Som Pal banks on caste loyalty
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

BAGHPAT: Winds of change are blowing in this Jat-dominated constituency once the fiefdom of the late Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Mr Ajit Singh lost the seat in the 1998 parliamentary poll to Mr Som Pal Shastri of the BJP. Mr Shastri is the Union Minister of State for Agriculture. Mr Shastri and his father were political proteges of Charan Singh. A Gurjar by caste, Mr Shastri has cultivated ties with his castemen as well as other sections of voters. Another factor that has benefited him has been his alignment with the Arya Samaj movement.

Chaudhary Charan Singh was also an Arya Samajist but Mr Ajit Singh does not prescribe to the faith as doggedly as his father did. Mr Shastri, therefore, drove mileage out of this.

Voters of the constituency have remained faithful to the Charan Singh family. Mr Ajit Singh won the seat on four occasions in 1989, 1991, 1996 and even in the 1997 byelections after the death of his father. It was only at the hands of Mr Shastri that he had to taste defeat.

Analysts opine that even this defeat could be possibly because of the poll strategy of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party. Mr Yadav put up a Muslim candidate to fight against Mr Ajit Singh. The Samajwadi Party candidate Dr Mirazuddin, polled 1,34,696 votes during the 1998 poll. In fact, he made a big dent in the Muslim vote bank of Mr Ajit Singh.

This time, the situation has undergone a sea change. The voters appear not to have much sympathy for Mr Shastri. Jat voters of Malikpur village beat up supporters of Mr Shastri a few days back. These supporters were passing through the village raising pro-Shastri and anti-Ajit Singh slogans. The Meerut police had to detain a number of Jat voters of the village.

Secondly,the Minister of State did not frequently visit his area. In order to win over angry BJP workers, he now recounts the development works undertaken by him in the Baghpat constituency at every election meeting. However, Mr Ajit Singh tells the voters that Mr Shastri is trying to take credit for the developmental works initiated by him.

For instance, Mr Ajit Singh claims that he got the Baghgpat-Meerut and Baghpat-Delhi roads constructed. The Rs 2 crore project of linking Meerut with Baghpat was sanctioned in January, 1997, by the then Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Moti Lal Vohra, on the request of Mr Ajit Singh. Apart from this, the “chhota Chaudhary claims that he got a sugar mill installed in Malikpur, a bridge on the river Yamuna at Barnawa, another college in Baghpat and a central school there.

Mr Shastri claims he took numerous steps for the welfare of farmers and undertook a number of development schemes, including building of roads.

He is basically counting on the support of his castemen — the Gurjars. But his main difficulty is that the Bahujan Samaj Party has also put up a Gurjar nominee this time.

The situation during the 1998 poll was different as the voters then were upset with Mr Ajit Singh because he changed political loyalties too frequently. During the last parliamentary poll, Mr Shastri polled 59,658 votes more than Mr Ajit Singh in the Khekra Assembly segment alone.

In Barnawa, the minister polled 1605 more votes, in Sivalkhas 1479 and in Baghpat 11,181 more votes than his nearest rival, Mr Ajit Singh. The chhota Chaudhary’ was able to poll 42,765 more votes in the Chaprauli Assembly segment. In four assembly segments, the Lok Dal MLAs were returned during the U.P. Assembly poll.

Dr Mirazuddin is reported to have refused to fight as the Samajwadi Party candidate from Baghpat this time.

Moreover, both Muslim and the Jat voters seem inclined towards the Congress-Lok Dal combine in the area. It would, therefore, not be surprising if Mr Ajit Singh is able to salvage his lost glory in the area.

The voting pattern during the 1998 poll was Mr Sompal Shastri (BJP) 2,64,736 votes, Mr Ajit Singh (Bhartiya Kisan Kamgar Party) 2,20,030 votes, Dr Mirazuddin (Samajwadi Party) 1,34,696 votes and Mr Ajay Chauhan (BSP) 79,153 votes.

Kurien’s battle to redeem honour
From Joseph Alexander

IDUKKI: Prof P.J. Kurien, former Union Minister and the Congress Chief Whip in the dissolved Lok Sabha, is far from being assured of a victory in this traditional Congress bastion.

