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JD (U) releases list for last phase
Record turnout good news for Cong, bad for INLD
High security for EVMs
Marandi files papers as Ind
Bigwigs back to politicking
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Rabri files nomination
Raghopur, February 4 An indication of the nature of battle ahead was evident in the speech of Mr Yadav who pointed an accusing finger at Mr Ramvilas Paswan, LJP president, in the kidnapping case of DPS student Kislay. The choice of the venue for the public meeting in Hajpur, instead of Raghopur, is also an apt pointer of the growing rivalry between Mr Yadav and Mr Paswan. Hajipur is Mr Paswan’s constituency. Mr Paswan has been winning the Hajpir Lok Sabha seat from 1977 and has only lost the seat in 1984. Since 1989, he has won the seat seven times in succession. “Paswan is a puppet in the hands of the communal forces. He was a minister in the BJP-led NDA government”, Ms Rabri Devi said. The real attack came in the 20- minute address by Mr Yadav who first took on Mr Paswan and then lashed out at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for having asked a question about Kislay in his speech at Bhagalpur last week. In the same vein, he raised an accusing finger at Mr Paswan for harbouring criminal elements who had been responsible for incidents of kidnapping. Though hardly anyone doubts Ms Rabri Devi’s victory there is an apparent resentment among voters over the lack of development. Situated across the Ganga, Raghopur can be reached either by a boat or through a bridge. There is no industry and agriculture is the main profession and lack of roads and a bridge prevents access to market. Bad roads, missing power and the absence of health services in the town despite being the Chief Minister’s constituency for over a decade is an issue. |
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JD (U) releases list for last phase
New Delhi February 4 Janata
Dal (U) general secretary Javed Raja said the party in alliance with the BJP was well placed in Bihar and would see that the “Laloo-Rabari” regime ended this time. The JD(U) has fielded Mr Sahdeo Sah from Mahnar while Mr Vilat Paswan has been given ticket from Sakra (reserved) Assembly constituency. The other nominees are Mr Manoj Kuswaha (Kurhni), Mr Sivnath Choudhary (Bochaha-reserved), Mr Ashok Singh (Gayghat), Mr Digvijay Pratap Singh (Belsand) and Mr Saryug Paswan Fatuah-reserved).
— UNI |
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News Analysis Ashwini Bhatnagar Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 Though the voter turnout yesterday for the 90 Haryana assembly is about 2.3 per cent more than the one which was witnessed in 2000, it is a very significant number given the public mood. It may well take the Congress to its best-ever performance in the state. An analysis of electoral data since 1987, when late Devi Lal had created a record by winning 60 of the 90 seats, shows that the current swing in favour of the Congress may yield a tally which betters even Devi Lal’s record. The largest number of seats that the Congress has so far bagged was 52 seats in 1972 with a vote share of 46.9 per cent. The next best performance was in 1991 when it secured 51 seats with a vote share of just 33.7 per cent. In the last election (2000), it had managed just 21 seats with 31.2 per cent of the votes. In fact, the 2000 election had witnessed Mr Om Prakash Chautala riding back to power on the strength of anti Bansi Lal sentiment by securing the favour of just 29 per cent of the voters only. He had won 47 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, had secured 31.2 per cent votes and notched up 21 seats. The 2004 Lok Sabha poll in Haryana, however, changed the electoral equation dramatically. The full thrust of anti Chautala feeling was felt with the Congress getting nine out of the 10 seats and securing as much as 42.1 per cent of the vote share—the highest since 1977. In terms of assembly seats, it translates into 71 winnings out of a total of 90— a mind-boggling figure by Haryana poll standards. The parliamentary poll electoral arithmetic when equated at the assembly level gave the ruling INLD only 10 seats and the BJP just five in the 2005 assembly. Even if the INLD has managed to retain its vote base of 22.4 per cent which it secured in the 2004 Lok Sabha election and the 29 per cent that it held in 2000 assembly election, the seat projection for it doesn’t go beyond 15. However, it can be safely assumed that Mr Om Prakash Chautala has not managed to dramatically improve his position with the people over the last eight months. Hence, the number of seats is likely to be about 10 or so, analysts contend. Another aspect of the political scenario is that the BJP has always hurt the Congress whenever it has tied up with a regional party. It was with HVP in 1996 and later with INLD. This time it contested the election on its own strength. It may hence help the Congress secure more seats than it has ever done. According to poll data, the vote share of 42.14 for Congress in 2004 parliamentary contest had caused a swing of as many as 50 assembly seats. Its vote swing from the last election was to the extent of 11 per cent. The voter turnout in 2004, interestingly, was just 65.67 per cent. The huge turnout which betters all, except one instance, suggests that the people’s anger against the style of functioning of the Chautala government has fully crystallized after its first expression in the 2004 parliamentary poll. The Congress could, therefore, notch up the best-ever performance figure this time round. |
