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Dhoni banned for 2 ODIs, Sehwag named Captain
(Cricket) |
19-12-09
Captain of the Indian cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been suspended for two one-day internationals (ODIs) over tha slow over-rate during the second ODI on Friday at Nagpur in the match that it lost against Sri Lanka.
Also, the entire Indian side will be fined 40% of their match fees for the same offence.
The action was taken in accordance to the Article 2.5.2 of the new ICC Code of Conduct which provides for 2 suspension points for the captain. The same article provides for a fine of 10% match fees for each of the first two overs short and 20% for the every additional short over.
In the new code of conduct 2 suspension points mean a ban in one test match or two ODIs which ever is first.
Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the ban after Dhoni's side was ruled to be three overs short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.
Dhoni will not be a part of the team for the ODIs scheduled for 21 and 24 December at Cuttack and Kolkata respectively.
Meanwhile the Indian Cricket body, BCCI, has said that it will not be contesting the ruling and has named Virendra Sehwag as the skipper of the Indian teams for these two matches. |
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Cabinet approves 50% reservation of women in urban local bodies
(General) |
23-10-09
In a move to improve representation of women in the urban local bodies, the cabinet has approved the proposal for a consitutional amendment bill that will increase the reservation for women candidates from one-third to half. Once it comes to effect, 50% reservation will apply to...- the total number of seats to be filled by direct election,
- offices of Chairpersons and
- seats and offices of the Chairpersons reserved for SCs and STs
Increased representation of women is likely to yield significant benefits in terms of higher priority to women’s issues in critical areas of urban Governance and service delivery such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, education and health etc. It will ensure their increased representation and participation at grassroots levels in various Urban Local Bodies and also mainstream gender concerns in governance and decision making process.
Ministry of Urban Development has been asked to move a Bill for amendment to Article 243 T of the Constitution in the next session of Parliament after approval of the Cabinet. |
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Assembly Election 2009 Results - The Final Verdict
(General) |
22-10-09
The results for all the 438 seats that went to polls for the 2009 State Assemby Election in Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana are available.
The verdict in Arunachal Pradesh has been strongly in favour of the Congress party with a full two-third majority.
Congress has bagged 42 out of the 60 seats in the state. BJP won 3, Mamta Banerjee's Trinamool Congress won 5 seats while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has taken 5 seats. 4 seats went to the People's Party of Arunachal while only 1 independent candidate has made it to the state's assembly.
Maharashtra polls saw the pre-poll partners Indian National Congress (INC) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) taking the lead with 144 (82+62) seats - exactly half - of the 288 seat assembly. A big factor in their victory is said to be the split in the Marathi vote bank between Raj Thackrey's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Balasaheb Thackrey's Shiv Sena. MNS won 13 seats while the BJP - Shiv Sena combine had to satisfy themselves with only 94 seats.
The third state - Haryana has ended up with a hung assembly. Congress has emerged as the leading party here with 40 seats in its kitty. It has fallen short of majority by 6 seats. Its closest rival the INLD has won 31 seats. This state can be expected to be the center of focus for the media during the next few days, until the politicians get their act together and decide who will support whom.
The parties besides the Congress and INLD that scored in the state of Haryana are BJP (4), HJC (6), BSP (1), SAD (1) and 7 others. |
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Pirates 2 ships - Al Khaliq hijacked, Jolly Rosso escapes.
(International) |
22-10-09
Pirates attacked two ships in the Indian Ocean and succeeded in hijacking one while the other managed to get away.
The two ships attacked were...- MV Jolly Rosso, an Italian flagged Ro-Ro Cargo ship
- MV Al Khaliq, a Panama flagged buld carrier.
Jolly Rosso was attacked, 400 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Kenya, by two small skiffs, but she managed to evade the attack and proceed on her voyage.
Al Khaliq the second ship that was attacked was not so fortunate. The vessel was attacked 180 nautical miles west of the Seychelles at almost the same time as Jolly Rosso. In its last contact the ship had reported that two pirates were on board trying to access the accommodation.
The EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft has confirmed that “the hijack of MV Al Khaliq, 6 pirates on board and two attack skiffs in tow. The mother skiff has already been taken on board with a crane”. |
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Poll Results: Congress retains Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh
(General) |
22-10-09
The ruling Congress party is likely to retain power in all the 3 states that went to polls last week. The counting which started today (22-Oct-2009) morning has started coming out with the results.
Maharashtra: Indian National Congress and Nationalist Congress Party have retained power in Maharastra. INC / NCP Alliance is ahead with 82+63 = 145 seats and the BJP / Shiv Sena Alliance is leading in 46+43 = 99 seats
Power in Arunachal Pradesh goes to the Indian National Congress. The party has already won 31 seats and is ahead in 6 out of the 54 seats for which trends are available. Dorjee Khandu the incumbent Chief Minister was personally back in power as an unopposed candidate from Mukto. The Nationalist Congress Party - won 4 + leading 2 (so far) - is emerging as the second largest party in this state.
