Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Friday, 13 December 2013
Modi to attend Vasundhara Raje's oath-taking ceremony as Rajasthan Chief Minister
Raje will take the oath of office inside the premises of Assembly building at a ceremony. Seating arrangements, drinking water facility, parking, security among other arrangements are being made for visitors who will attend the programme at Janpath.
60-year-old Raje, who belongs to the royal Scindia family of Gwalior and married in Rajasthan, has been elected to the state assembly thrice and five times to Lok Sabha.
Raje became Rajasthan's first woman chief minister in 2003 when the "angrezi-speaking maharani", a phrase used by her critics to refer to her elitist a and royal background, led BJP to its most famous victory in the predominantly rural state.
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Lokpal Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha, BJP pledges conditional support
The UPA government has introduced the amended Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Principal opposition party BJP has supported the Bill on condition that some amendments be made in the draft.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari insisted a debate on the matter, which is likely to take place on Monday. MOS, PMO, V Narayansamy tabled the Bill in the Parliament.
Various leaders of political parties and members of the civil society have expressed their stands on the Bill. The Bhartiya Janata Party has said that it is ready to accept the Bill if some amendments were made in the draft.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal has called the Bill useless.
Lokpal crusader Kiran Bedi has expressed happiness on the introduction of the Bill in Rajya Sabha. She wrote on Twitter that after implementing the select committee recommendations, the draft of the Bill was improved. She appealed to the people of the country to accept the amended Bill
Earlier, Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari insisted a debate on the matter, which is likely to take place on Monday. MOS, PMO, V Narayansamy tabled the Bill in the Parliament.
Various leaders of political parties and members of the civil society have expressed their stands on the Bill. The Bhartiya Janata Party has said that it is ready to accept the Bill if some amendments were made in the draft.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal has called the Bill useless.
Lokpal crusader Kiran Bedi has expressed happiness on the introduction of the Bill in Rajya Sabha. She wrote on Twitter that after implementing the select committee recommendations, the draft of the Bill was improved. She appealed to the people of the country to accept the amended Bill
No ego to beat SRK, Aamir's films at box office: Salman Khan
With Bollywood witnessing a trend of setting box office records these days, superstar Salman Khan says he does not have the ego to outrank the business records of Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan's films.
"I believe a film should be good. The promo should be the deciding factor for people whether they want to see the film or not. It (promo) should be good enough so that people would want to see the film," Salman said here last night during the trailer launch of his upcoming film 'Jai Ho'.
"Today it is about Rs.200 crore, 300 crore or 400 crore but I don't see it that way. There is no ego that if Shah Rukh and Aamir's film has done 'x' business, then my film should also do so and cross it (the record mark)," he said.
"I wish and hope everybody's film should do well so that the business is more, industry grows, etc," he said.
"I believe a film should be good. The promo should be the deciding factor for people whether they want to see the film or not. It (promo) should be good enough so that people would want to see the film," Salman said here last night during the trailer launch of his upcoming film 'Jai Ho'.
"Today it is about Rs.200 crore, 300 crore or 400 crore but I don't see it that way. There is no ego that if Shah Rukh and Aamir's film has done 'x' business, then my film should also do so and cross it (the record mark)," he said.
"I wish and hope everybody's film should do well so that the business is more, industry grows, etc," he said.
Madhuri Dixit promotes new film on rival show
Madhuri Dixit, who has been associated with the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa over the past three seasons, made an appearance on the rival dance show Dance India Dance to promote her upcoming film Dedh Ishqiya. Accompanied by co-actor Huma Qureshi, Madhuri dazzled on stage as she made an appearance in a stunning fusion outfit.
Bonding with grand master Mithun Chakraborty, her co- star of many an 80s hit such as Prem Pratigya and Mujrim , Madhuri did not miss the chance to match steps with him and tried his trademark dancing style.
Mithun recalled the time when he worked with Madhuri and how they enjoyed every moment on the sets.
Madhuri talked abut her old ties with choreographers Shruti Merchant and Feroz, who are now judging the show. Shruti had choreographed Madhuri in Aaja Nachle , while she was assisting Saroj Khan.
"The challenge with her was to present her in a breathtaking manner that she has so far not been seen in. Reinventing Madhuri, who has displayed a range as a dancer, is not an easy task.
It is a delight to dance with her on the show," Shruti said.
Feroz was part of the Kay Sera Sera number in Pukar . He danced on a fastpaced dance number on the set, which got everyone excited.
