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AP: One state, two states of mind
Constituency profile Rohtak |
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Ahead of polls, women release demand charter
Cong may court land trouble in Haryana
Campaign trail:
Dushyant Chautala
TRS slams door on Cong, declares list of candidates
Twitterati
snapshots
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AP: One state, two states of mind
Hyderabad, April 4 With bifurcation transforming the political dynamics in the key southern state, different set of factors are at play in Telangana and Seemandhra, comprising Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions. While the key issues in Telangana are focused on who should get the credit for fulfilling the long-cherished dream of statehood, the primary concern in the Seemandhra region will be industrialisation, infrastructure development and building of new capital city. After biting the Telangana bullet, the ruling Congress hopes to capture power in the new state and garner a major chunk of Lok Sabha seats from the region. In the process, it is facing total rout in Seemandhra due to public anger over division of the state, particularly the loss of Hyderabad which will be the common capital for 10 years before being made the permanent capital of Telangana. The challenge before the major contenders for power in Seemandhra is to come up with plans to develop a new capital city on a par with Hyderabad which has served as the economic powerhouse of Andhra Pradesh since its formation in 1956. Apart from the emotional upheaval and the sense of loss that bifurcation has triggered in Seemandhra, the nitty-gritty of sharing of resources, river water, funding for the new capital, sustaining industrialisation and employment generation are going to be a big tasks. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), headed by former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is building its campaign on these issues. With his nine year experience as a development-oriented Chief Minister, from 1995 to 2004, Naidu is positioning himself as an ideal candidate to develop the resource-rich state. Ever since the bifurcation process got underway, the TDP has been steadily gaining ground in the battle of perceptions in Seemandhra. A number of Congress leaders have joined the TDP in the past few weeks. With the Congress disintegrating rapidly, several former ministers, MLAs and MPs have crossed over to the TDP to secure their political future. The alliance with BJP is also expected to boost the party's prospects in the region. Till recently, Seemandhra, which accounts for 25 out of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats in AP and 175 MLAs in the 294-member Assembly, was seen as a cakewalk for the YSR Congress Party headed by Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The party has been opposing the division of the state. However, the ground situation appears to be changing with the TDP now emerging a frontrunner in the electoral race. A majority of the sitting Congress MLAs of the region have already crossed over to the TDP. On his part, Jagan has been harping on the goodwill that his father and former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy enjoys in the region. Positioning himself as successor of YSR's political legacy, Jagan has been promising a string of pro-poor schemes that his father had initiated when he was the Chief Minister from 2004 till his death in September, 2009.
While it will be a straight contest between the TDP and YSRCP in Seemandhra, Telangana will see the battle between the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Congress. The TDP-BJP combine and the YSRCP are only marginal players in the region while Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is a formidable force in Hyderabad. A complex web of challenges lies ahead for Telangana once the new state is formed. Barring Hyderabad, the region is largely backward and cannot boast of any major industries. Acute power crisis, unemployment, fund crunch and inadequate irrigation are among the major problems that concern the voters in the region. The TRS, which has been in the forefront of the statehood movement since its inception in 2001, is keen on claiming entire credit for achieving the goal. The Congress leaders have hit the campaign trail highlighting how their party president Sonia Gandhi stuck to her decision on carving out the new state despite several odds. The TRS has reneged on its earlier promise to merge with Congress once Parliament passes the Telangana Bill. It has also refused to have electoral alliance with the ruling party.
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Rivals hope to upset Cong apple cart in its bastion
Hoodas undeterred by anti-incumbency, voters’ silence; say Deepender’s hard work will pay off Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service
Rohtak, April 4
In all, the Hoodas have won the seat eight times, including three consecutive victories registered by Bhupinder over the formidable late leader, Choudhry Devi Lal. As of now, Deepender is in the fray for the seat once again on the Congress ticket. Apart from his political legacy, he banks on the developmental works he carried out during his successive terms to retain the seat. Political observers say Rohtak is the safest seat for the ruling Congress in Haryana. Besides the political legacy in Rohtak — the heartland of Deswali Jat belt — various Central projects brought by the Hooda Junior to the constituency seem to have tilted the scales in his favour. With the backing of the state regime, headed by his father, and the Union Government led by the Congress, the Rohtak MP succeeded in upgrading rail and road infrastructure in a big way and bringing several national and state-level educational, medical, research and training institutes to his constituency. The IIM, AIIMS, IIT, National Cancer Research Institute, Global Centre for Nuclear Energy, National Footwear Design Institute, State Institute of Hotel Management, Film and Television Institute, Institutes of Fine Arts, Fashion Designing and Architecture to name a few.
