BSP fields women on 5 Mayor’s seats
Dehradun, April 26
All parties usually claim to be pro-women but forget them when it comes to allocating ticket in elections. The BSP is the only party that has fielded women candidates on five seats of Mayor in the civic bodies’ election. The CPM too has allotted ticket to women for three seats of councillor and is supporting two Independent women candidates. The BSP has fielded Rajni Rawat from Dehradun, Akhtari Begum from Roorkee, Seema Verma from Kashipur, Sona Singh from Rudrapur and Anita Singh from Haldwani for the posts of Mayor.

Roadshow by BSP workers on bikes
Dehradun, April 26
BSP workers riding on motorcycles and four-wheelers conducted a roadshow on the last day of campaigning today. The EC road where party’s election office is situated, was replete with a big crowd of party workers who reached there from Doonga House. They were holding blue flags in their hands. Mayoral candidate Rajni Rawat herself was making sure that the vehicles did not create traffic jam.

Haridwar, April 26
The growing popularity and stature in national politics of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was easily visible here today as from early morning itself thousands had arrived at Acharya Kulam to have a glimpse of the firebrand BJP leader.

At the main auditorium, chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai reverberated as Narendra Modi went towards the dais. He waved to the crowd, who gave an overwhelming response with non-stop clapping.

People listened with concentration to each and every word uttered by Modi, followed by loud cheers and once again claps after the conclusion of his speech.

On the occasion a first-of-it's-kind mini world herbal encyclopedia based on detailed information about herbs (Jadi-Buti Vishwakosh) was also launched by Narendra Modi.

About 10,000 herbs' information is inscribed in this encyclopedia, which was complied by an expert team led by Patanjali Vishwavidyalaya Vice Chancellor Acharya Balkrishan.

Experts took five years to compile this mini encyclopedia, which has also two lakh global names of 10,000 herb plants worldwide. In his address, Narendra Modi urged Acharya Balkrishan to make sure digital version of this mini encyclopedia for Internet users is made, which Balkrishan said was already midway.

Narendra Modi remained an epitome of silence and poise at the dais, despite Swami Ramdev terming him as a gift by God to the country men.Yog guru on every occasion heaped praises on Modi, even comparing him with Mahatma Gandhi, as one who has brought development revolution, while Gandhi had initiated freedom movement.

A dozen-odd saints present on the dais also hailed Modi directly and indirectly, and referred to him as the right person to govern the country in today’s time. But Modi remained calm and unexpressive throughout the three-hour-long function at the main auditorium.

As per Patanjali Yogpeeth and Bharat Swabhiman Trust office bearers, a whopping 60,000 people came from different parts of the country to take part in the opening ceremony of Acharya Kulam educational institution.

Thousands had already arrived by yesterday only, while many buses were seen moving towards Patanjali Yogpeeth in the afternoon, while the inauguration function was in midway.

The main auditorium, the capacity of which is between 20,000 and 25,000, was jam-packed, which pointed towards the popularity of both yog guru Swami Ramdev and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Elaborate arrangements were in place at Patanjali Yogpeeth for followers of the yog guru who attended the Acharya Kulam opening ceremony.

At Phase -II of Patanjali Yogpeeth, special food was made with distribution of ‘prasad’ also for the visitors.

As per classification of visitors like VVIPs, VIPs, saints, foreign delegates, general etc, separate catering and dining arrangements were in place.

Different types of cuisines were in place catering to almost every region. But Gujarati food was the most sought after. It seems the Modi effect has also paved the way for Gujarati food craze among foodies.

While Congress city unit had announced anti-Modi protests a day earlier, in view of the massive turnout, the decision was withdrawn.

The same party leaders who had announced it in the media and issued press statements were seen busy in election campaigns.

JP Pandey, veteran party leader, said that they had even made an effigy of Modi but due to party high command's decision, they retreated from their announced programme of protest march from Bhagat Singh Chowk till Chandracharya chowk (Ranipur).

Many campaign vehicles of Congress candidates passed through Patanjali Yogpeeth, the venue, but no one raised any voice or slogan.

Mussoorie, April 26
The day was marked with intensive political activity with all political parties, including Independent candidates, stepping up their last-minute efforts to woo the voters as the period of public campaigning came to end in Mussoorie today.

