Ahmed Wilcox

 As the buzz about allies seeking to secure a higher share of berths and high-profile portfolios in Modi 3.0 govt persisted on Saturday, there were indications of the BJP leadership asking NDA partners to 'pare down' their demands to 'reasonable limits' while assuring that unfulfilled desires may be given due consideration at an appropriate time later. Sources said none of the crucial ministries, including the four represented on the Cabinet committee on security - home, defence, finance and external affairs - are on the table. BJP is also likely to keep education, parliamentary affairs, culture and I&B, while ensuring that the Speaker is from its own ranks. Allies may have representation of 12-15 ministers and talks are also under way with Shiromani Akali Dal. TDP (16 MPs) and JD-U (12) have been asked to settle for a Cabinet berth and a junior minister slot. Shiv Sena (7) and LJP (5) have each been offered a Cabinet berth. RLD (2 MPs) chief Jayant Chaudhary is exp...

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut was slapped by a CISF constable at the Chandigarh airport on Thursday. Kangana was travelling to Delhi for a meeting a day after her Lok Sabha elections 2024 win from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Several celebrities, such as Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher, condemned the attack on Kangana. Now, others including, Alia Bhatt have also shown their support for Kangana. Also read: Kangana Ranaut reacts to people supporting CISF constable who slapped her Kangana Ranaut, who has often attacked Alia Bhatt in public, has found support in the actor after the slap incident. Kangana Ranaut, who has often attacked Alia Bhatt in public, has found support in the actor after the slap incident. Celebs react to post on Kangana slap incident On Sunday, journalist Faye D’Souza shared a post on Instagram condemning the slap incident. The post read, “With reference to the incident of MP Kangana Ranaut being slapped at an airport, violence can never be the answer. Especially not in...

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take oath today, as too will members of his new cabinet, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi. He will be the first three-term Prime Minister since Congress stalwart Jawaharlal Nehru. The decisions on the new cabinet were taken after a marathon 11-hour meeting at the Prime Minister's residence yesterday. A three-layered security has been put in place at Rashtrapati Bhawan where he will be administered oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu. Officials said commandos from Delhi Police's SWAT and NSG have been deployed around the venue and other strategic locations as Delhi remains on high alert for the event. Police have declared the national capital a no-fly zone, banning the use of aerial platforms like drones, para gliders, remotely piloted aircraft and hot air balloons for the next couple of days. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to witness the presence of leaders from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Ne...

  In November last year, with six months left to go for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu appeared at a rally in Kurnool, where he made an emotional appeal to the people. “If you send me (and my party) to the Assembly, only then will Andhra Pradesh see development. Else, this will be my last election,” he said. Many saw in the appeal, which came at the end of a tumultuous five years for Naidu and his party, the desperation of a man who was down and out and at 73, possibly staring at the end of his political career. Naidu had been trounced by the Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the previous elections — the TDP had gone down to 23 seats in the Assembly and three in the Lok Sabha — and just when it seemed he was clawing his way back, Naidu was arrested in the AP Skill Development case. chandrababu naidu After the NCP and other opposition parties leaders press conference,  Chandraba...