Election Commission

Congress is protecting Khurshid: Javadekar

BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said on Monday that the Congress was protecting its Law Minister, Salman Khurshid by not taking any action against him. "If the Law Minister does not respect the law, who will? No action has been taken against the minister despite the EC's complaint," he said. ...

Khurshid free to express his views: Priyanka

New Delhi: In what could be a potential embarrassment for the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi said on Monday that Salman Khurshid was "free" to express his opinions and so was the Election Commission. Referring to the ongoing row between the Union Law Minister and the Election Commission over a Muslim sub-quota remark that he made during a rally in the state, Priyanka said that people were free to express their feelings...

UP Polls: Cong MP Azharuddin issued notice

Farukhabad: A notice has been issued to Congress MP and former cricketer Azharuddin for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by distributing shawls in an election meeting in Farukhabad, officials said on Monday. The notice was issued by a Kayamganj election officer to Azharuddin, who allegedly distributed shawls at an election meeting in Shamshabad on February 11, they said. The notice has been sent by Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Sub...

PM may intervene in Khurshid-EC row

New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to discuss with senior ministers and party leaders the Election Commission complaint against Law Minister Salman Khurshid for his "aggressive" stance on quota for Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Congress insiders said on Monday. Khurshid, who on Sunday spoke to Manmohan Singh on the issue, is also likely to issue a clarification on his stance. Congress sources said the prime minister was likely...

Salman Khurshid mum on apology to EC

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gets set to ask Law Minister Salman Khurshid to explain his stand on his standoff with the Election Commission, CNN-IBN asks some hitherto unanswered questions. Did Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid make the Muslim sub-quota remark because the Congress desperation for Muslim vote has grown in UP? Was it because Khurshid's wife is facing a tough fight in Farroukhabad? Why has the Government stayed silent ...

Khurshid tightlipped on EC's move against him

Lucknow: In the thick of controversy over his remarks on minorities' sub-quota, Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday refused to comment on Election Commission's move seeking "immediate and decisive" intervention of President Pratibha Patil. "I will not talk to anyone.... Do I refuse you (media)?... When I have to say something I say it," Khurshid told reporters when asked about the EC's recommendation on Saturday State Congress leader Abid Hussain...

Cong pulls up Khurshid, to issue clarification

New Delhi: The Congress has reportedly pulled up Law Minister Salman Khurshid for taking on the Election Commission saying it expected its leaders to respect and work within parameters of the Constitution and institutions. Sources told CNN-IBN that the government or the Law Minister was expected to issue a clarification saying that he never meant to show any disrespect to the EC, that he valued the Commission as an institution...

BJP raises pitch, wants government to sack Khurshid

The Election Commission on Saturday sought the 'immediate and decisive' intervention of President after it charged Congress minister Salman Khurshid with 'improper and unlawful' defiance of its orders under which he was censured for promising sub-quota for minorities. ...

Oppn raises pitch, wants PM to sack Khurshid

New Delhi: Hours after Election Commissioner wrote a letter to President Pratibha Patil against Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, the BJP on Sunday said that Khurshid was making fun of the integrity of the Election Commission. "It is an open violation of the code of conduct. It is unfortunate. It shows rebelliousness. Will Sonia Gandhi not speak up now? For the first time ever a minorities minister, who also happens...

Quota row: BJP seeks Khurshid's immediate dismissal

New Delhi: With Election Commission seeking President Pratibha Patil's intervention on Law Minister Salman Khurshid's defiance of poll body's censure of his sub-quota remarks, BJP on Saturday sought his immediate dismissal from the cabinet. "We demand his immediate sacking from the Union Cabinet and ask the Prime Minister to clarify the stand of the government," said BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who had earlier complained to the EC against...

Full text: EC writes to President against Salman Khurshid

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday wrote a letter to the President against Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid for his defiant attitude on the poll code. Here's the full text of the letter: Respected Rashtrapati Ji, The Commission is approaching you with serious dismay and a deep sense of urgency that requires your kind intervention in the midst of the poll process in the state of Uttar Pradesh....

Khurshid defiant, violating code: EC to President

New Delhi: In an unprecedented action, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday wrote to President Pratibha Patil against Union Law Minister Khurshid's alleged defiance of model code of conduct. Khurshid had dared the Election Commission to act against him over his comment on Muslim sub-quota. The Election Commission said that it was shocked that Khurshid chose to be defiant and aggressive. In its letter, SY Quraishi wrote, "The Commission is...

'Will ensure rights of Muslims even if EC hangs me'

Farukkhabad: Sticking to his stand on minorities, Congress leader Salman Khurshid has said he would ensure the rights of backward Muslims even if the Election Commission "hangs" him. Addressing an election rally in Khatakpur locality last night, the Law Minister said that EC had censured him, but even if the "Commission hangs him or does anything else, he would ensure that people of Pasmanda community get their rights". "Can't I...

UP: Voting generally peaceful, turnout 56 pc

Lucknow: Nearly 56 per cent of 1.92 crore voters on Saturday exercised their franchise for 59 seats spread over nine districts in the by-and-large peaceful second phase of the fiercely-fought Uttar Pradesh assembly election. The fate of 1,098 candidates, including two state party chiefs, 31 MLAs and 24 former ministers was sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines in Saturday's exercise. Polling for the second round, in which 59 assembly seats...

UP polls: Salman Khurshid dares EC, BJP reacts

Farrukhabad: Even as the polling for the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections were underway, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid did not refrain from keeping up the campaign for the third phase. In a not-so-veiled attempt, Khurshid took on the Election Commission in his stronghold of Farrukhabad. "I don't have permission to talk about the rights of minorities. I was attacked for promising them their rights. They can...