Kerala minister sees Sangh ploy behind Trupti Desai’s visit

Kadakampally Surendran, the Kerala minister in charge of Devaswom affairs, called the move by Hindu groups to confine Trupti Desai to the Cochin Airport ‘barbaric’ and wondered if it was part of a conspiracy by the Sangh Parivar. He said Desai is close to both the BJP and the Congress in Maharashtra, and that it […]

Leaked tape shows Kerala BJP chief taking credit for Sabarimala protests

Kerala BJP state president Sreedharan Pillai has been shown bragging in a leaked video that the recent agitation by Ayyappa devotees in the temple courtyard was set off by a BJP worker, and that he considers the issue the ‘golden opportunity’ that the party has been waiting for in Kerala. Speaking at a convention of […]

Supreme Court agrees to hear plea on ‘liberating’ temples from Kerala govt

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against continued control and oversight of temples by the state government of Kerala. Unlike in other places, the control of temples in Kerala — which used to rest with the kings before independence — was directly transferred to the newly […]

Non-BJP parties likely to jointly ask EC for paper ballot in 2019

An array of politicial parties, including BJP allies Shiv Sena and BJD, are likely to write to the Election Commission to ask for the next general election to be conducted using ballot paper, media reported. The parties include opposition outfits like the Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, CPI(M) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, […]

Center gives ‘secret letter’ on ED official: Swamy alleges sabotage in Aircel-Maxis case

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has expressed suspicions of an ‘internal sabotage’ of the investigations into the so-called Aircel-Maxis scam, in which the accused include former finance minister P Chidambaram and son Karthi. “BJP government at Centre, judging by today proceedings on Aircel Maxis in SC, is under internal sabotage. Have to find out who is […]

Omar Abdullah meets J&K Governor; sets off alliance speculation

Omar Abdullah, leader of National Conference party, is currently holding talks with Jammu & Kashmir governor N N Vohra, leading to speculation that a ‘mahagatbandhan’ or grand alliance of non-BJP parties could be on the cards. The PDP government in the state can continue to rule if the National Conference lends its support. Traditionally, National […]

BJP pulls out of PDP alliance in J&K over terrrorism, law and order

The Bharatiya Janata Party has pulled out of the ruling coaltion with People’s Democratic Party or PDP, days after prominent journalist Shujaat Bhukhari was gunned down by suspected terrorists. BJP spokesperson Ram Madhav pointed to three factors that prompted the party to pull out — rising terrorist incidents, poor law and order and an imbalance […]

BJP, Congress score self-goals in Kerala Chengannur bye-election

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress Party in Kerala have reason to worry from the results of Chengannur bye-election conducted on Sunday. With nearly all votes in — including those from areas considered strongholds of Congress and BJP — the Left Front candidate Saji Cherian was comfortably in the lead. The vote share […]

Rahul Gandhi says will work other parties to save Indian democracy

Boosted by the first big victory since in several years, Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi said his party will join hands with the opposition to “protect Indian institutions” from the attacks of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh. Speaking in the aftermath of the BJP failing to win majority in Karnataka Assembly, Gandhi […]

FULL TEXT: Supreme Court asks BJP to produce letters

The Supreme Court has intervened in the decision by the Karnataka governor to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the next government and asked the BJP to produce the letters it wrote to the governor. A bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan refused to pass any order staying or stopping […]

Congress Party officially lends support to JD(S) to form the government

The Indian National Congress has officially lent its support to the Janata Dal (Secular) led by HD Kumaraswamy to form the next government at the center. This was revealed by Congress Party’s local leadership. “It is for them to take a decision, we have extended our support,” said a Congress party spokesperson in Bangalore. “The […]

BJP stares at a loss in both seats in Uttar Pradesh bypoll

BYPOLL RESULTS SP/BSP/RJD BJP CONG GORAKHPUR 308,000 279,000 11,443 PHULPUR 250,000 217,100 12,444 ARARIYA 203,000 182,000 BHABUA 56,000 43,000 24,300 JAHANABAD The Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be facing an unexpected setback in Uttar Pradesh with both Lok Sabha seats seeing leads for the opposition. The victory of the BSP-SP alliance could have far reaching […]

Center accepts resignation of TDP ministers, Modi to manage civil aviation

The office of the President of India said it has accepted the resignations of the two ministers from Telugu Desam Party, and that the civil aviation portfolio will be taken over by the Prime Minster. The two ministers, Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y.S. Chowdary had put in their papers yesterday over demands by Andhra Pradesh […]

Amit Shah wants a repeat of Tripura in Kerala. Here’s why he can’t

BJP President Amit Shah is not a very expressive person, but the relief and happiness on his face during the party’s regular press conference today was hard to miss. Among the questions asked of Shah was whether today marks the ‘golden period’ of the BJP in India. Though the question sounded like a compliment, it […]