the future course of action. If Congress approaches
us (regarding the formation of government) we will think over it,"
said the SP leader.
"We had earlier supported the Congress, apart from some
issues, we have always supported it. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
has not, officially or unofficially, communicated anything to us."
He further added, "We fought elections without the Congress and
this has weakened the BSP in the state but it has not been
eliminated."
"I am happier than Jaya Prada herself on her victory. I had
put everything on stake for her victory, which is a slap on the face
of those who denigrate women," said Amar Singh,on Jaya Prada
winning from Rampur.
Manmohan Singh wants Rahul Gandhi to be a part of the cabinet
While addressing and thanking the people of the
country for the Congress-led UPA’s winning performance in the
15th Lok Sabha elections at 10 Janpath, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Saturday said that he will try to make Rahul Gandhi,
General Secretary of the party, a part of the new cabinet.
Singh also expressed his gratitude towards the people of the
country for the faith they have shown in the Congress party.
Singh said, “It’s always my wish to have Rahul Gandhi in
my cabinet, but now we’ll have to persuade him to join us.”
He also gave credit to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul for the untiring
contribution into the Party's successive winning.
He further added, “Under the visionary leadership of Sonia
Gandhi and the sustained hardwork by our youth leader Rahul Gandhi,
we achieved the success.”
Sonia also congratulated the people of the country for showing
faith on the party and to form the next government. “People of
India know what’s good for them,” Gandhi said.
Dr. Manmohan Singh to meet Sonia Gandhi
With the Congress-led alliance all set to come
to power once again, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet
Congress President Sonia Gandhi this evening.
According to the Congress sources, Singh along with his party
colleagues will be meeting Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence
to express gratitude to her for the way she conducted the election
campaign.
Projecting Narendra Modi as PM candidate was a big blunder,
says BJP
On Saturday BJP leader Chandan Mitra said it
was a big mistake committed by BJP to project Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi as the party's next prime ministerial candidate.
This statement of Mitra indicates that it could possibly be a
reason for the party's dismal show in the Lok Sabha elections.
Mitra while talking to mediapersons said, “Bringing up
Narendra Modi's name in the middle of the campaign was a serious
error of judgement.”
These remarks with regard to Modi were the individual opinion of a
senior leader but it can also be seen as the feeling of the party.
"It was a mistake, though every attempt was made to cover it
up," Mitra said.
It must be noted that Narendra Modi's name as a Prime Ministerial
candidate in the 2014 elections was put forward by BJP leader Arun
Shourie, something that was supported by many party leaders.
Congress can provide stable Government, says Sharad Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said in Mumbai on
Saturday that a stable Government was very much required in this
time of global crisis. He also added that there should be no problem
in formation of a stable Government.
Pawar told mediapersons, “"People were confident that
only UPA can provide a stable government and with the results and
trends available so far, there should be no hindrance to formation
of a stable government.”
"After this result, how can anyone else's subject crop up,"
Pawar replied on being asked a query on his prime ministerial
ambitions.
BJP's performance very surprising, says Rajnath Singh
On Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
President Rajnath Singh said he had not anticipated the poor
performance of the BJP in the Lok Sabha election results.
Rajnath Singh told mediapersons, "The BJP's performance in the
results is very unexpected. The success for the NDA that we had
hoped for has not materialised. The reasons for this will be
discussed later.”
When asked if the dismal showing of the BJP had any relation with
the BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee not campaigning for them he
said, "Vajpayeeji did not campaign for us this time but he did
support us."
We will stake claim for Govt formation, says Congress
The latest trends in counting of votes on
Saturday showed Congress-led UPA clearly leading ahead. Congress
said that it would stake claim to form the government hoping that
President Pratibha Patil would invite it.
B K Hariprasad, Congress General Secretary,showed confidence that
UPA will come out as the single largest party and along with its
coalition to allies, it will be able to recollect the majority.
"We expect the President to invite the single largest party
with its allies to form the government," said Hariprasad. He
was even confident for the extended support of the Left parties to
Congress to form the government and to avert the "danger"
of "communal and divisive politics posed by BJP".
