. |
. |
Renewed demand HYDERABAD, Apr 15: As elections are drawing closer, the backward Telangana region, witnessing a renewed demand for statehood, presents a .....more Determined BJP bid to humble Buta Singh in Jalore JAIPUR, Apr 15: Jalore in western Rajasthan is witnessing a keen but interesting battle of .....more Difficult choice between ‘feel good’ and ‘feel bad’ factors MAHASAMUND (CHHATTISGARH), Apr 15: It is ‘feel good versus sympathy’ in the prestigious Mahasamund ....more Bardhan dismisses poll surveys as "mountain of speculation" VIJAYAWADA, Apr 15: Making light of the poll surveys predicting poor performance ...more |
|
Keen contest between distant relatives in south Delhi NEW DELHI, Apr 15: A hardened politician-cum sitting MP pitted against a much ....more Brar
to strive hard to FARIDKOT, Apr 15: Karan Brar, daughter-in-law of former Punjab Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar, would strive hard to defeat Sukhbir Singh .....more Straight
contest in NAGPUR, Apr 15: At least 9 of the eleven constituencies in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, considered ....more CHENNAI, Apr 15: If there is one thing that is sorely missing in the electioneering for the coming Lok Sabha elections, .......more |
| Old guards preferred by all parties ...... Low key electioneering in Janjgir in Chhattisgarh! ...... |
 |
Renewed demand for statehood in Telangana region HYDERABAD, Apr 15: As elections are drawing closer, the backward Telangana region, witnessing a renewed demand for statehood, presents a picture of political paradox highlighted by a strong undercurrent of regional sentiment on one hand and a sense of uncertainty plaguing political camps on the other. Despite a groundswell of sympathy for Telangana protagonists across the region, especially among the youth, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, espoused to the statehood cause, and its ally Congress are in a state of disarray, plagued by discontent, charges of kickbacks in selection of candidates and inadequate representation to weaker sections. The Telangana region, which accounts for 107 assembly seats in the 294-member house and 16 Lok Sabha seats out of a total of 42 in the state, has a potential to tilt electoral scales as the ruling TDP is facing, for the first time, a combined opposition. As part of alliance, trs is contesting six Lok Sabha and 42 assembly seats. The party rebels have entered the fray in at least a dozen assembly segments while Congress also has its share of rebel problem in about ten constituencies. Driving through the dusty tracks of Telangana districts, one often encounters strong views from the proverbial ‘Man On The Street’ favouring statehood but peppered with a sense of distrust over ability of political parties to achieve it. Will this strong Telangana sentiment actually convert into votes in favour of the opposition alliance? This question, however, evokes mixed answers. Summing up the mood in the region, P Anil Kumar, an engineering student in Karimnagar, said "we want separate state to undo decades of injustice. But, look at the state of affairs in the parties promising statehood. There is bungling in distribution of tickets, open rebellion and allegations of money bags changing hands. At this rate, can we achieve statehood?" The fledgling TRS, facing the elections for the first time, appears to have frittered away the initial goodwill following a string of desertions and widespread rebellion in its ranks over choice of candidates in some segments and allotment of certain other key seats to Congress. In Karimnagar district, considered the nerve-centre of the movement for separate Telangana state, the TRS is facing a minefield of rebels who are in the fray in four of the six assembly segments the party is contesting in alliance with congress, throwing up multi-cornered contests and threatening to split the opposition votes. Internal sabotage stares at the Congress-TRS alliance as rebels from both the parties are contesting as independents in several segments in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Warangal, Nalgonda and other Talangana districts. While TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, contesting from Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat, sought to make light of the rebel problem and dismissed the charge of selling away party tickets, a sense of disquiet was palpable in the party camp as rebels appear to be holding key to the poll outcome in several constituencies across the region. "In the interest of Telangana cause, I had to be tough with some