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Who will head Cong govt in Haryana?
Rohtak no longer BJP pocket borough
Jhajjar District
Sugar price a poll issue
‘Dhoom’ time for Haryanvi voters
Congress fears large-scale rigging, moves EC
Advani blames Cong for Naxalite
violence
Sangwan’s prestige at stake in Sonepat
BJP struggles for survival
It’s Chautala vs Bhajan Lal
Ramoowalia campaigns for CPM nominee
CM campaigns for Hisar candidate
Laloo’s spell doesn’t charm Muslims
Campaigning ends for first phase
8 helicopters to keep vigil in Naxal-hit areas
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Who will head Cong govt in Haryana?
Chandigarh, February 1 Leaders in different regions of the state claim themselves to be the party’s choice for the top post. In the Deswali Jat-dominated districts of Rohtak, Sonepat and Jhajjar, it is former Haryana Congress President and MP from Rohtak Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is projected by his supporters as ahead of others in the race for the post of Chief Minister. Among non-Jats, there is no alternative to Mr Bhajan Lal. He remains the best bet. He claims at public meetings that since the high command has obliged him with 60 of the 90 seats, who else but he could be the Chief Minister. His opponents rebut his claim. In central Haryana, Mr Birender Singh, a former Haryana Congress chief, and the father-son duo of the Surjewalas — Shamsher and Randeep — seek votes by promising to bring the top post to their area. In the districts of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Karnal, which form a part of north Haryana, Ms Selja, Union Minister of State for Urban Employment and MP from Ambala, is projected as the future Chief Minister. Her supporters say not it was the turn of north Haryana to provide leadership to the state. Ms Selja, who was saying till the other day that she was not a Chief Ministerial candidate, now adds that she would not shy away from any responsibility given by the party high command. In Ahirwal, the officiating leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, and the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, are projected as hot favourites to head the Congress Government. The Congress leaders eulogise Sonia Gandhi for not accepting the post of Prime Minister and urge people to vote for them in the name of “Tyaag Murti” (Goddes of Sacrifice). But they are not inspired by her to sacrifice their personal ambitions. With so many claimants for the top post in the Congress Government, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) makes its main political party the object of ridicule. Handbills carrying cartoons, which urge the electorate to vote for the INLD which has undisputed leadership instead of the Congress in which every leader is after the top post, have been circulated along with newspapers. The bills do not carry any print line. The Congress strategy is, however, paying. Various leaders having influence in a particular region are able to influence the voters there in favour of the party. Who will be the Chief Minister if the Congress comes to power? The answer is not easy. It has become more difficult after Mrs Gandhi met each party candidate individually in Delhi on January 19. She reportedly told them that they were high command’s (read her) candidates. They should win their seats and leave the “rest” to her. Congressmen interpret Mrs Gandhi’s reported statement as a clear indication that the issue of Chief Ministership would be decided by her alone. |
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Rohtak no longer BJP pocket borough
Rohtak, February 1 The INLD base in the area has been eroding since the repeated defeats suffered by Devi Lal from the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat. The INLD and its various avatars had performed brilliantly, so long as it had the BJP as an ally. Both parties have suffered serious setbacks from soured relations. The emergence of Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Lok Sabha member from the Rohtak parliamentary seat as a Congress ‘satrap’, has raised the hopes of the people of this district of his elevation as the Chief Minister. Mr Hooda has been campaigning in the five Assembly segments just as he did for his own election in May. Though he has been sparing time for other areas in the state, Rohtak is taking most of his time. This seat is no longer a BJP pocket borough. Despite some setbacks on the Dalits’ issue, the sitting Congress MLA, Mr Shadi Lal Batra, is giving a tough time to the BJP nominee, Mr Manish Grover. The INLD nominee, Mr Sunder Lal Sethi, is also a former BJP man. He may cut into the vote bank of the BJP nominee, thereby benefiting the Congress. The INLD has always had a love-hate relationship with the Meham Assembly constituency. It elevated Devi Lal to dizzy heights but proved to be his son Om Parkash Chautala’s