" Madhuri and I have danced together in Kay Sera Sera . I was a background dancer then.
There is a shot in the song where Madhuri punches me in my face.
I remember she was unwell but came for rehearsals. Despite ill health, she would dance with the team and be extremely cooperative," recalled Feroz.
Dedh Ishqiya directed by Abhishek Choube also features Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi and will release in January.
Bonding with grand master Mithun Chakraborty, her co- star of many an 80s hit such as Prem Pratigya and Mujrim , Madhuri did not miss the chance to match steps with him and tried his trademark dancing style.
Mithun recalled the time when he worked with Madhuri and how they enjoyed every moment on the sets.
Madhuri talked abut her old ties with choreographers Shruti Merchant and Feroz, who are now judging the show. Shruti had choreographed Madhuri in Aaja Nachle , while she was assisting Saroj Khan.
"The challenge with her was to present her in a breathtaking manner that she has so far not been seen in. Reinventing Madhuri, who has displayed a range as a dancer, is not an easy task.
It is a delight to dance with her on the show," Shruti said.
Feroz was part of the Kay Sera Sera number in Pukar . He danced on a fastpaced dance number on the set, which got everyone excited.
" Madhuri and I have danced together in Kay Sera Sera . I was a background dancer then.
There is a shot in the song where Madhuri punches me in my face.
I remember she was unwell but came for rehearsals. Despite ill health, she would dance with the team and be extremely cooperative," recalled Feroz.
Dedh Ishqiya directed by Abhishek Choube also features Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi and will release in January.
The song Katrina Kaif will dance to at Ranbir Kapoor's wedding
The actress says she has no plans to get married for the next 20 to 30 years.
Actress Katrina Kaif, who has finally opened up to the media, made light of Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor's conversation on Koffee with Karan, by saying whatever they said was a joke.
She said this during the press conference of Dhoom: 3, which is set to hit the screens on December 20.
Asked how she reacted to Kareena's comment on Koffee with Karan where Kareena said she would dance to Katrina's hit songs at Ranbir's wedding, Katrina said: "Kareena and Ranbir are cousins so they pull each other's legs. There is no such thing like that. They said it as a joke. I don't think they were serious."
She was then asked on which song would she perform at Ranbir's wedding, to which Katrina said: "If for some reason, I have to dance on a song at Ranbir's wedding, I would dance on the Besharamsong."
Reacting to Ranbir's statement that Katrina is a special person in his life and he would like to give his life for her, she said: "I would like to give my life to anyone who needs and who is a dear friend. If Ranbir is ever in need, I will definitely be there for him."
Additionally, the actress says she has no plans to get married for the next 20 to 30 years. She said, "It's final and lock it. I am not getting married to anyone right now for the next 20 to 30 years."
She said this during the press conference of Dhoom: 3, which is set to hit the screens on December 20.
Asked how she reacted to Kareena's comment on Koffee with Karan where Kareena said she would dance to Katrina's hit songs at Ranbir's wedding, Katrina said: "Kareena and Ranbir are cousins so they pull each other's legs. There is no such thing like that. They said it as a joke. I don't think they were serious."
She was then asked on which song would she perform at Ranbir's wedding, to which Katrina said: "If for some reason, I have to dance on a song at Ranbir's wedding, I would dance on the Besharamsong."
Reacting to Ranbir's statement that Katrina is a special person in his life and he would like to give his life for her, she said: "I would like to give my life to anyone who needs and who is a dear friend. If Ranbir is ever in need, I will definitely be there for him."
Additionally, the actress says she has no plans to get married for the next 20 to 30 years. She said, "It's final and lock it. I am not getting married to anyone right now for the next 20 to 30 years."
Nokia still building an Android smartphone
Nokia is working on an Android smartphone that could one day replace its Asha budget range.
According to reports, the company is working on a budget smartphone that would run a forked-version of Android. The phone, which goes by the codename Normandy, has been rumoured on and off for months.
However, the most interesting part of the reports is that Microsoft – which recently agreed to buy Nokia’s devices and services divisions – may not kill the project.
According to AllThingsD, the Normandy project has survived despite internal pressures and Microsoft’s purchase of its Windows Phone and low-end mobile phone division.
Sources speaking to the site have said the general feeling in Nokia is that while Microsoft hasn’t greenlighted the project, it is willing to see where it goes.