Meanwhile, his opponents are leaving no stone unturned in exploiting the anti-incumbency sentiments by focusing on people's resentment over the alleged lack of basic amenities in certain pockets, anti-farmer land-acquisition policies, discrimination in grant of jobs, inflation, and corruption. Strong undercurrents favouring BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi have also knocked at the Hooda bastion, indicating that it may not be a cakewalk for the incumbent MP this time.
Indian National Lok Dal's Shamsher Kharkara enjoys a substantial mass base in the Meham Assembly segment as well as certain other pockets of the Rohtak parliamentary constituency. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded former student leader Naveen Jaihind, who is also making all-out efforts to make his presence felt in the poll arena. He also has a considerable clout, especially among youth. The incumbent Congress MP has an enviable report card of the past eight-and-a-half years, but his rivals are focusing on farmers' issues, including "pro-builder" acquisition of large chunks of land, unemployment and scarcity of water and other basic amenities. Nonetheless, the absence of a clear wave in favour of or against any party or candidate, coupled with voters' silence in general, is giving sleepless nights to party leaders as well as wannabe MPs. While those owing allegiance to the ruling party attribute it to the Opposition's lack of issues, Congress' rivals term it the lull before the storm. Candidatespeak I have sincerely worked for the betterment of my constituency and the projects sanctioned during my tenure speak for me. I am confident of an emphatic victory even though I am unable to reach out to the electorate personally.~ Deepender Hooda, congress People have decided to elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. Residents of Rohtak are livid over the lack of basic amenities, and the incumbent MP talks about development. Om Prakash Dhankhar, BJP The current Haryana leadership has made hundreds of crores of rupees by acquiring farmers' land for the benefit of big builders and industrialists. Now, they have even sold the state roads to private companies. Majority of the local youth are still unemployed. Shamsher Kharkara, inld We are not fighting any political party, but the system of governance. I hope to perform well as people seem to have understood that they have to stand up to change the system. Elections come and go, but nothing short of a revolution can change the prevailing set-up. Naveen Jaihind, aap
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Ahead of polls, women release demand charter
Sirsa, April 4 The charter signed jointly by Vimal Thorat of the All-India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM), Jagmati Sangwan of the All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Annie Raja of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Indu Agnihotri of the Centre for Women Development Studies (CWDS), Mohini Giri of Guild of Service (GOS), Jyotsana Chatterjee of Joint Women's Programme (JWP), Azra Abidi of Muslim Women Federation (MWF), Leila Passah of Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) and Veena Kohli of All-India Women Conference (AIWC) lists issues like political rights for women, food security, employment and work, education and health, protection of civil rights, violence against women and legal issues and strengthening of women commissions etc. Jagmati Sangwan, national general secretary of the AIDWA, said the women organisations want that the concerns highlighted in the charter should become part of the mainstream political agenda in the forthcoming elections and in future government's policies. One of the major demands raised by women in this charter is enactment of Women Reservation Bill for providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and the state Assemblies. The charter also includes demands such as universalisation of the PDS; removal of 100 days’ cap in the MNREGS; regularisation of the jobs of ICDS, ASHA and other schemes with minimum wages and benefits; implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act; increase in public spending on education to six per cent and on health to five per cent of the GDP; universalisation of free public health care and provision of central budgetary support for the effective implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, anti-Sexual Harassment Act, Prevention of Atrocities Act. The women organisations have also demanded implementation of all the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee Report; making marital rape an offence and fast-tracking of all cases of violence against women within a legally bound period of time. Incidentally, none of the political parties contesting the elections have given due representation to women while allocating tickets. Ironically, even the Left parties, whose ideology Jagmati Sangwan's AIDWA espouses, have not fielded any women candidates in Haryana. The issues
The charter lists issues such as political rights for women, food security, employment and work, education and health, protection of civil rights, violence against women and legal issues and strengthening of women commissions.
