Congress Victory In Delhi and Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 8 (IANS) Victory celebrations by the Congress erupted in Mizoram and Delhi on Monday, with the opposition

Victory celebration in delhi

party all set to form the next government and the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) literally routed as votes cast to elect the 40-member state legislature were counted.According to latest trends and results available, the Congress won 18 seats and was leading in four seats, while the MNF and the other major regional conglomeration United Democratic Alliance (UDA) failed to make an impact in the vote held Tuesday.

The MNF was leading by a slender majority in just three seats when reports last came in. In a major upset, Chief Minister Zoramthanga and leader of the MNF lost the North Champai seat to his Congress rival.

“This is a verdict for change and a big snub to the 10-year-old misrule and corruption of the MNF government,” Lalthanhawla, the Congress chief ministerial candidate, told IANS.

“We are committed to providing a stable government with our focus on development and well being of the people,” he added.

Lalthanhawla, a former three-time chief minister, won both the seats he contested. He beat F. Lalthanzuala of the MNF by 96 votes to bag the South Tipui seat and got the Serchhip assembly seat by 952 votes.

P.C. Lalthanliana of the Congress won the Lunglei North seat, defeating his nearest MNF rival by 705 votes, while Congress candidate R.L. Pianmawia won the Tuivawl seat. He defeated his MNF rival by 473 votes.

Congress candidate R. Lalzirliana won the Tawi seat defeating his nearest MNF candidate by 1,211 votes. In the Turial seat, Hminhdailova Khiangte of the Congress party defeated his MNF rival by 1,022 votes.

Congress candidate H. Liansailova won the Aizawl North seat, defeating his MNF rival by 266 votes. Nihar Kanti Chakma of the Congress party defeated his nearest MNF rival in the West Tuipui seat by 1,540 votes, while S. Hiato of the same party won the Saiha seat, beating his MNF rival. Congress candidate L. Ralte won the Hachhek seat, defeating his MNF rival.

The MNF has been in power in Mizoram for the last 10 years. In the last assembly elections held in 2003, it secured 21 seats, while the Congress bagged 12 and seven went to other smaller parties.

Live Poll Result Out

NEW DELHI:

Counting has begun for five states- Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Results of these five Assembly polls will be more crucial than any set of election outcomes in recent years as they could well define the battlefield issues for the next general elections.

State elections are dominated by local or regional factors. Polls to Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram will not end up breaking the mould. But events have added a dimension that can defy political calculations.

The meltdown of Lehman Bros in US in mid-September changed much of the world. The crisis hit Indian shores at a time when inflation was still high. Just as the government scrambled in the face of the financial crisis, the mind-numbing horror of the jihadi strikes on Mumbai swept everything away. India has hardly ever felt so vulnerable and helpless as it mourns its dead. The 60 hours of terror may or may not be India's 9/11, but it has impacted the mass mind, generating for the first time since the Kargil war, something like a national mood in urban areas.

The mood is angry, sullen, demanding, scared. As a wounded aspirant to superpower status confronts an old enemy and hunts for answers, the assembly results will be seen as a pointer of how the country is thinking. The Mumbai attack happened just a day ahead of Madhya Pradesh elections. Three days later, when Delhi voters lined up at polling booths, guns in Mumbai had not yet fallen silent. Rajasthan voted eight days later.

A mixed result will keep the political suspense in place. It might be a fitting outcome as BJP is yet to deliver a coherent message on what it offers given its slip-ups like the short-sighted defense of the Malegaon-accused. It could be imprudent to read even a BJP sweep as a final verdict as taut emotions will subside unless there are more terror attacks. But it will certainly be read as a validation of its `soft-on-terror' charge against the government, encouraging the party to pile on the pressure at a time when people are having to battle another kind of insecurity as well -- strong fear of decline resulting from the global meltdown.

Success for BJP may see the "secular" camp, currently quite disunited; mend fences to keep saffron forces at bay. Yet, Left's differences with the Manmohan Singh government run deep. A poor show will increase centrifugal forces in UPA as some perpetual weather wanes take fresh flight. It will become increasingly evident that prospects of Congress retaining power are uncertain.

The message for BJP is complex. It may benefit from a "Mumbai surge" but general elections are still four months away. The main Opposition will have to sustain gains of a random event. Before the Mumbai attacks, its campaign in Delhi appeared less than convincing. It also has to see how it can gain more allies, work to mend a bleeding sore in UP which elects 80 Lok Sabha MPs, and guard against the type of premature celebrations because of which, taken in by its sweep in the December 2003 state polls, ended up snatching defeat from the jaws of a highly probable win.

