Poll no reflection on government: George
Tribune News Service and agencies

SRINAGAR, Nov 25 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, said here today that the poll in four states was not going to be a "verdict on the performance of the BJP-led government" at the Centre.

"This poll can have no impact and no significance viz-a-viz our performance at the Centre," Mr Fernandes said while replying to questions from media persons after inauguration of the resurfaced runway at the airport here this morning.

Referring to his party's alliance with the BJP, the Defence Minister said it had seat adjustments in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Replying to a question on negotiations with separatists in Kashmir for restoration of peace and normalcy, he said that a common approach was needed for a dialogue with the militants. He reiterated that the separatists' demand for unconditional talks was in itself a condition put forward by them. He differed with the views of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has been opposing any such talks with the separatists in Kashmir.

When asked why there was no common approach for resolving the Kashmir issue with the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister against holding any talks with Kashmiri militants and some central leaders being in favour of talks within the framework of the Indian Constitution, Mr Fernandes said, "We should respect Dr Abdullah's sentiments on this issue."

On Pakistan's apprehensions about India's military exercises being preparatory war exercises along the borders, he said, "these are exercises which are held regularly".

Asked how the government is going to tackle the threat of foreign militants equipped with high-tech communication set-up and sophisticated weapons, Mr Fernandes said. "Indian troops are well-equipped to fight the foreign mercenaries."

Exit polls see Cong win in Delhi, Rajasthan
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 — A resurgent Congress is set to sweep the assembly elections in Delhi and Rajasthan while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to do well in Madhya Pradesh.

As per the exit poll results conducted by the Development and Research Services(DRS) and telecast by Doordarshan, the Congress seems to have gained substantially because of the anti-incumbency factor in the Capital and Rajasthan. Among the issues said to have led the Congress to the chair of power in both states is the sharp rise in prices of essential commodities.

The DRS exit poll results till 2 p.m. indicated that the Congress would get absolute majority in the Delhi Assembly and the BJP would get as many seats as the Congress has in the current House.

In the outgoing assembly, the Congress had 14 seats and the BJP 49 in the 70-member Delhi Assembly. In Delhi, while the rising prices seem to have been the deciding factor with 65 per cent citing the same in their response, 7 per cent respondents stated that civic amenities was a issue in the Delhi assembly poll. Better governance was an issue for only 4 per cent.

In Rajasthan, 42 per cent respondents said that they cast their vote on the price rise issue for 15 per cent better governance was the issue and 13 per cent considered civic amenities and development as the main issue.

The BJP is slightly ahead of the ruling Congress in Madhya Pradesh. In the north-eastern state of Mizoram, the Opposition combine — Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Mizo Peoples Congress — is poised to sweep the poll with the ruling Congress doing very badly.

A large number of rebels belonging to both BJP and Congress are said to have done well in Rajasthan.

Cong, Akali workers clash, 70 pc cast vote
Tribune News Service

ADAMPUR (Jalandhar), Nov 25 — As much as 70 per cent of the 1.19 lakh voters exercised their franchise in brisk and heavy polling reported from all over the Adampur constituency of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which went to polls today.

The polling was officially described as peaceful and smooth although the Punjab Congress chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, alleged that there were a few minor incidents in which a Congress worker was allegedly slapped by some Akalis in the Bhogpur area and an incident of firing in the air took place in Ramnagar Chhumo village near Adampur town. According to Mr Bir Devinder Singh, general secretary of the PCC, an FIR was being lodged against Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal for alleged assault.

While pattern of polling varied from place to place, it opened generally on a dull note at 7 a.m. As morning chill wore off due to sunshine, people including men, women, young and old, came out in large numbers to exercise franchise. Election camps decorated with colourful party flags, banners and posters, put up by various political parties were a beehive of activity with party volunteers going through voters' lists to help voters in identifying serial numbers and writing slips for them to enable them to cast their vote quickly.

The pace of polling was so fast that by 1 p.m. up to 65 per cent of votes had been cast at many polling stations visited by The Tribune team. At polling station no 100 in Adampur town, 365 out of a total of 889 votes had been cast by 12.30 p.m. In the first two hours, 127 votes were cast at this polling station. At polling station no 99 in Adampur town, 402 votes had been cast out of a total of 946 by 12.30 p.m. At polling station no 31, in Binpal Ke Nangal village on the road to Bhogpur, 156 votes out of a total of 247 had been cast by 1 p.m. It was the same story in polling station no 30 where 525 votes had been cast out of a total of 954 by 1 p.m.

