19th October 2014 Current Affairs Updates

1) BJP to form govt in Haryana, emerges as single largest party in Maharashtra: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed to power in Haryana on Sunday and was set to form the government in Maharashtra as well, in a verdict that underlined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's indisputable role in helping expand the party's national footprint. Both victories are historic for the BJP. In Haryana, where the party had never been a force, it won 47 seats in a 90-member assembly to take power on its own. In Maharashtra, it emerged as the single largest party, bagging 122 seats in the 288-member House — which is enough to form a coalition government on its own terms.

2) Pritam Munde creates new record, won by record 6.96 lakh vote margin: Bhartiya Janta Party nominee for the Beed Lok Sabha by-election Dr Pritam Munde-Palve has created new records by winning the Beed LS seat by a whopping margin of 6.96 lakh votes against her nearest rival Congress nominee and former minister Ashok Patil. In the 2004 LS poll, CPI-M candidate from Arambagh (West Bengal) Anil Basu demolished his rival with the highest ever victory margin of 5,92,502 votes. Also in the recent LS election PM Narendra Modi had won by margin of 5.70 lakh votes from Vadodara. Setting a new record in poll history Dr Munde polled 9,22,416 votes against Patil's 2,26,095 votes, leading to the rest of the 10 candidates forfeiting their deposit.

3) India clinched Sultan of Johor Cup: A dominant India triumphed in the 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup with a thumping 3-0 victory over hosts Malaysia in the title clash of the U-21 hockey tournament. Amon Mirash Tirkey (22nd), Affan Yusof (52) and Manpreet (64th) were the goal-scorers for India who made up for last year’s defeat in the final against Germany. India were the deserving winners on a day when Malaysia failed to find the spark that had seen them make the final with relative ease. India drew first blood in the 22nd minute when Tirkey scored after a fine run on the left by Kothajit Singh.

 

4) Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games open: South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hung Won and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven were amongst the dignitaries on Saturday (18 October) who attended the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea. In a colourful laser light show and presentation which carried the theme “Impossible Drives Us”, the ceremony welcomed 2,500 athletes from 41 countries who will compete in 23 sports over the next seven days.