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Cong may court land trouble in Haryana
Chandigarh, April 4 While the Opposition — the INLD, the BJP-HJC alliance and AAP — has tried to put the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government on the mat for alleged irregularities in the land acquisition process, the Congress has rubbished the allegations claiming that its land acquisition policies had been hailed all over the country. "The land acquisition policies are tailored to the needs of big builders and billionaires by the Hooda government. The quashing of land acquisitions across the state by courts was a testimony to the fact that the policies were not transparent and farmers' interests had been compromised," alleged BJP chief Ram Bilas Sharma. Echoing similar views, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhey Chautala alleged that the Hooda government had taken away thousands of acres of fertile land for the benefit of builders. "The farmers are fed up with incentives to corporates at their cost and will teach a lesson to the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," he asserted. However, CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has gone on record claiming that "not an inch of land has been released in favour of any builder." The Haryana government's role in setting up of a special economic zone (SEZ) under the Reliance Haryana SEZ Limited (RHSL) over an area of 25,000 acres in Gurgaon and Jhajjar districts came in for a criticism. The HSIIDC had transferred 1,383.68 acres to implement the project at a cost of Rs 399.85 crore to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). With the SEZ project fizzling out, the Hooda government recently allowed Reliance to return the land to the HSIIDC by paying Rs 343 crore. However, the Hooda government's alleged favours to the big corporates, including Reliance, by allowing them to develop integrated industrial townships on the land purchased from farmers for the SEZs have drawn flak from the Opposition. "Since the purpose for which big corporates purchased the land (SEZ) has been defeated, aggregation of land beyond 18 standard acres was the violation of the Land Ceiling Act. The land should be returned to farmers since the specific purpose of development has not been achieved," said Dr Ram Kumar, a Jhajjar-based social activist. Haryana has a history of violent clashes over the acquisition of land by the state government and agitation intensified after the implementation of the New Land Acquisition Act. The latest is the case of the acquisition of 2,664 acres in Rewari as a part of several projects under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Land acquisition policies
Haryana follows two land acquisition policies — Relief and Rehabilitation Policy and Land Pooling Scheme. The Relief and Rehabilitation Policy ensures minimum floor rates, solatium, no litigation incentive and annunity for 33 years, besides residential plots to certain categories of farmers whose land is acquired by the state government. Under the Land Pooling Scheme introduced last year, farmers are made partners in the process of planned development of residential and industrial infrastructure. The scheme provides an option to the landowner farmers to get 'developed land' in return for their acquired land. The schemes paves the way for a landowner to get a 1,000 square yards residential plot and one commercial plot of 100 square yards for each acre acquired by the government for the development of residential sectors by HUDA.
'Favours' to builders
Under the Land Acquisition Act, HUDA and the HSIIDC have powers to acquire land under Section 4 and 6 through the issuance of notifications. The award of licence is announced under Section 9. The INLD has alleged that big builders, who are unable to coerce farmers to sell their land, seek government's help. INLD state president Ashok Arora alleged that using Section 4, the state intimated landowners that the government required those specific parcels of land for 'public purpose'. "At this stage, builders enter into agreements to sell/collaborate with landowners/farmers, offering them a modest premium over the government's prevailing compensation rate. If farmers resist, Section 6 is imposed, declaring the state's intention to acquire land. This forces landowners to enter into agreements and there are scores of such examples," Arora alleged. Between the imposition of Sections 4 and 6, builders apply for licences in collaboration with landowners to the Department of Town and Country Planning, headed by the Chief Minister. Once the land is released from acquisition, its value skyrockets for the builders, Arora alleged.
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Campaign trail:
Dushyant Chautala Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service
Hisar, April 4 In 30 minutes, the green Fortuner drives past the waiting cavalcade, signaling them to follow the suit. "Don't halt before Sisai," he tells his driver before zooming in on his android phone to check for important missed calls and updates on WhatsApp. On being asked about how he feels being in the fray at such a young age, Dushyant says: "Mazaa aa raha hai. During my father's (Ajay Chautala's) election in the 2011 bypoll in Hisar and in 2009 at Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, I was the campaign in charge of designated segments and it used to be tense. But I feel completely at ease now." He says though he had campaigned for his great grandfather (Devi Lal) in Rohtak when he was just eight years old, he started taking things seriously in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections in Bhiwani Mahendragarh. "After that I managed the campaign of my grandfather (Om Prakash Chautala) in Uchana, father's campaign in Dabwali and byelection in Hisar in 2011." As the discussion on campaigning tricks comes to an end, the car enters Sisai village and the spark in his eyes gets brighter. "This is our village. People here have supported us all along," Dushayant says. As he steps out of the car, a crowd surrounds him and slogans cheer up the atmosphere. In his speech, he accuses Congress leaders of putting his father and grandfather behind bars for giving jobs to people. "On coming to power, we will give 2.5 lakh jobs to people and let the Congress put us in jail for indefinite period," he says to strike an instant emotional chord with the masses. "Meri to abhi padne likhne ke umar thi. The corruption case was slapped on my father to stop him from contesting the elections and I had to step in and leave my studies midway," he says, explaining the reason for him being in the race this time. Eighty-year-old Mahavir Singh in the crowd keeps on raising slogans in support of Devi Lal as a cameraman focuses on him. "You will get tired of clicking my pictures but I won't stop," he says. As this reporter asks him as to why he supports Dushyant, he says: "Mhare tau ka khoon hai. (He (Dushyant) has Devi Lal's blood in his veins)," before breaking down in a burst of emotions. His campaign keeps pace as he addresses meetings en route Mahjat, Masudpur, Singhwa Rago, Sindhar, Khanpur and Gurana villages, urging people to vote out the Congress and teach a lesson to those playing divisive politics, referring to the HJC.