Waterloo. Yet, the INLD nominee made it from this seat in the 1996 and 2000 Assembly poll. However, the party may not be able to repeat its feat this time. The Congress nominee, Mr Anand Singh Dangi, faces newcomer Rajbir of the INLD in what appears to be a direct contest. The Kalanaur(reserved) Assembly segment is witnessing a three cornered contest between the sitting BJP legislator, Ms Sarita Narain, Ms Kartari Devi of the Congress and Mr Mewa Singh of the INLD. Together, the BJP and the INLD could have hoped to upset Congress plans. Kiloi is Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s home turf. At one time, this constituency was open to any party. In the past it has been represented by the Lok Dal, the Samata Party and an Independent, too, but it is now a Congress bastion. Mr Kishen Hooda of the Congress is pitted against Mr Prem Singh Hooda of the INLD. The Hasangarh Assembly seat is the only constituency where the Congress hegemony is being challenged primarily because of its candidate. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s candidate, Prof Virender , was denied ticket which was given to Mr Chakravarty Sharma. Prof Virender has distanced himself from the campaign for ‘medical reasons’. The INLD sitting MLA, Mr Balwant Singh Maina’s campaign got a fresh lease of life from the turn of events in the Congress. The BJP nominee is Mr Naresh Malik. If the Congress suffers a setback here this time, it will have only itself to blame. |
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Cong prospects improve
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, February 1 In Badli, the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh, who represented the constituency for five terms, has opted out of the race. He enjoys considerable influence in the area but he appears to be distancing himself from the INLD nominee. Though voters blame him for not doing enough for them in his last term, his image continues to be that of a gentleman politician. His supporters deny it but it is believed that he is indirectly backing Mr Naresh Sharma, an Independent. Mr Sharma who was the Congress nominee from this seat in 2000 is locked in a triangular contest along with Mr Kali Ram of the INLD and Mr Chhattar Singh of the Congress. Congress rebel Ramesh Dalal who had contested as the official party nominee from Bahadurgarh in the last Assembly poll is also in the fray. Badli is a Jat-dominated constituency. They account for over half of the 1.08 lakh voters. Among them Gulia Jats have the most votes. In Bahadurgarh, the INLD nominee, Mr Nafe Singh Rathi, is aiming at a hat-trick. He faces greenhorn Rajinder Singh Joon who is the Delhi-based son of former legislator from here, Mr Suraj Mal. Mr Joon is unknown and introduces himself as the son of the former MLA. He is facing Congress rebel Ashok Gupta. The other Independents will also cut into the votes of the INLD and the Congress. In Beri, Congress nominee Raghbir Singh Kadian seems comfortable. He has also found time to campaign for other Congress candidates in the neighbouring segments. The INLD nominee, Mr Om Ahlawat, seemed to have gained support in the past few days following vigorous campaigning by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. The Congress has fielded Mr Hari Ram, a party worker, from the Jhajjar(reserved) Assembly segment. His links with the workers are standing him in good stead. He faces Ms Kanta Devi of the INLD. The MLA, Mr Daryao Singh, who had been supporting the INLD till May, was denied Congress ticket. Though he is actively working for the party nominee, it remains to be seen whether he can convince his supporters to vote for Mr Hari Ram. Ms Anita Yadav, the Congress MLA from Sahlawas, faces Mr Zile Singh of the INLD. Mr Laxman Yadav of the BJP and Mr Mohit Yadav of the BSP are trying to cut into the Yadav vote bank. |
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Sugar price a poll issue
Panchkula, February 1 Both political parties have come up with interesting raginis and songs, set to Bollywood numbers and blaming the Congress- led government at the Centre for the spiralling sugar prices. If the BJP campaign goes” chini jandi hai chalanga mardi, mainu yaad aaye Atal sarkar di...”, the INLD is harping to the tune of “... chini hui mehangi to mithai mar gayi, mehangai mar gayi...”. The sugar price has increased by almost Rs 400 per quintal since April since last year. From Rs 1411. 