United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday dismissed reports of differences with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asserting, "We all stand by him". "There are no differences between the prime minister and me. There is collective leadership," Gandhi told reporters at a function held to celebrate four years of the UPA-II government.
Seeking to dispel the perception of gloom amid scams and controversies, the United Progressive Alliance on Wednesday painted a rosy picture of its government's performance during the last nine years, contending the fruits of economic growth have reached both urban and rural areas.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) was launched by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the first flush of its commitment to the 'Aam Aadmi' agenda.
Though the Samajwadi leader did not give any specific reasons for staying away, he had spoken out strongly against China during the recent border row, reports Sheela Bhatt.
Speaking in unison, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, key United Progressive Alliance ally Dravida Munettra Kazhagam and other parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday condemned the Centre's stand on continued training of Sri Lankan military, with All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam chief castigating government for 'insensitivity' and the DMK accusing it of hurting Tamils.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Opposition parties for stalling the Food Security Bill in Parliament, and asserted the United Progressive Alliance government was determined to enact the legislation for the benefit of people.
BJP leaders argue that there is a serious argument against Cyriac Joseph's appointment because one of his "acts of omission" in not delivering a sensitive judgment within a reasonable time-frame has helped the first United Progressive Alliance government by bailing out Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family, reports Sheela Bhatt
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee, who had not initially supported Pranab Mukherjee for the post of President, was on Wednesday hosted a dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Sharpening its attack in the wake of resignations of two Union ministers on charges of impropriety, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to do an honest introspection and step down as it is the "only option" for him.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre is in 'intensive care unit' and claimed that his party would form government in the next elections.
Suspended Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Ram Jethmalani on Tuesday gatecrashed the Parliamentary Party meeting of the main opposition and accused it of being soft on the United Progressive Alliance government on the issue of corruption.
Rajya Sabha returns Finance Bill to Lok Sabha; budgetary process over in both Houses, President nod needed now.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday sought to re-unite the opposition by apologising on behalf of the seven Members of Parliament suspended for unruly behaviour and demanding that the government express regret for using marshals during the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill. Opposition parties and those supporting the United Progressive Alliance government from outside like Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party were united against it.
Sugar sector is grappling with many issues.
Former foreign minister in the Atal Bihari government Jaswant Singh said that if voted to power the National Democratic Alliance would continue the process of holding dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and simuatenously engage the All Party Hurriyat Conference as was done during Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister.
India's exports need free trade and reform. The government, however, is extending failed schemes.
Pawar will not restrict himself to the Rashtrapati Bhavan," the minister from the NCP said.
At the 13 Talkatora Road bungalow, his home for 16 years, Mukherjee confessed: "Unlike the Lok Sabha elections, in this election, there is no worry."
"It cannot be that the Supreme Court is wrong, the CAG is wrong and only the dynast is right. Satyameva Jayate -- the truth shall prevail. The CAG Report on Rafale reaffirms the dictum," Jaitley said in a series of tweet.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday thanked Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee when she informed him of the party's decision to support United Progressive Alliance candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential election.
Opposition-backed Presidential poll nominee P A Sangma on Monday said he would move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's decision to quash the complaint against United Progressive Alliance candidate Pranab Mukherjee's nomination papers after the elections.
Stepping up the party's moves to reach out to Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee, Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh on Wednesday talked to her over phone and condemned her heckling by Communist Party of India-Marxist protesters here while demanding a thorough probe into the incident.
A day after making a strong pitch for her party being given the post of Leader of Opposition, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday held a meeting with party members of Parliament in Lok Sabha.
In an oblique attack on the United Progressive Alliance government, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there was lack of trust in governance in the country, which poses a "grave danger" to democracy.
Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for not supporting the United Progressive Alliance government's efforts to pass a resolution in Parliament on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and rejected accusations hurled at the Congress.
Another all-party meeting will attempt to resolve political concerns about the Land Reforms Bill.
Citing Constitutional and legal provisions, the Election Commission on Tuesday rejected the petition of opposition-backed Presidential nominee P A Sangma camp against United Progressive Alliance candidate Pranab Mukherjee's nomination saying the same is not maintainable before it.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday delivered his much-awaited speech at the annual general meeting at the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Opposition nominee P A Sangma on Saturday sought the Election Commission's intervention for a fresh probe into his objections against the candidature of United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee, levelling new allegations that he was still holding two more offices of profit.
Bhartiya Janata Party general secretary Anant Kumar and Janata Party chief Dr Subramanian Swamy will meet the Election Commission to complain about the Rajya Sabha secretary general for rejecting their demand that United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee should be disqualified, as he was the chairman of the Indian statistical Institute Kolkata when he filed his nomination paper for the Presidential election.
The presidential candidate of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, Pranab Mukherjee on Friday stated that he banked on judgement of the members of the Electoral College for the outcome of the forthcoming Presidential election.
Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Sunday embarked on his 'Janatantra Yatra' (walk for democracy) in Amritsar to rally support against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in the run-up to the next general elections.
The National Democratic Alliance's agitation on price rise issue rocked Parliament on Thursday with both the Houses being adjourned for two hours, as the Opposition disrupted proceedings over the United Progressive Alliance government's failure to contain inflation.
In an exclusive interview to IBN network, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav ruled out any possibility of withdrawing support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. But he speculated that the Congress party will go in for an early general election, possibly by November 2013.
Attacking the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the Centre, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday took potshots at the Congress, saying 'Hand' (the party's symbol) betrayed the state's interests.
Amidst speculation that his party might withdraw outside support to United Progressive Alliance, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav launched a tirade against Congress accusing it of being "cheat and clever" and taking the people for a ride.
Stepping up pressure on the United Progressive Alliance government on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Tamil Nadu on Wednesday demanded that India move a resolution in the UN Security Council for a referendum for separate Tamil Eelam and stop calling Colombo a friendly nation.
Amid a show of strength, United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the July 19 Presidential elections in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and a host of leaders.
In further signs of fissures within DMK, party chief M Karunanidhi's son M K Alagiri on Monday skipped the crucial executive committee meet, which is likely to take key decisions in the wake of the party's pullout from the United Progressive Alliance.
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