Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan talks to rediff.com's Anita Katyal about the current political situation, Narendra Modi's projection by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the future plans of the Congress and the UPA
Even if the Congress is unable to defeat the political appeal of Narendra Modi, the resources and talent of the BJP and its managers, it is relying on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act and the perceived threat to Assamese identity, along with the future threat of the National People's Register to ensure it continues to be a force in the state. Aditi Phadnis reports.
Senior Indian Police Service officer Rakesh Maria was appointed as Mumbai's police commissioner on Saturday, a fortnight after Satyapal Singh quit the post to join politics.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday virtually blamed former Minister of State (personnel) Prithviraj Chavan for the fiasco involving appointment of P J Thomas as central vigilance commissioner, saying the note forwarded by him for the selection committee did not have information about corruption case against Thomas.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is likely to reshuffle the Union council of ministers after January 14. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has already held two rounds of consultations with Dr Singh. The reshuffle could see some Cabinet ministers going to the Congress to oversee party work, while others may see their portfolios change.
One of the most talented actors of his generation, Ranbir Kapoor celebrates his 30th birthday on September 28.
After holding meetings with senior leaders of the Congress on Monday morning, party president Sonia Gandhi has decided to convene a meeting of the Congress Working Committee on Tuesday at 9 am to discuss the difficulties before the United Progressive Alliance government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Amongst those who met Gandhi on Monday was Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
As the debate over the issue of leadership raged, another group of leaders put their weight behind the Gandhi family on Sunday, calling for Sonia Gandhi to stay or Rahul Gandhi to take charge again.
With his ministerial colleagues and experts expressing reservation on moratorium on Bt-brinjal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of concerned ministers on the issue this week.
A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to Gurvinder Singh who was arrested in connection with the accident which led to the death of Union Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde.
The Government of Maharashtra has cancelled the 15-year lease of the Mumbai Hockey Association and asked it to vacate the premises currently occupied by them.
In a bold move, Devendra Fadnavis-led Bharatiya Janata Party government has decided to downgrade security of top politicians of Congress and Nationalist Congress Party and their kin, including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and his then deputy Ajit Pawar.
Under attack from his own party members, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi but parried questions on leadership change over issues like "non-performance". After meeting Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chavan told reporters, "I cannot comment on what they feel. I cannot comment on (the fate of) party leadership or government leadership in the state".
A solution to the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party standoff appears to be in sight with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reaching out to NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday amid indications that a UPA coordination committee could be set up.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and briefed him about the violence in Mumbai following protests against Assam riots. Chavan met the prime minister at his office in Parliament to explain the steps taken by his government to control the violence that broke out in Mumbai after a rally on Saturday to protest the killings of Muslims in Assam.
A city court has reserved judgment for Saturday 2 pm on a criminal complaint against withdrawal of a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged "benami" properties held by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh in the name of his two sons and daughter-in-law, Dimple, wife of MP son Akhilesh.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Satej Patil's letter to Amitabh Bachchan asking him to be the state brand ambassador for traffic safety has drawn the ire of his fellow party legislator.
Maharashtra on Saturday made a strong plea to the Centre to declare Belgaum and other disputed boundary areas as an Union Territory in the wake of "repression by Karnataka on Marathi-speaking people" there. An all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard. The delegation, which comprised Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, also raised the issue of handing over Indu Mill land in central Mumbai
Congress young guns take offence over old guard's utterances.
While Kings XI's biggest star Chris Gayle scored a 47-ball 79 in the Jaipur match, his Jamaican compatriot Andre Russell also looked in blistering touch for KKR in the match against Sunriserrs Hyderabad. Their rivalry will be one of the sub plots of Wednesday's clash in Kolkata.
With a debate raging over the run out, it remains to be seen how Ashwin and Co. start afresh in what will be their first away match of the season.
'I don't think you have anything to say to me and I certainly don't have anything to say to you.' Bharat Bhushan recalls his encounters with V S Naipaul.
An all-party delegation, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, missed its appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as none of the members could land in Delhi due to the intense fog. The appointment was scheduled at 12.30 pm on Friday. The delegation was scheduled to urge the prime minister that the 12.5 acre Indu mill land belonging to the National Textile Corporation be given to the state government free of cost.
The counting will begin at 8 am, and as per the Election Commission's COVID-19 guidelines, a candidate, his poll agent and counting agent can remain present in the counting hall, officials said, adding various measures have been taken to ensure social distancing and avoid crowding.
There was considerable disquiet in the Congress after Mukherjee accepted the invitation of the RSS to address its workers at its headquarters in Nagpur.
Unlike the frenzy and buzz in political circles during the last few days, the meetings on Thursday were held in a discreet manner.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday called on the bereaved family of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan to offer his condolences.
The two teams are languishing at the bottom half of the table and need a win to keep alive their remote Play-off chances.
Party leaders have been flocking Advani's residence since morning to garland him and present bouquets.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister P Chidambaram will meet on Monday to decide who will become the next central vigilance commissioner. According to the Supreme Court's instructions, the PM, home minister and the leader of Opposition has to finalise the CVC together. On Thursday, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan held an informal meeting with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.
RCB to ring in changes against KKR in search of first win
The ruling Congress on Wednesday promised a loan waiver scheme for non-farmer loan seekers -- like the landless, craftsmen and small shopkeepers -- setting up of a farmers' commission, construction of two lakh cheap houses for the urban poor and making the state power surplus in Haryana.
Gandhi came along with Mukherjee and while the former president left after sometime, the Congress chief offered to drop him back but Mukherjee politely refused.
Industry estimates over 30 tonnes of gold were sold on Akshaya Tritiya this time.
Top ministers and politicians cutting across party lines greeted the BJP veteran.
The assembly election results are likely to put a lid on the impending battle the old guard and young Turks, strengthen the hands of the veterans, and force the younger leaders to negotiate a truce. Archis Mohan reports.
Maharashtra and Haryana voted in assembly elections on Monday. Several prominent personalities also exercised their franchise.
Former World Cup silver medalist Seema Tomar of India missed out a podium finish and finished fifth in women's trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in San Marino on Friday. Australia's Emma Elizabeth Cox won the gold medal, USA's Corey Cogdell bagged silver while Carole Cormenier of France clinched the bronze in the women's trap event. The former Asian Airgun gold medallist had qualified for the first competition stage semi-final but could not get into the shoot-off. In the men's trap, Prithviraj Tondaiman was placed 16th after shooting rounds of 23 and 24 and will shoot the remaining three series on Saturday. On the opening day of qualification, Manavjit Singh Sandhu (73rd) shot 23 and 21, while Kynan Chenai (36th) had 23 and 23.
The decision, taken by the Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, was based on recommendations given by the Second Pay Revision Committee. The package would include revision in Dearness Allowance and other allowances, besides performance related incentives, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan told reporters.