Yechury meets Sonia on new president

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and discussed the possible candidates for the next President.
Informal discussions have been going on between the UPA leaders and the Left partners for the past two weeks during which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has held talks with CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, his CPI counterpart A B Bardhan and Forward Bloc's Debabrata Biswas, sources said.
Now with the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections over and the composition of the electoral college for the Presidential poll clearer, the UPA-Left combine with support from secular outfits including the BSP, has a clear edge over the rival NDA, they said.
The Left parties would be meeting in the Capital on May 16 to decide their strategy for the Presidential poll.
Talking to reporters after releasing special issues of CPI(M) organs, 'People's Democracy' and 'Lok Lahar', Yechury maintained that his party would work towards having a candidate who would have "impeccable secular credentials, who would uphold the tenets of the Constitution and on whose name the maximum support can be garnered".
Yechury parried questions on names of some Congress leaders taking rounds.
"We are not giving any proposal on any individual, nor have we received any names. We want to support a secular person on whose name maximum support of secular parties can be garnered," the CPI(M) leader said.
-
Delhi: Govt agencies start turning in applications to sell liquor across Capital
The four Delhi government agencies running the liquor stores are Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi Consumer’s Cooperative Wholesale Store, and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd.
-
Delhi: LG, state govt spar as row over excise losses rumbles on
According to the LG office, the government in 2015 rejected an excise department proposal to reduce the number of dry days from 23 to three days in a year in line with nearby states which observed only three dry days in a year.
-
After 25 years, Haryana government rejuvenates Rakshi river
Haryana government's efforts to rejuvenate dried-up rivers bore fruit with the rejuvenation of the Rakshi river after almost 25 years. The recuperation of the 32-km-long stretch of the river has brought a smile to thousands of farmers of 50 villages of Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Karnal districts as the flow of water will help recharge the groundwater in these villages.
-
Rain pushes Delhi's mercury below 30°C; showers may ease today, says Met
While Safdarjung recorded only 2.7mm of rain through the day, moderate rainfall was recorded in south-west Delhi, with Palam receiving 33.3mm of rainfall till 5.30 pm, followed by 22.0mm at Ayanagar.
-
NITI Aayog meet: Haryana encouraging farmers to switch to natural farming, says Khattar
Urging the Union government to promote natural farming in the country, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday informed the NITI Aayog that the Haryana government has been taking steps to encourage farmers to switch from chemical farming to natural farming. The chief minister said that the state government is completely focused on promoting natural farming in the state and that farmers should also be encouraged for the same.