aspirants. I have no regrets. People are with me," Rao said amidst reports of growinn the party. Senior leaders like TRS women’s wing president Shobha Rani and general secretary J Siddaiah, who have resigned from the party, have levelled serious allegations against Rao and threatened to work for the defeat of official nominees. The case of TRS rebel in Karimnagar assembly seat K Mrutyunjayam presents a peculiar dilemma in the opposition camp. He was initially given clearance but was later asked by the party leadership to withdraw from the race in favour of Congress candidate and former state party president M Satyanarayana Rao. Defying the party’s directive, Mrutyunjayam, a defector from Congress, is in the race as a rebel with official TRS symbol despite being suspended from the party. "My case illustrates how the party leadership has allowed Telangana issue to be hijacked by self-serving people and how the genuine cadre is left in the lurch," he told a visiting PTI correspondent amidst arrangements to distribute campaign material that carries the TRS symbol car but without the picture of party president Chandrasekhar Rao. Not surprisingly, the ruling TDP and its ally BJP are watching with glee the developments in the opposition camp and highlighting the ‘cash-for-ticket’ charge in their poll campaign. TDP supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was initially worried over the impact of the combined opposition fight, is now keen to capitalize on internal contradictions and widespread rebellion in the opposition camp. Dubbing the Congress-TRS alliance as "unholy", Naidu has been telling people that the opposition parties were only trying to "hoodwink" them by raking up regional passions. "You have been seeing how their own partymen are raising the issue of kickbacks in distribution of tickets. How can these parties promise a better future when they are unable to set their own house in order?" Naidu told at a string of election rallies in Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts. While TDP is focusing its campaign on integrated state versus separatist forces theme, the Congress, fearing a backlash in coastal and Rayalaseema regions because of its alliance with TRS, is forced into doing a delicate balancing act. "We have not promised unqualified support to the demand for Telangana state. We are very clear in our stand that a few States Re-organisation Committee (SRC) should be constituted to go into demands for smaller states including Telangana," PCC president D Srinivas, contesting from Nizamabad assembly constituency in Telangana region, said. The TDP, on its part, is invoking the failed Telangana experiment of the late 1960s, initiated by former Congress Chief Minister late M Channa Reddy, to attack Congress-TRS alliance, saying the Telangana party would eventually merge with Congress after elections. Amidst political polemics over statehood issue, the more pressing problems of Telangana like pending irrigation projects, power supply, rural employment and plight of farmers appear to have taken a backseat in the poll campaign. (PTI) |
|
Determined BJP bid to humble Buta Singh in Jalore JAIPUR, Apr 15: Jalore in western Rajasthan is witnessing a keen but interesting battle of ballots between Congress and BJP candidates, both outsiders. BJP has fielded Sushila, wife of former party president Bangaru Laxman, to take on Congress veteran Buta Singh who has romped home from the constituency reserved for scheduled castes four times in the past. Singh defeated Laxman by 35,924 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections but is facing challenge this time from Laxman’s wife as the saffron party nominated Sushila in view of the Tehelka scam. The constituency, consisting of eight assembly segments of Jalore and Sirohi districts, remains a Congress stronghold from where the party succeeded in battle of ballots eight time in 13 elections held so far. Buta Singh shifted from Punjab to Rajasthan to successfully contest polls in 1984 when elections could not be held in the neighbouring state then troubled with militancy. However, BJP’s Kailash Meghwal emerged as a giant killer in 1989 when he defeated Singh who was then Union Home Minister. It was the only time when Singh was defeated in Jalore. In 1996 he did not contest polls after being denied party ticket but won as an independent in 1998 polls. Returning back to his party fold Singh won the seat for Congress in 1999 elections defeating BJP leader Bangaru Laxman. BJP won Jalore seat only once in 1989. The constituency came into being in 1957 and Congress candidates Suraj