One of the close aides of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the professor is waging a battle for survival with the Congress fortress showing signs of cracks, and the ghost of the infamous ‘Suryanelli sex scandal’ haunting him.

This hilly backward constituency has stood firmly behind the Congress since 1977, and Prof Kurien was elected from here in 1984 with a thumping majority of 1,30,624 votes. But these factors do not seem to be in full play this time around, when it goes to the polls on September 11 in the second phase.

Even as the senior Congress leader is accused of cowardly fleeing from Mavelikkara where he narrowly edged out his rival by a margin of just 1000 votes in 1998, his rival Francis George of the Kerala Congress (Joseph), a partner of the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), is riding on the crest of a sympathy wave as he approaches the voters for the third consecutive time. He contested the 1996 and 1998 poll, Albeit unsuccessfully.

However, Prof Kurien has a justification for the change in constituency. He left Idukki in 1989 when the party high command asked him to move to Mavelikkara. He comes back now after sitting MP P.C. Chacko was shifted to Kottayam as a consequence of Congress strongman K. Karunakaran’s shift from the Thiruvananthapuram to Mukundapuram.

Whether the voters give him another chance or not, his main opponent, Mr Francis George, a bank officer from Moovattupuzha, is confident he will be third time lucky. The son of Mr K.M. George, the founder of the Kerala Congress, he entered the fray in 1996 as a novice.

In a terrain utterly unfriendly to the Left, he made an impact by reducing the victory margin of Mr A.C. Jose of the Congress to 30,140 votes. Again, in 1998, he raised quite a few eyebrows when he bowed to veteran P.C. Chacko, conceding a lead of just 6,380 votes.

But history will not pep up the Left spirit. The largest constituency in the state, covering the assembly segments of Idukki, Thodupuzha, Peermedu, Udumbanchola, Devicolam of Idukki district and Pathanamthitta and Ranni of Pathanamthitta district, has unfailingly returned the Congress-led forces.

As both candidates cannot play the “son-of-the-soil” card, they hail from outside Idukki, the fight is now on to establish closer proximity to the voters.

Though Prof Kurien, who was earlier DCC chief of Pathanamthitta, feels he is closer to the populace after his five-year term as representative, Mr George is confident that he is a known face, as he is in the fray for a third time now.

With no concrete issues to battle it over, it is of little wonder that the charges against the Congress — pulling down the Vajpayee government and failing to put up an alternative, thanks to its obstinate stand, have caught the imagination of many even in this far-flung place, especially among the educated youth.

The Left camp is pinning its hopes on the new voters, numbering 68,476 who might dare to tread a new political path.

Also, the neutral votes, the indifferent voters and the eleventh hour voters, lend hope to Mr George and company. Mr George’s close interaction with the voters, his pleasing countenance and his legacy is expected to lend him an edge over Prof Kurien.

This hilly area, where agricultural produce is the main source of income, has always loved those leaders who speak at the top of their voices espousing the causes of rubber, cardamom, pepper, coffee, tea and coconut.

It is yet not known how the ire over the slump in prices of cash crops will influence the swing in votes, and in favour of whom.

The UDF camp is projecting Prof Kurien as minister if the Congress comes to power at the Centre, and is emphasising on the fact that he is an experienced political leader and efficient administrator.

Pitted against the considerable strength of the Left trade unions in the plantations here, Prof Kurien’s poll managers hope to cash in on the alliance between the Congress and the AIADMK in neighbouring Tamil Nadu to woo the Tamil populace here.

However, Prof Kurien’s cup of woe is full with the trial of the Suryanelli scandal, in which he is an accused, making the headlines at present.

Suryanelli falls in Idukki, and Mr Kurien is fighting elections here, the first after news of the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl rocked the state. Though the LDF camp has openly announced that it will not rake up the scandal, Prof Kurien’s managers, reluctant to trust the integrity of their rivals, say they will not be able to suppress a whispering campaign.’