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AAP promises the moon, but will it deliver?
New Delhi, April 4 Urging people to vote for change, the 26-page manifesto promises simplification of trade procedures, steps to contain inflation and zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism while addressing its core interests and pitching for the national stage. Amid mixed reactions, the party promised an array of initiatives in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls such as bringing a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, installing CCTV cameras in court rooms and lowering the age to contest elections to 21 from current 25. Releasing the manifesto, party chief, Arvind Kejriwal said decentralisation of power, citizen's charter to ensure time-bound delivery of services and providing good governance would be some other priority areas of the party. Reacting to the AAP manifesto, Prof Rizwan Qaiser of the Department of Modern Indian History in Jamia Milia Islamia said some of the promises made by the AAP seemed impractical. "I wonder if anyone would be interested in contesting polls before the age of 25," he said, adding that entering the political arena needed a certain level of maturity. Jawaharlal Nehru University's sociologist Prof Anand Kumar, who is contesting from North East Delhi constituency on an AAP ticket, said: "Reducing the age to contest elections is an outstanding recognition of the youth power. It is a bold call to youth of India to get engaged in parliamentary democracy before it is vulgarised by vested interests and political nexus". According to him, various initiatives announced by his party will only make government "transparent, efficient and inclusive". Kejriwal claimed that his party was "industry friendly", as money was essential for overall development of the country, but against "crony capitalism". Emphasising on judicial accountability, he also proposed to double the number of judges in courts across the country in the next five years. The AAP leader also announced that the four-year undergraduate programme in Delhi University would be withdrawn, as demanded by a section of students and teachers. The manifesto also promises to create infrastructure with the help of private players and is not "in principle" against foreign direct investment, barring in the retail sector, but adds that disinvestment in areas where the government has a monopoly will be a strict no-no. The centrist economic streak of the party becomes clear from the repeat references the manifesto makes towards several entitlement programmes that were the pet projects of the UPA government. Prof Subrato Mukherjee, a retired political science professor from Delhi University, termed the manifesto "populist", which was formulated to win elections. "It is just another electoral document made in a hurry. There is no talk of bringing down the fiscal deficit. You have to look at larger reforms such as improving the quality of education and creating a system of good governance," Mukherjee said. "No attempts have been made to understand the real problems of the country. There is no long-term planning as to how would you fulfil these promises," he said. "They talk about installing CCTV cameras in interrogation rooms. But then they should have appealed for the Police Reform Act first," he said. Former Delhi BJP president OP Kohli said the AAP was habitual of making attractive assurances to woo voters. "It made similar attractive promises during the Assembly elections in Delhi last year and formed the government with the support of the Congress, but resigned, as the members knew that they would not be able to fulfil the promises mentioned in the manifesto," he said. "AAP leaders do not know how to work under a system. They go against the system, which is dangerous for the democracy," he said. Delhi unit president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Manjit Singh (GK), who is president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said people should not go by the promises the parties made. "They should vote for the parties that are politically mature. There was total anarchy during the 49-day AAP government in Delhi. The AAP had promised to reduce the power and water tariff, to control law and order, but did nothing," he said. Terming AAP's manifesto as another "eye wash", the Delhi Congress said people would not fall prey to false promises this time. "Arvind Kejriwal is again trying to mislead people. He has mastered the art of telling lies," said Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Arvinder Singh Lovely, adding: "AAP leaders never do what they say. And what they do is on the basis of their own whims and fancies."