Ratan Dhamani and Harish Chandra Mathur respectively won the first two elections before Devki Nandan Patodia of Swatantra party wrested it from Congress in 1967. However, Narendra Kumar Sanghi clinched the seat back for Congress in 1971 polls. The seat became reserved for Scheduled Castes in 1977 when Janata Party’s Hukma Ram romped home riding on Janata wave. However, Congress nominee Virda Ram won the seat in 1980 polls. The 1984 polls saw Buta Singh winning the seat and losing in the next polls in 1989. However, he returned successful in 1991 elections. Replacing Buta Singh, Congress made Paras Ram Meghwal its nominee to win Jalore seat in 1996. However, contesting 1998 polls as an independenet candidate Singh established his hold over the cosntituency. He reuturned successful in 1999 again as a Congress nominee. Riding high on its recent success in assembly elections BJP is banking on Bangaru Laxman’s wife to wrest the seat. The Parliamentary constituency, consists of eight assembly segments of Jalore and Sirohi distrists, six of which were won by BJP in the assembly polls about five months back. Congress is holding only Sirohi and Banihal assembly seats while six others Pindwara-Abu, Reodar, Sanchore, Raniwara, Jalore and Ahore that constitute Jalore Parliamentary constituency are held by BJP men. (PTI) |
|
Difficult choice between ‘feel good’ and ‘feel bad’ factors MAHASAMUND (CHHATTISGARH), Apr 15: It is ‘feel good versus sympathy’ in the prestigious Mahasamund Lok Sabha seat making the choice difficult between strong contenders BJP’s Vidya Charan Shukla and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who has bounced back in the contest after the serious accident he met with on Sunday. Though in the urban areas Shukla is popular among businessmen who are in sizeable numbers, Jogi has come into reckoning strangely after his accident and party workers are trying their best to whip up a sympathy wave to generate votes in his favour. The audio cassette of Jogi’s last speech before he met with the accident is being played all over the constituency covering 2,200 villages. In his address to the party workers, he had said every Congressman should consider himself a Jogi and work for the party with maximum zeal. "During his Chief Ministership, Jogi has done a lot for the farmers. We are indebted to him. We are going to vote for him," said 45-year old Manihar, an agricultural labourer of village Chowk Behra, 14 km from the Mahasamund town. He complains Shukla has done nothing at all for the constituency despite being elected to the Lok Sabha several times. That the choice before the voters is difficult can be gauged from the fact that even Congress supporters admit that though Jogi would get substantial votes in rural areas, Shukla might still surge ahead in the battle of ballots "as the votes will be for BJP and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and not Shukla". But Vikas Makde, a medicine shop owner, says Jogi does not have a clean image and accident would hardly make any difference in the final outcome. Like makde, a general store owner Tikaram Patel feels "Vidya Bhaiya" will win. Barring mini-towns, there is no sign of electioneering in the vast constituency along the Orissa border and hardly any flags or banners could be seen in the interior areas. The ususal poll cacophony was missing all over the key constituency. The local people were enthusiastic over "dreamgirl" Hema Malini’s visit to the constituency and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani’s `Bharat Uday Yatra’ drew a large crowd on Sunday. To match the tinge of glamour of the tinsel world, Congress plans to utilise the popularity of cine stars Rajesh Khanna and celina Jaitley to woo the voters. During a visit to the Congress office, built by Shukla’s father Ravi Shankar, Chief Minister of then central province in 1948, party workers seemed to be worried over the physical absence of Jogi and the defection of his confidant Pawan Diwan to BJP. Going by statistics, the Lok Sabha constituency has eight assembly segments and only one is with Congress, rest having gone to the saffron party in the December 2003 assembly polls. But residents of far flung villages like Pithora, Tumgaon and Bagbahara say they will vote for Jogi, making it difficult for poll pundits to hazard a guess as to who will win. Interestingly, even local BJP leaders accept that Jogi might get a chunk of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Caste votes. Refuting allegations that Shukla had done nothing for the constituency though he represented it as a Congress