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New Delhi, March 5 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will undertake a review of the party’s poll preparations and strategy tomorrow at a meeting which will be attended by top BJP leaders.
Cong too is star-studded with Zeenat,
Moushmi, Asrani
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Wooing voters with Holi colours
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Powell to visit India, Pak India, Israel sign deal Mumbai trade unions turn against George
CPM objects to George’s remarks
India, USA dwell on defence research
Lieut-Gen Puri appointed Military Secy
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BJP reviews poll preparations today
New Delhi, March 5 “The meeting will discuss the internal assessment of the party’s electoral prospects in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Orissa,” party sources said. A Powerpoint presentation will be made on various aspects of the poll campaign and the steps to be taken to boost the party’s electoral prospects. The meeting is also expected to discuss the entry of people from all sections of society and its impact on the party’s electoral prospects. The meeting is being held since Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani will leave for Kanyakumari soon after Holi to start his Bharat uday yatra from March 10, the sources said. It has also been decided that film stars and others from the celluloid world who had recently joined the party may undertake an informal training programme prior to their launching the election campaign, the sources said. “Each of them will have a party activist attached to them who will guide them and ensure that they are not overstrained. These new campaigners would be given a few guidelines to be followed and the issues that need to be highlighted,” the sources said. Mr Vajpayee has asked BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan to go to Lucknow for a meeting with state leaders on Monday to discuss the preparations in the state. With the party going it alone in the 80 Lok Sabha seats and the return of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh after four years, the BJP does not want to leave any stone unturned. Aiming for 300 seats on its own and a two-thirds majority for the NDA, the BJP attaches much importance to UP in its electoral strategy. In another development, the Sharad Joshi-led Swatantra Bharat Party, having an influence in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, joined the NDA alliance led by the BJP. Mr Joshi said his party’s decision came in the wake of the assurance given by the BJP and Shiv Sena to work for the cause of a separate Vidarbha state. “The BJP has assured to mention the Vidarbha issue in its manifesto,” he said. |
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Cong too is star-studded with Zeenat, New Delhi, March 5 With the BJP hogging the headlines with the induction of film stars, sportspersons and political personalities on a daily basis, it was the turn of the Congress to counter its political opponent with its very own star line-up. There were several smiling faces at the AICC headquarters today as well-known comedian Asrani, “dum maro dum” girl Zeenat Aman, upcoming film stars Namrata Shirodkar and Celina Jaitely and film star Sharad Kapoor turned up to pledge support to the Congress while yesteryear actress Moushmi Chatterjee joined the party. As for the BJP’s move to pinch its political leaders, the latest being former Karnataka Chief Minister S.Bangrappa, the Congress promptly hit back by parading his electoral rival, A.Manjunath, as its day’s catch. Providing a sneak preview of his election campaign, comedian Asrani clearly stole the show as he had people rolling with laughter with his spirited “performance” and his famous lines from the hit film “Sholay.” “Thode idhar jao, thode udhar, baki Congress ke peeche aajao,” was his opening line, after which there was no stopping him. Mocking the BJP’s India Shining campaign, he thundered, “Yeh kaisa shining hai...Jiski sabzi nahin bikti woh hi unko chamka ke bechta hai,” adding that India has been shining for years. If Asrani was his usual comic himself, Moushmi Chatterjee was as fiesty as ever. She bristled with anger when asked if film stars were being paid to support the Congress, dubbing it as an insult. She had a ready politically correct answer when asked if she would contest or campaign in her home state, West Bengal. “Why only West Bengal...I am an Indian and will speak for the entire country,” she shot back, adding that she was always there for the Congress, having been brought up on its ideology. “It is an original, I don’t believe in Xerox copies,” she stated. Others who turned up today had similar messages. Zeenat Aman was all for the Congress commitment to secularism, having been brought up by a Brahmin mother and a Muslim father. “I am here for something I believe in and I believe in a secular India,” said the seventies go-go girl. Actor Sharad, however, stuck a jarring note when he sought support for the Congress on the ground that since it had ruled for 40 years. The star parade virtually eclisped the entry of an important BJP political leader from Karnataka. Mr A.Manjunath, who is Mr Bangarappa’s political opponent, said he had decided to join the Congress now that his his rival has switched over to the BJP. Chief Minister S.M.Krishna, who introduced the new entrant, admitted that Mr Bangarappa’s exit would have a marginal impact on the Congress but added there were ways to make up the loss and Mr Manjunath’s entry would definitely boost the party. Meanwhile, Former Miss World Yukta Mookhey today joined the BJP. She would campaign for the party. Yukta Mookhey, who formally joined the party in the presence of BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, told newspersons that she decided to join the party as she was impressed with the phenomenal progress made by the country in the past five years under the leadership of the Prime Minister.  |
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Wooing voters with Holi colours