He further added, "We welcome support from all parties except
BJP and Shiv Sena to form a secular govt... We need support of all
secular parties whoever wants to support is welcome."
The Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's decision to go alone
in Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh had made "a difference"
which is reflected by the party's good performance in the state, is
what he said.
Celebrations across Congress Headquarters, despair at BJP
A large number of supporters crowded the
Congress party headquarters at Akbar Road and the nearby residence
of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to celebrate the Success of the
Congress according to the latest trends of the 15th lok Sabha
election results.
The chants of "Jai Ho" broke out among the Congress
cadres when some TV channels announced "Manmohan Singh to
remain PM".
A large number of people were seen dancing around and shouting "We
want Rahul Gandhi as PM".
In spite of all these developments outside the Congress
headquarters there was no reaction from any party leader as they
were still glued to the television results.
On the other hand, the situation in the BJP headquarters was rather
different with several party supporters looking dejected. Many of
the BJP party leaders like VK Malhotra, Balbir Punj and others
avoided the mediapersons.
Advani at lead in Gandhinagar
According to a poll official, BJP Prime
Ministerial candidate LK Advani was at a big lead in Gujarat's
Gandhinagar seat.
Earlier Advani was at a lead of 4000 votes by 9.30 am, around 11 am
he was at a lead of 11000 votes, said a poll official at the
counting booth in Gandhinagar.
However, at the National level the BJP was not doing well, showed
the latest counting trends.
Manmohan ready to equal Vajpayee's record
If Atal Bihari Vajpayee can do it, then
Manmohan Singh too can!
Manmoha Singh is set to walk on the foot prints of Atal Bihari
Vajpayee by becoming Prime Minister for two consecutive terms with
the Congress-led UPA leading ahead in the recents trends.
Vajpayee made a magnificent return to power,in 1999 and became the
first leader to do so since the 1970s.
With the progress of counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections,
it is becoming clear that Singh, who in 2004 was unexpectedly named
Prime Minister, is all set to return back.
Party's President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Rahul Gandhi
had supported Manmohan's candidature and often declared that the
issue is "non-negotiable".
With the win of Manmohan Sinhg again, he will be the first Congress
Prime Minister outside the Gandhi-Nehru family to continue as the
Prime Minister while heading a coalition government.
Congress hints at widening UPA
On Saturday the Congress party expressed
confidence that it would sweep the Lok Sabha elections and also
hinted at enlarging the UPA camp by including "more secular
parties".
Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora told mediapersons, "We
will sweep the election. The Congress and its allies will form the
government. More secular parties can join us. Discussions are on in
this regard".
"It has always been a tradition to invite the single-largest
party along with its allies to form a government." Vohra
replied to the question whether the Congress believes that the
President must invite the single largest party to form the
Government.
Vohra attributed the success of the Congress in the Lok Sabha
elections to the Congress leaders namely party chief Sonia Gandhi,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party's General Secreatry Rahul
Gandhi for performance in UP.
UPA looking forward to clear victory
According to the early trends, Congress-led UPA
is leading ahead over its rival BJP-led NDA, as the counting of
votes for the Lok Sabha Elections which began today.
No party is anticipated to win by clear majority force. Both the
leading parties BJP and Congress will be looking out for a coalition
with the smaller parties. A party or a coalition requires the
support of 272 members to rule.
Counting of votes for the 15th Lok Sabha elections in 28 states and
seven union territories began at over 4,000 counting halls across
the country which will decide the fate of 8,070 candidates by the
evening.
Lalu trails in Saran but leads in Pataliputra
According to the latest trends, RJD (Rashtriya
Janta Dal) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was trailing
in the Saran constituency but leading Pataliputra. Counting of votes
for all the 40 parliamentary seats in Bihar started in all the
district headquarters across the state simultaneously.
DMK leading by 39 seats in Tamil Nadu
According to the latest trends of the 39 seats
in the state the ruling DMK-led front is leading in 13
constituencies whereas rthe AIADMK combine is leading in 5 seats in
Tamil Nadu. DMK was leading in eight constituencies while its ally
Congress was leading in four and VCK in one.
