Putting all speculation to rest, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced state PWD and transport minister Subrata Bakshi as the party candidate for Kolkata South Lok Sabha bypoll. Ms Banerjee made this announcement at Netaji Indoor Stadium where she was again re-elected as the all-India chairperson of the Trinamul Congress. “Subrata Bakshi had given up his Bhowanipore Assembly seat for me and in return, I am giving him my Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency,” she said. On Tuesday, the Election Commission had announced that the bypoll to the Kolkata South parliamentary constituency will be held on November 30.
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Hearing on 2G scam accused bail today
age correspondent
New Delhi, Nov. 2
Whether or not DMK MP Kanimozhi and seven other accused in the 2G case will be set free on bail will be decided on Thursday even as the CBI’s statement last week had risen their hope of gaining freedom. Special CBI judge O.P. Saini had on September 24 reserved the order on bail pleas of Kanimozhi, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, former minister A. Raja’s ex-private secretary R.K. Chandolia, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetables heads Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal and Bollywood producer Karim Morani.
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Advani skirts illegal mining issue in Goa
age Correspondent
Panji, Nov. 2
Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani completed his Goa leg of the Janchetna Yatra on Wednesday. During a late-night meeting at Mapusa town in North Goa on Tuesday and a press briefing on Wednesday morning, Mr Advani spoke on a range of issues, including the dynasty rule in the Centre, the chances of BJP in Goa, the issue of black money etc. He, however, could not be drawn into talking about the burning issue of illegal mining that’s plaguing Goa.
When asked about the illegal mining, Mr Advani only said illegal mining in Goa should be stopped. He, however, said Opposition Leader in the Assembly, BJP’s Mr Manohar Parrikar should not have been dropped as head of the PAC.
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Goerge’s women ward remark draws NCw ire
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Nov. 2
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought action against Kerala government chief whip P.C. George for his lewd comment against a woman watch and ward of the state Assembly.
“The state chief minister should take action against the chief whip for making such a comment and the chief whip must apologise publicly,” commission’s chairperson Mamta Sharma told this newspaper on Wednesday. “The chief whip’s comment was vulgar and derogatory to a woman’s dignity,” Ms Sharma said, referring to Mr George’s comments in public that he had made while describing the alleged manhandling of the guard by CPI(M) MLA T.V. Rajesh during the state Assembly proceedings.