Prof Kurien, pleads innocence, says the election is a moral fight for proving his honour.

The main strength of the UDF is the Christian votes, especially from the migrated Catholics from Central Travancore. The Kerala Congress groups, in general, and the Mani faction in particular, have a strong base in the constituency. It is these “addicted” Congress lovers, who cannot think of the Red flag, that the Kurien camp is banking on.

The NDA has fielded Mr Tomy Cheruvallil on the Lok Shakti ticket, while seven other Independents are also in the fray. However, neither the NDA candidate nor any of the Independents hope to make any inroads into the vote banks of the two towering rivals. — UNI

Yashwant Sinha to stand from Hazaribagh

PATNA: At least 19 members of the Bihar legislature, four members of the state legislative council and seven state ministers are in the fray for the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Three Rajya Sabha members are also in the contest to enter the Lower House of Parliament.

State Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ramai Ram is pitted against former Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan in the Hajipur (SC) constituency while Minor Irrigation Minister Vijay Krishna is contesting another former Railway Minister Nitish Kumar from the Barh Lok Sabha constituency.

Bihar Institutional Finance Minister Aklu Ram Mahato is contesting from Hazaribagh where Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha is seeking re-election as the BJP nominee.

State Higher Education Minister Ashok Singh is contesting from Samastipur, Food and Supply Minister Purnamasi Ram will fight from Bagha (SC), state Cooperative Minister Surya Deo Rai will stand from Sitamarhi and Minister of State for Minority Welfare Javed Iqbal Ansari from Godda.

The four members of the state legislative council are Congress nominee Mahachandra Prasad Singh (Maharajganj), RJD nominee Mahendra Sahani (Muzaffarpur), CPI(M) candidate Subodh Rai (Bhagalpur) and JD (U) candidate Arun Kumar(Jehanabad).

RJD spokesman Shivanand Tiwari is contesting from the Buxar seat while Janata Dal (United) leader Ramjivan Singh is the party candidate from the Balia constituency. His legislator colleague Naval Kishore Rai is a candidate from Sitamarhi. The BJP legislator, Mr Laxman Gilua is contesting from the Singhbhum (ST) seat.

The Congress has fielded four MLAs — Mrs Sushila Karketta (Khunti), Mr Mubarak Hussain (Katihar), Mr Furkan Ansari (Godda) and Mr Rajendra Singh (Giridih).

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren) has nominated two legislators — Mr Champai Soren (Singhbhum) and Mr Vishwanath Bhagat (Lohardagga). The other MLAs of the Jharkhand named parties are Mr Teklal Mahato (Hazaribagh), Mr Shiva Mahato (Giridih), and Mr N.E. Horo (Khunti).

The CPI(ML) legislator nominees are Mr Amarnath Yadav (Siwan), Mr Rameshwar Prasad (Arrah) and Mr Rajaram Singh (Aurangabad).

The CPI has also fielded Mr Satya Narayan Singh from the Khagaria seat and Mr Tribeni Tiwari from Bettiah while Bihar People’s Party MLA nominee Lovely Anand is the party candidate from Vaishali.

Three Rajya Sabha members are also in the fray. They are Mr Nagmani (RJD-Chatra), Mr Gaya Singh (CPI-Nalanda) and Mr Janardan Yadav (Bihar Vikas Party). — UNI

Today’s ‘netas’, not in khadi, but designer wear
From Varun Soni

NEW DELHI: Indian politician has come a long way — from the simple khadi clad days of yore to the present crop — sporting designer clothes, Nike shoes and Calvin Klein sunglasses.

Today’s neta is fashion-savvy who accepts the need to improve his physical appearance before addressing an election meeting or appearing for a TV interview.

The entry of personalities from the world of showbiz, too has brought in an element of glamour and hi-fashion, hitherto absent in the political firmament of the country.

The Indian edition of the international fashion magazine Elle recently awarded film star and Rajya Sabha MP Shabana Azmi the title of “most stylish politician” in the country at a style awards ceremony.

Naina Balsavar, ex-Miss India and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Nainital, modelled for a khadi collection wearing a blue and grey ensemble.

