Puri Jagannadh also gave his blood sample.
Political pundits said this trend indicates that the regional satraps might play key roles in 2019 general elections for which attempts are already underway by non-BJP parties to put a united front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid for a second term.
The video conference, which began at 11 am, comes amid indications that the central government may extend the nationwide lockdown with some possible relaxations even as Punjab and Odisha have already announced extending the lockdown beyond April 14 when the current spell of 21-day shutdown across the country ends on Tuesday.
For now, the BJP's strategy for Khushbu seems to be one of denial -- denying the rival Congress in the state and also at the national-level a Muslim voice acceptable to Hindu audiences and TV news-watchers. This is much less than the induction of DMK veterans like Duraiswamy and Selvam, who still have a greater chances of winning assembly seats,, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Those who know Naveen Patnaik well say his final decision will depend on who has the edge after the election.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announced in the House that the election will be held at 11 am on August 9.
Rediff readers share photos of their beloved Ganpati.
A Muslim man's beard was allegedly shaved off in Gurugram.
While Rahul loyalists were keen that he be given the post, a leader known to be close to him said, "If he does not become the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, then he should quit politics."
Biju Janata Dal members had staged a walk-out while NDA ally Shiv Sena did not participate in the voting.
Asked during a press briefing if special trains and private vehicles will also be allowed to transport these people as demanded by some states and others, Joint Secretary in the Union home ministry Punya Salila Srivastava said the orders issued at present were for 'using buses and for group of persons'.
Facing the heat from their constituents as well as fellow legislators, Andhra Pradesh ministers hailing from Telangana region on Thursday came forward to resign from their posts but Chief Minister K Rosaiah prevented them from doing so.
A bandh called by the YSR Congress, Telugu Desam Party and other anti-Telangana political parties is being observed in Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday to protest against the passage of the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 in the Lok Sabha.
Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi has appealed to his party's Members of Legislative Assembly to withdraw their resignations, after eleven of his 18 party legislators quit their assembly membership to protest the Centre's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state. The filmstar-turned politician convened an emergency meeting with the party legislators on Thursday night and said it was not proper for them to quit their posts in haste.
For a party that has adopted the successful social re-engineering model from Gujarat, Rajasthan and across the rest of the 'Hindi belt' over the past decades, Tamil Nadu continues to remain a tricky customer, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
The oil sector has been quite lucky for the Modi government. It has often provided an opportunity to the government to mend its finances, notes A K Bhattacharya.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo K Chandrashekar Rao must be thanking the Congress and his stars profusely, after sitting Member of Parliament Vijayashanti was suddenly moved out of the Medak parliamentary constituency and asked to contest the assembly seat instead. This makes KCR the main contender for this parliamentary seat. Vicky Nanjappa explains what it could mean for the TRS chief.
The chief minister's statement is significant as several non-Bharatiya Janata Party parties are trying to forge unity in a bid to form a grand alliance to take on the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections this year.
Fadnavis also dismissed Hegde's claim as 'absolutely wrong' and said nothing of that sort happened.
During his interaction with the chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that more economic activities would resume; he also said that zone identification may be left to the states.
Tennis star Sania Mirza joined the Swachh Bharat campaign, cleaning a road in Hyderabad before nominating nine persons, including fellow-sportspersons and Bollywood personalities, to join the movement.
A meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba reviewed India's preparedness to deal with the virus amid mounting global concern over increasing number of cases in China and several other countries.
After a meeting in the Parliament Library, the leaders of these parties issued a joint statement, expressing concern over the prevailing security situation in the country.
A total of 37 deaths were reported since Thursday evening of which 14 fatalities were reported from Maharashtra, nine from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh,Tamil Nadu and Telengana and one from Karnataka, ministry data stated.
From being the hand-picked choice of Sonia Gandhi as Andhra Pradesh chief minister to sitting on a dharna in Delhi against division of the state, Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy has turned from a Congress regional leader to a disgruntled rebel in his nearly 39-month tumultuous tenure.
His songs were the anchor, the substratum, if you will, upon which life unfolded day after day, decade after decade -- across villages, towns, cities, and regions. Siva Sankar pays tribute to S P Balasubrahmanyam, the legendary singer who passed into the ages on Friday.
Congress on Monday appointed five new PCC chiefs.
The Opposition is putting up a symbolic fight for the presidential polls as it knows that the BJP has the numbers to get its candidate elected to the top post.
'In India, a really popular and well-entrenched leader is not defeated by a rival.' 'Such a leader has to defeat himself,' observes Shekhar Gupta.
A look at the top tweets from your favourite Bollywood celebrities.
The latest updates from the Telugu film industry.
While there is no denying that certain sections of the community deserve aid, the politics of reservation can be suicidal for India.
The 1986 batch Odisha cadre IPS officer has been described as a competent officer and is known for his acumen in handling disasters.
'As a seasoned politician I know how to talk and understand the opinion and sentiments (of other political leaders).'
Chennai Super Kings will take on holders Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the Indian Premier League, which has retained its earlier match timings, weeks after considering the broadcaster's request for a change in schedule.
In 2018, the BJP's rare successes in north-east India aside, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for the party.
With most political parties failing to articulate the concerns of Muslims, who account for 15 per cent of the population and can swing the electoral outcome in 21 constituencies, the AIMIM hopes to make a mark in the ongoing assembly elections, says Shafeeq Rahman.
The bypolls to four Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats are slated for May 29. Barring two assembly seats, the vacancies in the remaining Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies were caused by the en masse resignation of TRS MPs and MLAs led by KCR. Jeevan Reddy decided to quit the minister's post following the Congress high command's decision to field him in the Karimnagar bypoll.
The examination season -- and results -- represent enormous pressure, both for students and parents.
The RTI query revealed that 3,125 security personnel, too, lost their lives tackling the Naxal menace.
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