Nationalist Congress Party | SilverScorpio.Com

The great census divide

May 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Nationalist Congress Party is not in favour of a caste-based census, but has not made it an issue as it finds Big Brother Congress suddenly more accommodating towards the Yadav triumvirate — Sharad, Mulayam and Lalu — than its partners in the UPA. At the Cabinet meeting last week, senior NCP leader and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel took the middle path, pointing out that the matter has reached such a point that the government would be criticised either way. The NCP camp is dismayed at the haste with which the Congress brought the onus on the government by promising to bring the issue in the Cabinet.

The Cabinet meeting witnessed some spirited opposition with Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports M S Gill leading from the front and terming it as a retrogressive step. Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal wanted the government to take a “rationalist” approach.

The biggest surprise, however, was Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh’s support for a caste census. He said that by promising to bring the issue in the Cabinet, the government had already committed itself to the cause

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Bahujan Vikas Agadhi wins Vasai-Virar civic polls

May 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Mumbai, May 31 (IANS) Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Agadhi Monday won the first ever election to the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, on the outskirts of north Mumbai, capturing 55 of the 89 wards.

‘We had expected to win over 50 wards and we got it. I thank all those who had faith in the party and those who elected members of our party,’ Thakur said.

Vivek Pandit-led Jan Andolan Samiti contested from 38 wards and won 19. Out of 48 wards the Congress contested, it won only two.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) failed to open their account from any of the 46 wards they contested, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won one ward out of the 17 contested.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won from one ward out of 17 contested, while Shiv Sena won from three wards out of 40. Independents won in eight wards.

As many as 383 candidates spread over 89 wards had contested the elections. One candidate of Bahujan Vikas Agadhi was declared elected unopposed.

The election took place Sunday with approximately 43 percent of the 6.5 lakh electorate exercising their franchise, said election officers.

There were 603 polling booths with around 3,500 polling staff on duty.

Situated on the outskirts of north Mumbai, the Vasai taluka had four municipal councils — Vasai, Nala Sopara, Virar and Navghar-Manickpur — and 72 gram panchayats. They were all dissolved and the municipal corporation was formed July 3, 2009.

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NCP leader shot dead in Imphal

April 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal, Apr 27 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chungsei Haokip was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Imphal.

Sixty-year old Haokip was having food with a friend at a hotel here on Monday, when unidentified gunmen opened fire just after dawn.

His friend Haokai Lungpheng also received bullet injuries in his right calf.

The duo was rushed to the local hospital where doctors declared Haokip brought dead.

The functionaries and supporters of NCP condemned the killing and demanded immediate action by the concerned authorities.

“It is very unfortunate that such a fine person, a fine leader, a very rare leader of his community has been killed in a very merciless manner. The NCP, all together, condemned strongly this drastic act and demanded that the culprits should be found out,” said Leader of Opposition in the Manipur Legislative Assembly Radhabinod Koijam.

“They should be caught and punished very severely according to the law of the land,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case and launched official investigation into the murder of Haokip, who was the Vice President of the Manipur state unit of NCP. (ANI)

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Ashok Chavan defends Civil Supplies Minister Sattar involved in brawl

March 22, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Mar 22 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Monday defended Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Abdul Sattar terming the brawl by him on a Congress party worker as a matter of no national importance.

“This is not a national issue. It”s not important,” said Chavan.

Chavan, however, said he would seek a report on the incident when the opposition raised the issue in the state assembly.

Maharashtra leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse criticized the act and demanded an apology from Sattar.

Abdul Sattar had on Sunday bashed up Mohammed Mushtaq, a Congress party activist during a meeting of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Pragati Aghadi for the Aurangabad municipal polls.

Mushtaq was not just assaulted by Sattar, but by his personal assistant as well when he confronted the minister on being denied a party ticket.

Sattar, however, did not tender an apology for his act.

“He threatened and abused me. Even if I am a minister, there is a limit to tolerating such behaviour. I am human after all. I do not know him at all. He suddenly attacked me demanding a ticket. I haven”t even decided yet,” said Sattar. (ANI)

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NCP welcomes Congress action against Chaturvedi

March 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Stating that everyone must exercise restraint in language, the NCP said Wednesday it was satisfied with Congress’ action against MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi, who was removed as spokesperson for his reported objectionable remarks against Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Chaturvedi was Tuesday eased from the panel of party spokespersons following the controversy over his alleged remarks against the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief on the issue of price rise.

‘We are satisfied with the action taken,’ NCP leader Tariq Anwar told IANS. ‘Everybody should exercise restraint in the use of language.’