Former Union Finance Minister and Congress candidate from South Delhi, Dr Manmohan Singh, reportedly prefers wearing Nike shoes while campaigning.

All this is also seen by many as part of the image building procedure adopted by political parties which usually starts with engaging public relations and advertising firms to adopting information technology for publicity.

In marked departure from earlier days when poll manifestos of political parties used to be drab documents, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) released a glossy manifesto, with colored blow ups of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee immaculately draped in chic dhoti-kurta with made-to-order jackets.

“I like what Vajpayee wears. A dhoti-kurta with a waist coat looks perfect on him,” says fashion designer Ravi Bajaj suggesting that the Prime Minister could, however, do with a better pair of footwear, maybe a pair of half-closed ones.

“While visiting other countries, a bandhgala suit with trousers and shoes would give him an impeccable look”.

“It is always the overall impact of the campaigner that matters. And clothes are a part of it. If he is looking good, at least some, if not all, in the audience are definitely going to sit up and notice,” says fashion diva Ritu Beri.

“Such image-building measures are not taken consciously but it is a fact that people always relate to a more presentable candidate in a much better way,” says BJP media coordination in charge Amitabh Sinha.

“The first impression is always the last one and putting a bit of the local flavour in the get up of the candidate definitely helps.

“Also, the man whom we project as the prime ministerial candidate should be acceptable to a all generations. A man full of vigour and energy only can steer the country towards a more meaningful and modern path,” he says.

“Image building is by far the most important measure in an election for it sometimes even influences the poll outcome,” agrees senior Congress leader Visvajit Singh.

“Perceptions about a particular candidate, usually built-up by the media, can easily be calibrated and there is a need for taking steps to diffuse this, hence the importance of such measures,” adds Congress media cell incharge Tom Vadakkan and compares it with food.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi herself seems to be following the adage “when in Roma, do as Romans do” by wearing outfits particularly in vogue in the region where she is campaigning.

Also, the fact that Rajesh Pilot is always seen with a Rajasthani “pugree” might have more to do with “looking good” factor rather then an attempt to please his Rajasthani vote bank.

Rumours have it that a few politicians have a “penchant for facials and sunscreen lotions”.

But this fashion consciousness is not restricted to political leaders alone and has even bitten the ordinary party cadre.

Ties in orange and green with a lotus in full bloom are available for the die-hard BJP fan, so is a generous stock of silk sarees of both the artificial and Surat variety with the party’s colours and symbol printed all over are also available.

At the Congress headquarters, khadi kurta-pyjamas are being sold like hot cakes. A particular trader has only 200 left out of a stock of 1,000.

Apart from clothes, preferences are also reflected in liquor, which is allegedly distributed during poll campaign.

As a local political leader says, “cheap liquor doesn’t work any more. Country liquor, of the pouched variety, is just not acceptable”.

However, D. Raja of the Communist Party of India terms these image-building measures as “mere gimmicks” which do not serve any purpose. “Ultimately what matters are policies that concern the needs of the people and only that candidate is acceptable to the masses who addresses their basic needs,” he says.

But why this sudden turnaround in the approach of the politicians towards the public, the media and surprisingly even to themselves.

“In the olden days, the party name and flag were enough to pull in crowds but now parties need a vehicle to get their message across. And the appearance spruce-up process is part of this image-building process,” says Sinha.

And it is this awareness among politicians that a khadi-wearing neta is increasingly becoming a rare species today. — PTI

A shot in the arm for NC in Jammu
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU: The National Conference (NC) received a shot in the arm when the Gurdwara Prabhandhak Board announced its support to the party candidates in the Jammu and Udhampur constituencies.

Mr Sudershan Singh Wazir, chairman of the board, told newsmen here on Wednesday that it was the moral duty of the Sikhs to vote against what he called “communal BJP and anti-Sikh Congress”.

Mr Wazir said the NC was the real secular and democratic organisation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The board chief appealed to the Sikh voters to vote for the National Conference candidates in the Jammu and Udhampur constituencies.

