Politics

Siddaramaiah expands ministry, leaves out 'mining-tainted' aspirants (Second Lead) (15:52)
Bangalore, May 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Saturday inducted 28 members into his five-day-old ministry, keeping out two strong but mining-scam hit aspirants for cabinet berths.

Left urges CBI to appeal against Pappu Yadav's acquittal (15:48)
Patna, May 18 (IANS) Left parties in Bihar Saturday urged the CBI to appeal in the Supreme Court against the acquittal of former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in the murder of a CPI-M leader.

Malayasian Chinese leader asked to apologise to Indians (15:48)
Singapore, May 18 (IANS) A Malaysian Indian politician of the Democratic Action party (DAP) has asked the party's Chinese-origin secretary-general to apologise to the Indian members of the party.

15,000 transfers in just over four months! (Himachal Newsletter) (15:16)
By Vishal Gulati
Shimla, May 18 (IANS) The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh has effected a staggering 15,000 transferes in the little over four months it has been in office but the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says the number is more than double that. The Himachal Pradesh High Court has now stepped in and put a stop to at least five transfers and cancelled one.

Chandy all set to reshuffle cabinet (Kerala Newsletter) (14:50)
By Sanu George
Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy is all set to reshuffle his cabinet, two years after assuming office this day.

BJP's post-Karnataka gloom: Neither united nor untainted (Comment) (14:12)
By Amulya Ganguli
The Bharatiya Janata Party's problems seem to be increasing with the approach of the state assembly elections later this year and the general elections in 2014.

Polls biggest source of corruption: Former CEC (14:04)
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Elections have become the biggest source of corruption in India, former chief election commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi has said, while stressing for the need for poll reforms.

Are Omar, Mehbooba hunting for 'safe' seats for 2014 polls? (Kashmir Newsletter) (12:38)
By Sheikh Qayoom
Srinagar, May 18 (IANS) Are Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti hunting for "safe" seats for the 2014 assembly elections? The question is particularly poignant in Abdullah's case as it would mean his moving away from a constituency that his grandfather and father have nursed since 1975 and which has gone out of the family's grasp only once.

Siddaramaiah expands ministry in Karnataka, inducts 28 (Lead) (12:04)
Bangalore, May 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Saturday inducted 28 members - 20 of cabinet rank and eight ministers of state - into his five-day-old ministry, the first Congress ministry in the state after nine years.

Siddaramaiah inducts 28 into his ministry (11:24)
Bangalore, May 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Saturday inducted 28 members into his five-day-old ministry, the first Congress ministry in the state after nine years.

BJP raises 2G scam issue at recast PAC (22:48)
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members Friday raised the issue of the 2G spectrum scam at the first meeting of the reconstituted Public Accounts Commitee of parliament, said informed sources.

Emulate Chhattisgarh Food Act, BJP tells Congress (Lead) (22:18)
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) The BJP Friday hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that the Opposition was responsible for the UPA's failure to pass the Food Security Bill, saying the UPA government should emulate the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act.

Bengal opposition demands central forces for Panchayat polls (22:06)
Kolkata, May 17 (IANS) Opposition parties in West Bengal Friday demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces in an all-party meeting convened by the State Election Commission to ensure proper, free and fair panchayat elections.

BJP slams CBI chief's remarks on ex-railway minister (22:00)
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) The BJP Friday took exception to CBI director Ranjit Sinha's remarks that former minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has a strong defence in the case of alleged bribery involving his nephew.

Hundreds protests in Tahrir against President Morsi (21:20)
Cairo, May 17 (IANS) Hundreds of protesters flocked Friday to central Tahrir Square here to join demonstrations condemning the rule of President Mohamed Morsi and ruling Muslim Brotherhood group, reported Xinhua.

Former Argentine military ruler Videla dies in prison (21:16)
Buenos Aires, May 17 (IANS) Former Argentine military ruler Jorge Rafael Videla died Friday while serving life sentences in prison for crimes against humanity, reported Xinhua citing a government spokesperson. He was 87.

Bengal notifies panchyat poll schedule, deadlock continues (Lead) (20:51)
Kolkata, May 17 (IANS) The West Bengal government Friday issued a notification proposing a three-phase panchayat polls July 2, July 6 and July 10. However, the deadlock on the issue continued with State Election Commission (SEC) officials indicating their reservations on the schedule.

Emulate Chhattisgarh Food Act, BJP tells Congress (20:41)
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Accusing the Congress of a callous and casual approach towards the poor, the BJP Friday asked the UPA government to emulate the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act as it covers a higher proportion of the population and provides foodgrain at a cheaper cost.

Bail for Liyaqat vindicates Omar's stand, says NC (20:32)
Srinagar, May 17 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference (NC) Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court decision to grant bail to militant Liyaqat Shah, saying it proved Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's stand that he was returning for rehabiliation, not a terror strike.

Bengal proposes three-phase panchayat poll schedule (19:25)
Kolkata, May 17 (IANS) The West Bengal government Friday issued a notification proposing three-phase Panchayat polls July 2, July 6 and July 10.

Don't dilute autonomy, India tells Sri Lanka (19:17)
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) India has told Sri Lanka not to dilute the autonomous powers granted to its Tamil-majority northern province ahead of provincial elections, official sources said Friday.

Act on Cauvery Tribunal's final award, Jayalalithaa urges PM (18:49)
Chennai, May 17 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Friday urged the prime minister to order the implementation of the final award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

Andhra CM calls on Sonia amid demand to drop tainted ministers (18:27)
New Delhi/Hyderabad, May 17 (IANS) Amid mounting pressure to drop tainted ministers, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Friday called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

Pappu Yadav acquitted in CPI-M leader's murder (18:23)
Patna, May 17 (IANS) Citing lack of evidence, the Patna High Court Friday acquitted former RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on charges of killing CPI-M leader Ajit Sarkar, a government lawyer said.

Karnataka ministry expansion Saturday, 29 to be sworn-in (Lead, Changing dateline) (17:34)
Mysore, May 17 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Friday he will induct 29 members to his ministry Saturday, four days after he took office.