Chaturvedi’s abusive remarks against Pawar came during a television interview. The MP reportedly did not know that the cameras were running when he made the comment.

Congress sources said Chaturvedi’s remarks were not an official comment and he was talking off the record.

However, the party had been embarrassed and the decision was taken to remove Chaturvedi from the panel of spokespersons, said a party leader.

Chaturvedi continues as special invitee to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s top decision making body.

This is not the first time Chaturvedi is in trouble for his intemperate remarks. He was earlier removed as spokesperson for remarks about then Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.

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Chaturvedi axed as Congress spokesperson over comments on Pawar

March 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 17 (ANI): Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi has been removed as party spokesperson over his alleged comments on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (NCP) chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Chaturvedi reportedly used ”uncivilised language” during an interview to a news channel two days back while criticising Pawar on the issue of price rise.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) Chairperson Janardhan Dwivedi confirmed the news that Chaturvedi has been removed from the party following his comments on Pawar.

Earlier also, Chaturvedi was caught in the middle of a controversy following his uncharitable remarks against the then Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh. (ANI)

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Congress – NCP to finalise seat-sharing formula on Saturday

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 19 (ANI): The crucial meeting of the Congress Party and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders will be held here on Saturday to give the final shape to the seat sharing agreement for next month’s Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The Election Commission issued notification for the assembly polls in Maharashtra, which is to be held on October 13.

On Thursday it was reported that both parties had broadly agreed to a formula of 174: 114 seats for the Congress and the NCP respectively.

The Maharashtra Assembly has 298 constituencies.

Poll management leaders of both the Congress and the NCP met their respective party chiefs on Friday after three days of negotiations.

They had earlier held a series of discussions in Mumbai to give final shape to the seat sharing process.

If the current formula gets the stamp of approval of both parties then the NCP would settle for ten seats less than what it contested the last time.

Meanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – Shiv Sena alliance settled on a seat sharing, for 119 for the BJP and 169 seats for Shiv Sena (ANI)

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Maharashtra polls: Congress to contest 174 seats, NCP 114

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep.17 (ANI): The Congress party on Thursday announced that it will contest 174 seats in the October 13 assembly elections in Maharashtra, while its partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest 114.

Addressing the media here, Chaudhary Virendra Singh, who oversees Congress affairs in the state of Maharashtra, said, the seat-sharing arrangement has been finalised after several rounds of talks.

It may be recalled that in the last elections, the Congress had contested 164 seats, while the NCP fielded candidates in 124 seats.

The Election Commission will issue the notification for the assembly elections on Friday. (ANI)

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Congress, NCP may announce Maharashtra poll seat sharing formula on Friday

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Sep.16 (ANI): The Congress party and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are likely to formally decide on the seat sharing formula for next month’s assembly elections in Maharashtra on Wednesday, but will make the announcement only on Friday, sources here said.

Leaders of the two parties met at Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s official residence Varsha on Tuesday evening to finally thrash out seat-sharing arrangement.

In the last elections, the Congress had allocated 124 seats to the NCP. This time, however, the Congress wants to give 105 seats to the NCP. Efforts are on to arrive at the compromise figure of 114. (ANI)

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Sonia Gandhi sets an example, flies economy class to Mumbai

September 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi/Mumbai, Sep.14 (ANI): Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday flew by economy class to Mumbai to attend a rally of party workers and also to hold discussions with the leadership of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Gandhi’s decision to fly economy class followed a similar act by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and an announcement by External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna that he would be undertaking official trips to Belarus and Turkmenistan.

He has also decided to cut down his delegation from 20 to two members for the trip.

Krishna further said that he would not travel first class in commercial airliners during his official trips.

The decision to fly economy class comes in the wake of Mukherjee’s appeal for a need for ministers and lawmakers to observe austerity in their lifestyle and official functions as the country is facing a crisis caused by drought. (ANI)

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Congress to decide over alliance with NCP on Sunday

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Union Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that the decision on alliance with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls would be taken by Sunday.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Deshmukh said the party will take a decision on the continuation of alliance by Sunday.

On Friday the Congress High Command appointed Deshmukh as the chairman of party’s poll management committee and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde as the chairman of campaign committee for the Maharashtra polls.

Both Deshmukh and Shinde held an hour-long meeting with the party’s central leadership.

He said, Sonia Gandhi had asked him to coordinate party’s election work by taking everyone into confidence.

