News for 'secular progressive alliance'

Vijayakanth's party joins DMK alliance for Tamil Nadu polls

Vijayakanth's party joins DMK alliance for Tamil Nadu polls

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

The DMDK officially joined the DMK-led alliance ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, marking a significant political development in the state.

DMK ally exits alliance ahead of polls, heads to NDA in TN

DMK ally exits alliance ahead of polls, heads to NDA in TN

Rediff.com4 days ago

Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) has announced its departure from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, citing the DMK's 'big brother' attitude and unmet demands.

Is Congress-DMK alliance sliding towards collapse over power tussle?

Is Congress-DMK alliance sliding towards collapse over power tussle?

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

The DMK leads the multi-party Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu and the constituents include the Congress and the Left parties.

Tamil Nadu Election 2026: 'Vijay Is A Stooge Of The BJP'

Tamil Nadu Election 2026: 'Vijay Is A Stooge Of The BJP'

Rediff.com2 days ago

'The AIADMK and DMK have 75% of the total votes. 25% of the voters do not support the two majors,' says DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai.

Sasikala announces new party ahead of Tamil Nadu polls

Sasikala announces new party ahead of Tamil Nadu polls

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

V K Sasikala, a close aide of the late J Jayalalithaa, has announced the launch of a new political party in Tamil Nadu, potentially leading to a four-way contest in the upcoming state Assembly elections.

'Secular' NCP still with Mahayuti due to...: Ajit Pawar

'Secular' NCP still with Mahayuti due to...: Ajit Pawar

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar on Friday said the party was still part of the Mahayuti alliance because of mutual respect among allies and its commitment to the state's progress.

Will two NCP factions merge after Ajit Pawar's death?

Will two NCP factions merge after Ajit Pawar's death?

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

The talks about the reunification had already started when Ajit Pawar was alive. In fact, the two parties even contested the civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together.

BNP nears clear victory in Bangladesh polls, set to form govt

BNP nears clear victory in Bangladesh polls, set to form govt

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

The voting for the 13th parliamentary elections was held along with a referendum on a complex 84-point reform package.

DMK secures big win in Erode East bypoll, boosts party for assembly polls

DMK secures big win in Erode East bypoll, boosts party for assembly polls

Rediff.com9 Feb 2025

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has won the Erode East bypoll with a massive margin, defeating actor-politician Seeman's NTK. The victory is seen as a boost for the DMK ahead of next year's Assembly elections. DMK candidate V C Chandhirakumar trounced Naam Tamilar Katchi's (NTK) M K Seethalakshmi by a margin of 91,558 votes, leading to the NTK forfeiting its deposit. Chief Minister and DMK president Stalin attributed the win to the DMK government's good governance, while AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami termed it a "fake" victory. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Congress MLA EVKS Elangovan last year.

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast'

35 Years After IPKF's Return, Tamil Politics Has Changed

35 Years After IPKF's Return, Tamil Politics Has Changed

Rediff.com24 Mar 2025

Since the IPKF's withdrawal from Sri Lanka in March 1990, the LTTE's once-powerful influence in Tamil Nadu has faded.

Tejashwi condemns DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's remark on Bihar, UP workers

Tejashwi condemns DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's remark on Bihar, UP workers

Rediff.com24 Dec 2023

Yadav said like his Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin was a party that believed in social justice.

Will Vijay's CM Googly Win TN Poll Match?

Will Vijay's CM Googly Win TN Poll Match?

Rediff.com5 Jul 2025

Vijay is counting on what was once proclaimed as his last filmi outing, Jana Nayagan, or 'People's Hero', to do the trick for him, when it releases on January 9, 2026, only months before the assembly poll, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Kalam's address kicks off row over secularism

Kalam's address kicks off row over secularism

Rediff.com23 Feb 2007

'Whether it was a bureaucratic or the translator's mistake, it had to be corrected as Indian Republic was based on separation of religion from the state.

Left, secular parties can fill political vacuum: Bardhan

Left, secular parties can fill political vacuum: Bardhan

Rediff.com4 Apr 2012

The Communist Party of India leader A B Bardhan on Wednesday said there was room for a credible alternative of Left and secular parties in the country to fill the "political vacuum" created by people's rejection of the two alliances led by Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent Assembly elections.