UPA leads by 198 seats and NDA by 125
The Congress-led UPA has trailed back the
BJP-led NDA in 198 constituencies while the BJP-led NDA manages to
gain 125 seats during the early trends for 420 seats in Lok Sabha
elections. The Congress-led UPA was leading in Kerala and Rajasthan
while the BJP-led NDA lead in Karnataka, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh.
Congress leading in Delhi
According to the latest trends Union Minister
Kapil Sibal was leading by 47,152 votes over his nearest BJP rival
Vijender Gupta in Chandni Chowk constituency from where he was
elected last time.
Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit has left BJP's Chetan Chouhan
far behind in the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat by over 28,532 votes.
Union Minister Ajay Maken was leading of his nearest BJP rival
Vijay Goel by 8,013 votes in New Delhi seat.
Congress' Krishna Tirath is also leading in North-West Delhi seat
by 4,084 seats over her nearest BJP rival.
Congress candidate Mahabal Mishra is leading over his BJP rival
Jagdish Mukhi by 33,039 votes in the West Delhi seat.
J P Aggarwal from Congress is leading in the North-East Delhi seat
over his BJP rival B L Sharma Prem by 29,537 votes.
Latest trends : UPA and NDA neck to neck
Counting of votes started on Saturday morning
at 8 am in all the 28 states and 7 union territories under the tight
securities. It will decide the fate of 8070 candidates contesting
from national and regional parties by evening. Election counting
this time may give some unexpected results as there was no major
political issues wave guiding the voters. Top trends show UPA and
NDA fighting neck to neck with 34 and 30 seats, respectively by 9
am.
Counting of votes begins, UPA leads
The counting of votes polled in the 15th Lok
Sabha Elections have started at over 4000 counting halls across the
country. The results will soon decide the fate of 8070 contesting
candidates. A party or combine requires 272 seats in the 545 member
Lok Sabha to form a government.
BJD to support Congress Govt at centre
A day before the election results, the former
NDA ally Biju Janata Dal sealed a deal with the Congress in Orissa
to support the Congress-led coalition at the centre.
Like a proposal that was made by the Congress with People's
Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir where the PDP had its chief
minister and made platform for the Congress. BJD is believed to put
forth a similar kind of a proposal before the Congress.
Biju Janata Dal leader Naveen Patnaik on Thursday night spoke to
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and called it as a courtesy call. Naveen
patnaik had turned away from NDA a few months ahead of elections.
Earlier, Patnaik seemed to be deviating towards the Third Front and
had accompanied several leaders of the Third Front at party rallies.
"Bihar is the deciding factor for support"
On Friday Bihar chief minister and Janata
Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar said that he would support a
Government that gives special status to Bihar.
"Nobody knows who is going to form the next government."
Nitish said
The Congress party General Secretary Digvijay Singh reacting to
Nitish Kumar's comment said, "the party is open to give special
status to Bihar. " Congress is sensitive to Bihar's needs."
At the same time, BJP to gain the support of the JD-U chief, said
Nitish knows who will give Bihar special status. "We will
surely consider special status for Bihar," BJP president
Rajnath Singh said.
Rajnath Singh also added, "We are getting positive signals
from various parties."
The inclination of the Congress towards Bihar Chief Minister was
made apparent by party's General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who had
openly praised Nitish for the development work in Bihar.
However, Nitish Kumar has been repeatedly saying that he will
support the NDA until now.
Results of 15th Lok Sabha elections on Saturday
The results of the 15th Lok Sabha elections
will be declared on Saturday. The counting will begin at 8 am and
the final results are expected to be announced by late evening. The
initial trends of the poll results will be available within thirty
minutes after the commencement of the counting process.
The outcome of each round of counting will be uploaded on the
Election Commission website (http://eci.nic.in) to make
people instantly aware about the outcome of the election results on
May 16.
Security has been beefed up at all the counting centres all over
India so that peaceful counting can go on without any disruptions.
The growing suspense over who will form the Government will be
unfolded on Saturday.
Some of the political heavyweights namely Congress President Sonia
Gandhi, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Varun
Gandhi, Congress Prime Ministerial candidate Manmohan Singh, BJP
Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav,
BSP chief Mayawati and many others who will come to know their fate
on the D-day that is on May 16.