MP for decades, a local BJP leader Lahnu Rao Madan attributed the lack of development to the "faulty" Congress leadership then. Madan is happy that NCP workers are working in favour of Shukla who joined BJP recently after quitting NCP. Sitting in the BJP campaign office in Mahasamund town, a saffron clad Sant Agocharanand of VHP accused Jogi’s supporters of letting loose a reign of terror in several districts of Chhattisgarh. "We are facing constant `Goondagardi’ and intimidation," he complained to a visiting PTI correspondent. But, these charges were rubbished by Alok Chandrakar, youth Congress chief of Mahasamund district. "These charges are being levelled by BJP as they are afraid of losing the election," says Ashwini Chandrakar, working president of district Congress committee, durg. "During Jogi’s Chief Ministership, work was launched on a 100-bed hospital while the state’s first artificial insemination unit was almost on the verge of completion in the district, which now has good roads, schools and drinking water facilities," he said. As Jogi is convalescing in a Mumbai hospital, a number of prayer meetings have been organised in different parts of the constituency to wish him speedy recovery. "It is God’s grace that I have survived the mishap to serve my people," Jogi said in a statement from his hospital bed, expressing a strong desire to visit his constituency even once before the April 20 polls. (PTI) |
|
|
|
|
Straight contest in nine constituencies of Vidarbha region NAGPUR, Apr 14: At least 9 of the eleven constituencies in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, considered Congress strongholds, are expected to witness straight fight between Congress-NCP and BJP-Shiv Sena combine in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 20. A tri-cornered fight is on the cards for two of the remaining constituencies—Nagpur and Akola—where BJP, Congress and Vidarbha Rajya Party have fielded prominent candidates. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which fielded its candidates in all the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in Vidarbha without any electoral adjustment with any political party, is likely eat into Congress and NCP votes. Political analysts say the BSP led by Ms Mayawati may not emerge victorious, but it is likely to garner sizeable Dalit votes in the region. The Vidarbha statehood issue is also likely to dominate the polls in the region with two outfits—Vidarbha Rajya Party (VRP) led by ex-MP Banwari Lal Purohit and Vidarbha Janata Congress (VJC) led by Mr Jambuwantrao Dhote having statehood as the main poll plank. The Vidarbha front consisting of VRP, BRP-BMS, SP, CPI, CPI-M and other parties was formed and led by Mr Purohit and BRP-BMS leader Prakash Ambedkar. While the front put up candidates in all the constituencies, Mr Dhote fielded two candidates in Nagpur and Ramtek without the support of any political party. Altogether 111 candidates are fighting in the 11 Vidarbha constituencies namely Buldana, Akola, Washim, Amaravati, Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandra, Chimur, Chandrapur, Wardha and Yavatmal. The Congress secured eight seats from the region in 1980 and eleven seats in 1984 on its own. It won six seats in 1989 and nine seats in 1991 but in the 1996 Lok Sabha polls the party could manage only two seats—Bhandara and Ramtek. BJP and its ally Shiv Sena broke the Congress’ record winning six and three seats respectively. In 1998 elections, the Congress and its ally RPI wrested all the eleven seats, but in 1999 Lok Sabha polls the Congress won in Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha and Yavatmal, as the party was divided into two groups on Ms Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin issue. One group of Congressmen was led by Mr Sharad Pawar who formed a new outfit, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and fielded its candidates against the Congress. However, the newly formed NCP could not open its account to secure a single seat in Vidarbha. BJP got two seats—Bhandara and Chimur and its ally Shiv Sena four—Buldana, Washim, Amravati and Ramtek. BRP-BMS led by Prakash Ambedkar retained the Akola seat with the support of the Congress. Having realised that division of votes resulted in the duo’s defeat, both the Congress and NCP decided to come together this year to contest the elections unitedly but kept their indentities seperate and had been taking care to avoid division of secular votes in Vidarbha. The combination of the Congress, NCP and RPI factions led by R S Gavai and Jogendra Kawade agreed on the seat