Arvind Kejriwal Fires Verbal Salvo at LG Najeeb Jung

The rift between the Delhi State Government and the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung seems to be deepening with every passing moment. The current confrontation is over the appointment of an acting Chief Secretary in the state. CM Arvind Kejriwal has said that the LG should act with the limits of the Constitution and should not try to overtake the democratically elected government.    

Senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin took charge as acting Chief Secretary despite being asked by the AAPgovernment not to do so. An aggrieved Kejriwal wrote an angry letter to the LG asking him not to act outside of the confines of the Constitution; he accused him of trying to render the government ineffective. 

"I cannot but conclude that this is a thinly disguised attempt to reduce the democratically elected government ineffective and administer the National Capital Territory of Delhidirectly," Kejriwal said in his letter.

"I would strongly request you to remain within the confines of the Constitution and the laws relating to Government of NCT of Delhi. You are holding a Constitutional position. Whatever be the political pressure, you have a duty to uphold the Constitution," CM wrote in his letter.

The LG yesterday appointed Gamlin, a 1984-batch civil-services officer, as the acting Chief Secretary of the state despite strong opposition by the AAP government. The AAP is of the opinion that she has a close links with BSES discoms. However, she refuted the accusation by terming them baseless.

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The Supreme Court of India Stays Kejriwal's Anti-Media Circular

The Supreme Court of India has today put stay on a Delhi government circular that told the authorities to file a defamation cases against media organizations for any piece of news that causes damage to its reputation or that of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other ministers and asked him to explain why it was issued.

"Issue notice (to Kejriwal). However, as an interim measure we direct stay of the circular dated May 6, 2015 till further order of this court. Accordingly, it is stayed," said a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant.

The Supreme Court has also questioned Kejriwal's stand on the issue and has given him six weeks’ time to respond.

The said circular, issued by the state information and publicity department says that if any officer associated with the Delhi government thinks that a broadcasted or written news has caused damage to the government or its employee's  reputation, he or she should file a complaint with the principal home secretary.

It also states that after getting a nod from the director (prosecution), the issue will then go to the law department and after taking approval from the government, a case should befiled.

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A Massive Fire Breaks Out at the Oriental Bank of Commerce in Connaught Place Area of Central Delhi

A massive fire has broken out at the Oriental Bank of Commerce in the Connaught Place area of the national capital today. 

A few people are feared trapped in the same building.

Around 20 fire engines have been rushed to the building that houses the bank to douse the flames. The trapped people are being evacuated.

 

There are no further details on the incident as of now.

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AAP Invites PM And His Cabinet For Arvind Kejriwal's Oath Taking Ceremony

The AAP has invited PM Modi and his cabinet for the oath taking ceremony of Arvind Kejriwal as the 8th CM of New Delhi; the ceremony will be held on 14th of this month.

"We want to invite the prime minister, all union ministers and Delhi MPs," said Manish Sisodiya. 

PM Modi has given Arvind Kejriwal an appointment at 10:30 AM tomorrow. During the meeting, the CM designate will formally invite the PM to the ceremony, which will be held at the historical Ramlila Maidan. Mr Kejriwal took his oath of Chief Ministership at the same venue on the previous occasion as well.  

The chances of the PM going to the ceremony are not very bright as he has a packed schedule over the weekend; he is flying out to Maharashtra early on the Sunday morning.

"Our biggest invitation is to the people. Every citizen is becoming chief minister," Manish Sisodia said. Since getting a historic mandate yesterday, Kejriwal is urging the people of Delhi to come to his swearing-in ceremony. 

Kiran Bedi, the CM candidate of BJP, who lost even her own constituency is also among the invitees, and so in Anna Hazare. The anti-corruption crusader and Kejriwal's patron Hazare did not attend his previous oath ceremony in 2013.

It will, most definitely, be a tough task for the Delhi Police to oversee the occasion as the capacity of Ramlila Maidan is just one lakh and the attendance is expected to be much more than that.

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Delhi Elections: A Landslide For AAP, A 'Capital' Punishment for The BJP

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Kejriwal Set To Get Majority In Delhi: Exit Polls

Delhi Elections: A Landslide For AAP, A 'Capital' Punishment for The BJP

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) has won 67 out of the 70 seats in Delhi assembly elections today. The results have not just amazed the opposition parties and different political analysts, but it has pleasantly surprised the AAP as well.

The BJP has shrunk to just 3 seats form 32 in the previous elections. The Congress party could not manage to win a single seat.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of AAP has described their victory as 'people's victory' and has said that the top priority of the new government would be 'ending bribery' in the capital.

Before today's results, the degree of Modi's popularity was somewhat considered to be a force that was invincible. In May, Modi became the first PM to have come to power with a clear cut majority in 30 years.

