The BJP has seven days to file its reply, sources said.
In a major embarrassment for ex-chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi ahead of Bihar polls, his son Praveen Kumar was on Sunday detained by the police after he was allegedly found carrying Rs 4.65 lakh in cash in a car.
'We are not Mahatma Gandhi's children that we keep giving and not get anything in return.'
If the EC decides to put on hold a gas price revision for RIL, it would set a precedent for pricing decisions of the government and policy decisions taken but undergoing procedural delays.
'Commentators have said that dealing with allies as equals will make Modi more sensitive.' 'Remember that the people Modi is dealing with are equally autocratic in their own lairs.' 'Further, Modi always has handy the threat of dissolving Parliament and calling for fresh polls.' 'Most of his own party, and certainly his allies and opponents having blown their budgets of efforts and resources in the just concluded elections, have no stomach for this.' 'They are all greatly looking forward to the loaves and fishes of office on offer.' 'That gives Modi an unbeatable advantage in any push-comes-to-shove situation,' explains Shreekant Sambrani.
More time for fulfilling export obligations also likely.
Since 1993, when the BJP came to power after a stint of President's rule, the state has alternated between the Congress and the BJP.
If Modi wants to leave a real legacy, breaking India's strategic triangulation would be the real gift, notes Shekhar Gupta.
The transcript of the communiqus issued to Modi, Sonia an Digvijay Singh
The EC said that Pradeep Singh Jadeja, MLA, had printed pamphlets showing photograph of himself and the chief minister with the BJP symbol Lotus alongside the picture of 'Maa Amba'.
Of the 59 assembly constituencies, three have been categorised as 'sensitive' and 590 localities marked as 'vulnerable,' according to the police.
The EC said 'there are several scenes depicting a major opposition party as corrupt and showing them in poor light. Their leaders have been depicted in such a manner that their identification is clear and obvious to the viewers'.
'We have essentially tried to set out an agenda for the next five years and it, in essence, represents the political commitment to that agenda.'
The scuffle took place near Borivali station where Matondkar was campaigning.
Failing to get Election Commission's nod for campaigning and undertaking preparatory activities for launch of the scheme on April 1, the government on Thursday announced its decision to defer extension of the scheme to other citizens. The Centre has already implemented the new pension system for its employees who joined on or after January 1, 2004.
Delhi police has accused Aam Aadmi Party protesters of indulging in "riotous acts and using criminal force" during the violent protests outside the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday.
With the political class coming under severe attack for undue interference in the functioning of the bureaucracy, the United Progressive Alliance government has decided to amend the Model Code of Conduct for ministers to include a reference to the need for upholding the impartiality of the civil service.
The Election Commission on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" over Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut's remarks that Muslims should be stripped of voting rights and advised him to be more circumspect in future in his public utterance.
Expressing "serious concern" over repeated violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Union minister Beni Prasad Verma, the Election Commission on Thursday censured him for making "highly insulting" remarks against Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Kanpur.
In a relief to Murli Deora, the Election Commission on Tuesday gave him a clean chit, saying the Petroleum Minister did not violate the Model Code of Conduct when he referred to taking a decision on the fuel prices after assembly polls in six states.EC sources said that the Commission looked into the video clippings and found no substance in the complaint made against Deora.Deora came under attack last week for his remarks on fuel prices after the conclusion of assembly polls
In a six-page reply to the Election Commission's notice, Deora said he had not made any suo moto statement on price reduction and made those reported comments on being quizzed by the media on sidelines of a hydrocarbons conference in New Delhi. The commission on Wednesday sent a communication to Deora and the ministry's Secretary R S Pandey seeking their comments on complaints by BJP that the minister violated model code of conducts.
This will be the first civic election after the fresh delimitation exercise, and the much-awaited poll will be held in the gap between the two phases of the Gujarat assembly elections, which will take place on December 1 and 5.
The decision has been taken following complaints about large-scale violations of various provisions of the model code of conduct by many political parties and candidates, EC sources said.
Sources said there is a strong view in the EC that it should not restrain the release of the biopic on the prime minister and should leave it to the Central Board of Film Certification to take a call on the issue.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today contended that he had not violated the model code of conduct by giving "reward" to people during Holi, saying it was part of the festivities in Uttar Pradesh.
The Election Commission has expressed "displeasure" over 'hate speech' made by an Assam Cabinet minister and inflammatory statement made by a sitting MP while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
AAP demanded that BJP leaders Parvesh Verma and Manoj Tiwari be barred from campaigning for their remarks against the Delhi CM. The EC later issued a notice to Verma for calling Kejriwal a 'terrorist'.
Home minister P Chidambaram, who briefed reporters on the Cabinet decisions, said in his opinion there was no bar on the government from announcing a price cut even after polls are announced. State-owned fuel retailers Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are selling petrol at almost break-even point while they make Rs 3.26 a litre profit on diesel sales.
An average 59.24 per cent voter turnout was recorded as of 5 pm on Thursday across 89 assembly seats in the first phase of Gujarat elections, officials said.
While a new formula for pricing of all domestically produced natural gas was notified on January 10 and published in Gazettee on January 17, the Election Commission last month asked the government to defer its implementation till general elections are completed.
Lalu had visited the EC in Delhi to request for a change in poll dates in Bihar.
A two-member team set up by EC to probe the appointments following complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party said in its report that the appointments to various posts came much after the model code of conduct came into effect.
Kumaraswamy was asked to reply to the notice by November 30.
The Election Commission has drawn up a tentative plan to announce the elections on March 10, the date from which the model code of conduct for political parties and the government comes into force. The Election Commission's plan is to complete the elections and constitute the new Lok Sabha latest by June 4. The last round of polling will be over by the end of May.
He also asked the Election Commission to take action against Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her 'merchant of death' remarks against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Meerut Police's action came a day after the MP indirectly blamed Muslims for the population growth in the country.
K J Rao also held a high-level meeting with the district officials on measures taken to check model code violations
Official sources said though there was no problem with the proposal, it was felt that since the election process was on such a major measure would violate the model code of conduct.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances