New Delhi, Corruption and price rise were the main reasons why the Congress fared so badly in the five state elections, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said Wednesday. "The overall results of the elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur constitute a setback for the Congress," the CPI-M said. "Part of this failure can be attributed to the people's discontent against price rise and corruption for which they hold the Congress-led UPA government at the centre responsible," it said in a statement. The CPI-M hailed the Samajwadi Party's victory as "remarkable". "The (Uttar Pradesh) verdict is not only against the Mayawati government, but the people have rejected the BJP and the Congress too. The BJP in particular has failed to make any headway. "The results show also that the BJP is not seen as a credible alternative to the Congress. "Apart from its performance in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP lost in Uttarkhand and its seats have been reduced in Punjab." The Congress lost power in Goa, it failed to win in Punjab, fared badly in Uttar Pradesh and just managed to be ahead by one seat in Uttarakhand. "The sole exception has been its ...
Read Full Story

Lucknow, In a clean-up move ahead of assembly polls in the state, Chief Minister Mayawati Sunday recommended removal of four ministers facing probes on corruption charges. The ministers removed by Mayawati included Higher Education Minister Rakeshdhar Tripathi, Agriculture Education and Research Minister Rajpal Tyagi, Minister of State (independent charge) of Backwards Welfare Awadesh Kumar Verma and Minister of State for Home Guards Hari Om. Official sources said the chief minister sent her recommendation to remove the four ministers to Governor B.L. Joshi. They said that the chief minister has also reallocated portfolios of the ministers who had been removed. The move is being seen as an effort by the chief minister to improve image of her government ahead of assembly polls in the state in Februray next year. The Election Commission had Saturday announced election schedule for Uttar Pradesh. At least four of Mayawati's important ministers and nearly half a dozen of her party MPs or legislators have been axed over the past few months following charges including corruption and misuse of funds. ...
Read Full Story