JP Nadda, Jai Ram Thakur frontrunners in BJP race for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister

 Union Health Minister JP Nadda and former state minister Jai Ram Thakur are the frontrunners for the BJP's Chief Ministerial pick for Himachal Pradesh, sources have said. The search for a CM face for the hill state after the party's CM candidate PK Dhumal lost in Sujanpur, and its state president Satpal Singh Satti lost in Una.

The BJP parliamentary board met on Monday evening to decide on who would lead its government in Himachal Pradesh. The party had displaced the ruling Congress government, winning 44 of the 68 seats, which is a shade short of an absolute majority.

Jai Ram Thakur won from the Seraj constituency in Mandi District, beating the Congress candidate by a margin of about 11,000 votes. He had served as a minister for rural development and panchayati raj in the previous BJP government in Himachal Pradesh.

Jagat Prakash Nadda has been part of the Narendra Modi Cabinet since 2014, and is considered to enjoy the trust of PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS: Gujarat | Himachal Pradesh

The BJP was faced with a similar question over the chief ministership after its close victory in Goa in March 2017. Its incumbent Chief Minister and CM hopeful Laxmikant Parsekar had lost his reelection bid. Former Goa CM Manohar Parrkiar, who was Union Defence Minister at the time, had returned to Goa to take charge as CM.

Parrikar had quit as Goa CM to join the Centre as Defence Minister in November 2014, as part of PM Modi's first Cabinet reshuffle.

The Modi-Shah combo is also no stranger to moving the party's established New Delhi hands to chief ministerial posts after state assembly victories. An example of this was the choice of then Lok Sabha MP Yogi Adityanath for the post of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister after the BJP's massive victory in March.

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Ahmedabad collector calls Hardik Patel's claims of EVM tampering 'baseless'

Ahmedabad collector Avantika Singh on Sunday rubbished all allegations made by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel that 140 engineers were hired to tamper 5000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVM)s.

She added that it doesn't call for any clarification as they were "baseless".

"These are baseless allegations. I don't think any clarification is needed. Even if any clarification is to be issued, it will be issued by the Election Commission," she added, as per ANI.

Patel on Sunday said on Twitter that if a human body, made by God be tampered with, then why not an EVM, which is made by humans.

He also alleged that there had been attempts to hack EVMs using its "source code" in the Patidar-dominated and tribal areas of the state.

HARDIK PATEL'S Tweet on EVM

Patel's statement comes after the apex court dismissed the Congress' plea seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) to count and cross verify at least 25 percent of VVPAT with votes cast with EVM.

On December 15, the apex court had said it found no merit in Congress' plea and asked that the Gujarat Congress could approach it through filing a writ petition for electoral reforms.

It further maintained that electoral process in a democracy was of utmost importance and the SC cannot interfere only to allay apprehension of a party.

Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

Vikas has won, bow to people of HP, Gujarat for trusting BJP, says PM Modi

Thanking the voters of Himachal and Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter on Monday afternoon saying that 'Vikas' (development) has won.

"I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly," he wrote.

With Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP likely to sweep Himachal Pradesh, all eyes are riveted on the next chief minister of the hill state. 

The party has won three seats and is currently leading in more than 40 seats. However, the party's two star candidates - CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal and state party chief Satpal Singh Satti - are trailing behing in their seats.

Will BJP parliamentary board choose to go with the Dhumal as the chief minister or can union minister JP Nadda, who was earlier a part of BJP Himachal cabinet, take the centre stage? This will be revealed over time. So far, the party has refused to divulge any details.

Party veterans and senior leaders did not shy away to take credit for the polls.

“Himachal polls didn't even feel like a contest,” said union minister Smriti Irani while adding, “Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander”. 

Soon after the results indicated a win for BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashed a victory sign. Following this, BJP cadres started celebrating the party's victory across the country. 

Rival Congress, which is still leading in nearly 20 seats and has snapped one seat so far, has been quiet about its impending defeat in Himachal. Incumbent chief minister Virbhadra Singh and his son are both inching towards victory in their respective constituencies. 

The hill state has a history of electing a different party in each assembly election. BJP and Congress have been winning the state every alternate election.

The initial morning trends presented an early lead for BJP. But Congress soon closed the gap. Later, BJP later bounced back in the game and by 10 am, the party had crossed the halfway mark to victory. 

Exit polls had earlier predicted a clean sweep for BJP, replacing the Congress regime in the hill state.

-zee news

Demonetisation: RBI changes cash deposit rules again; no Rs 5,000 limit for KYC compliant account holders

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday modified cash deposits rules of demonetised notes over Rs 5,000 till December 30 by making it clear that there will be no questions asked either in case of one-time or repeat deposits if the accounts are KYC-compliant.