Erode East bypolls: Huge dip in vote share in bastion a concern for AIADMK

Erode East bypolls: Huge dip in vote share in bastion a concern for AIADMK

Rediff.com3 Mar 2023

Congress candidate Elangovan secured 1,10,156 votes (64.58 per cent), which is 20.29 per cent more than the 2021 assembly election as the then INC candidate secured 66,300 votes and won the seat.

Nirmalaji Releases The Nuclear Genie

Nirmalaji Releases The Nuclear Genie

Rediff.com3 Feb 2025

'If the BJP detoxifies the nuclear liability law, it will bring economic, environmental and, most of all, strategic benefits.' 'Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that this Budget promise is met soon -- ideally, before Mr Modi heads to his first meeting with Trump 2.0,' observes Shekhar Gupta.

NCP pledges support to JD-U-RJD-Cong alliance in Bihar bypoll

NCP pledges support to JD-U-RJD-Cong alliance in Bihar bypoll

Rediff.com9 Aug 2014

The Nationalist Congress Party on Saturday pledged unconditional support to the Janata Dal-United-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress alliance for the August 21 bypoll to 10 assembly seats in Bihar to keep the Bharatiya Janaat Party away from power.

Indira Gandhi asked DMK not to oppose Emergency: Stalin

Indira Gandhi asked DMK not to oppose Emergency: Stalin

Rediff.com11 Mar 2023

However, Karunanidhi said he was not bothered even about his life and that democracy was important for him.

Paswan meets Rabri, moots alliance with Cong

Paswan meets Rabri, moots alliance with Cong

Rediff.com22 Oct 2013

With jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad disqualified as Lok Sabha member, ally Lok Janshakti Party President Ramvilas Paswan met Rabri Devi in Patna on Tuesday and mooted an alliance of secular parties, including Congress.

Amid 'come to Delhi' calls, Stalin bats for Congress as pivot to defeat BJP

Amid 'come to Delhi' calls, Stalin bats for Congress as pivot to defeat BJP

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

Throwing his party's weight behind the Congress to ensure an Opposition win in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday said arguments by some favouring a front without the grand old party should be rejected.

AIADMK, CPI announce alliance for Lok Sabha polls

AIADMK, CPI announce alliance for Lok Sabha polls

Rediff.com2 Feb 2014

Attempting to form a "secular and democratic alternative" to dethrone the Congress from power at the Centre, the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam and the Communist Party of India on Sunday announced their decision to enter into an alliance ahead of the coming Lok Sabha polls.

CBI to probe UPA advisory panel ex-member Harsh Mander's NGO for FCRA breach

CBI to probe UPA advisory panel ex-member Harsh Mander's NGO for FCRA breach

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

Official said a CBI inquiry has been recommended against Aman Biradari for violation of various provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

Robert Vadra reiterates ambition to contest from Amethi

Robert Vadra reiterates ambition to contest from Amethi

Rediff.com16 Apr 2024

Robert Vadra indicated that he will also join politics and said there is an atmosphere of change in the country. His entire family is working diligently on this, he added.

Wayanad, 31 assembly seats face bypoll test on Wednesday

Wayanad, 31 assembly seats face bypoll test on Wednesday

Rediff.com12 Nov 2024

Bypolls will be held on Wednesday in 31 assembly seats spread across 10 states and Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, from where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut. Though these bye-elections are not going to have any bearing on the governments, they are seen as a big test for the Congress and the INDIA bloc which failed to put up a united show in the recent Haryana assembly polls. Most of these seats fell vacant after the sitting MLAs contested the Lok Sabha elections and won while in some constituencies, the bypolls are being held due to death of the representatives. The Wayanad seat was vacated by Rahul Gandhi, who also won from the Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency which he kept. Voting will be held in seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four seats in Bihar, three in Karnataka, two seats in Madhya Pradesh, and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala and Meghalaya. Votes will be counted on November 23.