The Punjab PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, along with a large number of party leaders, was seen going round various party camps in the constituency to assess party prospects and supervise polling. Also seen making the rounds of the constituency was the Union Minister of State, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, a son of Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, as also a large number of other Punjab Akali Ministers.

The Akali Dal (B) is virtually locked in straight contest with the Congress in the byelection. The Dal(B) has fielded Mr Dalbir Singh Dhirowal while the Congress has put up Mr Kanwaljit Singh Lalli, who lost to Mr Saroop Singh in the last Assembly poll. The death of Mr Saroop Singh has caused the by-election.

Other candidates in the field include Ms Vidwant Kaur (BSP) and Mr Anoop Singh Minhas (Akali Dal-A). Although forming part of the Doaba region generally regarded as pro-Congress, Adampur has not returned a Congress candidate to the Punjab Assembly since 1967.

PTI and UNI add: In Akhara village, polling remained suspended for over half-an-hour as polling agent of Akali Dal (Badal) reached about 40 minutes after balloting began at 7 a.m. and protested at the progress starting without his presence.

The 47 ballots cast till then were however sealed in the presence of state Minister Jagir Kaur (SAD) and legislator Amarjit Singh Samra (Cong). G P Verma, the Election Commission-appointed observer for the by-poll complained to state’s Chief Election Officer Barjindar Singh and district Deputy Commissioner cum election officer Som Parkash about Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal moving around with a large caravan of vehicles and men insisting on visiting polling booths.

Mr Verma said certain ministers tried to enter polling booths but were prevented by the police. Minister of State for Tourism Jagir Kaur was barred from entering a poling booth at Bhullowal, police sources said.

Polling was briefly held up at Akhara village near Bhogpur following a wordy duel between Akali and Congress workers. At Bhatnura Lubana, tempers ran high between the Congress men and the Akali activists on the setting up of polling booth.

Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Vidwant Kaur told journalists at Nangal Fidda village that certain Congress men allegedly tried to mislead BSP supporters at Moga and Laroi villages to vote for Congress candidate Kanwaljit Singh Lalli, claiming that she had retired in his favour.

State Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh,who met journalists on the Alawalpur-Bhogpur link road, exuded confidence, claiming "we have won the battle."

A medicine dispenser was bashed up by Akali workers at Bhogpur town this afternoon following a wordy duel between a customer and some Akali activists, who reportedly had come from Ludhiana.

Shopkeeper Krishan Kumar alleged that this younger brother Happy was alone at the shop and was beaten up. The two brothers accompanied by their father rolled down shutters of their shop and left the scene in a huff, saying "though we are BJP supporters we will vote for Congress candidate now."

Meanwhile certain Akali activists alleged that the shopkeeper was beaten up by a youth accompanying the motorcade of Union Minister and Chief Minister’s son Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Brickbats were exchanged between workers of the ruling Akali party and the Congress at Ramnagar locality of Adampur town this evening just before close of the days polling.

The trouble reportedly began when the Congress activists caught two alleged impersonators trying to cast votes five minutes before close of polling at 5 p.m.

Police reports said nobody was hurt on either side and fate of alleged impersonators Pardeep Kumar and Vinod Kumar, who made an unsuccessful attempt to cast votes in booth numbers 114 and 115, was also not known.

Witnesses told UNI that when the trouble arose a crowd of about 200 Akali workers led by Union Minister and Chief Minister’s son Sukhbir Singh Badal happened to be on the scene and they exchanged brickbats with 50 Congress workers and supporters.

Earlier, Congress activists blocked traffic at Bhogpur town in Adampur Assembly constituency following alleged assault on a man by Akali workers accompanying Mr Badal around 4.30 p.m., the sources said.

Led by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Choudhary Jagjit Singh and Punjab Congress vice-president Avtar Henry, the Congress men demanded registration of a case against Mr Badal and his supporters who,they alleged, uprooted tent and upturned tables and chairs in their election camp following slanging match of sloganeering between workers of the two parties