03 per quintal in April, 2004, the price has gone up to Rs 1800 during January. The sugar price had gone up to Rs 2100 per quintal in November last year, but it again decreased by Rs 200 per quintal in January. For an average consumer, the sugar price has increased by Rs 4 a kg. Official sources say that the hike in the sugar price is mainly because of the area under sugarcane production, as also the yield per acre, decreasing rapidly. It is learnt that the area under sugarcane production in the state has decreased by almost 35,000 hactares during the past one year while the yield was merely 60 tonnes per hectare this year. As a result, the total sugar cane production in Haryana during the year 2004-05 was merely 180 lakh quintals, as compared to 306 lakh quintals in 2003-04, and 361 lakh quintals in 2002-03. Comparatively, the sugar production in the state has reduced by 50 per cent in the past two years. This year sugar produced in Haryana is just 18 lakh quintals as compared to 31 lakh quintals last year and 36 lakh quintals in year 2002-03. The 12 cooperative sugar mills had 25 lakh quintals of sugar stocks before the crushing season began in November, 2004, and another 18 lakh quintals have been produced this year. The sugar consumption in the state is six lakh quintals per year. So even as the common man is facing the brunt because of the rising sugar price, it is the cane farmers and 15 sugar mills (12 cooperative mills and three private mills ) in the state that are actually benefiting. All dues of cane farmers by 12 cooperative sugar mills (amounting to Rs 330 crore) were cleared by the mills in November last year. The sugar mills are benefiting from the delayed lifting of sugar stocks by the Centre, by releasing sugar in the open market. Thus, their financial viability has increased and they are making profits. With a decrease in the cane production, farmers are also getting a good renumeration, sometimes higher than the state advised price (SAP) per quintal. |
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‘Dhoom’ time for Haryanvi voters
Bhiwani/Jind, February 1 While the Ambala-Kalka-Panchkula belt saw Haryanvi musicians using Punjabi songs like “Tuni boldi” to create new local music, the Bhiwani-Rohtak-Jind belt saw traditional ‘raginis’ being replaced to project political leaders. The most striking song is the one that lauds Mr Om Prakash Chautala as the iron man of India, leave alone Haryana. This smartly scripted song has been a hit at all INLD rallies, especially in the Kurukshetra-Karnal and Bhiwani-Rohtak-Jind belt. The song goes: “Haryane ki mitti ka sachha itihaas Chautala se, Aaj desh ka loh purush Shri Om Parkash Chautala se.” Even the Tata Young version of “Dhoom” stands altered for the Haryanvi voter who loves the new song that ensures the listener does not forget the ruling party’s election symbol— “Chashme ke nishaan pe tu mohar lage ke jhoom, Dhoom macha le, dhoom macha le, dhoom.” Interestingly, many government employees have been on leave to participate in the musical rallies in Haryana. One of the women employees singing at the INLD rallies this time had earlier faced suspension on the same ground. Then there are lyricists like Dharampal Bhalotia who has been writing songs for the INLD from the times of Devi Lal. This year’s singers are Sunil Dujania, Bali Sharma, Madhu Sharma, Mahavir Guddu and Sarita Choudhary. As for music, although ‘raginis’ have always been used for campaigning, this time the frenzy has been more pronounced with lakhs being spent on creating different music. Another song that is much played in the rallies around Jind and Rohtak is “Hari pagdi wale ki meri saari vote Chautale ki; jisne sukh ka saans diya us janata ke rakhwale ki…” |
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Congress fears large-scale rigging, moves EC
Hisar, February 1 The Congress MP from Bhiwani, Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi, who was on an electoral tour of Bhiwani district today, told The Tribune that a letter had been written to the Election Commission seeking effective measures to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. Mr Bishnoi said the Congress leadership apprehended that the INLD regime in the state could go to any extent to avoid their defeat. The Congress leader pointed out that an illegal arms factory had been unearthed in Uttar Pradesh and the arrested persons had admitted that the arms were being sent to Haryana. He said in view of these developments, the party had demanded that the Assembly elections be held under the President’s rule. “The Chautala government is misusing the official machinery for political gains, which indicates its intentions in the elections. Besides, the government officials close to the INLD are misusing their official position for vested political interests,” he stated. Mr Bishnoi admitted that a few senior members of the party contesting against the party’s official nominees could cause the loss of some votes. He, however, claimed that in general the rebels would not have any considerable impact on the party’s poll prospects. Meanwhile, on the last day of campaigning, the Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhajan Lal, addressed a meeting at Hansi, near here. He sought votes for his trusted aide and Congress candidate for the Hansi seat, Mr Amir Chand Makkad.