With this decision over 60,000 Sikh voters in the Jammu constituency stand divided in three groups. While the SAD has announced its support for the BJP candidates, the state Akali Dal is mustering support for PDP candidate Trilok Singh Bajwa and the Gurdwara Prabhandhak Board supporting the National Conference.

As the pre-poll campaign in the Jammu and Udhampur constituencies has gained momentum contesting political parties have started making claims and counter-claims. While the BJP claims that it would win both the seats, the Janata Party has caused a flutter by saying that it would win five of the six seats. The Congress has made yet another tall claim by informing AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has launched his campaign in support of the Congress here today, that the party would win the Jammu and Udhampur seats.

The NC is reportedly gaining ground in the Jammu constituency where Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has made some dent in the vote bank of the Congress and the BJP during the last two days. The BJP appears to be safe in Udhampur.

As far as resources and manpower are concerned the NC is much ahead of the BJP and the Congress. Several ministerial colleagues and rich businessmen have been assisting the party candidates in organising series of poll rallies.

Quote...unquote

I was also on the bus that went to Pakistan and our effort was to extend a hand of friendship. But when the Kargil conflict broke out we witnessed Atal’s ‘shanti’ change to ‘kranti’.

— Cine star Shatrughan Sinha

You have to decide the destiny of this country. Every vote matters. Give me five years. Give me an absolute majority and we will show you that coalitions can work in this country.

— A.B Vajpayee in a speech after filing his nomination papers from Lucknow

The party has taken a decision this time. The party has discussed the subject. If another opportunity (that of becoming the Prime Minister) comes, we will reconsider it.

— Jyoti Basu

If the Indian Constitution does not say anything one way or another, then it is best left to the voters.

— A US-born American Indian politician on Sonia Gandhi running for office

Carried to absurd lengths, the Election Commission’s search for “a level playing field” for all candidates would require a ban on all campaigning so that no party enjoys an advantage in terms of superior resources.

— Editorial comment in the Pioneer

Now a days, the Congress leaders have taken the “hit-and-run” style of campaigning. They hurl all kinds of allegations and spread canards against their political opponents.

— Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on the Congress’ ongoing “negative propaganda”

(Compiled by Mukul Bansal)

Nutshell

Voterless booth

BHUBANESWAR (UNI): The Election office here is caught in a quandary whether to send polling officials to booth that exists on the records, but has no voter at present. Booth No 80 in the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency had more than 400 voters in the last parliamentary election. They were relocated by the state government following a decision to set up a steel plant at Gopalpur by Tata Iron and Steel Company.

Nagaland seat

KOHIMA (UNI): Electioneering for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland is picking up after all nomination papers were found to be valid by the returning officer on Tuesday. The polling is scheduled for September 25. The Congress has fielded Mr Asungba Sangtam, while the Nagaland Peoples Council (NPC) and Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) have jointly fielded Mr Shurhozelie. BJP state chief Dr N. Rhetso is another contestant. State Lok Shakti candidate Akhei Achumi and Mr Roland Lotha are also in the fray.

Uma Bharti

BHOPAL (PTI): The Nationalist Congress Party’s demand that nomination papers of BJP nominee and Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Uma Bharti be cancelled, has been rejected by the returning officer of the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. S.K. Vashisth, returning officer, told newspersons here today that the NCP state general-secretary Jaipal Singh had made a complaint to the Election Commission that Ms Bharti’s papers be rejected on the ground that she had concealed the fact that she was an accused in the Babri Mosque demolition case.

EC observers

SHIMLA (TNS): The Election Commission has appointed three observers for the Shimla (Reserved Lok Sabha constituency. The observers are Mr N.V. Madhvan, Mr R.R. Rashmi and Mr Rajesh Dhingra. According to the Returning Officer, Mr Ram Subhag Singh, the observers can be contacted in the state guest house (Peterhoff) here.

