Nepotism

Families corner one-third of Cong tickets in Goa

Panaji: Five political families from Goa have cornered nearly one-third of Congress tickets for the March 3 assembly elections. And there's more to come. Two kins of Goa's cabinet ministers are likely to figure in Congress alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) ticket list expected to be released later this week.

Three Congress nominations have been given to the Alemao clan, namely Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao (Navelim), his brother and Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao (Cuncolim) and Churchill's daughter, a political debutante Valanka (Benaulim).

Sources in the NCP say Joaquim Alemao's son Yuri, also making his electoral debut, is the top contender for the party ticket to the Sanguem constituency. Tainted minister Atanasio Monserrate and his wife Jennifer have been granted the slips of paper to contest from St Cruz and Taleigaon constituencies respectively.

Former chief minister Pratapsing Rane and his son Vishwajeet will contest elections on the party ticket from Poriem and Valpoi constituencies respectively, while home minister Ravi Naik and his son Ritesh will contest from Ponda and Marcaim. Ravi's son Roy is also tipped to get the Mayem assembly seat from the NCP....more    

Congress makes Goa polls a family matter

Panaji: Four political families in Goa are seeking as many as 10 assembly tickets from the Congress for the March 3 polls, prompting rivals to hurl accusations of nepotism inspired by the party's national leadership. The party's Goa unit president Subhash Shirodkar refused to take a call on the 'one family one ticket' philosophy, which was the bedrock of its ticket-giving policy in the 2007 assembly elections. Shirodkar said the...  

RTI exposes nepotism in Gujarat courts

Ahmedabad: An RTI query has revealed major irregularities in the appointment of clerical staff in a district court in Gujarat, with most of them being relatives of judges. Four years after 80 vacancies for stenographers, clerks and peons were filled up, questions are being raised over the transparency in which these appointments were made. Response to an application filed by RTI activist Janki Prasad Shah revealed that 32 of the...  

BJD has only one power centre: Naveen

Bhubaneshwar: Breaking his silence on allegation of second power centre in ruling BJD raised by a disgruntled party leader, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday refuted the charge saying there is no other power centre and all decisions are taken by him. "There is no other power centre," BJD supremo Patnaik said, a day after party leader Damodar Rout raised for the second time in a week the issue...  

Baba Ramdev raises doubts on Lokpal Bill panel

Baba Ramdev expressed doubts about former law minister Shanti Bhushan and his advocate son Prashant Bhushan being members of the Joint Drafting Committee for the Lokpal Bill. ...

Baba Ramdev expresses doubts on Lokpal panel

New Delhi: Baba Ramdev has expressed doubts about former law minister Shanti Bhushan and his advocate son Prashant Bhushan being members of the Joint Drafting Committee for the Lokpal Bill. He alleged nepotism in the Lokpal Bill panel. Responding to Ramdev's allegations, social activist Anna Hazare defended the the Lokpal Bill panel. He said, "Baba Ramdev seems to have had a misunderstanding. Its a family matter. We will sort it...  

France's first lady Bruni 'accused of nepotism'

Her son's godfather was recently given a top government job. ...  

No work no pay: Irate Speaker warns MPs

Abu Dhabi: Coach Andy Flower says England's youthful side have gained vital experience against Pakistan, which will help them in their bid to defend their World Twenty20 title later this year. England levelled the three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan with a comfortable 38-run win in the second match in Dubai on Saturday, setting up an intriguing final game on Monday. And Flower believes the experience on the sub-continent-like pitches will...  

White House to quickly replace Wolfowitz

Outgoing World Bank Prez Wolfowitz’s departure ends a potential political headache for President Bush, who had named him to the post. ...  

Wolfowitz out as World Bank chief

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz will resign at the end of June, he and the bank said. ...  

WB gives more time in Wolfowitz probe

The World Bank's board of member countries said it would give bank President Paul Wolfowitz more time to respond to findings. ...