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Advani blames Cong for Naxalite
violence
Rewari, February 1 As regards the plight of farmers, Mr Advani
said though the Vajpayee Government had initiated measures for the betterment
of farmers, yet the peasantry remained a neglected lot. He said cotton growers
as well as the mustrad producers in Haryana were now facing a predicament
because of a steep fall in prices of these crops. Reminding the people that
they had already experienced the Congress rule several times, and the INLD
regime over the past five years, Mr Advani called upon the people to provide an
opportunity this time to the BJP to govern the state. He assured the people
that if they voted the BJP to power, Haryana would have good
governance. Regarding reports about post-poll alliance between the BJP and the
INLD, Mr Advani categorically stated that the BJP would have no truck with the
INLD even after the elections. Mr Advani appealed to the electorate of
Jatusana constituency to make the party nominee, Rao Narbir Singh, victorious.
Earlier, Mr Advani was presented with a purse of Rs 51,000. Mr Advani wrapped
up his electoral tour of Ahirwal today by addressing another election rally at
Mahendergarh in which he sought support for the party nominee Prof Ram Bilas
Sharma. |
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Sangwan’s prestige at stake in Sonepat
Sonepat, February 1 Last time, the BJP fielded its candidate only in the Sonepat constituency out of the total six seats of the district as the INLD, its alliance partner, had put up nominees in the remaining seats of Baroda, Gohana, Kailana, Rai and Rohat. BJP candidate Devi Dass had to satisfy with second place from the Sonepat seat. However, the political scene has changed a lot now. The BJP did not only win the parliamentary election in Sonepat last year on its own, but has also fielded its candidates on all six seats this time. According to the latest survey, the BJP candidate is in a direct contest in Gohana and in a triangular fight in Sonepat, Rai and Baroda. Last time the INLD registered its victory on four seats, whereas the Congress and an Independent won in Kailana and Sonepat, respectively. In an attempt to minimise the anti-incumbency factor, the INLD has fielded only one sitting MLA, Mr Padam Singh Dahiya(Rohat) out of a total of four in the district. Baroda: This seat is witnessing a triangular contest among Mr Ramphal Rukhi(Congress), Mr Ramphal Chirana(INLD) and Mr Mahavir Butana(BJP). The INLD has not given ticket to its sitting MLA, Mr Ramesh Kumar Khatak, who had made a hat-trick by winning the last three elections. Last time, the INLD registered its victory with a margin of 12,020 votes. Gohana: State Congress president Bhajan Lal and BJP vice-president Sangwan’s credibility are at stake here. While Congress candidate Dharam Pal Malik is a confidant of Mr Bhajan Lal, Gohana is the home constituency of Mr Sangwan, who is paying special attention here and has deputed his son to look after electioneering. The BJP has fielded Congress rebel Jitender Gaur and is hopeful of winning Jat votes because of Mr Sangwan’s influence and Brahmin votes due to Mr Gaur himself. There seems to be a direct contest between Mr Malik and Mr Gaur. Kailana: There is a direct contest between sitting Congress MLA Jitender Singh Malik and Independent Nirmal Choudhury as both Mr Subash Tyagi(INLD) and Mr Sethpal Gujjar(BJP) are out of the contest. Sonepat: There will be a triangular contest among sitting MLA Dev Raj Dewan(NCP), Mr Anil Takkar(Congress) and Mr Lalit Batra(BJP) as Mr Satyender Kumar and Indendent Rajeev Jain have withdrawn from the contest. Having won the elections in 1996 and 2000 as an Independent, Mr Dewan is trying his luck on NCP ticket. Rai: This seat is also witnessing a triangular contest among Mr Ajeet Singh Aantil(INLD), Mr Rajpal Aantil(BJP) and Mr Ramesh Kaushik(Congress). A section of the Congress is opposing Mr Kaushik terming him an outsider. Rohat: A triangular contest is expected here among Mr Sukhbir Farmana(NCP),Krishna Gehlawat(Congress) and MLA Padam Singh Dahiya(INLD). |
