US respects process of Arunachal poll: envoy

October 14th, 2009 KOLKATA - Reiterating India's stand, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh was a constitutional right as the state was an "integral part" of India. Asked for his reaction to China's objection over the prime minister's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Mukherjee said: "The prime minister can definitely visit the state for campaigning or any other purpose." "I too visited Arunachal Pradesh for campaigning and considered it as a legitimate right.

October 14th, 2009 KOLKATA - A day after China renewed its claim on Arunachal Pradesh, the US envoy to India Timothy J. Roemer Wednesday said it respected the process and outcome of the elections in the northeastern state.

October 13th, 2009 ITANAGAR - Indian lawmakers Tuesday slammed Beijing for criticizing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the latest hiccup between the Asian neighbours after reports of Chinese incursions and Indian troop build up along the borders. "It is simply blasphemous on the part of China to oppose or express dissatisfaction over the visit of our prime minister to Arunachal Pradesh," Takam Sanjay, a ruling Congress MP in the Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh, told IANS.

October 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI/BEIJING - India Tuesday rejected China's protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, whose ownership is disputed by Beijing, with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee describing it as nothing new and the government expressing disappointment. "It is nothing new.

October 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The campaigning for Tuesday's assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh ended Sunday evening with the Election Commission directing state officers to ensure that no canvassing takes place till voting time. "The commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officers of Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra to ensure that after the closure of campaign period, no canvassing takes place within the constituencies," the Election Commission said in a release here.

October 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Sunday expressed satisfaction over the immediate action the Arunachal Pradesh administration has taken against unregistered motorcycles and vehicle, which were allegedly given free of cost to voters in the state on a large scale. Elections to the Arunachal Pradesh state assembly are to be held on Oct 13.

September 27th, 2009 ITANAGAR - Two major allies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre are raking up the Chinese incursion issue in the run up to the assembly elections in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh even as Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu maintains that Chinese claims over the state are baseless. Elections to the 60-member legislature are scheduled for Oct 13, although voting would be for just 57 seats with three candidates already declared elected unopposed.

September 15th, 2009 ITANAGAR - The government in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh Tuesday urged New Delhi to act tough on Chinese claims over the state and snub Beijing's opposition to Dalai Lama's proposed visit to the region. Chinese claims over Arunachal Pradesh are simply baseless and not correct.

September 10th, 2009 DHARAMSALA - Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has planned a visit to Arunachal Pradesh in the second week of November, an aide said Thursday. The Dalai Lama had to cancel his visit to the state last year after the Indian government refused to grant him permission.

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Downplaying incursions into Indian territory, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Thursday said India was closely monitoring the Chinese build-up along Arunachal Pradesh.

September 5th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Election Commission of India (ECI) Saturday indicated that it could consider advancing the counting of votes in assembly elections to be held in Maharashtra and Haryana next month. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla said here that the long gap between the polling (Oct 13) and the counting (Oct 22) for assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh was kept in view of the Diwali festival season next month and also due to the tough terrain in Arunachal Pradesh.

September 1st, 2009 ITANAGAR - The ruling Congress party in the mountainous frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh seems set for another easy electoral victory in the absence of any opposition worth its name. Elections to the 60-member legislature are scheduled for Oct 13 with counting of votes on Oct 22.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The model code of conduct in poll-bound Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra, where voting to elect new state governments will be held Oct 13, came into effect Monday. The model code of conduct comes into effect from today (Monday) in the all three states, Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla told reporters while announcing the poll schedule for the three Congress-ruled states.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Assembly polls in the three Congress-ruled states of Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will be held simultaneously Oct 13, the Election Commission announced Monday. The counting of votes will take place nine days later, Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla told reporters here.

April 15th, 2009 AGARTALA - Poll authorities in Meghalaya are facing a strange problem - possible attacks by wild elephants during polling day. Over 200 polling booths in the Garo hills region of Meghalaya have been categorised as 'sensitive'.