It sent shock waves in the party -- a political greenhorn had taken on Modi in his home turf of Gujarat. Smriti had clearly tried to choose sides, in this case Vajpayee's camp. Many felt that this would end Irani's career. A revealing excerpt from Nidhi Sharma's new book She, The Leader: Women in Indian Politics.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Wednesday met BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati at her official residence in Lucknow and is understood to have discussed the country's political situation with her.
"The government will establish an Arabic-Persian university in state capital Lucknow and we have allocated Rs 10 crore for the purpose. Besides, the number of madrasas on government grant-list will also be increased from 360 to 460," Mayawati said, addressing a national convention on the 'Problems of Muslim Community: Reasons and Solutions' in Lucknow.
The huge garland that Mayawati wore at a public rally caused the disruption of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday even as the estimated value of the currency notes of which it was made varied from Rs 21 lakhs to Rs 15 crore.
Sanjay Dutt's decision to contest the next Lok Sabha election from Lucknow has surprised many political experts. Questions have been raised about whether Dutt is eligible to contest the polls, as he had been convicted under the Arms Act and sentenced to six years in jail by the Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act Court in July, 1997.However, Dutt's lawyer Farhana Shah is confident that Dutt will be allowed to contest the LS polls.
In an indication of its vexation with ally BJP, the Shiv Sena on Friday said it will contest 20 seats in electorally vital Uttar Pradesh, but the BJP downplayed it saying they share "strong and old" ties and are "inseparable".
The party's constitution was amended to extend the tenure of the party chief to five years from the existing three years.
The two-time CM, who had also been the Rajasthan Governor, died at a Lucknow hospital on Saturday after prolonged illness.
Gleaning lessons from Amit Shah's compendium of Chanakya-isms, the Samajwadi Party is keeping its operations low-key and working on an inclusive strategy.
BJP MP Varun Gandhi, who has drawn criticism from within the party for his alleged hate speech in Pilibhit during the Lok Sabha polls, today met state RSS leaders in Lucknow.
The people of Uttar Pradesh have always been springing surprises, he said.
'Yeh dil maange more' seems to be mantra for over two dozen former chief ministers of various states who are contesting upcoming Lok Sabha elections on different party tickets.
Four Independent candidates withdrew their names on Monday.
Shivpal-Yadav led Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia spokesperson Deepak Mishra said it was a courtesy call.
Masood, who has been recently booked for hate speech, has five pending cases in various courts on charges of forgery and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace among others.
Vishal Dadlani, Gul Panag, Javed Jaffrey speak up following celebrations.
The party has 38 members in Lok Sabha and the withdrawal of support may not have an impact on the stability of the UPA government, which has the backing of more than 300 members in a House of 545.
According to sources, Naidu and Kejriwal discussed the scenario after the election results are declared and what role their parties, the Telugu Desam Party and the AAP would play in government formation if such a situation rises.
He alleged that the BJP government has lined up a series of programmes to herald the start of the corridor only to deflect people's attention from the PM's 'failure' to double the income of farmers.
The names of a host of leaders, including some sitting MPs are doing the rounds in political circles.
The Samajwadi Party on Saturday said it will support the no confidence motion against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government if the same was moved by the Left parties in the Lok Sabha.
As many as 69 assembly constituencies in the Yadav heartland, considered crucial for the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state, went to the polls in this phase.
The Hyderabad MP had earlier announced thatthe AIMIM will contest 100 seats in Uttar Pradesh polls scheduled early next year.
"It is very tough to ensure that the funds I procure from Centre reaches my constitutiency. Most of it gets bungled up in Lucknow."
A 1978 batch IAS officer, Ranjan, who assumed office this evening, said he would try to ensure clean administration.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party national president Mayawati Monday announced the expulsion of four party members of Parliament, including three who were caught on camera in the cash-for-query scam.
Local people, however, rushed to their rescue and informed the police, he said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today expressed confidence that on the basis of his government's performance in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party would do well in the next Lok Sabha elections.
Yadav fought hard, but his party was well behind the BJP.
He congratulated the Uttar Pradesh government and industrialists for their commitment for development.
It is now clear that under the present Chief Election Commissioner, Lok Sabha polls are not being held in a totally free and fair manner, she said.
'It is a well-entrenched belief in the downtrodden, the deprived sections, that Modi cares for them. He has come to occupy their mindspace as their messiah.' 'And it is this deprived, dispossessed section that is powering his electoral performance, breaking ancient shibboleths and shackles like religion and caste and region and language,' argues Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
Bharatiya Janata Party Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday claimed the National Democratic Alliance will win 300 plus seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as the people want a stable alternative.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday named former Army Chief V K Singh as its Lok Sabha candidate from Ghaziabad, a seat represented by party chief Rajnath Singh earlier.
In line with exit poll predictions, the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken an early lead in Uttar Pradesh, after one hour of counting.
Special Judge (CBI) Rais Ahmed posted the hearing of the case to April 18 when the investigating agency is likely to produce two witnesses on the December 6, 1992 demolition.
On Friday, former ministers Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini, five BJP MLAs and one from the Apna Dal-Sonelal had crossed over to the Samajwadi Party.
Controversial Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Man Friday Amit Shah arrived in Lucknow on Wednesday to take over the reins of the party in the country's most populous state, which he himself termed as the route to the ultimate seat of power in Delhi.
