Election Financial News

Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently held Rajya Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh have been disqualified under the anti-defection law on Thursday. «Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect,» said Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania. Petition for action was filed by Congress MLA and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan under the anti-defection law for disqualification of the six MLAs.

This time around, the election has gained prominence in light of India’s rising importance in geopolitics, its leading position in emerging markets, and the government’s aspiration to make India the world’s third largest economy from the current fifth position.

Sandeshkhali, West Bengal authorities arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan on Thursday, following allegations involving 'sexual assault and land appropriation.'. Shahjahan was arrested in Minakhan, North 24 Parganas district, after he had evaded capture by both state and central agencies for over a month. He is slated to appear before the court today. Sandeshkhali, situated in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, has become a focal point for protests against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh this month, particularly among women seeking redress for purported abuses attributed to him.

Pakistan’s voters expressed their disillusionment with the nation’s powerful military in a surprising election result earlier this month. But the army is still poised to have more control from behind the scenes than ever — and reviving the economy will be its ultimate test. The military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly for most of its modern history, is set to make all important decisions on foreign policy and security for the country’s new government and have a more expanded role in running the nation’s economy, a person familiar with the matter said. Shehbaz Sharif, who’s expected to become prime minister, is likely to be only a figurehead, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The army is consolidating power as Pakistan faces the worst inflation in Asia, a crippling debt load and the need to negotiate another bailout from the International Monetary Fund. Observers are largely pessimistic that a weak coalition propped up by the military will fare any better than similar governments in the past.

Joe Biden «continues to be fit for duty,» his doctor wrote Wednesday after conducting an annual physical that is being closely watched as the 81-year-old seeks reelection in November. Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician, wrote that the president is adjusting well to a new device that helps control his sleep apnea and has experienced some hip discomfort but also works out five times per week. «President Biden is a healthy, active, robust, 81-year-old male who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency,» O'Connor said in a six-page memo on the president's health, following a physical that took Biden to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for more than 2 1/2 hours.

just ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government plunged into a crisis after six of its MLAs cross-voted in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. High-profile leader Vikramaditya Singh resigned as minister, complaining that “MLAs were overlooked" under the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in the state.

repo rate steady at 6.5 per cent for the sixth straight meeting this month and decided to focus on the withdrawal of accommodation. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has reiterated that the policy imperative at the current juncture is to remain focused on achieving the four per cent inflation target on a durable basis, keeping in mind the objective of growth.

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Congress, BJP is keeping a close watch on the developing political situation in Himachal Pradesh. Earlier in the day, the party demanded division of votes on the budget in the assembly. But before that, 15 BJP MLAs, including leader of the opposition, Jairam Thakur, were suspended from the assembly. «The Congress government in the state is in minority. They couldn't pass the budget on division of votes. Therefore, they have suspended 15 MLAs of our party. This has happened for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh,» Thakur told media persons outside the assembly. The six rebel Congress MLAs, who had come from Panchkula to attend the budget session, went back after the assembly was adjourned. Sources in BJP told ET that these MLAs are now supporting BJP along with three independent MLAs.

Sharif said 'Shehbaz is the best choice for the prime ministership, especially in the current circumstances Pakistan is in’, English daily Dawn reported. “Nawaz officially nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif and party loyalist Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for the posts of prime minister and speaker of the National Assembly.

Chatbots are spitting out fabricated and misleading information that risks disenfranchising voters leading up to the 2024 U.S. election

NEW DELHI : New Delhi: Prime Minister Narenda Modi is set to inaugurate or lay the foundations for 29 projects in the petroleum sector worth ₹1.49 trillion ahead of elections due shortly. Modi will flag off an oil tanker from the ONGC Krishna Godavari deep water project on Saturday, which will carry 'first oil' from the Krishna Godavari Basin to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. First oil was produced from the block on 7 January.

World markets today: US stocks dip ahead of inflation data Adani Power, Indian Railway Finance Corporation, Jio Financial Services, Power Finance Corporation, and REC Ltd have also joined the Nifty Next 50 index. Conversely, Adani Wilmar, Muthoot Finance, PI Industries, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care, and Shriram Finance have been removed from the index.

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NEW DELHI : After Bharat atta and rice, the Union government is planning to launch Bharat masur (lentil) dal – but, at around ₹89 per kg, without a discount – a senior official told Mint. Normally the Bharat brand comes with hefty discounts. The lentil pricing comes despite inflation being in control and with huge quantities of masoor lying in government stocks.

Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh faces threat, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday expressed hope that the party will resolve the political crisis in the hill state very soon. Pilot also targeted the BJP-led government at the Centre and said it failed in tackling rising inflation and unemployment. «Our party has appointed observers in Himachal Pradesh...they will talk to everyone and hopefully the matter will be resolved very soon,» he told reporters in Sikar. The Congress-led Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh is in crisis triggered by Tuesday's cross-voting by six party MLAs in the Rajya Sabha election for the lone seat from the hill state.

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to get a majority in the Rajya Sabha in April this year once the remaining six vacancies under the nominated category are filled and those newly elected take oath. According to data available with the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the BJP, which currently has 94 members, gained two seats in the Upper House in the just concluded elections, pushing its own strength to 96. The strength of NDA, which at present has 113 members, will cross the half-way mark of 123 in the 245-member House in April this year once all nominated members take oath. At present, there are only six MPs who have been nominated by the President of India as members in the Rajya Sabha, with some having joined the BJP later. There are a total of 12 nominated members in the House.

Congress MLA, Vikramaditya Singh, who resigned from his ministerial post today, said that it is for the Congress party's high command to decide on the future course of action. While replying to questions on his next move, Singh said, “it is for the party’s high command to decide on the future course of action." «I never was under pressure during my ministerial position; I am the one who creates pressure,” he added.

prime minister called MGR an “incomparable leader" besides referring to Jayalalithaa’s governance as the hallmark of dedicated service to the people of the state Some analysts said the comments were PM Modi's appeal to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) vote bank while others said that it was his indirect reach-out to AIADMK, the opposition party in Tamil Nadu that was a BJP ally until September last year. On Wednesday, PM Modi called the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders ‘blind’, over a state minister’s ad for a new Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spaceport featuring an image of a rocket with the Chinese flag symbol.