The Congress Party took out a massive rally as a show of strength from Taylors' flat to Gandhi Chowk along with its supporters and sought votes for the presidential candidates Manmohan Singh Mall and other ward-level candidates in Mussoorie.

Addressing the rally at Gandhi Chowk, Saket Bahuguna, the son of the Chief Minister, Vijay Bahuguna, batting for Manmohan Singh Mall said that if voters from the town elect Manmohan Singh Mall for the president of Municipal Council, there was no dearth of development funds and the government will also assist him in resolving the problems of the town on priority basis.

Manmohan Singh Mall, the Congress presidential candidate, speaking on the occasion said that corruption was the mainstay of the tenure of sitting BJP candidate OP Uniyal, who has tarnished the image of the council and if he was elected, he would ensure a clean council and work for the last man standing in the town. He also said that voters were ready for change and would elect Congress in the MC elections.

The senior Congress leaders, Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal, former Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and local unit president Bhagwan Singh Dhanai also spoke on the occasion and appealed to people to vote in favour of the candidates from Congress Party.

Earlier, MLA, Dhanaulti, Mahavir Singh Rangad, MLA, Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi, contacted voters door to door and sought votes for the BJP presidential and ward-level candidates in Mussoorie. Mahaveer Singh Rangad, speaking to the media, said that the Congress Party was misusing the government machinery to entice voters but despite that the BJP candidates were poised to win in the MC elections in Mussoorie.

The Independent candidates also used the last day to cover most of the far-flung places in the town to attract voters in their favour in the town through the means of loudspeakers mounted on their vehicles here.

With the campaigning coming to an end, the town folk have heaved a sigh of relief as all the cacophony about the elections came to a abrupt halt after 5 pm today.

The voters have two days to ponder over their decision on who would don the mantle for the coveted post in the council from today, leaving the candidates guessing till the final day of polling.

According to the returning officer, NS Dangi, the polling day has been fixed on April 28 in Mussoorie and the result will be out on April 30.

Dehradun, April 26
All parties usually claim to be pro-women but forget them when it comes to allocating ticket in elections. The BSP is the only party that has fielded women candidates on five seats of Mayor in the civic bodies’ election. The CPM too has allotted ticket to women for three seats of councillor and is supporting two Independent women candidates. The BSP has fielded Rajni Rawat from Dehradun, Akhtari Begum from Roorkee, Seema Verma from Kashipur, Sona Singh from Rudrapur and Anita Singh from Haldwani for the posts of Mayor.

State in charge of the BSP Meghraj Jaraware said they not only gave ticket for Mayor’s seats to women but also fielded candidates from poor families. He said, “Seema Verma is an orphan who lost her parents during her childhood. She comes from a poor background. Despite all odds, she attained good education and worked for the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden in the region.”

He said BSP supremo Mayawati herself was an able leader and hence the party had no inhibition from fielding women in the civic bodies’ polls. The seats of Mayor are reserved for women in Rudrapur where the BSP has fielded Sona Singh and Kashipur where Seema Verma is contesting on the party ticket. Sona’s husband had been a BSP councillor in Rudrapur thrice in the past.

Jaraware added that the BSP was supporting a Muslim candidate Akhtari Begum. Mayoral candidate in Haldwani Anita Singh’s campaign is going strong as her paternal uncle Lakhan Singh has been an MP while her maternal uncle has been a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government.

Rajni Rawat, despite being a eunuch, has been given the ticket for the Mayor’s post from Dehradun.

State secretary of the CPM Vijay Rawat said their party had reposed full faith in the five women candidates of the BSP, three from their party and two Independent women candidates. The three candidates from the CPM are Indu Naudiyal vying from the Dronepur ward No. 49, Babni Anand from the Kanwali ward No. 50 and Chanda Mamgain from the reserved Ballupur ward.

The two women candidates being supported by the CPM are fighting from the Adhoiwala and DL Road wards. Their family members are active members of the CPM.

Vijay said, “The CPM has fielded those women candidates who have proved their mettle by working laboriously as social workers. They are highly educated and will be able to carry forward development works.”

Indu Naudiyal said, “I have always raised voice in the interest of the people belonging to all sections.” She added she hoped that the people would support her for her good work.