Earlier, the Congress Party asked the Sharad Pawar led NCP to accept new ground realities during seat sharing. (ANI)

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Congress screens aspiring candidates for polls in Maharashtra

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Sep 12 (ANI): Congress party has begun shortlisting candidates aspiring for party’s nomination for the October 13 assembly elections in Maharashtra.

Congress party, which is running a coalition government with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra for the second term in a row, is yet to sort out hiccups on seat sharing with its ally.

As the days for nominations to open on September 18 draws close, state Congress party leaders went in a huddle in Mumbai to screen aspirants seeking ‘ticket’ to contest polls on the party symbol.

“I have given my profile, I have told about major problems in our area including drinking water and irrigation and people do not get benefited from the policies of the government,” said Anil Chandra Kumar Gupta, an aspirant from Tiroda seat of Gondia district.

Congress party, which also heads the central coalition, is on a high after its good performance in the April-May general elections. (ANI)

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BJP- Shiv Sena finalises seat sharing for Maharashtra assembly polls

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug 31 (ANI): Though the party’s top leadership is struggling to set the house in order, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra unit has finalised the seat sharing agreement with the Shiv Sena on Monday for the upcoming assembly polls in the state.

According to BJP sources the talks with Shiv Sena are almost over and an official announcement would be made in a day or two.

Both the parties agreed for the existing 171:117 formula for the 288 Assembly seats, sources added.

In the 2004 Assembly elections, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance had allotted seven seats to Shetkari Sanghatana led by vetern farmer’s leader Sharad Joshi. As Joshi’s party is no more a partner of Sena-BJP combine, both the parties are expected to share these seats.

BJP is claiming the Chindwada seat, as the sitting legislator of that constituency joined the party.

The poll managers of the saffron alliance are confident of achieving seat matrix despite trouble faced by the BJP central leadership.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine is still not sure on maintaining the alliance. Also the strategy of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is not yet clear.

The MNS is holding its cards close to the chest as to go alone or ally with one of the two major political groups, or opt for the Third Front. (ANI)

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CBI files 5000-page chargesheet against Padamsinh Patil

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug 20(ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday submitted a 5000-page chargesheet, in which it named suspended Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Padamsinh Patil as the prime accused and conspirator in the 2006 murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimabalkar.

“The charge sheet, filed in a Panvel court, includes the statements of 181 witnesses and over 200 documents alleging the involvement of Patil and others in the crime,” said P Kandaswamy, the head of CBI’s Mumbai Zone.

In the chargesheet, the CBI alleged that Patil hatched the conspiracy to murder Nimbalkar due to political rivalry, as he nursed a suspicion that Nimabalkar had challenged his (Patil’s) survival in politics.

It also said that Patil had paid a ‘supari’ (contract killing) of Rs 30 lakh to the other accused to eliminate Nimbalkar.

The murder of Nimbalkar and his driver took place at a Navi Mumbai croosing on June 3, 2006.

The police had made no progress for two years until the city crime branch arrested jeweller Parasmal Jain in a robbery case. Jain disclosed the murder conspiracy and was handed over to the CBI. Patil was arrested on June 6 this year.

The other accused, who were charge sheeted are Jain, Satish Mandade, Mohan Shukla, Dinesh Tiwari, Kailash Yadav and Pintoo Singh. (ANI)

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Pawar rules out merger of NCP with Congress

August 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): Ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra, Union Agricultural Minister and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of merger with the Congress Party.

Pawar also termed the statements by some Congress leaders on the issue as cheap publicity.

“I can’t understand why these days they are raising questions about it, why they are not appealing to other parties to merge? Should I say that the Congress should merge with my party and these are all cheap public statements,” Pawar said.

Pawar added that he would be happy if both the parties go together or don’t go together in the upcoming elections. (ANI)

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Nationalist Congress Party will fight Maharashtra polls along with Congress

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Panaji, July 8 (ANI): Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and President of Maharashtra state unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) R. R. Patil said that his party is in favor of continuing an alliance with the Congress party in the upcoming elections to the state assembly.

Some of the Congress leaders in Maharashtra are willing to go ahead with without NCP as the party has improved its vote bank significantly in the state in the last general elections.

Regarding, views expressed by some of the Congress leaders against the continuation of alliance with NCP, Patil said, those views are of those leader’s individual opinions and not of their party’s.

The talks for seat sharing between the two parties will start at the right time, and now it’s too early to comment on that, Patil said.

Meanwhile, Congress has warned its Maharashtra leaders against expressing their views on the alliance with NCP in public. (ANI)

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Bandra Worli Sea Link – Mumbai sea bridge to be named after Rajiv Gandhi

July 1, 2009 By admin 1 Comment

Bandra Worli Sea Link – Mumbai sea bridge to be named after Rajiv Gandhi

Mumbai, June 30 (IANS) India’s first sea bridge, which was thrown open to traffic in this financial capital Tuesday, will be named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced here.

Chavan’s announcement was in response to a surprise demand to this effect by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

“Rajiv Gandhi was born in Mumbai, he was a son of the soil and it will be appropriate that the bridge be named after him,” Pawar said in his speech at an inaugural function.

Amidst thunderous applause, Chavan accepted Pawar’s suggestion and made the announcement on the dais at the Rang Sharda Auditorium, Worli, where the official inauguration function was held after the bridge was thrown open by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia Gandhi.

Called the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), the 5.6-km bridge on the Arabian Sea cost Rs.1,634-crore ($16.34 billion) and the authorities hope some 150,000 vehicles will use it each day for a toll that ranges between Rs.50 and Rs.100 per trip depending on the size of the automobile.

New cabinet ministers take charge of their offices

May 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 29 (ANI): Newly inducted ministers took charge of their offices in different ministries on Friday.

Former United Nations diplomat and writer Shashi Tharoor, who was appointed as the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, said he would work towards strengthening India’s place in the world.

“India’s place in the world is of great importance. India has had an honoured place in the world. I wish to make my own contribution to strengthening that very honoured place,” said Tharoor.

Preneet Kaur also took charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs along with Tharoor.

Jairam Ramesh, who took charge as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, is also expected to play a crucial role keeping in view the negotiations on global warming which are on agenda later this year.

Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal took charge of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Minister of State for Petroleum Jitin Prasada also took charge of their offices.

Fifty-nine new ministers including 14 of the cabinet rank were sworn-in by President Pratibha Patil on Thursday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was successful in bringing the key allies to his new government.

Singh’s new Council of Ministers includes 59 from the Congress and 19 from five allies- seven each from the DMK and the Trinamool Congress, three from the Nationalist Congress Party and one each from the Muslim League and the National Conference. (ANI)

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Praful Patel says nursing Air India his top priority

May 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Nursing state-run carrier Air India back to financial health will be the top priority for Praful Patel, as he listed his main agenda for the ministry soon after being named minister of state for civil aviation once again.

“As soon as I was given aviation (portfolio), I got a call from the Air India chairman and managing director. I said Air India was my top priority,” said Patel, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

“Air India has not been performing well in the recent past. We have to get it back on track,” said Patel.

Air India, which is now estimated to be grappling with losses worth nearly Rs.40 billion ($800 million), had recently inducted Arvind Jadhav as its chairman and managing director.

Patel said infrastructure development for the Indian aviation space was also an issue that ranked high on his list of priorities, even as he said the process to upgrade and modernise most airports in the country will be put on the fast track.

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Four Christians as ministers reflects Indian diversity: community

May 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) India’s Catholic Christians are happy over increased representation of the community in the new government, with four of them being inducted into the union council of ministers.

A.K. Antony is defence minister while K.V. Thomas, Agatha Sangma and Vincent Pala are ministers of state. The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had three Christian ministers.

“It shows the cultural and religious diversity of India, which has been the hallmark of our history and tradition,” said Rev Babu Joseph, spokesman, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India (CBCI).

“All four of them are Catholics,” he said.

However, Antony, former Kerala chief minister and a Rajya Sabha MP, is a known atheist and declined to take oath of office in the name of god during the swearing-in ceremony of the Manmohan Singh cabinet last week.

Catholic Christians make up 1.8 percent of the country’s population, while the total Christian population is 2.5 percent.

While Antony and Thomas are from Kerala, Sangma and Pala belong to the northeastern state of Meghalaya.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader P.A. Sangma’s daughter Agatha, 28, is the youngest minister in the council of ministers. She represents Tura constituency in Meghalaya. Congress leader Vincent Pala, 41, is a first-time MP. He represents Shillong constituency. K.V. Thomas, 63, is a former Kerala minister. Thomas won the Lok Sabha elections from Ernakulam constituency.

The CBCI also said the inclusion of more Christian ministers in the council of ministers was a move towards an inclusive approach in the Indian polity.

Antony, Oscar Fernandez and P.R. Kyndia were the three Christians in the previous government.

However, the representation of Muslims in the new council of ministers has come down from six in the previous government to five – two of whom are cabinet ministers and three are ministers of state. Muslims constitute 14 percent of India’s population.

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