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TRS slams door on Cong, declares list of candidates
Hyderabad, April 4 With this, the maverick architect of the Telangana statehood movement sent across a clear message that he is not interested in a tie-up and that he is keen on claiming the entire credit for achieving the statehood goal. KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known in political circles, figures in the first list. He will contest from Gajwel in Medak district while his son K Tarakarama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao will seek re-election from Sircilla and Siddipet, respectively. The Telangana region has 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats. The candidates for the remaining Assembly seats and the Lok Sabha constituencies would be announced in a few days, KCR said. Sources said KCR was also likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections while his daughter K Kavitha is expected to be fielded from the Medak LS seat. He is contesting for the Assembly after 10 years. He was earlier elected to Lok Sabha from Karimnagar in 2004 and from Mahaboobnagar in 2009. While retaining all the 17 sitting legislators, the TRS has rewarded the defectors from other parties with tickets. The party has fielded K Sankaramma, mother of Telangana martyr K Srikant Chary, a 24-year-old student who immolated himself during the Telangana agitation in December 4, 2009. She will contest from Huzurnagar constituency in Nalgonda district. The self-immolation of her son, a physiotherapy student in Hyderabad, was a major turning point in the Telangana agitation. "There is no question of having alliance with any party. We will go it alone," the TRS chief asserted. Shakeel Ahmed from Bodhan is the lone Muslim candidate in the first list. Of the 69 candidates, 16 belong to Backward Classes, 14 Scheduled Castes and six Scheduled Tribes. The TRS also released the poll manifesto, promising 12 per cent reservation for Muslims and budgetary provision of Rs 50,000 crore over five years for the uplift of weaker sections. The Telangana region will go to polls on April 30 and the new state will come into existence on June 2.
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Twitterati
I love how people say "I don't give a damn about........"and then go on & on about not giving a damn. Not giving a damn means not commenting
— Omar Abdullah Shahi imam endorses Congress! Guess issues like corruption, scams, bad govrnance, development, economy, jobs not importnt fctors! — Rajeev Chandrasekhar Pujya Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji. I am deeply hurt that u have written such strong sentiments against me......I pray to God that some day I will be able to convince u that i am working only for the country and have no selfish motives..... — Arvind Kejriwal If there is an improvement in anyone's life, its in lives of Congress leaders & their families. Common people have suffered in last decade. — Narendra Modi Thankfully, 'The Economist' does not vote. Indians do. — Arun Jaitley
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EC bans exit polls between April 7 and May 12
New Delhi: The EC has banned the publication and dissemination of exit polls of any kind from April 7, the first phase of LS polls, till May 12 when the last phase of the polling ends. It said the ban or "restriction" on exit polls will also be applicable for polls to Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh Assemblies which are being held along with LS polls. — PTI Priyanka will decide her role, says Congress
New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi will herself decide her role in the Congress, the party indicated on Friday amid talks of a larger role for her. Priyanka was hailed as a "pillar of strength" behind Rahul and Sonia Gandhi by party spokesman Randeep Surjewala who said she had herself restricted her role to the LS constituencies of her brother and mother.
— PTI Misa hires two IITians
Patna: Misa Bharti, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, has hired two IITians and doctors to manage her campaign for the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. Her husband Shailesh Kumar, an IT professional, is also working as her shadow during the campaign.
— IANS
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As the allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling Congress and the Opposition in the run-up to the April 10 Lok Sabha elections fly thick and fast, land acquisition as an election issue has raised it ugly
head again. While the Opposition — the INLD, the BJP-HJC alliance and AAP — has tried to put the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government on the mat for alleged irregularities in the land acquisition process, the Congress has rubbished the allegations.
Dushyant Chautala, the fourth generation of the Devi Lal clan, is taking on Haryana Janhit Congress
(HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi in Hisar. With a smile on his face, he enthusiastically hops in the green Toyota Fortuner for a daylong campaign trail.
Clad in white kurta pajama, this alumnus of Lawrence School, Sanawar, who
graduated in management from the California State University in the US, leaves
his home in Urban Estate for a breakfast meeting at the house of a local leader
in Sector 15, asking others in his convoy to meet him near the Cantonment in
half an hour.
He
(Modi) talks about corruption and says his party is against it, but when he holds meetings in Karnataka, one finds Yeddyurappa standing next to
him.
Jawans of the country are doing duty day and night for our security, but enemies chop off their heads and the Cong fails to
retaliate.
Despite facing corruption charges and a CBI probe into his alleged illegal
assets, 41-year-old Jagan enjoys massive support from the youth, particularly from the weaker sections and minorities.
The seat was won by Ranbir Singh in 1952 and 1957. His son and incumbent Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda represented the constituency in 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004. Then, Hooda passed on the baton to his son Deepender, who was elected the Rohtak MP in 2005 and 2009.
But, before Deepender could set out for campaigning, he was advised complete bed rest due to spinal disorder. As a result, his father Bhupinder, mother Asha and wife Shweta are canvassing for him.
Riding high on the "Modi wave", saffron party candidate Om Prakash Dhankhar seems hopeful of springing a surprise by upsetting the Hooda cart in the ensuing polls.