Dehradun, April 26
As the entire nation is shaken up by rape incidents, another case has been reported from Lohiya Nagar of Patel Nagar here.

A 12-year-old girl has accused the maternal uncle of her friend of raping her. The girl has, however, refused to undergo any medical test.

The victim said her friend lived in their neighbourhood and she often visited her house. She said Bhura, her friend's maternal uncle, had been staying at the latter's home for some days.

The victim said on Wednesday evening, she, along with her friend Sunita (name changed), had gone to Lalpul to make some purchases.

She said Bhura, too, reached there and took her away to Roorkee. It was there that he raped her, she alleged.

The victim said the next day she somehow manged to make a phone call to her parents, who brought her home. Later, her father, who is a scrap dealer, lodged a complaint against Bhura. He is absconding.

Since the victim has refused to undergo any medical test, the police is waiting for the girl to depose before the Magistrate.

On the other hand, raids are being conducted to arrest Bhura.

Dehradun April 26
Tall stature, around 6 ft, long flowing tresses, a beautiful green and white cotton sari draped gracefully, Luxmi, eunuch from Mumbai who became household name after spending several weeks in the house of 'Big Boss,' reality show on TV, looked stunningly beautiful when she joined Rajni Rawat on her road show today. Rajni Rawat is mayoral candidate of BSP for Dehradun, who conducted road shows for her campaign today. While talking to The Tribune, Luxmi said: ''I came to support Rajni Rawat, whom I met on several occasions during congregations of our community in various cities. I really wish that she should become Mayor of the city.

If a female and then a male candidate can become Mayor, then why cannot a transgender do so? A eunuch does not have a family like others. Society is our family. We work selflessly without indulging in corruption in order to leave money for our family members,'' she said. She further added:''After all, anybody who is capable and has the proven record of working for the welfare of people of cross-section of society should get the mandate to achieve this position.

Rajni has a brilliant record in that respect.''

When asked about her experience in 'Big Boss,' she said:'' I accepted the offer to live in 'Big Boss' house as I wanted to send across positive message about my community. I had been successful in doing so. Besides that, I also wanted to test my ability to live in a place filled with people of different pre-dispositions and idiosyncrasies. I can fairly say that I had been able to keep in tact my true persona, dignity and calm despite umpteen provocations and conflicts in that house.''

Answering a query whether the entire scenario unfolding in the house was deliberate as part of the drama or natural progression, she said:'' No, nothing is deliberate in the 'Big Boss' house. Yes, situations are certainly created in such a manner that people in the house develop misunderstandings and animosities, leading to series of brawls. It is very difficult to maintain sanity in such volatile and explosive situations.''

She said she was proud of being a eunuch and wanted to bring laurels to her community by doing good work. She revealed that she had some projects in hand at national and international levels but not on television. She avoided spilling much beans at this stage.

Dehradun April 26
Even on the last day of the election canvassing, when the political parties outdo each other in holding out remarkable presentations of their strength, no big political leader of the BSP came in support of party candidate for the Mayor's seat, Rajni Rawat, today.

The pain and anger, embedded deep inside her on this aspect, burst out when she was asked about it. She said: “There is no big leader of BSP here. I am doing everything on my own.” She could be seen running helter-skelter arranging for vehicles or passing directions before the road show. No BSP leader was seen to assist her for that. It was people of her community who were seen excited about the campaign and seen ranting the air with slogans of her victory. The youth, motorcycle borne, did add volume to the road show but the absence of tall leaders from the core group of the party was sorely felt.

Speculations were rife about a former BSP minister in UP government coming to address public gatherings but he too did not turn up. Unlike other leading competitors, BJP and Congress, which have their top-rung coming out for canvassing and appealing to voters to vote for the candidates, BSP had nothing of that sort. This apathy of party’s leadership certainly strengthened the opinion further that Rajni Rawat had been left high and dry by the party. This lacklustre attitude is beyond comprehension, after the party admitted her in the party fold and backed her up with party symbol.

State party president Meghraj Jaraware, however, denied this and said: “Party is lending all the support to Rajni Rawat. She has been blessed by party supremo, Mayawati. There is no question of leaving her alone to struggle on her own.” Jaraware, who himself did not come for campaigning any day, tried to defend the assertion saying, “BSP does not believe in ostentation which BJP and Congress indulge in openly. The cadre of party members in the city have always been there to take charge of the campaigning.