After coming to power at the center, Modi won four state elections on the trot, and has not tasted failure until now.  

The AAP has not just won 95% of the total seats; it has managed to gather 54% of the total voted in the states. The vote share of the BJP has remained somewhat unchanged at around 32%. 

This gigantic victory of the Aam Admi Party will definitely affect the BJP's prospects in the coming state elections.

Graphic Source: Election Commission of India

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Delhi Elections: Early Trends Indicate A Landslide Victory For AAP, BJP Trounced, Congress Wiped Out

If the early counting trends are to be trusted, the Aam Admi Party is in for a landslide victory in Delhi. The AAP is leading from 66 seats, while the BJP is languishing at 3, the INC is leading on one seat.

On one hand these trends are heart rending for the BJP, while on the other, they have surprised the AAP as well.

Opinion polls and exit polls were predicting a clear cut majority for the AAP, but no one ever predicted this kind of mandate.

These results will definitely dent the confidence of the BJP, a party that never tasted defeat after getting to power at the center in the general elections last year.

While BJP suffers a huge loss, the Congress is virtually wiped out from the capital city.     

Graphic Source: Election Commission of India

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Delhi Polls: The Final Show Down Begins

Kejriwal Set To Get Majority In Delhi: Exit Polls

All the top exit polls conducted in the national capital Delhi are indicating that AAP led by  Arvind Kejriwal is heading towards a full majority in the state assembly.

Top exit poll agencies like Nielsen, C-Voter, Cicero, News Nation, Axis APM, and Today's Chanakya are projecting AAP to win in excess of 40 seats, a comfortable number to form a government.

BJP's CM candidate Kiran Bedi termed the exit poll trends as incomplete and incomprehensive, "This is based on data till 3 pm. Let us not accept it as final, " she said.

Voter turnout in Delhi today was around 69%, a number higher than last year's general elections or 2013's assembly elections. 

If the AAP comes to power in the state, it will be a first major setback for the BJP after it came to power at the center last year in May.

AAP's victory in Delhi will give Kejriwal an opportunity to avenge himself on PM Modi, who trounced him in the general elections; both contested the election from Varanasi constituency. Most of the political pundits were touting this assembly election as Modi vs Kejriwal and not as Kejriwal vs Kiran Bedi.

Delhi assembly election was(and still is ) a question of existence for the Aam Admi Party, while for the BJP, it was a question of keeping the Modi wave alive before the vital Bihar assembly elections.   

BJP, in its vigorous poll campaign, mostly concentrated on counting the achievements of the Modi government at the center and criticizing Kejriwal and AAP. On the other hand, AAP's campaign hovered mostly around some very populist promises like free Wi-Fi, subsidized electricity and water bills, and homes for the slum dwellers.

The results for the elections will come out on 10 February.  

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Delhi Polls: The Final Show Down Begins

Delhi Polls: The Final Show Down Begins

Voting is under way for the much talked-about Delhi assembly elections, which is touted as the first real test of PM Modi's popularity wave.

Polling started at 8 in the morning. Initially the polling was on the slower side, but after a couple of hours later as the sun came out, the polling picked up speed. Around 36% voting happened till 1 PM.

Delhi has around 13 million eligible voters who can cast their votes at 12000 thousand polling stations in the capital city. To take care of any security concern, around 55000 para-military personnel have been deputed here along with the Delhi Police.

Both the AAP and the BJP are fighting for the throne in Delhi. The Congress party, which ruled the state for 15 consecutive years till 2013, is conspicuously lagging behind the two mentioned parties.    

   

In the meanwhile, BJP's New Delhi candidate Nupur Sharma - fighting the election against the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal- has alleged that the AAP workers have manhandled her sister near Sangli booth; AAP has refuted the allegation and called it baseless and politically motivated.

Both the CM candidates Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal are fighting a close battle this time as almost all the opinion polls have termed the Delhi assembly elections as a neck-to-neck fight.

The results will be announced on 10 February.     

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Anna Hazare Threatens A Movement Against The Modi Government

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has blamed the BJP and the Modi government of not fulfilling the promise that they made during their run-up to the last year's General Elections.  

"It is clear that PM Modi is not serious about fighting corruption. In eight months, the government has not given any priority to corruption and there has been no progress on the Lokpal law. We are gathering people for a movement," the septuagenarian told the media.

When asked about forming a team with new faces he preferred to keep mum on Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, who were the two most prominent faces of the erstwhile 'Team Anna'. The Team Anna was the principal figure in the India Against Corruption movement in the year 2011. 