The version of Android Nokia is developing is heavily tweaked, in the same way that the version of the open source operating system is on Amazon’s tablets.
According to the report, the version of Android Nokia is developing bears more than a passing resemblance to Windows Phone 8. It is said to use a tile-based interface, rather than the ‘squircle’ or button-based approaches of Asha and vanillia-Android respectively
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Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Mahindra Centuro breaks in to top ten selling motorcycles in India
Mahindra has very proudly announced that their Centuro motorcycle has broken into the top ten selling motorcycles in the country. What makes this feat quite impressive is that the bike has only been on sale for five months. The entry level commuter market is a notoriously difficult one to break into in India with some very established products that have ruled the roost for ages.
Mahindra knew that it would be a hard task to take on the mileage machines at their own game which is why they approached the Centuro with a different angle. While the bike is accomplished in the ride/handling and economy departments Mahindra has showered it with innovations that none of its competitors have. The company has received great feedback for its features like follow me home lamps, flip key, distance to empty feature and engine immobilizer. The anti-theft immobilizer is a first in this segment and is one of the bigger selling points of the machine.
Mahindra Centuro
Mahindra has put significant R&D efforts into this machine and it boasts four international patents for the immobilizer tech, the fuel gauge system and the distance to empty system which is a world first on a carbureted machine. The last patent is for a start-stop fuel saving system that will be incorporated in the machine in a few months. These systems will also be seen on Mahindra’s future offerings.
Production of the Centuro has almost tripled in this period with numbers going from 400 machines a day to about 1200. Despite this the waiting period on the bike hovers at about three to four weeks. The company aims at ramping up production to about 2000 units a day in three to four weeks. Given the current market boom for scooters the company claims they are working on their scooter range and we expect they might have a new offering on display at the 2014 Auto Expo
Nissan to increase car prices in India from January 2014
Nissan India has announced that it will increase car prices in January 2014. The price hike is across the range and is attributed to escalating input costs and rupee depreciation. Effective from January next year, Nissan vehicles will have a price increase from two to four per cent. Nissan was also recently in the news for offering customers the option to buy its cars online and also for saying that its Datsun branded cars will be sold directly through them.
2013 Nissan Terrano petrol
Commenting on the price increase, Richard D Spitzer, acting chief operating officer (COO), Hover Automotive India (Nissan’s national sales company) said “Although the rupee situation seems to have stabilized, the higher exchange rate has impacted costs all-round, making price increase inevitable. Inflation-led rise in input costs and raw materials costs also cannot be ignored at this point. The price increase is marginal and we assure our valued customers that we will continue to offer them globally renowned products at affordable prices.”
New General Motors CEO Mary Barra is the first woman to lead a major carmaker
General Motors has ditched the tradition to appoint a woman, head of the American car maker’s global product development wing as its new CEO. With this, Mary Barra has also become the first woman to lead a major car company. She takes over from 65-year old Dan Akerson, who is due for a retirement in January 2014. Akerson, who was due to retire late in 2014, preponed his exit after his wife was diagnosed with cancer.
Barra has been working with GM all her life. The 51-year old started at GM at the age of 18 and was more recently the executive VP for Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. Not to mention, over the last 33 years, she has also served in various other positions in the company which included VP of Global Human Resources and executive director competitive operations engineering.
Mary Barra is the new CEO of GM
“With an amazing portfolio of cars and trucks and the strongest financial performance in our recent history, this is an exciting time at today’s GM,” said Barra. “I’m honored to lead the best team in the business and to keep our momentum at full speed.”
Pope honoured
WASHINGTON: Time magazine named Pope Francis its Person of the Year yesterday, crediting him with shifting the message of the Catholic Church while capturing the imagination of millions of people who had become disillusioned with the Vatican.
This is the third time the magazine has chosen a pope as its Person of the Year. Time gave that honour to Pope John Paul II in 1994 and to Pope John XXIII in 1963.
Pope Francis beat former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and gay rights activist Edith Windsor for the award. Other finalists included Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and US Senator Ted Cruz from Texas.
"What makes this Pope so important is the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions who had given up on hoping for the church at all," Time said.
Comforter
"In a matter of months, Francis has elevated the healing mission of the church - the church as servant and comforter of hurting people in an often harsh world - above the doctrinal police work so important to his recent predecessors."
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis was not seeking fame.
"It is a positive sign that one of the most prestigious recognitions by the international media has been given to a person who proclaims to the world spiritual, religious and moral values and speaks out forcefully in favour of peace and greater justice," Lombardi said.