sharing formula and fielded seven candidates on Congress tickets, two on NCP and two on RPI. The Congress fielded candidates in Ramtek, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha, Yavatmal, Buldana and Akola while NCP in Bhandara and Washim and RPI in Chimur and Amravati. In Akola, where Mr Prakash Ambedkar was supported by the Congress in the last elections, it has now fielded sitting MLA from Balapur assembly segment Laxman Tayade against Mr Ambedkar. The last Lok Sabha polls results in Vidarbha indicate that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured seats simply because the third candidates in the fray caused a division in the votes. In Nagpur, the main contest is between Congress candidate Vilas Muttamwar, Mr Atal Bahadur Singh of BJP and Mr Banwari Lal Purohit of VRP. Mr Jayant Dalvi of BSP, which for the first time established its base in Nagpur Municipal Corporation with 12 corporators, could mar Mr Muttamwar winning prospects. Altogether 14 candidatres are in the fray in this constituency and political observers say smaller candidates could eat into Congress votes. In Ramtek, Union Heavy Industries Minister Subodh Mohite, who is seeking re-election as the Shiv Sena candidate had defeated Mr Purohit of Congress in the last election by only 12000 votes because the third candidate Mr Pandurang Hajare weaned away 1.50 lakh votes. Congress nominee Shrikant Jichkar, a former Rajya Sabha MP and Maharashtra minister, is pitted against Mr Mohite this time. Mr Jichkar was defeated by BJP candidate Chunni Lal Thakur in Bhandara Lok Sabha constituency in the last election by 3899 votes. There are ten other candidates in the fray including Keshav Rao Shende (VRP), Ms Nayana Dhavad (VJC) and Prof Chandansing Prem Singh Rotele of (BSP) who are expected to give a tough challenge to Shiv Sena and Congress nominees. From Wardha Lok Sabha constituency, Congress nominee Prabha Rau is seeking re-election in a straight fight against BJP’s Suresh Waghmare. Five other candidates including BSP’s Somraj Telkhede are also in the fray. This constituency, had elected and rejected giants like former Union Minister Vasant Sathe and NCP president Sharad Pawar’s trusted lieutenant Datta Medhe. In Chandrapur constituency, Congress nominee Naresh Puglia is pitted against Hansraj Ahir of the BJP, who was defeated twice in 1998 and 1999. Mr Pugalia won the seat in 1998 by 1.46 lakh votes but in 1999 the winning margin of votes considerably reduced to 2,838 votes, the lowerst in the Vidarbha region. This time nine other candidates, including BSP’s Rajenmdra Vidya, are contesting from this constituency. In Bhandra, NCP spokesperson and uncrowned King of Gondia and Bhandra districts Prafulla Patel is contesting the election. He had earlier represented the constituency in 1991, 1996 and 1998 as Congress candidate. In the last election BJP candidate Chunni Lal Thakur wrested the seat from Congress but his party dropped him and opted for Shishupal Patley who recently joined the BJP. Four other candidates are also in the fray including Ajab Lal Tularam of BSP and Virendra Kumar Jaikswal of BRP-BMS. The Congress-NCP succeeded in convincing RPI factions led by Jogendra Kawade and R S Gavai and left Chinur and Amravati seats for them respectively. Both were elected from Chimur and Amravati in 1998 but lost the seats to BJP and Shiv Sena in 1999. However, the Congress-NCP combine failed to woo sitting MP and BRP-BMS leader Prakash Ambedkar, who is contesting as Vidrbha front candidate from Akola without the Congress or NCP’s support. The Congress had put up a candidate against Mr Ambedkar who had won the Akola seat in 1998 and 1999 with the support of the Congress. Buldana constituency, reserved for Scheduled Castes, will witness a contest between son of Balkrishna Wasnik, Mukul Wasnik (Congress), who won in 1984, 1991 and 1998 and Anand Adsul of Shiv Sena, who represented it in 1996 and 1999. Adsul was inducted in the NDA Government as Union Minister of State for Finance and Company Affairs. Eight other candidates are in the fray for this seat. MP of dissolved Lok Sabha Bhawana Gavai is re-seeking election from Washim where a straight fight is on the cards with NCP candidate Manohar Rajusing Naik, brother of former Maharashtra Minster late Sudhakar Rajusing Naik. Ten more candidates, including six independents, are in the fight for the seat. Among the total 111 candidates contesting the elections from the region eight are women. Buldana has 14,21325 electorate (6,81353 women), Akola 12,71,055 (6,8,781 women), Washim 11,50,994 (5,57,856 women), Amravati 12,03,855 (572106 women), Ramtek 11,48,012 (5,42,321 women), Nagpur 16,29,719 (7,78,700 women),Bhandara 10,04,670 (5,00,518), Chimur 11, 12,957 (5,40,576 women), Chandrapur 13,29,250 (6,39,101 women), Wardha 11,43,611 (5,45,498 women) and Yavatmal 11,33,045 (5,47,320 women). (UNI) |