"Ekla Chalo Re," he quoted Tagore. "I don't need Kiran Bedi or Arvind Kejriwal. I have the public with me. Why should I be upset at not having a team?" he said. The veteran public-leader has conspicuously distanced himself from both Ms Bedi and Mr Kejriwal, who have managed to emerge as two political faces of Delhi. 

"Let Delhi decide whether to choose Kiran or Arvind. Why drag me into the muck?" Anna Hazare said.

Sources say that Kiran Bedi's joining the BJP has seriously aggrieved Hazare, and he has reportedly refused to even take her calls. 

"Any Indian citizen can contest elections. The Constitution does not say that a person has to subscribe to any party or view. It is because of party politics that the country has suffered," said Hazare with a tone of sadness.

Polls will be held in Delhi on 7 February and the result will be out on 10 February. 

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Delhi Metro Will Offer Truncated Services On 26 January In Light Of Republic Day Arrangements

The authorities have decided that the services of the Delhi Metro will be a truncated one; the services have been curtailed in the light of the intense security arrangement for the republic day celebration in the capital city.

The parking lots will remain completely closed from 6AM on 25 January till 2PM on 26 January.    

The official words of the Delhi Metro has come in form of a statement released which says, entry and exit will not be permitted at the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan Metro stations between 6AM to 12PM; the entry and exit at the Patel Chowk and Race Cource station will be halted between 8:45 AM to 12PM.

During the mentioned period, Central Secretariat station will be used by the ppassengersonly for changing root between Line 2 (HUDA City Centre to Jahangirpuri) and Line 6 (Mandi House to Badarpur).

The Mandi House and Pragti Maidan stations will also remain closed for one hour between 10:45AM to 11:45PM.

"From 10.45 AM up to 11.45AM, trains will run in three short loops on the corridors between Noida City Centre to Indraprastha, Vaishali to Yamuna Bank and Dwarka Sector 21 to Barakhamba Road stations on Line 3 (Dwarka Sector 21 - Noida City Centre) and Line 4 (Vaishali to Yamuna Bank)," the statement clarified.

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Mayawati's BSP To Contest All 70 Seats In Delhi

BSP will fight from all 70 seats in the coming Delhi Assembly elections. The former UP CM and BSP President Mayawati has told the media today in Lucknow. "I am starting the election campaign for the Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections today... our party would contest all the 70 seats on our own," she said.

Mayawati is celebrating her 59th birthday today as the 'People's Welfare Day'.Criticizing the BJP she said that after misleading the people of the nation with their achche din slogan, the party will now try to cajole the Delhi folks.



"Dalits, backward castes, and others should know that central government, without making arrangement of quotas in the private sector, have started giving important works to the private sector belonging to capitalists, resulting in these sections getting very little benefit of reservation", she said.

She was equally vitriolic towards AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, she said, "he has gone a step ahead of BJP and is the votary of ending reservation and has also given statements in this direction."

She further said, "With BJP and AAP at the helm, the minorities, including poor muslims as well as poor among the upper castes, would not get their rightful place in education and jobs."

The BSP could not manage to get a single seat in the previous assembly elections in 2013. The Party was completely wiped out in the general elections in 2014, it could not win a seat in UP, which is its stronghold.

The Delhi assembly elections will be held on 7 February and the results will come out on 10 February.

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AAP's Legal Notice To BJP Over Funding Accusations

The Aam Admi Party has sent a legal notice to the BJP for leveling false charges of illegal fund raising. The notice that has been sent to South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay, asks both the gentlemen to respond within seven days and if they don’t, a criminal defamation case would be filed against the duo. The notice goes on the behalf of AAP general secretary Pankaj Gupta.

AAP's Legal Notice To BJP Over Funding Accusations 

"Due to lack of transparency, the common man is wondering whether donation is being received at the rate of Rs 20,000 per plate or the funds of NGOs, which belonged to AAP leaders, are being diverted,"  Ramesh Bidhuri has said earlier this month in a press meet. Mr Bidhuri has also urged the AAP to bring to light the names of such persons who attended and donated for the party in such programs.

Reacting vehemently to the press meet, the AAP supremo Arving Kejriwal had threatened legal actions himself.

"The conference that you held, it is clear that not only you intend to defame my client but also to illegally and mischievously deter various persons and organisations to fund and support my client and its leaders causing set back to my client in the electoral field," the notice said.

Former IBN 7 editor and senior AAP leader Ashutosh has said that the system for funding for the Aam Admi Party is fairly transparent and any accusation against the same is sheer fallacy. Ashutosh, AAP's Delhi convener also urged the BJP to reveal the sources of its own funding.

It should be noted that this kind of allegations and counter allegations should be seen as a dress rehearsal for Delhi assembly election that is going to take place early next year. 

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