In September, the Argentine pontiff gave a groundbreaking interview in which he said the Vatican must shake off an obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuality and become more merciful.
His style is also characterised by a public move to frugality. He has shunned the traditional Mercedes previous popes drove for a 1984 Renault 4 economy car with 300,000 km.
Ferrari name drivers for Bahrain tyre test
FERRARI announced yesterday that test driver Pedro de la Rosa and Marussia ace Jules Bianchi will be on duty at next week's Pirelli tyre test in Bahrain.
De la Rosa and Bianchi, who is also a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, will be sitting in for superstars Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari cockpit.
Ferrari, Mercedes, world champions Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso are the four outfits participating in the tests at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir from December 17 to 19.
After originally intending to take part, McLaren and Force India have withdrawn.
Lotus, Sauber, Williams, Marussia and Caterham are also not attending, leaving only four teams at the winter session.
None of the other participating squads have named their drivers for the three days of tests.
According to reports, however, Mercedes are expected to have both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Bahrain, while world champion Sebastian Vettel is understood not to be attending.
For Ferrari, de la Rosa will take the wheel for the first two days of running before handing over the duties over to Bianchi on the third and final day.
The Formula One Commission gave Pirelli the go-ahead to conduct the tests on safety grounds so that they can evaluate their 2014 prototypes. It will give the Italian tyre manufacturers a great amount of data to analyse during the off-season.
It will also have Pirelli better prepared for when Formula One's three official pre-season tests take place early next year.
Two of those tests are set to be held in Bahrain - the first from February 19 to 22 and the next from February 27 to March 2.
The first test will be held in Jerez, Spain from January 28 to 31.
Bahrain has long been a favourite destination for off-season Formula One testing due to the favourable weather conditions during the winter months, which allows for maximum track time.
Kalpaka and Manni reach second round
MANNI Zhang advanced to the second round of the girls' under-18 singles yesterday in the 11th Zain Bahrain Junior Open Tennis Championship at Bahrain Tennis Club.
Manni beat Alina Alex 6-2, 6-2 to book her berth.
Also advancing was Kalpaka Pradip, who beat Ginelle Samson 6-1, 6-0 to go through.
Amrita Shanmugam followed suit with a 6-2, 6-2 upset over third seed Luz Paula Abastillas. Sarah Obaidan also forged a stunner, beating fourth seed Jennifer Abastillas 6-0, 6-0.
Summer Obaidan was another to advance. Shje defeated Bhavya Sabbineni 6-1, 6-1; and Nazlev Darwish also made it through with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Maria Taleb.
Action continues today at BTC. All are welcome to attend, free of charge.
Other Results
Boys' Under-14 Singles: Marwan Almeer bt Ahmed Al Taref 7-6 (6), 6-3; Shawan Amirthan bt Mubarak Al Jalamah 6-2, 6-1; Hassan Al Ghattan bt Ghaith Ramadan 6-0, 6-0; Rahul Jaideep bt Mohammed Haji Ali 6-0, 6-0; Hrishik Rajendra bt Hassan Mandasorwala 6-2, 6-3; Aditya Mori bt Rohan Sharma 6-1, 6-1; Isa Taqi bt Omar Basher 6-0, 6-0.
400 runners for Cross Island Race
MORE than 400 competitors are registered for the upcoming Bahrain Road Runners (BRR) Cross Island Race.
This was stated yesterday by BRR committee head Tariq Algosaibi, who confirmed that registration for the 17-Kilometer event is now closed and that preparations at the race venue will soon commence.
Algosaibi praised the major role of event patron Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee president and Royal Charity Organisation chief Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Algosaibi said: "We thank Shaikh Nasser for his constant support for the BRR and providing the appropriate environment to organise such sports events.
"His Highness's auspices and participation in the race will surely guarantee a successful event," said Algosaibi.
The cross island race is jointly organised by the Nasser Bin Hamad Foundation (NBHF) and BRR.
Algosaibi continued "The current cooperation with NBHF will sure contribute to achieving the noble goals of sports as well as promoting the foundation's goals to spread awareness on sports and its positive effects on human health."
The race will witness the participation of 410 local and resident runners, in addition to participants from the neighbouring Gulf countries.
Algosaibi explained that preparations are ongoing by committee members, who will be present at the venue to ensure a convenient 17-kilometer run for the participants.