September 3, 1999

• BSP supporters’ role to be crucial
• Regional factors may take back seat in HP
• Jammu: It’s Farooq-Sayeed tussle
• Saharanpur: Fierce contest in offing
• Wooing Delhi voters through Internet
• Hi-tech Naidu changes tactics
• Tiruchirapalli: PM’s ‘blue-eyed boy’ faces stiff contest
• Gandhinagar: It is political obscenity!
• Solapur: Shinde in triangular contest
• New Delhi: Dry days cause chaos
• New Delhi: Former CM Varma sees no contest
• Faridabad: Rift in Cong camp may benefit BJP

September 2, 1999

• Kurukshetra: Congress leaves nothing to chance
• Chandigarh:Local issues dominate
• ‘Hindu rashtra BJP aim’
• HP staff may keep ‘neutral’
• Bathinda: Parties promise development
• Large ballot paper in Bhiwani
• Donning political mantle
• Sparks will fly in Sivakasi
• Rohira: Tribal taboos hit campaign
• Kariana: Jat, Muslim votes crucial
• AP voters say no to ‘khalnayaks’

September 1, 1999

• It may be neck and neck in Karnal
• Tarn Taran: Hanging onto emotive issues
• Ropar: Kargil, Sonia non-issues
• Playing Nawab of Malerkotla
• Srinagar: Amenities voters' top priority
• Faridkot: Similar styles but different agenda
• Sriganganagar: Poll unites drug addicts
• Hassan: Gowda ploughs lonely furrow
• Gandhinagar: Seshan makes Advani sit up
• Scindia shifts to Guna
• Amritsar: Protecting armed forces’ interests

August 31, 1999

• Faridkot: Voters passive, contestants anxious
• Amritsar: Misusing martyrs’ statues
• Sirsa: Herculean task for Cong
• Gurdaspur: ‘Dhadis’ set the mood at meetings
• Patiala: Ruralites not swayed by Kargil
• Fall in hiring of jeeps
• Bellary: ‘Swadeshi’ beti vs ‘videshi’ bahu
• Sriganganagar: Jat tilt to be decisive
• Time for electorate to teach the "green lesson"
• Kapadwanj (Gujarat): Local hero poses threat
• New Delhi: Keen tussle between Jagmohan, Dhawan
• One nomination filed in Himachal

August 30, 1999

• Patiala: Parties woo urban voters
• Gurdaspur: All poised for nail-biting finish
• Sirsa: Audio-video show on wheels
• HP parties ignore fair sex
• No Congress wave, says Badal
• Tamil Nadu: Caste equations to play key role
• Bangalore: Sharief, George’s kin lock horns
• Goa may see photo-finish
• Delhi: Middle-class shift decisive
• Cong: CM’s kin violating code

August 29, 1999

• BJP hamstrung by infighting
• Anti-incumbency factor can’t be ignored
• Will anti-Sonia rhetoric pay?
• Keeping leaders guessing
• Boycott call alarms candidates

• Townsmen keep cards close to chest
• Hoshiarpur sans poll fever
• Banking on PM’s charisma
• Parody on roads

August 27, 1999

• Ambala: Looking to committed vote base
• Selling BJP ‘corporate style’
• Chandigarh: ‘Outsiders’ may tilt the scales
• Sonia Gandhi spins web

August 26, 1999

• Three-cornered fight in offing
• Striving to ‘cleanse’ politics
• Gone is Mann’s hardline streak
• ‘Talli nahi vaji’
• No political morality: Bansi

August 25, 1999

• Rural vote may seal fate
• Caste card to be decisive
• ‘Yeh to neta logo ka kam se’
• ‘Negative’ baggage of promises

August 24, 1999

• Swaraj meets ‘videshi’ in jeans city
• Caste dynamics to ensure keen fight
• Jathedar issue may matter

August 23, 1999

• Voter in punishing mood
• Sick industry major issue
• It’s poster war in Jalandhar

August 22, 1999

• 120 in fray from Punjab
• No single-party bastion

August 21, 1999

• Local issues may hold the key
• BJP skirts contentious issues

August 20, 1999

• Cong remains wedded to mixed economy
• Competitive populism at play

August 19, 1999

• Nominations come to close
• Local sentiments dominate
• Akali divisions confuse voters
•