India

Was Election 2009 rigged? The Election Commission has now officially taken up the investigation of charges of rigging and fraud through the Electronic Voting Machines. Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla [ Images ] is sitting over a major scandal of a possible massive rigging of elections by manipulation of software of the Electronic Voting Machines. [...]

Manmohan Singh begins 2nd term as PM May 22, 2009, 3:57 pm Will fix economy Click here to watch the live coverage! PM Manmohan Singh on Friday assumed office for a second consecutive term and said that his govt’s focus will be on restoring the economy and fostering growth. “Our first priority is to restore [...]

India to swear in 19 cabinet members Fri, May 22 03:24 PM (L-R) Congress party leaders A. K. Antony, Pranab Mukherjee, party chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister-elect… Congress party leaders A. K. Antony, Pranab Mukherjee, party chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister-elect Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be sworn in at the head of a new [...]

Rahul Gandhi will NOT join cabinet May 22, 2009, 3:58 pm According to PM PM Manmohan Singh on Friday cleared that Rahul Gandhi is not keen on joining his government. “Rahul Gandhi has so far not agreed to join government, but I have not given up hope,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said shortly after the [...]

CHIRANJEEVI Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president Chiranjeevi addresses a meeting in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. A star of nearly 150 films, Chiranjeevi is the latest in the long tradition of film star-turned-politicians from southern India. The 53-year-old star of Tollywood – the Telugu language film industry of Andhra Pradesh – has launched a [...]

NITISH KUMAR Nitish Kumar Chief minister of Bihar and former minister of transport and agriculture. Heads an alliance of the Janata Dal United party and the BJP, which holds a clear majority in the state. His victory in November 2005 ended 15 years of rule by the charismatic Laloo Prasad Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya [...]

CHANDRABABU NAIDU Chandrababu Naidu President of the Telegu Desam Party (TDP), a key BJP ally, since 1995. Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004. Seen as one of India’s most dynamic politicians, who helped turn the state capital, Hyderabad, into an information-technology hub. Believes in what he calls “electronic governance” to cut through [...]

JAYALALITHA AIADMK leader Jayaram Jayalalitha Chennai, India, Leader of Tamil Nadu state’s opposition AIADMK party, and potential kingmaker. Former ally of BJP, but could switch her backing to Congress. Has also shown support for a nascent “third front” of regional and left-wing parties challenging the two main coalitions. An ex-actress, she was brought into politics [...]

SHARAD PAWAR ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar (R) during the ICC Cricket World Cup Organising Committee meeting in New Delhi on February 17, 2009. One of India’s most powerful politicians, an on-off ally of Congress. Head of the Maharashtra-based Nationalist Congress Party, known to have long harboured national ambitions. Head of the Indian cricket board, a [...]

MAYAWATI Leader to millions of India’s low-caste Dalits, or “untouchables” as they used to be known. Became India’s first Dalit chief minister when elected at head of a coalition with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh state in 2007. Could now emerge at the head of a “third front” in India if both main coalitions fail [...]