Haryana is emerging as the state where some policatical jugglery may be required. The seasoned politician of the Congress party should have no hassles in managing the 5 seats that it is goint short of majority. The Congress is emerging as the largest party in the state with 40 seats (won 39 + leading 1) while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) with 31 seats (won 29 + leading 2) will become the second largest party.
Party workers of the Congress party can be seen rejoicing the victory. |
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Election Results: Trend Tables at 11:20 for Arunachal, Haryana and Maharashtra
(General) |
22-10-09
Congress seems to be getting into position where it will be able to form a government in Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh.
In Maharashtra the going to be a little tight, but in Maharashtra it appears the strongest alliance - INC and NCP - could fall short of clear majority by about 10 to 15 seats.
Trend Tables for Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra at 11:20.
Arunachal Pradesh
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
|---|
| Indian National Congress | 11 | 10 | 21 |
| Nationalist Congress Party | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All India Trinamool Congress | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Others | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Haryana
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
|---|
| Indian National Congress | 2 | 40 | 42 |
| Indian National Lok Dal | 0 | 25 | 25 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Haryana Janhit Congress | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Bahujan Samaj Party | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Nationalist Congress Party | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Shiromani Akali Dal | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Others | 0 | 9 | 9 |
Maharashtra
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
| Indian National Congress | 0 | 72 | 72 |
| Nationalist Congress Party | 1 | 55 | 55 |
| Shiv Sena | 0 | 48 | 48 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 0 | 46 | 46 |
| Samajwadi Party | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Others | 0 | 50 | 50 | |
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Haryana 2009: Congress may get simple majority - 10:44am
(General) |
22-10-09
Congress is headed towards a simple majority in Harayana. Trends at 10:44, are available for 85 seats in the state out of which Congress is ahead in 39 seats.
Among the key candidates in this state, Bhupinder Hooda of Congress is leading from Kiloi. INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala is trailing from Uchana Kalan while Ajay Singh Chautala is leading from the Dabwali seat.
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
|---|
| Indian National Congress | 0 | 39 | 39 |
| Indian National Lok Dal | 0 | 24 | 24 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Others | 0 | 17 | 17 |
Although, the biggest gainer in the state of Haryana is the Indian National Lok Dal, it seems that it will still not be able to stop the Congress from forming government in the state. INLD is ahead by 18 seats compared to the the last time. |
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10:14am - Congress leading 16 seats in Arunachal Pradesh, ahead in Harayana and Maharashtra
(General) |
22-10-09
According to figures available from the Election Commission of India at 10:14, Congress is leading in 9 and has won 7 seats.
One candidate Raising Perme of the Nationalist Congress Party from Mariyang-Geku has just come up into the lead. Phurpa Tsering of the People's Party of Arunachal from Dirang is the other non-Congress candidate in the lead.
Trends are available for 18 out of 60 seats for the assembly in the state.
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
|---|
| Indian National Congress | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| Nationalist Congress Party | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Others | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The Indian National Congress (INC) and its allies are clearly ahead in the other two State Assemblies also that had gone to polls this month.
INC is leading 30 seats out of the 76 for which lead are available in Haryana.
In Maharashtra, too INC along with its NCP poll partner is leading in 116 seats out of 255 for which the trends are available. |
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Maharashtra 9:35am - INC+NCP ahead in 98, BJP+Shiv Sena in 68
(General) |
22-10-09
According to figures available from the Election Commission of India at 9:35, below is the party-wise status of Maharashtra.
Trends are available for 207 out of 288 seats for the assembly in the state. The BJP Shiv Sena combine have 35+33 seats in their favour while the INC (Congress) and the NCP alliance are leading in 54+43 seats.
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
|---|
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 0 | 35 | 35 |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Indian National Congress | 0 | 54 | 54 |
| Nationalist Congress Party | 0 | 43 | 43 |
| Samajwadi Party | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Shivsena | 0 | 33 | 33 |
| Others | 0 | 39 | 39 |
The rate at which trends are coming in, we should soon start seeing the results starting to come in. |
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Election Results: Congress leading in all three states at 9 am
(General) |
22-10-09
Congress is leading all the three states that went to polls last week in early trends at 9 am.
Counting has begun in the three states - Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh - where polling was conducted for the state assemblies and early trends have started pouring in.
In Arunachal Pradesh, information is available for 8 seats and all of them are in the favour of the Congress party. The party have already won 3 seats and are leading in 5 others.
In Haryana Congress is leading in 14 out of the 30 seats for which trends have been received. Here BJP is ahead in 3 seats which the INLD is ahead in 6.
Most of the reporting so far received is for Maharashtra where trends are available for more 166 seats out of 288. The Congress - NCP alliance here is leading in 84 seats which the BJP - Shiv Sena alliance is ahead in 56 seats. Raj Thakeray's MNS is showing a lead in 7 seats |
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