Manipur elections: TMC to raise economic blockade issue in Parliament

Manipur Elections 2017 - The Trinamool Congress on Saturday said it would raise in Parliament the issue of the ongoing economic blockade in Manipur and already urged the Election Commission to take action to lift the blockade.

"We would raise the issue of economic blockade in Parliament. We are against any kind of blockade or shutdown. Recently I had met Election Commission and told them that they were required to act in order to lift the blockade as the model code of conduct is in force in the state," Roy told PTI.

Roy, who is presently in Imphal to campaign for TMC candidates contesting in Manipur elections, said that TMC would play a decisive role after the polls as "no party will be able to get a majority on its own."

"We are in a position to win at least seven to eight seats. We won seven seats in 2012 Manipur Elections. And in the post-poll scenario we'll play a decisive factor as no party will be able to get a majority on its own," Roy said.

TMC this time is fighting for 24 seats. Last time with seven seats TMC was the main opposition party in the state. Later, however, all the seven MLAs switched their loyalty to either Congress or BJP.(Read More)

Opposition demands Budget 2017 be tabled after March 11

Union Budget 2017 - Opposition parties have demanded that presentation of the General Budget 2017 be postponed to after March 11, the date of counting of votes for the five states going to the polls. They have slammed it as a short term political move with an eye on the assembly polls to enable the Narendra Modi government to announce sops before the elections while bypassing the Election Commission's (EC) model code of conduct.

The Election Commission on Wednesday announced poll dates for Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Polls in Goa and Punjab will be held in a single phase on February 4, while in Uttarakhand on February 15. Manipur will have a two-phase election with polling on March 4 and 8. Uttar Pradesh will have a seven phase polling from February 11 to March 8. The counting of votes is on Saturday, March 11. The process will be completed before Holi, which this year falls on March 13.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided to advance the first phase of the Budget session of Parliament from January 31 to February 9, instead of last week of February. The General Budget will be presented on February 1, instead of the usual last working day of February. (Read More)

Assembly elections announced. Voting for 5 states begins Feb 4

Breaking News - Uttar Pradesh will go to polls  in seven phases on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and March 4 and 8 , said Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Wednesday.

Assembly elections Voting in Goa and Punjab will be held on February 4. Uttarakhand will go to polls on February 15.

Polling in Manipur will be in two phases. The first phase with 38 constituencies will go to polls on March 4 and the second phase with 22 constituencies on March 8.

The counting for all five assemblies will take place on March 11.

The model of conduct comes into effect immediately.

The terms of the legislative assembly in Uttar Pradesh is going to end on May 27, Uttarakhand is due to expire on March 26 while that of Goa, Manipur and Punjab expires on March 18.

160 million voters will exercise their franchise in polling that will be held in 690 Assembly consitutencies. 1.85 lakh polling stations will be set up with some of them being modern polling station as well.(Read More)