Iran’s opposition candidate Rezaei withdraws poll complaint

September 1st, 2009 TEHRAN - If reports are to be believed it is being claimed that Mohsen Rouhalamini, the son of an adviser to defeated presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei, is the first official confirmation of a prisoner abuse death following Iran's post-election turmoil. A medical examiner has confirmed the Rouhalamini died from beatings and poor prison conditions.

July 15th, 2009 Japanese poll: More voters favor opposition partyTOKYO — A poll published Wednesday by Japan's largest newspaper indicated that Prime Minister Taro Aso's ruling party is headed for big losses in the upcoming national election — the latest sign that a surging opposition could grab control of the country for the first time in more than a decade. The Yomiuri Shimbun's poll showed that 45 percent of respondents think Yukio Hatoyama, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, should lead the country, compared to 25 percent for Aso.

July 13th, 2009 Iran conservative candidate warns of 'implosion'TEHRAN,Iran — Iran's defeated conservative candidate criticized both the government and opposition protesters, warning that more post-election turmoil could destabilize the country In his remarks published on his Web site late Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei warned that the continuation of the current situation could "drive us toward implosion." Iran has been in turmoil following its June 12 presidential election. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner but the opposition claims widespread fraud.

July 13th, 2009 BEIRUT - The political and social rifts that have opened in Iran because of the disputed presidential general elections and its bloody aftermath could lead to the nation's "disintegration", a presidential candidate has warned. In a statement published on his website, Mohsen Rezai called for reconciliation and spoke about the danger of "imprisoning" the legacy of the Islamic Revolution in divisive and shortsighted politics.

May 13th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Varun Gandhi, the controversial Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pilibhit constituency in Uttar Pradesh, had heated arguments with some poll officials Wednesday, accusing them of being biased in favour of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. As Pilibhit went to the polls, Varun Gandhi alleged that some election officials at the Khananka polling booth in Bisalpur subdistrict were asking people to vote in favour of BSP candidate Ganga Charan Rajput.

May 8th, 2009 Conservative rival raps Iran president on economyTEHRAN, Iran — A conservative challenger to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Friday to "save" Iran's economy if elected, accusing the hard-line leader of pushing the country "on the edge of a precipice." Mohsen Rezaei, a former head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, is not seen as a leading challenger to the president in the June 12 election, but reformists hope Rezaei will weaken Ahmadinejad by taking votes from within the incumbent's own conservative camp. Reformists, who seek an easing of social and political restrictions at home and better ties with the West, see a strong opportunity to unseat Ahmadinejad, who has become increasingly unpopular because of Iran's economic woes.

April 23rd, 2009 TEHRAN - The former chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced to run in the upcoming presidential elections, IRNA reported Wednesday. Mohsen Rezaei, who is the current secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, will contest the June 12 election as an independent candidate, according to the report.

April 22nd, 2009 Ex-Iranian Guards chief to run for presidentTEHRAN, Iran — A moderate conservative who led Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that he will become the latest challenger to incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the Iranian presidency in June. Mohsen Rezaei is not seen as a leading challenger but reformists who see a strong opportunity to unseat Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election hope Rezaei may be able to take votes away from the incumbent.

April 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Wednesday said it would examine a complaint against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. Mahesh Jethmalani, a noted lawyer and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate from Mumbai North Central, alleged in his complaint that the prime minister tried to bribe the Muslim community with his comments that the poor among the minorities have the first right over the country's resources.

April 21st, 2009 LUCKNOW - The Samajwadi Party has urged the Election Commission to take strict action against a minister of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly pressurising voters to support the party in the Lok Sabha polls. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has accused cabinet minister Dadoo Prasad of misusing his position.

April 17th, 2009 BHOPAL - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur parliamentary constituency, Laxmi Narayan Pande, was arrested Friday for violating the poll code, police said. 'Pandey has been arrested for violating the model code of conduct as he is found to have held an election meeting in temple premises,' Mandsaur district's additional superintendent of police G.G.

April 17th, 2009 BHOPAL - The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate from Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur parliamentary constituency, Laxmi Narayan Pande, was arrested Friday for violating the poll code and later released on a personal bond of Rs.5,000. Pande was arrested for violating the model code of conduct after he was found to have held an election meeting in the premises of a temple.

April 17th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Former United Nations undersecretary general and Congress candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor was Friday cooling off in a houseboat after the intense campaign for the April 16 poll to Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha constituencies. Tharoor, who is due to appear in a Kochi court Saturday in a complaint of dishonouring the national anthem, is travelling on the houseboat in the Vembanad Lake from Alappuzha to Kochi.

April 15th, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - Danseuse and independent candidate from Gandhinagar in Gujarat Mallika Sarabhai has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making lotus 'mangal sutras' (pendant worn by married women) for the poll campaign. Mallika in her complaint has raised objections on the BJP using 'a symbol of pride for Indian women' as a tool for campaigning in the polls.

March 1st, 2009 KOLKATA - West Bengal's main opposition Trinamool Congress Sunday wrested the Bishnupur (West) assembly seat from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) with a huge margin in a by-election, giving a fresh jolt to the ruling Left Front. Trinamool Congress candidate Madan Mitra trounced CPI-M's Iskandar Hossain by 30,395 votes in the by-poll held Feb 26.