Mumbai, Sep 19(ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena on Saturday expressed confidence about emerging victorious in the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.
“It is 45 years since Shiv Sena came into being. And this first day of Navaratri happens to be a red-letter day in the history of Shiv Sena that has crusaded for the cause of Samyukta (unified) Maharashtra. Considering all these aspects, I feel it is an auspicious timing (of) declaring the seat arrangement and we are confident of our combine emerging victorious,” said Uddhav Thackeray, Executive President of Shiv Sena party.
Leaders of both the parties confirmed that there was no bargaining for seats between the two allies.
“Today, is the first day of Dussera and we have arrived at the figures of seat sharing. Yes, it is 169 and 119. The 169 in favour of Shiv Sena and 119 for BJP and it will be interesting to note that both the figures end in 9, a lucky number; 169 and 119. And now onwards we will work on joint strategy. There is no clash of interests and now onwards we will devote to the selection of suitable candidates,” said Gopinath Munde, senior BJP leader.
In the 2004 elections, Shiv Sena had contested for 171 seats while BJP had contested for 117 and jointly they had bagged 119 seats in the legislative house of 289 members.
The alliance of Congress and regional National Congress Party (NCP) had emerged victorious in the 2004 polls. (ANI)
Rudd says navy sex betting ring ‘disturbing’
Canberra (Australia), July 6 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has expressed his dismay over reports of a sex betting ring on board a ship of the Australian Navy.
“Can I say I’m sure the Chief of Navy has all those matters under active investigation and that appropriate action will be taken? These alleged behaviours are disturbing, but it’s important also to get to the facts of it all and we’ll await the investigations by the chief of navy to establish all those facts,” Rudd told reporters here.
Rudd’s comment came after it was revealed that a group of sailors from HMAS Success had been sent home for allegedly organizing a challenge to have sex with as many female crewmates as possible.
The Seven Network reported that the sailors detailed their contest in a document called The Ledger, where dollar values were placed on each woman during an overseas deployment in May.
Larger amounts were offered if the sailors could sleep with a female officer or a lesbian and sailors challenged each other to have sex in various locations, including on top of a pool table, the report said.
The arrangement was discovered while HMAS Success was visiting Singapore.
The captain ordered the sailors to return to Australia immediately after they were formally interviewed.
On Sunday’ Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard called for a full investigation of the incident by the Australian Defence Force.
Gillard said nothing should preclude women from enjoying a full and rewarding career in the Australian Defence Force.
“Obviously this is a matter for our defence forces to deal with and to fully investigate,” Gillard told Network Ten on Sunday.
She said both the government and the nation had been saying for a long time that women should be able to join the army, the navy or air force.
“We don’t want to see anything that precludes women from having a good career in our armed forces if that is what they choose to do with their lives. Clearly these allegations need to be fully investigated,” she said.
The Defence Department confirmed a formal inquiry was underway, but said: “The veracity of any allegations has yet to be confirmed.” (ANI)