He also appreciated the support and cooperation of NBHF, Al Osra supermarkets, BMI Bank and Dr. Hani Clinic, which will provide on-site physiotherapy to participants.
Algosaibi assured that the support of commercial and governmental establishments to the race has a main role in making the event a success.
Narendra Modi beats Sachin Tendulkar, Mars Mission on Facebook
BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is the most talked about person on Facebook in India beating likes of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and Apple iconic device iPhone 5s, the US-based social networking site said on Monday.
According to the social networking giant's top Indian trends of 2013, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and India's Mars mission also failed to beat the Gujarat Chief Minister, who was the most mentioned person on Facebook this year.
Facebook, which at present claims to have 1.19 billion monthly active users (MAUs), has 82 million MAUs in India for the quarter ending June 31, 2013.
"Take a look at the most mentioned people and events of 2013, which point to some of the most popular topics in India," Facebook said in a statement.
This includes Narendra Modi followed by Sachin Tendulkar, iPhone 5s, Raghuram Rajan and Mangalyaan, it added.
Last month, India launched its maiden mission to Mars, which could carry India into a small club of nations, including the US, Europe, and Russia, whose probes have orbited or landed on Mars.
Batting mastero Tendulkar also retired last month after playing his 200th-test match. He is also the first sportsperson to be bestowed with India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.
"Today, we're taking a look back at the people, moments and places that mattered most on Facebook in India in 2013," the social networking site said.
Conversations happening all over Facebook offer a unique snapshot of India and this year was no different. Every day, people post about topics and milestones important to them from announcing an engagement, to discussing breaking news or even celebrating a favourite political party's victory or love for cricket, it added.
Sukhdev Dabha at Murthal (Haryana) was the most talked about place to visit on Facebook followed by Golden Temple in Amritsar, Bangla Sahib Gurudwar, Connaught Place and India Gate in New Delhi and Taj Mahal in Agra among others.
According to the social networking giant's top Indian trends of 2013, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and India's Mars mission also failed to beat the Gujarat Chief Minister, who was the most mentioned person on Facebook this year.
Facebook, which at present claims to have 1.19 billion monthly active users (MAUs), has 82 million MAUs in India for the quarter ending June 31, 2013.
"Take a look at the most mentioned people and events of 2013, which point to some of the most popular topics in India," Facebook said in a statement.
This includes Narendra Modi followed by Sachin Tendulkar, iPhone 5s, Raghuram Rajan and Mangalyaan, it added.
Last month, India launched its maiden mission to Mars, which could carry India into a small club of nations, including the US, Europe, and Russia, whose probes have orbited or landed on Mars.
Batting mastero Tendulkar also retired last month after playing his 200th-test match. He is also the first sportsperson to be bestowed with India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.
"Today, we're taking a look back at the people, moments and places that mattered most on Facebook in India in 2013," the social networking site said.
Conversations happening all over Facebook offer a unique snapshot of India and this year was no different. Every day, people post about topics and milestones important to them from announcing an engagement, to discussing breaking news or even celebrating a favourite political party's victory or love for cricket, it added.
Sukhdev Dabha at Murthal (Haryana) was the most talked about place to visit on Facebook followed by Golden Temple in Amritsar, Bangla Sahib Gurudwar, Connaught Place and India Gate in New Delhi and Taj Mahal in Agra among others.
Renault India to hike prices from January
Renault India has announced that it will increase the price on its existing product range from January 2014. The hike will be in line with industry standards and is due to the swelling inputs cost, which has further driven up the cost of components. The French automaker has not however, announced how much the hike will be.
Commenting on the hike, Sumit Sawhney- executive director sales and marketing said, “Due to unavoidable macro-economic factors such as increasing rates, input costs, Renault India will increase prices across its product range in January. We will provide more information on the price increase soon, although this will be as per industry standards.”
Renault now joins a host of manufacturers, across various segments, who have all hiked the prices of various vehicles in their range in a bid to combat inflation and rising input costs.
Arvind Kejriwal to hold public meeting at Jantar Mantar
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal will hold a public meeting on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi around 4 p.m. to explain the party's future course of action to the volunteers and the party members.
"He has decided to meet the party volunteers so that he can instruct them and ask them to be prepared for the next challenge, which could be re-election in Delhi," senior party leader Kumar Vishwas told .
The AAP is expecting a huge turnout at Jantar Mantar, seeing the remarkable success of the party in the Delhi assembly polls.