DMK announces list of LS constituencies allotted to self, allies

DMK announces list of LS constituencies allotted to self, allies

Rediff.com15 Mar 2019

Stalin described his party-led coalition as the "Secular Progressive Alliance."

Uddhav announces support for Murmu in presidential polls

Uddhav announces support for Murmu in presidential polls

Rediff.com12 Jul 2022

Shiv Sena will support National Democratic Alliance's presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, party president Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday.

33 first-timers among Modi's council of ministers

33 first-timers among Modi's council of ministers

Rediff.com9 Jun 2024

Those joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers for the first time include three former chief ministers -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana) and H D Kumaraswamy (Karnataka).

'I'm Sure The Concept For INDIA Came From Him'

'I'm Sure The Concept For INDIA Came From Him'

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

'In Parliament, he was the one person who stood for democracy and secularism even when the principal Opposition party was not very forthright in taking on the BJP and RSS.'

North-South Divide: Myth Or Reality?

North-South Divide: Myth Or Reality?

Rediff.com20 Dec 2023

For the BJP, Telangana is a sunrise state in the South, while Karnataka is a southern success despite the ups and downs.

Modi elected as NDA leader, ready to form govt

Modi elected as NDA leader, ready to form govt

Rediff.com6 Jun 2024

They met at Modi's residence in New Delhi a day after the NDA won a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha election, paving the way for him to take the oath for a third consecutive term, a first for any ruling alliance since 1962.

Amid tussle with Governor, Tamil Nadu govt apprises President

Amid tussle with Governor, Tamil Nadu govt apprises President

Rediff.com12 Jan 2023

DMK Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu told reporters in New Delhi that Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathy, who led a delegation, handed over to the President what state Chief Minister M K Stalin has 'written', but repeatedly insisted the content of the communication was only known to the CM.

Campaigning ends for 88 seats in Phase 2 of LS polls

Campaigning ends for 88 seats in Phase 2 of LS polls

Rediff.com24 Apr 2024

Polling is scheduled in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, six seats in Madhya Pradesh, five seats each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

Will Cong ally with NC or PDP for J-K polls?

Will Cong ally with NC or PDP for J-K polls?

Rediff.com19 Aug 2024

Karra, who became the J&K Congress chief last Friday replacing Vikar Rasool Wani, said a call is already there for all secular parties who are opposed to the "hegemonic attitude" of the BJP to unite.

Cong raking up secularism issue to hide its failures: BJP

Cong raking up secularism issue to hide its failures: BJP

Rediff.com18 Jun 2013

The Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are talking about secularism only to cover up their failures in governance and corruption, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu alleged in New Delhi on Tuesday.

'Ask Kumaraswamy why he wants to join the BJP'

'Ask Kumaraswamy why he wants to join the BJP'

Rediff.com19 Oct 2023

'This decision to go with the BJP is Kumaraswamy's individual decision and not a party decision.'

Nitish meets Pawar, Uddhav in Mumbai, talks Oppn unity for 2024 LS polls

Nitish meets Pawar, Uddhav in Mumbai, talks Oppn unity for 2024 LS polls

Rediff.com12 May 2023

Kumar, who visited Pawar at the latter's residence in south Mumbai along with deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, told reporters that what the ruling BJP is doing not in the interest of the country.

AMU can't be a minority institution because ..., Centre tells SC

AMU can't be a minority institution because ..., Centre tells SC

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

It said AMU is not and cannot be a university of any particular religion or religious denomination as any university which has been declared an institution of national importance cannot be a minority institution.

Muslims contributed to Modi's victory, proved they are secular: Azam

Muslims contributed to Modi's victory, proved they are secular: Azam

Rediff.com19 May 2014

Suggesting that Muslims have contributed to Narendra Modi's victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, SP leader Azam Khan, who had indulged in a vitriolic attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, said they had proved that they were a "secular" community.

The Politics of Secularism

The Politics of Secularism

Rediff.com4 Aug 2017

'Forming cults around Lalus, Nitishes, Mulayams, Mayawatis and Mamatas will do as much harm to the Republic as the bhakti of the Hindus for Modi will do,' says Mohammad Sajjad.