While the bi-polar trend in politics can be strengthened by either Congress or BJP emerging clear winner, the role of regional outfits like Samajwadi Party or Bahujan Samaj Party cannot be under-estimated. BSP, in particular, is the party to watch in all four north Indian states.

Congress continues to have a weak presence in most states which account for a large number of Lok Sabha seats. BJP has to cover more ground and it still needs to set right its internal equilibrium. Success will only spur ambitious leaders despite L K Advani being the prime ministerial nominee.

This is absolutely crunch time for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. How he moves in the next few weeks will decide how his government will go down in history. He has paid a high price for neglecting counter-terrorism and for his belief in a shared future for India and Pakistan. The test is as severe for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Some delayed decisions like changing the Maharashtra leadership have come home to roost. Irrespective of results, there is no room for half-measures now.

Elections Result of Delhi

Terrorist Planned Bomb Blast In Nehru Place

New Delhi, Dec 05: The guests and the staff of InterContinental Hotel re-lived the tension and scare of the Mumbai terror attack when Delhi police conducted massive search operations inside the hotel on Friday morning.

However, police denied any reports of bomb being planted or any possible terror attack. Police said it is just a routine check up.

Further details are awaited.

Only recently, last week two five star hotels namely Taj Mahal and Oberoi-Trident were attacked along with CST station in Mumbai by the terrorists, which claimed around 200 lives and leaving more than 300 injured.

Massive search operations began after a bomb scare was reported from Delhi's hotel intercontinental,

Further details are awaited.

Mumbai March to Gateway of India

Mumbai shows the courage to express the anger and grief in a very unique way. Mumbai people show the color of sprit in black and white which is also the color of the dress of the junta. Showing solidarity with strength on Mumbai Attack, people of all age group marches towards the historical monument in huge numbers. Every mind is filled with the idea of solidarity, trying to show their strength to those terrorists that India is not a coward country, and can rise after any attack. We don’t fear anyone and will continue doing it.

The march follows the major routes of Mumbai and will be there at Gateway of India.

Marching in silence but with a pride on the face is the current status of young India who fears no one, terrorism-not at all.

Mumbai Attacks Could Bear Stamp of Al Qaeda

Dec. 3: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice waves to media as she arrives at Palam technical airport in New Delhi, India.

Dec. 3: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice waves to media as she arrives at Palam technical airport in New Delhi, India.

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NEW DELHI — The Bush administration dispatched its senior diplomat and military officer to India and Pakistan on Wednesday in a direct appeal to the historic rivals to cooperate following terrorist attacks in India that may have been the work of Pakistani militants.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was too early to say who was responsible for the attack, but: "Whether there is a direct Al Qaeda hand or not, this is clearly the kind of terror in which Al Qaeda participates," she said during a press conference.

Pakistan's president, meanwhile, said any of the 20 suspects wanted by India would be tried in Pakistan if there is evidence of wrongdoing.

Rice, America's top diplomat, was to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top officials. U.S. officials have pointed the finger at Pakistani-based groups in the attacks and have pressured Islamabad to cooperate in the investigation.

Rice delivered U.S. condolences in the Indian capital, but her message at the start of an emergency tour was directed largely at Pakistan.

"This is a time when cooperation of all parties who have any information is really required," Rice said.

The United States is trying to ease tensions in the region after a three-day terrorist attack killed 171 people in India's financial capital.

Indian and U.S. officials have pointed the finger at Pakistani-based groups in the attacks. Rice said the operation is similar to the type of terrorism carried out by al-Qaida but she said she would not leap to any conclusions about who is to blame.

Speaking to reporters before meetings with Indian officials, Rice suggested that the United States is especially alarmed by the careful targeting and efficiency displayed in the Mumbai attacks.

"This is a different situation," Rice said.

"I have said that Pakistan needs to act with resolve and urgency and cooperate fully and transparently. That message has been delivered and will be delivered to Pakistan," Rice said.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was in Pakistan on Wednesday.

In Washington a Mullen spokesman said the attacks reflect a growing sophistication among extremist groups. The United States is encouraging a regional approach to security concerns.

U.S. and British citizens were the targets of the violent siege in Mumbai last week, although most of those killed in India's financial capital were from India, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.

Six Americans died.

The same group that carried out last week's attack is believed to be behind the 2006 Mumbai train bombings that killed more than 200, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell said Tuesday during a speech at Harvard University.

McConnell did not identify the group by name. However, the Indian government has attributed the 2006 attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani terrorist group based in Kashmir, and the Students Islamic Movement of India.

McConnell is the first U.S. official to publicly identify Lashkar as the likely perpetrator. Earlier Tuesday, a senior State Department official told reporters only that evidence suggests that the brutal, prolonged attack had some roots in Pakistan. Privately, U.S. and foreign counterterrorism officials fingered Lashkar last week.