"He has decided to meet the party volunteers so that he can instruct them and ask them to be prepared for the next challenge, which could be re-election in Delhi," senior party leader Kumar Vishwas told .
The AAP is expecting a huge turnout at Jantar Mantar, seeing the remarkable success of the party in the Delhi assembly polls.
Milkha Singh wants Sachin to be sports minister
Sachin Tendulkar should be made sports minister to improve India's sporting prowess, ace athlete Milkha Singh said here Tuesday.
"Sachin should be made sports minister so that he can work for the betterment of sport. It's only a sportsman who will work sincerely and with dedication for the cause of sports," the "Flying Sikh" said.
Milkha Singh was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the unveiling of the mascot for the Lusofonia Games in Panaji.
Singh, who unveiled "Jojo", the mascot for the Portuguese Commonwealth Games 2014 scheduled to be held in Goa, also said he has "never given any thought" as to whether the Bharat Ratna should be have been conferred upon him, instead of Sachin Tendulkar.
He, however, said there was one athlete who really deserved India's highest honour.
"One person who deserved the Bharat Ratna before anyone else was Dhyanchand," he Singh said.
"Sachin should be made sports minister so that he can work for the betterment of sport. It's only a sportsman who will work sincerely and with dedication for the cause of sports," the "Flying Sikh" said.
Milkha Singh was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the unveiling of the mascot for the Lusofonia Games in Panaji.
Singh, who unveiled "Jojo", the mascot for the Portuguese Commonwealth Games 2014 scheduled to be held in Goa, also said he has "never given any thought" as to whether the Bharat Ratna should be have been conferred upon him, instead of Sachin Tendulkar.
He, however, said there was one athlete who really deserved India's highest honour.
"One person who deserved the Bharat Ratna before anyone else was Dhyanchand," he Singh said.
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
State Cong chief stay mum on Dikshit’s blame
New Delhi: Stung by the massive defeat, Congress' Delhi unit chief JP Agarwal today said the party would analyse the reason for the debacle but refused to respond to criticism by Sheila Dikshit who has accused him of not enthusiastically backing her in the polls. Agarwal, who is not known to have a good equation with the outgoing chief minister, said the nature of defeat was "totally unexpected" which will be thoroughly examined by the party. "Dikshit is a senior and respected leader of the party," Agarwal sid when asked about Dikshit's comment on Monday that he did not back her fully in the election. Giving reasons for the defeat, she had also said that the party was not active and that there was absence of coordination between it and the government in Delhi.
"The party was not active enough," she had said elaborating that though her government had prepared a lot of documentation about the work done by it, the party merely told the people "bahut kaam hua (lot of work has been done)". That is not enough, she had said. Asked if she was blaming Agarwal, she had responded with a terse, "Well, if I am head of the government, I have to take that responsibility", suggesting that the DPCC chief should do the same. "I don't think so," she had replied when asked if Agarwal was fully with her. PTI 7.45 pm: Will obey high command decision on AAP: Congress MLAs The suspense over whether Delhi is looking at a re-election looks set to continue till Congress president Sonia Gandhi returns from South Africa. Gandhi is in Johannesburg to attend Nelson Mandela's memorial service. She is expected to be back in Delhi on Thursday. "We have left it to the high command to take a decision. There is no question of supporting the BJP. As far as AAP is concerned we are of the opinion that we should support it. But we will abide by whatever decision the high command will take," a Delhi MLA told Firstpost. AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed met the eight Congress MLAs today. On the outcome of the meeting, Ahmed said, "They have said in unanimity that whatever decision the high command takes, they will abide by it."
6.35 pm: BJP to prepare for fresh polls Nitin Gadkari has reportedly told newly elected BJP MLAs to prepare for fresh elections, since they do not have a majority in the hung Delhi assembly. The news has also been confirmed by party leaders to Firstpost. Don't consider yourself as MLAs but as candidates,” former party president Nitin Gadkari was quoted by Zee news as telling the legislators after the party finished with 31 seats in the 70-member assembly. One school of thought is that if elections are held again, then the Modi factor is likely to influence the BJP. This, the party feels, will be particularly impactful should the polls be held close to the Lok Sabha elections, or even after them, if the BJP wins. It is also thought that AAP is unlikely to perform as well as it has done if elections were to be held a second time in Delhi.