Left will not support Cong, says Forward Bloc
On Thursday Left Front constituent Forward Bloc
said that the Left parties will not support a Congress-led
government at the centre rather will prefer to sit in the
opposition.
The General Secretary of Forward Bloc Ashok Ghosh said “In no
circumstances will the four Left parties -- CPM, CPI, Forward Bloc
and RSP support a Congress-led government at the Centre from
outside. If necessary, we will sit in the opposition. This is our
decision."
Ashok Ghosh simply sidestepped a question when asked what would
Left parties do if the Congress appeared as the single largest party
and formed a 'minority government'. Also whether they would avoid
voting in the event of a trust vote in parliament to allow such a
government to exist to stop BJP from coming to power.
Ghosh replied so far the Left parties are not in favor to support a
Congress-led government. “what will happen in a changed
scenario I cannot say” said the Forward Bloc patriarch.
Manmohan Singh to resign on May 17
A day after the election results are out, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh will be resigning on May 17. After having a
meeting with the council of ministers at 4 pm on May 18, Manmohan
Singh will then proceed towards Rashtrapati Bhavan.
However, the government does expect Mr Singh to continue as Prime
Minister till the formation of the next government.
According to the sources, a search is on for a new residence for
Manmohan singh.
The action has raised eyebrows in Congress circles, as it implies
that Manmohan Singh is uncertain of returning for a second term in
office.
SP gets invitation from Cong to join Govt
The Congress party is full of confidence and is
optimistic that the President Pratibha Patil will first invite them
to form the Government after the poll results are out on Saturday.
The party is moving swiftly in order to attain support and has
invited the Samajwadi Party to be a part of a Government led by it.
Senior Leader Pranab Mukherjee conveyed the decision of the
CongressParty when he met SP General Secretary Amar Singh late
Wednesdayevening.
Pranab Mukherjee's meeting with Amar Singh took place after the
Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi examined post-poll plans with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh along with few close aides.
Mukherjee told Amar Singh that Congress is ready to forget all the
past hatchets. The Sources in the SP camp said the Mukherjee was
interested on an early closure and also discussed about the
portfolios that SP could get as a part of the proposed power-sharing
arrangement.
I have no faith in exit polls, says Sharad Yadav
On Thursday JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav described
the projections of exit polls as unrealistic and even asserted that
NDA will manage to get adequate number of seats to form the
Government in the centre on its own.
Yadav also repeated that his party will never switch side in favour
of UPA and will always remain an ally of BJP.
Yadav said, I have no faith in exit polls. The NDA will get
majority and we will form the government under the leadership of L K
Advani.Further he also added, "We are with the NDA which has
already declared its prime ministerial candidate. We have campaigned
hard in the country so that NDA can attain majority.
The JD(U) chief also said the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) will
support the NDA in Delhi and join an alliance in Andhra Pradesh
which would be best place to challenge the Congress. He further
added "I can say regarding the TRS that there is no change in
the stand. It will support the NDA in New Delhi and in Andhra
Pradesh, it will support, as per the situation, the strongest
alliance against the Congress.
UP govt drops NSA detention against Varun Gandhi
Late on Thursday evening Mayawati-led UP
government revoked its NSA detention order against Varun Gandhi for
his alleged inflammatory speeches following a direction from the
Supreme Court. The SC has made known its disapproval of the grounds
for booking Varun Gandhi.
A senior government official said in Lucknow, "Following the
Supreme Court order, the state government has revoked NSA against
Varun Gandhi."
The action of Mayawati government came within hours of Supreme
Court direction to "forthwith withdraw" the detention
order which was slapped on Varun on March 29.
Varun Gandhi was charged for making provocative speeches during
election rallies in Pilibhit on March 7 and 8. He was behind the
bars in Etah jail and has been on parole since April 16.
A bench led by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan disposed off the plea
lodged by Varun questioning the imposition of the stringent NSA as
well as the application filed by the UP government seeking setting
aside the conclusion of the State Advisory Board recommending
cancellation of the stringent law filed against him.
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