|
||
|
CHENNAI, Apr 15: If there is one thing that is sorely missing in the electioneering for the coming Lok Sabha elections, slowly reaching a crescendo, it is colourful and sharp slogans on the walls and roads in various constituencies. With Tamil lending itself easily to rhyming and punning, catchy slogans have been adding colour to campaigning in the previous elections. But not this time. Many of the slogans, this time, seem to be pedantic and just plain. Graffiti on the walls just read ‘vote for Balaganga’ (AIADMK) or Dayanidhi Maran (DMK) in central Chennai constituency, with the respective symbol of the party painted alongside the name of the candidate. Adjectives or titles extolling the virtues of AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa seem to be the lone exception. She is hailed as ‘Kalathai Vendra Kaviya Nayagi’ (heroine who is timeless) and ‘Samooga Neethiai Kaatha Veeranganai’ (protector of social justice). Normally known to come up with punchy and hard hitting slogans to stir the voters, the DMK, which is leading the DPA against arch-rival AIADMK, does not seem to be inspired this time. ‘Sonnathai Seyvom, Seyvathe Solvom’ (we will do what we say, we will only say what we really do) was a hit slogan the party had coined during the previous elections. Another slogan extolling Ms Jayalalithaa however sounds ironical: ‘Cauvery Thaye,’ it says, hailing her as Mother Cauvery, even though her Government had not succeeded in securing the state’s share of Cauvery waters for the delta region. A catchy and meaningful slogan coined by the DMK in the General Elections in the 80s extolled former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Dravidian party, which struck an alliance with the Congress after running it down strongly for proclaiming the emergency in 1975, coined a slogan hailing Indira Gandhi: ‘Nehruvin Magale Varuga, Nilayana Aatchi Tharuga’(welcome Nehru’s daughter, give us a stable Government). And later strongly advocating coalition politics, the DMK came up with another rhyming slogan: ‘Mathiyil Koottachi, Maanilathil Suyatchi’ (coalition at the Centre, single party rule in the states). In the Parliamentary constituencies in the districts, the DMK taking on ‘Amma’ has written slogans on some of her alleged anti-people policies like introduction of honorary ration cards for a family earning a monthly income of Rs 5,000 and above. ‘H Muthiraiyal ration cardai Paritha J Atchiye’ (you have deprived the poor of ration cards with the ‘H’ stamp). Hitting out at her failure to solve the drinking water problem, the DMK slogan lambasting the Chief Minister reads ‘Varattu Gauravathal Kudineer Prichnaiyai Theerkatha J Aatchi’ (Jayalalithaa has failed to solve the drinking water problem standing on false prestige). But none of these slogans really seem to match the ones the two Dravidian parties have coined, taking on each other in the previous polls. Perhaps, the Assembly Elections, two years from now, would inspire the arch-rivals to regain their true form with paint and chalk. (UNI) VP Singh springs to Sonia’s defence on foreign origin issue BANGALORE, Apr 15: Former Prime Minister V P Singh today stepped forward in defence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is under attack from BJP over her foreign origin, and dismissed as "illogical" suggestions to bar her from occupying top constitutional offices. "There cannot be two categories of citizens — doubtful citizens and reliable citizens. Highest post you can hold in India is citizen of India. The post of Prime Minister is not higher than the citizenship of India; It’s derivative of citizens of India", Singh told reporters here. "Either you don’t give citizenship to a foreign-origin person. If a person of foreign origin’s patriotism is in doubt.. And the person can be a security threat..How can you grant citizenship," he argued. Maintaining that the "politics of birth, caste and religion" has been going on in the country for many years, he asked: "how far it will take us. It (Gandhi’s foreign origin) is not an issue with the people". On the post-poll scenario at the Centre, Singh expressed the view that "in a pure power game, it’s very difficult to say who will strike a deal with whom" but claimed that the BJP would not increase its individual tally in Lok Sabha. BJP would not be