Such customers will also not be questioned by bank officials on why they had failed to deposit the old notes earlier.

However, customers with non-KYC accounts will be subject to stiff conditions imposed by RBI on December 19 for deposit of junked notes.

RBI on Monday had said that deposit of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for amount exceeding Rs 5000 shall be made only once per account until December 30.

If accounts are not KYC compliant credits may be restricted up to Rs 50,000 subject to conditions governing the conduct of such accounts.

As per new RBI notification, the following two paragraphs related to circular dated December 19 will not apply to fully KYC compliant accounts.

i. Tenders of SBNs in excess of Rs 5000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30, 2016. The credit in such cases shall be afforded only after questioning tenderer, on record, in the presence of at least two officials of the bank, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and receiving a satisfactory explanation. The explanation should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage. An appropriate flag also should be raised in CBS to that effect so that no more tenders are allowed.

ii. Tenders of SBNs up to Rs 5000 in value received across the counter will allowed to be credited to bank accounts in the normal course until December 30, 2016. Even when tenders smaller than Rs 5000 are made in an account and such tenders taken together on cumulative basis exceed Rs 5000 they may be subject to the procedure to be followed in case of tenders above Rs 5000, with no more tenders being allowed thereafter until December 30, 2016.

PM Narendra Modi has imposed 'undeclared economic emergency': Mayawati

 Terming demonetisation decision as an imposition of "undeclared economic emergency" in the country, BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday alleged that the Modi government was diverting the attention of voters in Uttar Pradesh from failures of NDA government.

"Just before UP elections, Modi has realised the problem of black money after remaining in the saddle at the Centre for two-and-a-half years. Ninety per cent people are unhappy with this decision," she told a press conference here.

She said poor people and farmers have been badly hit by high denomination rupee ban decision.

"It (the decision) is not in the interest of the people, it is in self-interest," she said, reminding people of the dark days of Emergency imposed by then Congress government. Had Modi been honest in his approach, he would not have waited for two-and-a-half years to take action against black money, she said.

"It is being said that the decision was taken by Modi after making his party economically strong by helping industrialists and capitalists to harass people."

"Centre has not thought about the poor and the way in which people formed serpentine queues at petrol pumps shows their connivance with the government for earning a quick buck," she said, adding people will punish BJP for this. Claiming that the decision to ban notes was taken in haste, Mayawati said it triggered chaos all over the country with people coming out on roads in a panic on Tuesday night as if an earthquake had hit them.

"People from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are feeling harassed due to the sudden move. By terming it a surgical strike, BJP president Amit Shah is doing 'andh-bhakti' (blind support) on Modi," she said.

"Had it been a raid on 500 or 1000 capitalists, it could have been termed as a surgical strike and would have been appreciated," she said.

On Centre's recent voluntary income declaration scheme, Mayawati said Gujarat and Mumbai people were most benefited by it and asked the Centre to disclose names of beneficiaries.

"The black money government collected from this scheme should be utilised in the welfare of Dalits and backwards. There is no visible difference between previous Congress-led government and the present BJP government as both are anti-people," she said.

"The problems of unemployment, price-rise and atrocities on Dalits and minorities have increased and RSS men were targeting them," she alleged.

Mayawati claimed that though Modi belonged to the upper caste, when he became Chief Minister he included his caste in the OBC category to take the advantage of the category.

The BSP chief released a booklet and CD of her speech at a rally in Lucknow on October 9 and said it would be distributed throughout the state.

US Elections 2016: Trump poised for shock White House win

Billionaire populist Donald Trump, tapping into an electorate fed up with Washington insiders, was on the verge of a shock victory Wednesday over Hillary Clintonin a historic US presidential election that sent world markets into meltdown.

State-by-state, one-by-one, the 70-year-old maverick Republican tycoon racked up victories in defiance of the forecasts of pundits and pollsters, before arriving within striking distance of the White House.

Key races in Michigan and Pennsylvania remained to be called at 0630 GMT, but the 69-year-old Democrat`s supporters were in a state of shock and the markets did not wait for a concession speech to react.

US futures markets fell five percent in after-hours trading, mirrored by falls in London and Tokyo as the news broke that the world`s greatest economy could soon be in the hands of an untested protectionist.

The dollar tumbled against the yen and the Mexican peso slumped to a historic low against even the weaker greenback, on concerns that Trump might make good on his vow to build a wall on the US border.

In New York, it was a tale of two poll-watching parties -- as Trump`s supporters whooped it up in anticipation of a victory for his populist campaign, Clinton`s camp succumbed to silent, stunned grief.

"It`s unbelievable. I didn`t know Trump was really going to pull it off," said Glenn Ruti, a New Yorker who works in telecommunications.

"I think he`s going to go all the way. The country wants change."

