Politics / The Times of India
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The list includes candidates for 10 constituencies. The announcement comes after a tumultuous year for the party, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal facing arrest and subsequent release on bail in connection with a money laundering investigation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and Congress leader Nana Patole recently engaged in a public disagreement regarding the potential leadership of a future government in Maharashtra.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged for the immediate arrest of billionaire Gautam Adani, citing US charges of bribery and fraud. Gandhi highlighted US prosecutors' allegations of $250 million in bribes paid by Adani and associates to Indian officials, emphasizing violations of both US and Indian law. He reiterated Congress's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into Adani's transactions.
BJP leader Amit Malviya questioned the timing of a US report alleging bribes by the Adani Group, suggesting political motivations. Malviya pointed fingers at opposition parties, claiming they were in power in the states where the alleged bribes occurred. Congress, meanwhile, renewed calls for a parliamentary probe into the Adani Group's dealings.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Gautam Adani with bribery and fraud, alleging he concealed information about his company's solar energy project in India. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh views this as validation for their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the Adani Group's dealings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Dominica's highest honor, the Dominica Award of Honour, for his support during the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to strengthening India-Dominica ties. The award was presented by Dominica's President, Sylvanie Burton, during the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first visit to Guyana, expressed India's commitment to expanding partnerships with Caribbean nations. During his visit, Modi engaged with CARICOM leaders, focusing on strengthening cooperation in various sectors including economy, agriculture, and healthcare. He also highlighted the historical ties between India and Guyana, acknowledging the significant Indian diaspora in the country.
India ranks 26th on Unicef's list of countries where children face climate change risks. Millions of Indian children may be impacted by extreme flooding and rising temperatures in the coming decades. However, Unicef believes India can overcome these challenges by investing in sustainable infrastructure, education, healthcare, and digital access, ensuring a brighter future for its youngest citizens.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart General Li Shangfu held a bilateral meeting in Vientiane, Laos, to discuss the next steps in the peace-building process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This meeting follows agreements to de-escalate border tensions and initiate coordinated patrols in disputed areas.
On Maharashtra's election day, BJP released an audio recording, alleging NCP's Supriya Sule and Congress's Nana Patole of using Bitcoin scam money for election funding. While Sule denied the allegations and filed a defamation case, her brother and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar confirmed her voice in the recording. Patole also refuted the claims, calling them BJP's tactics to influence voters.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau briefly interacted at the G20 Summit in Brazil amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.
Voting is underway in 15 assembly constituencies across four Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. These bypolls, while significant, won't alter the legislative assemblies' composition. The outcomes hold particular interest as they present the first electoral test for both the INDIA bloc and the NDA since the Lok Sabha elections. Results are anticipated on November 23.
Supriya Sule, NCP-SCP MP, refuted allegations of using bitcoin for funding the Maharashtra Assembly elections, calling them lies and fake. She filed complaints with cybercrime and for criminal defamation against BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi. Sule expressed readiness to address the accusations publicly.
Maharashtra gears up for a crucial Assembly election, with the ruling Mahayuti and opposition MVA vying for power. Key issues include economic distress, caste dynamics, and the impact of regional party splits. While the Mahayuti highlights welfare schemes, the opposition criticizes their performance and divisive rhetoric.
Over 1.23 crore voters in Jharkhand are casting their ballots today in the final phase of the assembly elections. Key figures like Chief Minister Hemant Soren and BJP state president Babulal Marandi await their fate as 528 candidates compete for 38 seats. The ruling JMM faces a challenge from the BJP, particularly in tribal areas.
Divisions within the BJP's Manipur unit intensified as 19 party MLAs skipped an NDA meeting concerning the ongoing ethnic conflict. The meeting, boycotted by Kuki representatives, resolved to take action against Kuki militants allegedly responsible for the deaths of six Meiteis.
The government is aiming for 100% women ownership of houses built under the PMAY (rural) scheme in its second phase. Launching a fresh survey, Awas-Plus 2024, the government seeks to identify beneficiaries, allowing self-survey to ensure transparency. The survey will use ten criteria to identify the remaining 80 lakh beneficiaries for the second phase.
The Delhi High Court summoned US-based AI firm OpenAI on Tuesday following a lawsuit filed by news agency ANI. ANI alleges OpenAI used its content without authorization to train its AI tool ChatGPT, violating copyright laws and spreading misinformation. OpenAI claims to have addressed the issue and denies any copyright infringement.