Dehradun April 26
The number of sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths earmarked for the civic poll in the district is not final as yet. District Magistrate/District Election Officer BVRC Purushottam said today the number of such booths could increase further as the zonal and sector magistrates would visit their electoral areas shortly. After their visit, they would report about sensitive and hypersensitive zones. In case they felt any particular area should also be included in the given category, then it would be done so to maintain peace during the election. All the 60 sectors have been divided into three zones. One ward is falling in each sector.

Purushottam gave a demonstration regarding the ballot unit. He said light blue ballot unit would be used for the Mayor candidate and white one for councillors.

One single ballot unit has been prepared both for Mayor and councillor candidates for 13 wards, which are ward numbers 4, 8, 12, 18, 19, 22, 24, 36, 38, 42, 43, 48, 53. Here one long ballot unit, comprising two sections, one light blue for Mayor candidate and white for councillors has been arranged. For other 47 wards, independent ballot units have been prepared.

One red 'end' button has been introduced in the ballot unit which the user would have to press at the end of exercising his vote. In case the voters pressed only one button in the combined ballot unit and not the other half, still he would have to press 'end' button to complete the procedure. The safety measure in this is that the returning officer can press the 'end' button in his view machine, if the voter forgets to do so by mistake.

Around 13 candidates who are contesting in the civic poll have not refurbished their income status. Purushottam said they could contest the poll this time but negligence on their part could cost them in the next round of election. ''Some three candidates who had fought for the position of councillors last year had not given the details of their income status then. It was on this basis State Election Commission did not permit them to contest the election this year. These 13 candidates may have to go through the same fate. However, we have sent the report to State Election Commission in this regard,'' he added.

Purushottam admitted callousness on the part of the staff which was given the task to prepare the voters' list in the wake of the civic election. They did not include names of around 130 voters in the list. He said strict punitive action would be taken against the errant staff.

The deadline for campaigning for political parties and Independents has come to an end. Purushottam said district administration would take strict action against those candidates who were seen canvassing after the deadline period.

Dehradun, April 26
Jantantra Morcha has welcomed inclusion of right to reject in the polling process in four municipal corporations of the state and has demanded its implementation in other civic bodies also.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, patron, Jantantra Morcha, Uttarakhand, SS Pangtey, said it was certainly a welcome step that the election authorities had earmarked button number 16 in the EVMs in order to facilitate voters to exercise their right to reject option. He said morcha president Anna Hazare had been demanding right to reject option for voters if they found all the candidates unsuitable. He demanded similar arrangements should be ensured in other civic bodies in the state and should not be just limited to municipal corporations.

Pangtey also held that corruption was on the rise in the state. He said even land acquired from farmers for setting up of industries was being sold to industrialists. He said the proposed Coca Cola plant at Vikasnagar was another anti-farmer decision of the state government.

He appealed to the people to come forward against corruption. Morcha leaders PC Thapliyal and Puja Bahukhundi were also present at the press conference.

Pithoragarh, April 26
The BJP would win 60 per cent of the total seats in the urban bodies elections this time, getting benefit of the anti-incumbency against the Congress, which had been created due to inefficient government as the Congress, in last 18 months, could not address the felt needs of the urban bodies in the state, said Suresh Joshi, general secretary, BJP.

"The Congress and the state government is in disarray on seeing the impending defeat in the upcoming local body elections, which is visible by desperation of the top leadership as they have hired four helicopters to facilitate campaigning by the top leaders, separately by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Harish Rawat and other top leaders, terming these minor elections at par of the Assembly ones," said Joshi.

According to the BJP general secretary, the party will win more than 60 per cent seats in these elections in all the 69 local bodies, including 6 nagar nigams. The victory would be delivered to the BJP candidates as the 18-month-old Congress could not match the budget approval to the local bodies during the BJP regime, he said.

"The budget provisions allocated by the BJP during its regime was of varied nature, it not only allocated budget for sanitation, electricity and roads in the urban bodies of the state, but also had given budget for cremation grounds and beautification of parks in these urban bodies," said Joshi.