able to "compensate for the losses in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar". On the Ayodhya issue, Singh said if the BJP had taken its present stand — of resolving the dispute either by court verdict or by mutual settlement — 15 years ago, it would have "saved the country from burning", and sought its apology. He said during the National Front Government, he had taken a similar stand from the very beginning, but the BJP had insisted then that the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya was a matter of faith. "Today, BJP should apologise for all the lives lost...They set the country on fire. If they had accepted the present position 15 years back, the country would not have been burning". He also said: "how much they struggled and sacrificed for abolishing Article 370....Common Civil Code..and now they are talking of consensus on it. Credibility lies there". Responding to a question, Singh said there was a need and political space for a third front — other than the Congress and BJP — but admitted that there isn’t a political outfit at the national level to cogently express the voice of those have been left of their share in the political system. While many have been urging him to take up the leadership role by bringing together all such forces, he said because of his health condition — he is on dialysis and chemotherapy —he was not in a position to do so as he would not be able to "participate fully". (PTI) Low key electioneering in Janjgir in Chhattisgarh! JANJGIR (CHHATTISGARH), Apr 15: The rising mercury level has kept electioneering at a low key in this constituency of Chhattisgarh where there is an acute shortage of water and metalled roads. But these have done nothing to reduce the importance of the constituency primarily because a keen contest is on the cards between BJP vice president Karuna Shukla, niece of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee making her debut in Lok Sabha polls, and Congress veteran Charandas Mahant on the lookout for a hat-trick. The BJP’s poll plank here is Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin and development while Congress is trying to cash-in on Shukla’s "outsider" image. The BJP is fighting the "outsider" tag of Shukla by pointing out that she settled in Chhattisgarh after her marriage. One of the biggest headaches of Charandas Mahant is that supporters of Congress’ most popular face Ajit Jogi, former Chief Minister, are reportedly not favourably disposed towards him because he had opposed Jogi’s taking over the rein of the state after its formation, a job mahant himself had eyed. However, Mahant is banking on the developmental work like construction of bridges, schools and roads carried out during his previous two tenures as member of Lok Sabha. Shukla’s nomination had initially triggered murmurs of discontent in local BJP circles but she hopes that she might become a central minister in the event of her election and BJP-led NDA returning to power galvanised the saffron party. In a constituency of 14 lakh voters living in sparsely-populated villages, the joining of NCP leader V C Shukla in BJP has come as a boost to it which hopes to garner the vote bank of the former Congress veteran. Barring the flurry of activities during Sonia Gandhi’s roadshow in March and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani’s ‘Bharat Uday Yatra’ a week back, electioneering in the constituency has been dull. During a day-long visit to the vast constituency, a PTI correspondent found that the frenzy usually associated with elections is absent. Barring some songs eulogising the candidates being blared out in village markets, there was no campaign activity at all. The searing summer could be a factor. The Lok Sabha constituency is spread over eight assembly segments shared evenly by BJP and Congress. In a 16-cornered contest, BSP and Gondwana Ganatantra party could queer the pitch for BJP and Congress, depending on the extent to which they can dent in their vote banks. (PTI) SAD nominee holds edge in Ropar LS constituency KHARAR, Apr 15: If one were to go by the previous Lok Sabha election result which saw Congress emerge victorious in 1999 and the present political scenario in Punjab’s Ropar constituency (reserved), the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine has a definite edge over Congress. The main reason for this is the unity between the two major factions of Akali Dals led by Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra and BSP parting ways with Congress. In 1999 General Elections, Congress nominee Shamsher Singh Dullo had