After Ruling For 22 Years, Congress Almost Wiped Out In Mizoram

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Congress, which governed Mizoram for more than 22 years in different terms since 1984 under the Chief Ministership of party stalwart Lal Thanhawla, performed disastrously in the state assembly elections, result of which was announced on Monday.

Aizawl, Dec 4: The Congress, which governed Mizoram for more than 22 years in different terms since 1984 under the Chief Ministership of party stalwart Lal Thanhawla, performed disastrously in the state assembly elections, result of which was announced on Monday.

The Congress fielded candidates in all 40 seats but its nominee C. Ngunlianchunga is the only winner in Lawngtlai West seat by a margin of 432 votes.

Ngunlianchunga, who secured 11,296 votes, defeated the ruling Mizo National Front candidate V. Zirsanga, who bagged 10,864 votes.

Besides all other party leaders and former ministers, state Congress President Lalsawta lost his Aizawl West-III seat to opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) candidate V.L. Zaithanzama by a margin of 4,582 votes.

The Congress this time got 20.82 per cent votes against 29.98 per cent (five seats) in 2018 and 44.63 per cent votes (34 seats) in 2013.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Mizoram on October 16 and 17 and campaigned for the party.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, party’s northeast in-charge Bhakta Charan Das among other leaders also took part in the campaign.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cancelled her scheduled campaign trips to the northeastern state while Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave a special video message to the people of Mizoram.

The Congress, before the elections, has formed ‘Mizoram Secular Alliance’ (MSA) with two local parties --- People’s Conference (PC) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) to unitedly fight against the BJP. The People’s Conference and ZNP did not put up any candidate.

State Congress President Lalsawta, who took moral responsibility for the party’s poor performance, announced to submit his resignation on Tuesday.

He told the media that the Congress, though defeated in the elections, but it would come back to power in the 2028 assembly elections.

(IANS)

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SC orders bar association to reserve minimum 1/3rd posts for women

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, May 2: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to reserve at least 1/3rd posts for women in its executive committee.

Asking SCBA to implement the quota henceforth, a bench presided over by Justice Surya Kant said that the post of treasurer will be reserved for women in the ensuing 2024-25 elections.

The Bench, also comprising Justice KV Viswanathan, added that one post of the office-bearers will be reserved for women on a rotation basis.

It clarified that the directions issued by the apex court would not exclude women from contesting other SCBA posts.

In effect, one post of the office-bearers, two senior executive members and three executive members will be mandatorily reserved for women.

Earlier in February this year, the Delhi High Court was apprised by SCBA that the General Body Meeting (GBM) will be convened within two months to discuss the nomination of women advocates as Executive Members.

A bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain was dealing with a plea filed by advocate Yogamaya MG seeking to convene the meeting to address the issue of gender representation within the SCBA.

The petitioner had urged the SCBA to consider a representation signed by 270 members addressing the issue of lack of female representation in the executive committee.

The representation proposed amending the SCBA rules and regulations to ensure at least two positions for women executive members.

The petition stressed the importance of women's representation in decision-making bodies like the SCBA, stating that it is fundamental to creating a workplace culture that prioritises the prevention of sexual harassment and addresses issues unique to women lawyers.

(IANS)

"Congress trying to divide Hindu society": PM Modi in Gujarat's Surendranagar

by Manisha Das

Surendranagar, May 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party of trying to "divide the Hindu society".

While addressing an election rally in Gujarat's Surendranagar on Thursday, PM Modi claimed that Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge gave a statment related to Lord Ram and Lord Shiv with "malicious intent".
"Congress is trying to divide the Hindu society. They want to create a fight between Ram bhakts and Shiv bhakts. Mallikarjun Kharge has given a very dangerous statement related to Lord Ram and Lord Shiv. That statement is given with malicious intent. Our traditions that have been going on for thousands of years... those traditions which even the Mughals could not break, now the Congress wants to break them," PM Modi said.

"A month ago, their 'Shehzaada' said that he would destroy Shakti. We are the worshippers of Shakti. 'Shehzaada' said that he would destroy Shakti. Can the devotees of Shakti forgive this? How low will Congress stoop for appeasement?" he added.

The Prime Minister further claimed that the Congress party has lost its "balance" since he "exposed their truth" over the reservation.
"Ever since I have exposed the truth of Congress's actions against SC/ST/OBC before the nation, Congress has lost its balance, Congress has become nervous and is telling lie after lie," PM Modi said.
Taking the attack against the Congress party further, the Prime Minister alleged that the country was "putting its head down in shame" over crores worth scam by the former.
"10 years ago, our country used to put its head down in shame over the scams worth lakhs and crores. There was not a single day when the news of scams did not make headlines in the newspapers. 2G scam, coal scam, defence scam, CAG scam, helicopter scam, submarine scam, Commonwealth scam. Congress had committed scams worth thousands of crores of rupees across water, land and sky. 10 years ago, the whole world considered India a burden and said that India would sink itself and take us down with it. Some people said that it is a poor and weak country," he said.

"Our neighbours used to carry out bomb blasts almost every day, killing innocent people. Big companies did not even think of coming to India. Today India's name is ringing in the world and all this has been possible because of your one vote. Today there is competition among big companies to come to India. India is becoming self-reliant today. Those who send terrorists know that India today strikes back in their home turf," PM Modi added.
PM Modi further claimed that the Congress has vowed to provide a "fixed quota" to Muslims.

"They (Congress) have written in their manifesto that now in all the government tenders, a quota will be fixed for Muslims. Now reservation based on religion will be introduced in government contracts also," he said.
Voting for 25 out of 26 seats in Gujarat will take place in the third phase of the ongoing general elections on May 7.

Voting will not take place in Surat as Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed last week after Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination was rejected while other candidates withdrew from the contest. The results will be announced on June 4.

(ANI)

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Files Nomination Papers From Sambalpur LS Seat

by Utkalika Mohanty

Sambalpur, May 2: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday filed his nomination papers.

Pradhan filed his paper before the Sambalpur Collector and Returning Officer. Several BJP Leaders were present during his filing of papers.

Before filing his nomination papers, Pradhan visited Samaleswari Temple to seek the blessings of the presiding deity and then headed out in a huge rally to file nomination papers along with BJP Sambalpur MLA Candidate Jaynarayan Mishra and BJP Rengali MLA Candidate Nauri Nayak.

Despite the sweltering heat, the rally for the BJP leaders saw local residents turning out in thousands.

Pradhan is set to contest elections for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat against BJD's candidate Pranab Prakash Das and Congress’s candidate Nagendra Pradhan.