Archives for December 2018

 The Mizo National Front (MNF) is all set to capture power in Mizoram after a decade, having established leads in 21 of the 40 assembly constituencies, while the ruling Congress is ahead only in places, poll officials said here on Tuesday.

Mizoram is the last bastion of the Congress in the northeast that comprises eight states, including Sikkim.

The ruling Congress is leading in only five constituencies and trailing in almost all the other constituencies, which it had won in the 2013 polls.

Counting is underway on all seats.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is heading ahead in one constituency.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who contested from two constituencies — his home turf Serchhip and Champhai South – is trailing in Champhai South seat where MNF candidate T.J. Lalnuntluanga is leading by 100 votes after the fifth round of counting.

MNF candidates are leading in 21 constituencies, including Tuichang, East Tuipui, Kolasib, Champhai South seats.

Buddha Dhan Chakma, a former minister of the Congress government who just before the November 28 polls joined the BJP, is leading in Chakma tribals dominated Tuichawng constituency over his MNF rival.

Six candidates belonging to various local parties are leading in as many constituencies.

IANS

 Former West Bengal minister Abdus Sattar, who severed his long association with the CPI-M last year, on Monday joined the Congress, calling it the only party capable of challenging the communal policies of the BJP.

Sattar, who served as Minister of State for Minorities Development during the Left Front regime, was welcomed into the Congress by state party chief Somen Mitra and in-charge of Bengal Gaurav Gogoi.

“I decided to join the Congress after I became convinced it is the only party that can stand up to the communal onslaught launched by the BJP across the country,” Sattar told mediapersons at the state Congress headquarters Bidhan Bhavan.

Sattar had not renewed his membership of the Communist Party of India-Marxist in 2017. Since then, he had not been associated with any party.

IANS

 England outclassed New Zealand 2-0 in the first crossover match of the Men’s Hockey World Cup here at the Kalinga Stadium on Monday.

England, who will now take on Olympic champions Argentina in the first quarterfinal on Wednesday, scored their first goal in the 25th minute as Will Calnan got on the scoresheet with a field strike.

Luke Taylor converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to help England score a comfortable win.

The English were the better team against Black Sticks in the opening two quarters, carving out more goal scoring opportunities than their ninth-ranked opponents.

In the opening exchanges, England could have taken the lead in the fifth minute from a penalty corner but failed to.

After a barren first quarter, England drew first blood in the 25th minute when Calnan deflected in a high ball from skipper Phil Roper from the left flank.

Two minutes later, a Liam Ansell strike from close range went inches wide.

New Zealand came close to reducing the margin in the 49th minute but Stephen Jenness’ shot from inside the box was parried away by England goalie Pinner.

In the final minute of the match, New Zealand secured another penalty corner but Pinner made a smart save to keep a clean slate and keep intact England’s record of never finishing below eighth in the World Cup.

In the other game, France reached their first quarters by edging past stubborn China 1-0. They will take on Australia in the last-eight stage on Wednesday.

Timothee Clement sounded the board in the 36th minute.

Viktor Lockwood raced to the baseline with a daunting run down the left flank and cut back to Maximilien Branicki in the centre.

Branicki then unleashed a fierce reverse stick at the far post which was deflected by Clement into the net.

IANS

 Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that one more institution has fallen with the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel and if not stopped, the BJP would “destroy India itself”.

In a tweet, he alleged that the ruling party has destroyed every temple of modern India.

“With the RBI Governor’s resignation, one more independent institution has fallen. The BJP has demolished every temple of modern India and if not stopped, will surely destroy India itself,” Gandhi said.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel resigned on Monday with immediate effect, citing “personal reasons”, setting off a major crisis in India’s politico-economic sphere, even as his various predecessors hinted that the move is rooted in the recent controversy involving the government and the central bank.

 Main opposition BJP on Monday supported Karnataka farmers’ agitation here for meeting their demands by the state government and provide them relief from the fallout of drought in 17 districts across the state.

“We joined hundreds of farmers at the protest rally near the state legislature building (Suvarna Soudha) in support of their demands, including loan waiver, fair price for sugarcane growers and relief aid for them and their families in drought-hit districts,” tweeted BJP’s state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The massive protest demonstration amid tight security in the state’s northwest city coincided with the opening of the 10-day winter session of the state legislature here, about 500km northwest of Bengaluru.

“Though the JD-S-Congress coalition government announced in July that it would waive farm loans, thousands of farmers are yet to be freed from the debt burden even five months after the decision” said BJP leader and lawmaker R. Ashok on the occasion.

The BJP, which won 104 seats in the May 12 assembly elections, also taunted state Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for assuring the sugarcane growers of compelling the mill owners in setting their arrears and getting fair and remunerative price (Rs 2,750 per quintal or 100kg) as fixed by the central government but betraying them.

“The sugarcane farmers were told on November 21 that their demands would be met by December 4 and hence should call off their agitation. They suspended the agitation in the hope of getting their demands met. Even a week after, no demand was met yet,” Yeddyurappa lamented.

The BJP also slammed the government for not providing relief aid to the farmers and the rural people in the 17 districts across the state, reeling under drought though the central government had sanctioned funds.

“We condemn the anti-farmer policies of this fledgling government which is yet to settle down and perform to deliver even six months after coming to power through a post-poll alliance to keep the BJP out of power,” said Yeddyruappa in the tweet.

Though the legislature assembly and council began the session, the proceedings were adjourned for the day after the members paid tributes to the three leaders who died last month in Bengaluru as a mark of respect to them./Eom/370 words.

IANS