A Correspondent In Washington, DC

Stories by A Correspondent In Washington, DC

Diplomat Venu Rajamony is Pranab's press secretary

Diplomat Venu Rajamony is Pranab's press secretary

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2012

Venu Rajamony, a career diplomat, has been appointed as press secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Diplomat Venu Rajamony is Pranab's press secretary

Diplomat Venu Rajamony is Pranab's press secretary

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2012

Venu Rajamony, a career diplomat, has been appointed as press secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee.

DMK upset as Alagiri not included in EGoM on drought

DMK upset as Alagiri not included in EGoM on drought

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2012

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is upset with the prime minister's office for not including DMK's M K Alagiri in the Empowered Group of Ministers on drought.

Pranab's President certification handed over to PM

Pranab's President certification handed over to PM

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2012

Certification of Election of Pranab Mukherjee as President of India has been handed over to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday.

Special: Ministers miffed with 'rude' SPG at PM's house

Special: Ministers miffed with 'rude' SPG at PM's house

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2012

Union Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jairam Ramesh and G K Vasan have complained to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth about the rude behaviour of the Special Protection Group personnel at 7 Race Course Road.

Rahul Gandhi to be appointed as defence minister?

Rahul Gandhi to be appointed as defence minister?

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2012

Rediff.com has reliably learnt that 'Rahul is likely to be appointed as defence minister'.

Fear of rebellion forced Mamata to support Pranab

Fear of rebellion forced Mamata to support Pranab

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2012

As many as 12 MPs out of Trinamool Congress's 19 were ready to vote against the diktat of their leader Mamata Banerjee.

Will Mamata accept Sonia's invitation for lunch meet?

Will Mamata accept Sonia's invitation for lunch meet?

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2012

With Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee falling in line to back UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the July 19 Presidential election, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sent out an invite to her to join the lunch she is hosting at Hotel Ashoka in New Delhi on Wednesday at 1230 hours for MPs of all parties supporting his candidature.

Jaya to introduce Sangma to ADMK legislators on July 18

Jaya to introduce Sangma to ADMK legislators on July 18

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2012

Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha will introduce former Lok Sabha speaker and Presidential candidate PA Sangma to Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislators in Chennai on July 18.

Prez poll: AIADMK MPs seek permission to vote in Chennai

Prez poll: AIADMK MPs seek permission to vote in Chennai

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2012

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Members of Parliament rushed to New Delhi on Thursday to meet Election Commission officials and seek permission and exemption to cast their votes in Chennai for the forthcoming Presidential poll. Taking a cue from

Jaipal Reddy likely to be appointed leader of Lok Sabha

Jaipal Reddy likely to be appointed leader of Lok Sabha

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2012

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, S Jaipal Reddy is likely to be the Leader of Lok Sabha and the decision to this effect is likely to be taken on Friday in the core committee meeting. Informal consultations between the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi has already taken place, say highly placed AICC sources.

Andhra governor wants ban on auction of medical seats

Andhra governor wants ban on auction of medical seats

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2012

Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan on Monday had an hour-long meeting with Union Minister of Health Gulam Nabi Azad and discussed with him the hot subject of auction of medical seats in private medical colleges for a cost of Rs 70 to 80 lakhs.

Parliament's monsoon session delayed to Aug 7

Parliament's monsoon session delayed to Aug 7

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2012

The monsoon session of Parliament has been further delayed, indicating that the session may be convened on August 7 instead of earlier planned July 30.

Government faces Sonia's ire in NAC report

Government faces Sonia's ire in NAC report

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2012

On a day when a full-page email interview with the prime minister appeared in the Hindustan Times, the National Advisory Council, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, on Friday slammed the United Progressive Alliance government for not implementing a score of its recommendations, including food security to all, made in the past two years.

SPG creates special fire escape route for PM in Parl

SPG creates special fire escape route for PM in Parl

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2012

Taking a cue from the Mantralaya fire in Mumbai, the administration has taken several steps to secure the 92-year old Parliament House building from such an untoward incident.

Minister says Bhakra dam level is fine, activists say no

Minister says Bhakra dam level is fine, activists say no

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2012

Union Minister for Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal claimed on Thursday that the Bhakra dam's water level is safe and there is nothing to worry. The minister was reacting to the allegations of some experts that the situation of Bhakra dam is precarious and that it could have been avoided.

RS turns to House of Iyengers with K Parasaran's entry

RS turns to House of Iyengers with K Parasaran's entry

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2012

With the Presidential nomination of legal luminary K Parasaran -- a decision by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh -- the Rajya Sabha has now four Iyengar Vaishnavites, beginning from Jairam Ramesh, Dr V Maitreyan and Communist Party of India-Marxist MP T K Rangarajan.

Vice president likely to be elected on August 2

Vice president likely to be elected on August 2

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2012

The schedule to conduct the elections for the vice president's post is held up as the Election Commissioner H S Brahma is on a foreign jaunt. Moreover, the United Progressive Alliance-II is yet to appoint the third Election Commissioner.

Members not told about Lokpal panel meeting today

Members not told about Lokpal panel meeting today

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2012

Satyavrat Chaturvedi, chairman of the select committee on Lokpal, did not inform many of the Opposition parties about the meeting to be held on Monday

Congress gets papers in order for Pranab's Prez post bid

Congress gets papers in order for Pranab's Prez post bid

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2012

Nomination papers of Pranab Mukhejee, for the Presidential poll on July 19, are being readied, according to sources. Senior Union ministers and Members of Parliament have been summoned to Parliament House on Wednesday to affix their signatures on Mukherjee's papers.