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BJP struggles for survival
Karnal, February 1 After having interacted with a cross-section of people during a tour of these districts, it seems that the only face-saving for the BJP appears to be from Shashi Pal Mehta in Karnal, Bakshish Singh Virk in Nilokheri and Gurdial Singh Saini in the Kurukshetra Assembly constituencies where they are locked in a tough fight. The BJP candidates in the Gharaunda, Indri, Jundla and Assandh constituencies of Karnal; Shahbad and Pehowa constituencies of Kurukshetra and Kalayat, Kaithal, Pundri and Pai constituencies of Kaithal seem to have lost ground. Going by the political history of the state, the BJP has always needed the help of a major regional party to improve its prospects. It is now facing a tough time after breaking away from the INLD. The INLD is grappling with anti-incumbency while the faction-ridden Congress is overconfident. The focus has now shifted to personal influence of candidates irrespective of political affiliations. |
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It’s Chautala vs Bhajan Lal
Fatehabad, February 1 Addressing a series of election meetings in Jat dominated villages including Bhodia Khera, Dhingsara, Dharnia, Bhirdana and Gorakhur in favour of the Indian National Lok Dal nominee, Ms Swatantar Bala Chaudhary on the last day of campaigning, Mr Abhey Singh said many Jat leaders of the Congress, who had been projecting themselves as the future Chief Minister had been sidelined by the Congress high command in the distribution of ticket. He said it was now Chautala versus Bhajan Lal and people of Haryana would vote to elect their Chief Minister out of the two. Terming Mr Bhajan Lal and the Congress as anti-farmer, Mr Abhey Singh said Mr Bhajan Lal and his party had always worked against the interests of farmers. He said the INLD government purchased every grain of farmers while the Congress Government at the Centre had jeopardised the interests of farmers by decreasing the rates of cotton. |
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Ramoowalia campaigns for CPM nominee
Fatehabad, February 1 Addressing the gathering at Mohamadpur Sottar, Sahnal, Sukhmanpur,
Aherwan and Gorakhpur, villages, Mr Ramoowalia said both Congress as well as
the INLD governments had looted people mercilessly. He said Haryana lagged
behind other states in education, health and employment. He said there were
two types of politics in the country. He said the Congress, the BJP and the
INLD believed in the politics of feudalism, while the CPM favoured a system
where people had their say. |
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CM campaigns for Hisar candidate
Hisar, February 1 The Chief Minister exhorted the people to vote for the INLD on February 3 and teach the Congress a lesson. The Congress was trying to befool the masses, he said, adding that the Congress leaders never kept their promises. |
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Laloo’s spell doesn’t charm Muslims
Patna, February 1 An MC employee, Mohammad Shaqir, who was waiting for Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s rally in Arrah, refused to give a direct assessment of the RJD government. He, however, admits the absence of development and then reveals that he has not received his salary for the past 23 months. Similar responses emerge in different areas of the state, including Buxar, Arrah, Bhagalpur and Gaya. Mr Yadav’s wonder formula of remaining in power for 15 years appears to be losing its sheen. There is widespread discontentment over unemployment, insecurity and lack of development, besides the dismantling of Urdu units in primary schools and the concentration of power among Yadavs. The Muslims constitute 17 per cent of the state’s population, and will influence the outcome of the elections in 119 seats. They are getting divided into three camps, as per a local Urdu daily Qaumi Tanzeem which predicts that the minority votes would split among the RJD, the LJP and the Congress. Prof Abdul Moghni of the daily says that while Muslims will caste their vote against communal forces, they will not support the RJD unlike in the past. “The Muslim-Yadav combine has made Laloo Yadav what he is today,” Rizwan, an electrician in Bhagalpur, says, adding that unemployment has grown and even compensation for the Bhagalpur riots has either not been paid or is being treated as a loan. “Lalooji thinks that we have mortgaged our votes to him,” he says. Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders at their party headquarters here dismiss reports of a shift in the minority votes as baseless. An RJD office-bearer Devender Yadav says that the upper-caste dominated media is spreading this lie to weaken a regime representing the interests of the downtrodden. “In the Lok Sabha elections of 2004, the Muslims had voted for UPA candidates and the RJD had emerged as the kingmaker but that has possibly made Lalooji arrogant,” says Mohammad Islam, a teacher in Gaya. The report of the Bihar State Minorities Commission has further impacted the Muslim mind as its findings, which had been highlighted by JD(U) leader Nitesh Kumar in Patna, points out that 49.5 per cent Muslims are living below the poverty line in villages and 44.8 per cent in towns. Reacting to the report, Wakar Ahmad, a youth, says that “Laloo’s wings must be clipped now.” |
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Campaigning ends for first phase
Gaya, February 1 In the 64 constituencies in 12 districts, which go to the polls on Thursday, the RJD stakes are higher as it had bagged 33 constituencies in 2000. The area going to vote includes the Naxalites-infested districts of Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada, Bhojpur. There are 826 candidates in the fray and four ministers of the Rabri Devi government are fighting to retain their seat in the present round. There are a host of factors which are working against the state government of Chief Minister Rabri Devi whose party has ruled Patna since 1990 but prominent among them is the growing disillusionment of almost 17 per cent of the Muslim electorate. Other factors are popular perception about joblessness,, environment of fear which has forced businessmen and entrepreneurs to move out of the state, marginalization of all castes barring chosen Yadavs from position of eminence and influence. But what has added insult to injury is the deteriorating law and order situation which has come into sharp focus through cases of kidnapping of school children. Both former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over kidnapping, incidents raising serious doubts about the RJD’s credibility as a capable party. Even growing discontentment among his own community is creating difficulties for the RJD. Distribution of the ticket to his family members and the denial of the party symbol to loyal workers has led to rebellion in the party and many have filed nomination as rebels. A case in point is the revolt of Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who has declared that he would work against the RJD candidates. |
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8 helicopters to keep vigil in Naxal-hit areas
Hazaribagh, February 1 While four of these helicopters will be used in the Naxalite areas under Hazaribagh division, the other four will be used by the security forces in Palamu division. Sources said that small helicopters will be used for aerial surveillance and the bigger ones will be used for transporting platoons of
commandos in case of an emergency. The helicopters will also be used to transport poll staff to the inaccessible and remote areas on the polling day. Nearly 200 companies of central forces are being deployed in the Naxalite-affected areas for peaceful polls. The sources said that bomb-disposal squads have also been put in position. The security forces have decided to keep aspecial vigil in the areas adjoining Bihar. All the districts going to polls in Jharkhand in the first phase are Naxalite affected. The polling will take place for 24 of the 81 seats in the state Assembly.
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