New Delhi, March 5 CPI national secretary Atul Kumar Anjaan, who is recontesting from Ghonsi in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, boarded the Lichvi Express today afternoon to reach Mau well in time on Saturday. His constituency is 20 km from Mau. Mr Anjaan, who hails from Lucknow, loves to play Holi and did not think twice before accepting the invitation of Muslim Inter College and some political organisations. Ms Subhashini Ali, former CPI(M) MP from Kanpur who lives in Civil Lines, is looking forward to “Holi milan”, which she describes as a time for ‘meeting long-lost friends’. “Holi is a very big festival in Kanpur and I will be very much in Kanpur on Holi,’’ she said. Ms Ali had won the seat in 1989. She is contesting after 1996 when she lost to the BJP candidate. In Punjab political leaders cutting across party lines realise the social and political significance of their presence in their constituencies on this colourful festival. Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) president Simranjit Singh Mann, who is contesting from Sangrur for the fourth time, will be in Anandpur Sahib on Saturday. Mr Mann told TNS, “Hola Mohalla is a famous event in the Sikh calendar. We are holding a big political conference in Anandpur Sahib tomorrow.’’ Animal rights activist and former Minister Maneka Gandhi has always been different. And Holi is no exception. Ms Gandhi, who joined the BJP recently along with her son Varun, is likely to recontest from Pilibhit. But, she will be in Delhi on Holi. RJD vice president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh left for his constituency Vaishali in north Bihar. His loyalists in Delhi said he would participate in “Holi milan” in Patna. |
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Muslim leaders’ call to defeat BJP
New Delhi, March 5 The organisers of the convention had invited leaders of most non-NDA political parties to evolve a “Muslim agenda” for the Lok Sabha poll. But only two CPI secretaries turned up. |
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Powell to visit India, Pak New Delhi, March 5 He said the US Ambassador to India, Mr David
Mulford, met External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha here yesterday and proposed the visit of Mr Powell. Mr Sinha told Mr Mulford that Mr Powell was “most welcome”, the spokesman said. It is understood that Mr Powell would also be visiting Pakistan which makes it obvious that his talks with the Indian leadership would focus on Indo-Pak peace process and nuclear non-proliferation, besides an indepth discussion on Indo-US relations. Mr Powell is expected to hold extensive talks with Mr Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. |
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India, Israel sign deal New Delhi, March 5 Under the deal, worth Rs 5,000 crore, the country would get three Phalcons from Israel, a Defence Ministry spokesperson here said. The deal was signed by Mr C.R.
Mahapatra, Joint Secretary in the Defence Ministry, and Israel Livnet, Vice-President of the Israeli Aircraft Industrial Corporation. The spokesperson said India would get the first Phalcon 44 months after the advance payment, to be made by New Delhi within the next 45 days. The second Phalcon would be delivered 53 months and the third six months thereafter, he said. |
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Mumbai trade unions turn against George
Mumbai, March 5 The Hindustan Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat. (HMKP), an umbrella body of trade unions in Mumbai’s civic body, the taxi and autorickshaw unions and the city’s hawkers have turned against Mr Fernandes. The revolt against Mr Fernandes is being led by his one time protege and associate for nearly four decades Sharad Rao, who is a fiery trade unionist in his own right. On Friday, Mr Rao formally joined the Nationalist Congress Party after his relationship with Mr Fernandes deteriorated ever since the latter joined the National Democratic Alliance government. “We have decided to split with Mr Fernandes because of our ideological differences,” Mr Rao, general secretary of the HMKP told reporters before joining the NCP.” A new president of the HMKP will be selected in place of George at a general body meeting to be held soon,” he said. According to Mr Rao, relations with Mr Fernandes went downhill over the NDA government’s liberalisation policies or “anti-labour policies”, as the trade unionist calls it. He added that Mr Fernandes did not heed to the trade unionists’ request to quit the NDA government to protest the reforms. Observers say Mr Rao’s entry into the NCP will provide the Democratic Front government in Maharashtra a major boost in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Mr Rao may himself contest on NCP ticket in alliance with the Congress. |
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CPM objects to George’s remarks
New Delhi, March 5 “Such a brazen anti-democratic statement is seeking the people’s mandate in order to negate the very same people’s earlier mandate in the Assembly election, which installed the Rabri Devi-led RJD government in Bihar,” the party said in a statement. Under these circumstances, the Left party appealed to the RJD to adhere to the understanding reached earlier — the CPM to contest two seats in Bihar and RJD one seat in West Bengal. The CPM said it had decided to recontest its sitting seat in Bhagalpur and had sought one seat from
Samastipur, Madhepura, Jhanjarpur, Nawadah, Bettiah. |
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India, USA dwell on defence research
New Delhi, March 5 Mr Al Volkman, Director of International Cooperation from the US office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics, led the US delegation. |
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Lieut-Gen Puri appointed Military Secy
Lieut-Gen Puri who commanded a corps in the Western Theatre, replaces Lieut-Gen Mahesh Vij, who superannuated on March 1 after 40 years of service. Also, Lieut-Gen Deepak Kapoor, General Officer Commanding, 33 Corps, has taken over as Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery. |
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In video: Jaipur
readies for the festival of colours. (
New Delhi, March 5