defeated Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal of SAD-BJP combine. While Dullo polled 3,26,644 votes, Dhaliwal managed 2,49,250 votes. The Tohra-led All India Sarvhind Akali Dal candidate Balbir Kaur, widow of Akali MP Basant Singh Khalsa, got 1,18,353 votes. The BSP had supported Congress from this seat. Shamsher Singh Dullo is once again in fray but SAD has fielded this time Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Libra in Ropar constituency. The other candidates announced from this seat included Mann Singh Manhera of BSP, Surjan Singh Rahi of SAD (Ravi Inder Singh) and Bhag Singh Surtapur of the SAD (Amritsar). In 1998 General Elections, Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal had defeated Mann Singh Manhera of the BSP-Congress combine by a margin of around 86,000 votes. In 1997 by-election caused due to the death of the then Akali MP Basant Singh Khalsa in a road accident, Dhaliwal had defeated former Union Home Minister Buta Singh of Congress by a margin of around 1,31,000 votes. Spread over 140 km, covering five districts of Punjab, this constituency has nine assembly segments namely Kharar, Morindaan Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar district, Sirhind and Amloh in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Nabha in Patiala district, Khanna and Samrala in Ludhiana district and Dhuri in Sangrur district. A quick survey of this reserved constituency shows while Congress has a slight edge over SAD-BJP in Morinda and Khanna asssembly segments, both the parties are neck and neck in Kharar assembly segment in the absence of wave. In the remaining six assembly segments - Chamkaur Sahib, Sirhind, Amloh, Nabha, Samrala and Dhuri - the SAD-BJP has a definite edge over Congress. While dissension among the different groups of Congress leaders is writ large in almost the entire constituency with several rebels even raising voice against the re-nomination of Dullo, the SAD-BJP combine has so far managed to show an united face. At a closed-door meeting with active party leaders from all nine assembly segments in this constituency at Fatehgarh Sahib, Parkash Singh Badal had let it be known that the party wants the Ropar seat by any means. Warning of strict disciplinary action against dissidence, the SAD supremo also asked the party leaders to arrange sufficient financial and public support for the party candidate, party sources said. While Dullo, a resident of Khanna, and Rahi, a resident of Malerkotla, are advocates by profession, Libra is a matriculate with long innings in politics. (PTI) Vajpayee files nomination without fanfare LUCKNOW, Apr 15: Seeking re-election for a fifth consecutive term from here, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today filed his nomination without any fanfare in the back drop of the stampede tragedy that claimed 22 lives on Monday. Accompanied by senior party leaders, including Lalji Tandon on whose birthday celebrations distribution of sarees caused the stampede, 80-year-old Vajpayee filed his papers before the returning officer Aradhana Shukla shortly before noon. Among those present were Kalyan Singh, Rajnath Singh, Pramod Mahajan and Sushma Swaraj, who stood behind the Prime Minister while Tandon was a little far away. Tandon, whose fate as Vajpayee’s election agent was the topic of much speculation in the wake of the tragedy, was seen introducing speakers at a party workers meeting which Vajpayee addressed after the filing of nominmation. Before going to the collectorate Vajpayee sought to invoke the blessings of almighty when he attended a ‘havan’ where his supporters shouted ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ as a priest applied Tilak on his forehead. He also inaugurated his election office in the constituency. Vajpayee filed the nomination on a day of drama marked by Congress party’s decision to field a Rajya Sabha member Akhilesh Das following uncertainty over Congress-backed independent candidate Ram Jethamalani remaining in the field in the wake of the Prime Minister’s appeal to him to withdraw. Jethmalani, who has said it was a national duty for him to fight the elections and not not friendship that mattered, has made it clear that he would take a decision on the Prime Minister’s appeal after consulting his supporters and the parties that have backed him. Congress sources said the decision to field Das, son of late Chief Minister Banarsi Das, was taken as a protective measure to have its own nominee in the field in case Jethamalani withdrew. (PTI) |
||
|
||
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |