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High security for EVMs
Chandigarh, February 4 After the voting was over yesterday, the EVMs were closed by pressing the button of a built-in lock and then put inside cases which were sealed. The seals bear signatures of agents of parties in the respective booths. The machines were then kept in counting centres or strongrooms. The locks were also sealed and the signatures of the agents were obtained. There are 90 constituencies in the state and an equal number of counting centres which are located in urban areas. The maximum number of centres are in
Karnal (six) followed by Rohtak (five) and Sonepat, Gurgaon and Bhiwani having four each. Haryana got 95 companies of the paramilitary and police forces from other states for assistance. Ten companies of the ITBP have been retained for guarding the centres. Besides, five BSF companies have also been retained but these will be deployed only for a repoll. |
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Marandi files papers as Ind
Ranchi, February 4 Mr Marandi, considered next to party chief Shibu Soren in the JMM hierarchy, was keen to contest the Assembly seat from Dumka though he is a member of the Rajya Sabha. The JMM preferred to give the Dumka ticket to Mr Soren’s son Hemant. Mr Soren’s elder son Durga, a member of the outgoing Assembly, has been given ticket from Jama while his brother is likely to be fielded as JMM candidate from Gomia. Mr Soren had tried to convince Mr Marandi about continuing as a Rajya Sabha member. The JMM delayed the announcement of the candidate for Dumka till yesterday in the hope that Mr Marandi will withdraw his claim. The last date of filing nominations for the third phase elections ends tomorrow. Mr Soren said the decision on the Dumka seat would not be changed. Dismissing charges about the JMM turning into family fiefdom, Mr Soren said Hemant’s name was proposed by the party’s youth wing. “It is the only seat given to the youth wing. I cannot refuse a seat only because the candidate is my son,” he said. Mr Soren said it was also natural for parents to guard the interests of their children. He maintained that Mr Marandi’s filing the nomination papers as an Independent would have no impact on the party’s fortunes. Mr Soren said he would not talk to Mr Marandi to pacify him. “When I talked to him three days back, he had agreed to abide by my decision,” the JMM chief said. Alleging that Mr Marandi had been “managed,” Mr Soren hoped that Mr Marandi will withdraw his nomination papers. “I brought him into politics some 30 years ago. He should see reason.” The JMM chief said he was not contemplating disciplinary action against Mr Marandi for the present. |
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Bigwigs back to politicking
Panchkula, February 4 As The Tribune caught up with chief ministerial candidates from the Congress, the INLD and the BJP, their schedule appeared as if electioneering was still at its peak. If the Congress strongmen, Mr Bhoopinder Singh Hooda, Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, are busy receiving calls from the aspiring MLAs or personally meeting them, the INLD supremo and Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is back in office. “I left my constituency, Rori, last evening and rested for the night in my house. In the morning, I was back to the office. There has been a lot of pending work and the whole day will go in taking care of it. After all, the government cannot come to a standstill and being a disciplined leader, I cannot take it easy,'' he said, adding that he was back in office for another term. Mr Hooda was in Faridabad for the day. "The Congress victory in the elections is for certain. I have been getting calls from candidates who are likely to be elected and I will be meeting some leaders tomorrow," he said. His rival and contender for the Chief Minister's post, Mr Bhajan Lal, said he had come to Hisar after the polling yesterday. In the morning, a number of party workers had assembled at his house and he was discussing "core election issues". The youngest contender for the CM's post in the party, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, spent the entire day in his constituency Narwana. "There was no time to rest. The INLD had threatened members of the Scheduled Caste communities in villages of Gurthali, Bikhewal and Karangarh. Some of my supporters were also injured when INLD workers attacked them. I will press the police to take action against Mr Ajay Singh Chautala," he alleged. Inspite of repeated attempts to contact Mr Birender Singh, he was unavailable for comments. Meanwhile, the BJP candidate from Mahendragarh, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, was also in his constituency today. “I have been meeting party workers and listening to horrid tales of assault on them by Congressmen," he said. |
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