Standing in his front row seat, RJD MP Lalu Prasad Yadav who often manages to grab attention thanks to his inimitable “style”, managed to do so once again on Tuesday. His speech generated some moments of amusement too for the other MPs not only because of its content but also the verbal duel he was engaged in with another MP from Bihar, Ranjan Prasad Yadav of the JD(U) who asked him who was responsible for Bihar’s lack of progress.

Her eyes clearly on the minority vote-bank for the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, Trinamul Congress leader and Union railways minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the sentiments of minorities should be kept in mind where the Women’s Reservation Bill is concerned. Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Ms

A special mention on the International Women’s Day to mark the occasion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday turned out to be a full fledged debate over Women Reservation Bill with Speaker Meira Kumar assuring the House that she would call a meeting of leaders of all the political parties to thrash out differences on the issue.

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari on Tuesday joined members in expressing concern that women still faced inequality and marginalisation in education, job opportunities and health. The occasion also witnessed Railway minister Mamata Banerjee announcing that she will

BJP parliamentary party chairman L.K. Advani on Tuesday supported the “aggressive” stand taken by Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent statement in Jammu on the issue of appointment of Mr Thomas as the CVC.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday accepted “full responsibility” of the “error of judgment” in appointing P.J. Thomas as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and said shortlisting of names (including that of Mr Thomas) was done by minister of state (MoS) in the department of personnel and training(DoPT). Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavhan was the MoS, DoPT at the time of Mr Thomas’ selection by the committee headed by the Prime Minister and comprising the home minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The Election Commission of India has made furnishing of details about income-tax returns, apart from providing information about inherited property, mandatory. This has been communicated to all the recognised political parties and chief electoral officers of all states and Union Territories by the ECI in a letter.
The IT returns of spouses and other dependants also need to be provided under the new direction.

The inquiry report into the alleged violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) against West Bengal finance minister Asim Dasgupta may land him in trouble.
It has been learnt that the cryptic observation of state chief secretary Samar Ghosh on the file says: “His intention was not good and he left the office at around 8.45 pm only after he was told to do so.”

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday said that the Trinamul Congress made enormous electoral gains in the last few elections cashing in on the mistakes and misdeeds of a section of ruling CPI(M) leaders and cadres. “How did the Trinamul Congress get so much vote in the last Lok Sabha and municipality elections? Actually, people were alienated by the behaviour and attitude of some of our partymen,” he said.

The first poll forecast in Kerala is out, indicating that the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front will end the five-year left Democratic Front reign and come to power, notching 77 to 87 seats in the 140-seat Assembly.