Manjhi ‘fully satisfied’ with 20 seats for HAM
The Bharatiya Janata Party and its political allies on Monday finalised their seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. BJP President Amit Shah said that while his party would contest 160 out of 243 seats, the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party would contest 40 seats, with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party contesting 23 seats and the Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha being allotted 20 seats. Shah added that four or five members of the HAM would contest the elections as part of the BJP, adding that the arrangement had been arrived at “after talks with all parties”. Later, Manjhi, a former Chief Minister of Bihar, said that he was “fully satisfied” with the 20 seats given to the HAM.
India welcomes UN’s decision on reforms
India on Monday welcomed the United Nations’ General Assembly’s decision to begin discussions on reforms to the Security Council after two decades. The Central government called on all UN member-states to “constructively engage” in the discussions, adding that it was necessary to “equip the Council” to “effectively address” global challenges. Discussions on the potential reforms will begin on Tuesday, when the 70th session of the General Assembly commences.
Chouhan says SIT to probe Jhabua blast
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced that a Special Investigation Team would probe the recent blasts in the Jhabua district of the state that killed over 88 people. A senior state police official said that the seven-member SIT would be headed by the Additional Superintendent of the district. Other officials said that police personnel had visited several places in an attempt to capture Rajendra Kaswal, the prime accused in the case. Chouhan also ordered the dismissal of the officials responsible for neglecting their duties in the town of Petlawad, where the blasts took place. The explosions, which also injured over 100 people, took place after mining explosives allegedly stored illegally in a godown detonated.
Supreme Court stays Maran’s arrest
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran’s arrest in connection an illegal telephone exchange running out of his home. A bench of the court headed by Justice TS Thakur also gave Maran two weeks’ time to respond to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s claim that he was likely to “intimidate witnesses” in the case. In its arguments, the CBI had said that Maran’s custodial interrogation was necessary so that the Bureau could “unearth the larger conspiracy” behind the illegal exchange at the former minister’s Chennai residence. Earlier, the court had criticised the CBI, saying that the case “reeked of political vendetta”.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and its political allies on Monday finalised their seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. BJP President Amit Shah said that while his party would contest 160 out of 243 seats, the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party would contest 40 seats, with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party contesting 23 seats and the Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha being allotted 20 seats. Shah added that four or five members of the HAM would contest the elections as part of the BJP, adding that the arrangement had been arrived at “after talks with all parties”. Later, Manjhi, a former Chief Minister of Bihar, said that he was “fully satisfied” with the 20 seats given to the HAM.
India welcomes UN’s decision on reforms
India on Monday welcomed the United Nations’ General Assembly’s decision to begin discussions on reforms to the Security Council after two decades. The Central government called on all UN member-states to “constructively engage” in the discussions, adding that it was necessary to “equip the Council” to “effectively address” global challenges. Discussions on the potential reforms will begin on Tuesday, when the 70th session of the General Assembly commences.
Chouhan says SIT to probe Jhabua blast
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced that a Special Investigation Team would probe the recent blasts in the Jhabua district of the state that killed over 88 people. A senior state police official said that the seven-member SIT would be headed by the Additional Superintendent of the district. Other officials said that police personnel had visited several places in an attempt to capture Rajendra Kaswal, the prime accused in the case. Chouhan also ordered the dismissal of the officials responsible for neglecting their duties in the town of Petlawad, where the blasts took place. The explosions, which also injured over 100 people, took place after mining explosives allegedly stored illegally in a godown detonated.
Supreme Court stays Maran’s arrest
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran’s arrest in connection an illegal telephone exchange running out of his home. A bench of the court headed by Justice TS Thakur also gave Maran two weeks’ time to respond to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s claim that he was likely to “intimidate witnesses” in the case. In its arguments, the CBI had said that Maran’s custodial interrogation was necessary so that the Bureau could “unearth the larger conspiracy” behind the illegal exchange at the former minister’s Chennai residence. Earlier, the court had criticised the CBI, saying that the case “reeked of political vendetta”.
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