West Bengal: TMC wins 70 out of 91 civic bodies across the state
The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday won 114 out of the 144 wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The party also won 70 out of the 91 other civic bodies across the rest of the state, which had gone to the polls on Saturday. “Opposition parties took a dig at us by claiming that our party engaged in rigging, but I want to tell them that the polls were free and fair,” said state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the results were declared. While the Left Front won 14 wards in Kolkata and six municipal boards across the rest of the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party won seven seats in the KMC and no municipal body. Meanwhile, the Congress won five seats in Kolkata and five municipal bodies. The civic polls have been viewed as a barometer of the upcoming 2016 assembly elections in the state.
Delhi: State Law Minister denies fake degree charge
Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar on Tuesday denied charges that he had forged his law degree from the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University in Bihar, saying that the allegations were an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to malign the Aam Aadmi Party’s image. Tomar’s denial came after the University submitted an affidavit to the Delhi High Court on Monday stating that the AAP MLA’s provisional certificate had been forged. It added that it did not exist in the institution’s records. Tomar said that he would file his response with the court on August 20. The opposition called for Tomar’s resignation and asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take moral responsibility for the matter.
Uttar Pradesh: 9 killed in strong winds, heavy rains
At least nine people were killed as strong winds and heavy rains lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Bahraich, Jhansi and other sections of the state faced the brunt of the unusual weather. While four people were killed due to wall collapses in the Etah and Pratapgarh districts, three others were killed after being struck by lightning in Lucknow and Amethi. State Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 7 lakh for the families of those killed.
Maharashtra: Supreme Court stays motion against De
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a privilege motion moved against author Shobhaa De by the Maharashtra Assembly for her tweets about the state government’s decision to make the screening of Marathi films mandatory during prime time at multiplexes in the state. The apex court also asked the Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat to file a reply in eight weeks explaining the need for action against De.
Kerala: Excise minister may face probe
Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday received legal opinion about launching an investigation against Excise Minister K Babu for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10 crore from bar owners. However, the opinion submitted by Additional Director of Prosecution (Vigilance) G Saseendran stated that there was no need for a separate investigation as a probe was already being conducted against state Finance Minister KM Mani. Officials from the Bureau said that its director would soon take a final decision on the matter. Babu told reporters that Bar Working Association President Biju Ramesh was following “blackmail tactics” in an attempt to malign his image. The department launched a probe against Mani in December after Ramesh alleged that Mani had taken a bribe of Rs 1 crore.
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The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday won 114 out of the 144 wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The party also won 70 out of the 91 other civic bodies across the rest of the state, which had gone to the polls on Saturday. “Opposition parties took a dig at us by claiming that our party engaged in rigging, but I want to tell them that the polls were free and fair,” said state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the results were declared. While the Left Front won 14 wards in Kolkata and six municipal boards across the rest of the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party won seven seats in the KMC and no municipal body. Meanwhile, the Congress won five seats in Kolkata and five municipal bodies. The civic polls have been viewed as a barometer of the upcoming 2016 assembly elections in the state.
Delhi: State Law Minister denies fake degree charge
Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar on Tuesday denied charges that he had forged his law degree from the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University in Bihar, saying that the allegations were an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to malign the Aam Aadmi Party’s image. Tomar’s denial came after the University submitted an affidavit to the Delhi High Court on Monday stating that the AAP MLA’s provisional certificate had been forged. It added that it did not exist in the institution’s records. Tomar said that he would file his response with the court on August 20. The opposition called for Tomar’s resignation and asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take moral responsibility for the matter.
Uttar Pradesh: 9 killed in strong winds, heavy rains
At least nine people were killed as strong winds and heavy rains lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Bahraich, Jhansi and other sections of the state faced the brunt of the unusual weather. While four people were killed due to wall collapses in the Etah and Pratapgarh districts, three others were killed after being struck by lightning in Lucknow and Amethi. State Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 7 lakh for the families of those killed.
Maharashtra: Supreme Court stays motion against De
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a privilege motion moved against author Shobhaa De by the Maharashtra Assembly for her tweets about the state government’s decision to make the screening of Marathi films mandatory during prime time at multiplexes in the state. The apex court also asked the Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat to file a reply in eight weeks explaining the need for action against De.
Kerala: Excise minister may face probe
Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday received legal opinion about launching an investigation against Excise Minister K Babu for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10 crore from bar owners. However, the opinion submitted by Additional Director of Prosecution (Vigilance) G Saseendran stated that there was no need for a separate investigation as a probe was already being conducted against state Finance Minister KM Mani. Officials from the Bureau said that its director would soon take a final decision on the matter. Babu told reporters that Bar Working Association President Biju Ramesh was following “blackmail tactics” in an attempt to malign his image. The department launched a probe against Mani in December after Ramesh alleged that Mani had taken a bribe of Rs 1 crore.
