BJP to contest more seats in Bihar in 2019
Patna, April 17: Senior BJP Leader C.P. Thakur on Tuesday said that the party will contest more seats than its allies in Bihar in the 2019 parliamentary polls.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party will contest from majority of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in the 2019 polls," Thakur, also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, told reporters here.
Janata Dal-United leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who joined hands with the BJP last July, and formed the government after dumping the RJD and the Congress, contested the last Lok Sabha polls alone and won only two seats.
Nitish Kumar is eyeing to contest over a dozen Lok Sabha seats in 2019 with the BJP, Thakur said.
The Lok Janshakti Party of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan which won six seats in the last election, is trying to contest from no less than 10 seats.
Another BJP ally RLSP of Union Minister Upender Kushwaha might contest from over half a dozen seats.
Thakur however, refused to reveal the exact number of seats the BJP will contest.
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Indian High Commission hosts Pongal festivities for migrant workers in Singapore
Singapore (PTI): The Indian High Commission in Singapore led nearly 1,500 Indian migrant workers in a day-long celebration of Pongal, a major harvest festival, that also marks the beginning of the Tamil month.
High Commissioner Dr Shilpak Ambule and Tung Yui Fai, Chief of the Assurance, Care and Engagement Group in the Ministry of Manpower, joined the celebrations on Sunday, extending greetings and well wishes to the workers at the festival held in the northern Singapore’s industrial district of Sembawang.
“The evening brought together migrant workers, community partners, and volunteers in a vibrant celebration of culture,” said S. Ganesh, lead organiser of Mett.AI which organises events for migrant workers through social networks.
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“Over 50 talented local artists, performing alongside migrant workers, delivered electrifying performances and colourful cultural showcases that captured the essence and vibrancy of India’s harvest festivals,” he said.
More than 110 dedicated volunteers, mostly Indian professionals working in Singapore, helped transform the event into a memorable experience for the workers from India employed by heavy duty construction and marine industries as well as domestic helpers, said Ganesh.
The Sunday evening programme featured live music, traditional performances, yoga and meditation sessions, and a fashion showcase highlighting India’s rich textile heritage and festive traditions.
The celebration, a second edition by the High Commission, is also part of the Pongal-events hosted by the Singapore Indian Heritage Centre on Saturday.
The Heritage Centre activities included Tanjore art paintings, a classic South Indian art for participants to learn key techniques for designing and creating their own Tanjore painting masterpiece.
Dr Ambule informed the migrant workers about consular outreach activities, especially passport renewal camps and asked them to participate widely at the High Commission. He thanked the Manpower Ministry for their support to the workers community and their collaboration with High Commission for the workers’ welfare.