The BJP line of thinking is that now that people have vented their anger, they are likely to be more 'practical' and vote for the BJP the second time around. But of course what needs to be remembered is that the BJP have been consistently underestimating AAP. There is nothing to say that the party will not do well in a second round of elections, Modi factor notwithstanding. The BJP surely needs no reminding that the 'Modi factor' had very little impact on the ground in Delhi. The party barely bettered their vote share from the 2008 polls, and all those anti-Congress votes went to AAP. A lot of wishful thinking? But really, there is no other option for the party, given its decision not to indulge in horse trading. So for now it looks like Delhi will be left with an assembly in a state of suspended animation. And President's rule of course. Somewhere in all of this, Sheila must be smiling.
5.44 pm: BJP, AAP should form govt, says Digvijaya Singh Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today supported Kiran Bedi's view that BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) should form the next government in Delhi. "Yesterday, Kiran Bedi gave a brilliant suggestion. BJP and AAP should both form the government with a common agenda. Why not?," Digvijay said in a tweet. He said Kiran gave this suggestion on a television channel last night, where he was also present. "Both (BJP and AAP) have mandate of the people. 5.25 pm: Ready to support AAP says, Congress ABP news tweeted that the Congress was ready to support AAP. Shakeel Ahmed told the media that the Congress is ready to support AAP without any conditions.
"The party was not active enough," she had said elaborating that though her government had prepared a lot of documentation about the work done by it, the party merely told the people "bahut kaam hua (lot of work has been done)". That is not enough, she had said. Asked if she was blaming Agarwal, she had responded with a terse, "Well, if I am head of the government, I have to take that responsibility", suggesting that the DPCC chief should do the same. "I don't think so," she had replied when asked if Agarwal was fully with her. PTI 7.45 pm: Will obey high command decision on AAP: Congress MLAs The suspense over whether Delhi is looking at a re-election looks set to continue till Congress president Sonia Gandhi returns from South Africa. Gandhi is in Johannesburg to attend Nelson Mandela's memorial service. She is expected to be back in Delhi on Thursday. "We have left it to the high command to take a decision. There is no question of supporting the BJP. As far as AAP is concerned we are of the opinion that we should support it. But we will abide by whatever decision the high command will take," a Delhi MLA told Firstpost. AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed met the eight Congress MLAs today. On the outcome of the meeting, Ahmed said, "They have said in unanimity that whatever decision the high command takes, they will abide by it."
6.35 pm: BJP to prepare for fresh polls Nitin Gadkari has reportedly told newly elected BJP MLAs to prepare for fresh elections, since they do not have a majority in the hung Delhi assembly. The news has also been confirmed by party leaders to Firstpost. Don't consider yourself as MLAs but as candidates,” former party president Nitin Gadkari was quoted by Zee news as telling the legislators after the party finished with 31 seats in the 70-member assembly. One school of thought is that if elections are held again, then the Modi factor is likely to influence the BJP. This, the party feels, will be particularly impactful should the polls be held close to the Lok Sabha elections, or even after them, if the BJP wins. It is also thought that AAP is unlikely to perform as well as it has done if elections were to be held a second time in Delhi.
The BJP line of thinking is that now that people have vented their anger, they are likely to be more 'practical' and vote for the BJP the second time around. But of course what needs to be remembered is that the BJP have been consistently underestimating AAP. There is nothing to say that the party will not do well in a second round of elections, Modi factor notwithstanding. The BJP surely needs no reminding that the 'Modi factor' had very little impact on the ground in Delhi. The party barely bettered their vote share from the 2008 polls, and all those anti-Congress votes went to AAP. A lot of wishful thinking? But really, there is no other option for the party, given its decision not to indulge in horse trading. So for now it looks like Delhi will be left with an assembly in a state of suspended animation. And President's rule of course. Somewhere in all of this, Sheila must be smiling.
5.44 pm: BJP, AAP should form govt, says Digvijaya Singh Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today supported Kiran Bedi's view that BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) should form the next government in Delhi. "Yesterday, Kiran Bedi gave a brilliant suggestion. BJP and AAP should both form the government with a common agenda. Why not?," Digvijay said in a tweet. He said Kiran gave this suggestion on a television channel last night, where he was also present. "Both (BJP and AAP) have mandate of the people. 5.25 pm: Ready to support AAP says, Congress ABP news tweeted that the Congress was ready to support AAP. Shakeel Ahmed told the media that the Congress is ready to support AAP without any conditions.
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