Transgender in poll contest
Madurai: Espousing the cause of her exploited community, a transgender has taken the poll plunge as an Independent from Madurai lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu. 53-year-old Bharathi Kannamma hailing from Madurai, is the only transgender to fight the April 24 polls in the State.
Buddhists want Karmapa back
Gangtok: As the lone lok Sabha constituency in Sikkim goes to poll on April 12, the Buddhist minority want their Karmapa to his seat in Rumtek monastery while the Nepali communities, which form almost half of the populace, seek tribal status. With less than 30 per cent of the population, Buddhists are the largest minority in the Himalayan State. All the six candidates for the seat are promising to try to enthrone the Karmapa in Sikkim. Karmapa is a spiritual leader of the Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism and is waiting to be enthroned in Rumtek monastery, the largest and most important seat of Buddhism in Sikkim.
AP retired IAS, IPS officers in fray
Hyderabad: Retired IAS and IPS officers have thrown their hat in the ring in the election arena in Andhra Pradesh which has already seen the entry of cine stars and businessmen. The latest entrant into the political arena is former Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy, who joined YSR Congress Party. Reddy, who is contesting from Malkajgiri constituency, said he was “inspired” by the ideology of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Chaya Ratan, a retired IAS of AP cadre, has already filed her nomination for Secunderabad lok Sabha constituency from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). R Seetha Ramarao, a former IPS and retired Additional DGP, said he feels that by joining politics he is transiting from Indian Police Service to Indian Political Service.
Kashmiri Pandit outfits favour BJP
New Delhi: Major Kashmiri Pandit outfits such as All India Kashmiri Samaj and Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) have given a call to the community members to support BJP in the lok Sabha polls, saying it was the only political party which has been sympathetic towards its grievances. The JKVM said BJP was the only party that has included issue of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in its manifesto.
Didi: Won’t allow division of Bengal
Mangalkot (WB): A day after BJP promised to consider the pending demands of Gorkhas, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday reiterated that she would not allow division of the State. “You saw how Congress and BJP bifurcated Andhra Pradesh. Now they are saying divide Bengal. It is not that easy. I am prepared to die, but won’t allow division,” she said. an election rally in Burdwan district.
Vinod Khanna files nomination; shows assets worth Rs 66.92 cr
Gurdaspur : Actor Vinod Khanna, the BJP candidate from Gurdaspur lok Sabha seat, on Wednesday filed is nomination papers, declaring assets worth Rs 66.92 crore which includes a fleet of seven cars. Three-time MP from Gurdaspur, Vinod Khanna’s asset size increased by around 90 per cent since 2009 lok Sabha polls when it was worth Rs 35.15 crore. The 68-year-old Bollywood actor is pitted against Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa. Khanna declared movable and immovable assets, including that of his wife and two daughters, at Rs 31.21 crore and Rs 35.71 crore, respectively.
SC grants temporary bail to BSP MP Dhananjay Singh
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted temporary bail to BSP MP Dhananjay Singh, accused in a murder case, to file his nomination from Jaunpur lok Sabha seat which goes to polls on May 12. The bench headed by Justice BS Chauhan permitted the MP bail from April 14 to 21 in order to file nomination and campaign in his constituency. He along with his wife Jagriti Singh are accused of killing their maid. The couple was arrested on November 5 last year in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal. Dhananjay is also named an accused in a rape case lodged against him in Delhi.