Attendees at Trump`s victory party at a Midtown hotel began chanting "Call it, call it!"

In America as a whole, it was a tale of two countries -- as Trump`s largely-white fan base celebrated a repudiation of free trade, open borders and diverse communities, liberals and minorities cringed.

"It`s just unbelievable," said 51-year-old Anabel Evora, who works for a non-profit and flew into New York as a supporter of Clinton`s historic bid to be America`s first woman president.

"I am praying, and I am not religious," she told AFP. "I am sad. I`m about to cry."

At the Mexican-American bar Campeon in Manhattan`s Union Square, the mood was one of disgust and apprehension.

"If Trump wins, I am going to throw up," said 27-year-old Amy Goldstein.

Trump`s win, if confirmed, would halt Clinton`s quest to reach the White House for at least another four years -- and instead confer the title of president on a man who has been accused by a dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct.

"He`s so un-American. We`re outraged. It`s shocking. Racism, stereotyping by religion and sex," said Kate Kalmyka, a 36-year-old lawyer.At the bar in the soaring Trump Tower, the Republican`s home base and headquarters, a well-heeled crowd cheered and chanted "Drain the swamp" -- Trump`s anti-corruption slogan.

"Without a strong United States of America, the rest of the world is in trouble," declared Rina Corey.

"We were saved once by Ronald Reagan and I think Donald Trump is in the same path. He`s a citizen and not a politician. We need him desperately."

In the Florida city of Miami, Cuban Americans -- traditionally strongly pro-Republican -- honked their horns and cheered as they gathered at the iconic Cafe Versailles in Little Havana.

"We didn`t like the fact that the country was leaning socialist, we lost many jobs," said 45-year-old Miguel Alejandro.

"This isn`t the country I found in 1993 when I arrived by raft, when they received us with great excitement."

As of 0630 GMT Wednesday, Trump had won at least 25 states and 245 electoral college votes, just short of the 270 he needed, and had narrow leads in partial counts in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Both these states were won by incumbent president Barack Obama when he was elected in 2008 and re-elected 2012 as America`s first black president, and pollsters had expected Clinton to keep them.

But an apparent collapse in Democratic support among white voters -- not fully compensated for by increased Latino turnout -- appeared to have doomed Clinton in blue-collar areas of America`s Rust Belt.On the legislative side, the Republicans were on course to retain their majority in the US House of Representatives, according to network projections.

Clinton and her husband former president Bill Clinton were holed up in their hotel, but she tweeted: "This team has so much to be proud of. Whatever happens tonight, thank you for everything."

Trump cast his ballot alongside his wife Melania in a Manhattan school gymnasium.

"Right now it`s looking very good," he told reporters -- paying no heed to protesters who welcomed him with chants of "New York hates you!"

The 2016 race was the most bruising in modern memory.

Obama`s election in 2008 had raised hopes of uniting Americans.

But the current contest has only highlighted the country`s divisions -- and the fact that voters are not necessarily happy with their options.

Exit polls by ABC News and NBC News found that both Clinton and Trump are seen as untrustworthy by majorities of voters, while most find Trump`s temperament unpresidential.

Rs 500 and 1000 currency notes stand abolished from midnight: PM Modi

In a major step to check black money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced demonetization of Rs 500 and 1000 currency notes with effect from midnight, making these notes invalid in a major assault on black money, fake currency and corruption. In his televised address to the nation, Modi said people holding notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 can deposit the same in their bank and post office accounts from November 10 till December 30.

Modi said the notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 “will not be legal tender from midnight tonight” and these will be “just worthless piece of paper.” However, he said that all notes in lower denomination of Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20, Rs 10, Rs 5, Rs 2 and Re 1 and all coins will continue to be valid. He also announced that new notes of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 will be introduced.

Modi added that there will be no change in any other form of currency exchange be it cheque, DD, payment via credit or debit cards etc.

He said the government has been fighting the menace of black money and corruption ever since it assumed power two years ago. He also urged people to help government in its fight against fake currency and black money.

The prime minister expressed confidence that the staff of banks and post offices will rise to the occasion to introduce the new order within the available time. He said he is hopeful that political parties, workers, social organisations and the media will go further than the government in making it a success.

“Banks will be closed tomorrow. It will cause some hardship to you….Let us ignore these hardships… In country’s history, there comes a moment when people will want to participate in the nation building and reconstruction. Very few such moments come in life,”  Modi said.

The prime minister said the measures were aimed at curbing the “disease” of corruption and black money which have taken deep root. “There is a need for a decisive war against the menace of corruption, black money and terrorism… Corruption, black money and terrorism are festering wounds which make the country hollow from within,” he said.

Following the announcement, there were huge crowds outside ATMs across the country as people lined up to withdraw currency of smaller denominations.