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Gurgaon elite vote for their own
Six injured in Guhla constituency
Poorest of the poor vote to choose their leader
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Code violated with impunity
Panchkula/ Naraingarh, February 3 From ferrying voters to polling booths to setting up their tents along the booths and distributing laddoos among poll agents, besides accompanying voters right inside the polling stations and telling them to vote for a particular candidate, the rules were being flouted with impunity in the Assembly segments of Kalka and Naraingarh. In Panchkula, the Congress, the BJP and the INLD were using private vehicles to ferry the voters from slum colonies to the polling booths. The candidates could be seen bringing the voters from Rajiv and Indra Colonies to the booths in Sectors 16 and 17. Even in various
bhoj (hamlet) of Morni, workers of various parties were making rounds to ensure that votes were being polled. District Election Officer Neelam P. Kasni said a private vehicle ferrying the voters had been apprehended near Barwala. In most of the booths in villages and urban sectors of Panchkula, Kalka, Barwala and Raipur Rani, the parties and Independents had set up their tents adjacent to the booths. Several parties had also displayed their posters, party flags and stickers on walls of the booths. The rules specify that the parties can install their tents at a distance of 200 metres from the booths. At Naggal village near Barwala (Kalka constituency), the Congress, BJP and INLD had set up their tents at a distance of less than 50 feet from the booths. In Kot village, the Congress tent was barely 20 feet away from the booth. In most villages of Naraingarh, the parties and Independents had pasted election material on the walls of the booth. When the presiding officer at the booth was asked about the violation, he immediately asked the parties to remove the material from the booth. Since Congress supporters who had displayed the material were not present, INLD workers did the needful. Ms Kasni, when asked about the violations, said she had asked the presiding officers to ensure that the tents were at a proper distance. |
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Gurgaon elite vote for their own
Gurgaon, February 3 One of the 90 assembly seats in Haryana, Gurgaon is called the millennium city for its high-rise condominiums, sprawling bungalows and glittering shopping malls. The clear favourite seemed to be the Gurgaon Residents Party (GRP), their “own representative” among the many political parties. Their candidate is Ratan Singh, a retired army officer, fielded by 85 resident welfare associations of the area. Many voters, who started queuing up at polling booths from early morning, attributed their enthusiasm to the GRP’s presence in the electoral battle. Ratan Singh is contesting on a cricket bat symbol, which he chose because he said upper-middle class residents could identify with it. He is contesting against Congress nominee Dharamvir Singh Gaba, INLD candidate Gopi Chand Gehlot and BJP’s Sudha Yadav. The large turnout in Sushant Lok, DLF colonies and other residential colonies in the posh areas surprised many. “People here were never so interested in casting their votes. It’s a good sign that they are taking out time to vote,” said Ranjan Pal, a knowledge management specialist. “Why would I not come? It’s a chance that I get once in five years to make my voice heard. There is no point in cribbing without doing my basic duty,” added Shilpa, who works with Ranbaxy. The public holiday given to offices and the order to close markets also acted as a catalyst. Several of them work in New Delhi but still made it a point to vote. Sarbjeet, an engineer, took the day off from his office in New Delhi to cast his vote. “It’s easy to criticise those in power. Our basic duty is to send the best candidate for us. “This is a place where educated people stay. So they should be aware of their responsibilities,” he said. Saurav Adhikar, who works with the HCL in the Capital, was clear about his support for the GRP. “Why should I vote for someone who is going to dance to the tune of someone sitting in Chandigarh or Delhi? I am not bothered what is he doing in Rohthak and Meham,” he said. Asked why they were dropping politicians from their list, he said: “It’s not a parliamentary election and we are not electing those who decide our policies in New Delhi. It’s an Assembly election and voters want someone who will address their concerns.” A woman told Ratan Singh outside a booth, “We are voting for you and giving you a chance. Hope you will deliver.” He on his part assured them that he did not have tags attached to other parties and that he was “free for service.” Amid hopes that he would highlight their problems of water and power, there is also a sense of realism. “It’s just a pressure group. Old slogans need to be changed,” said Yogesh Attal, a retired professor.
— IANS |
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Party affiliations didn’t matter much
Mundigarhi (Haryana-UP Border), February 3 By 1.30 p.m., the electorate of this village had polled 497 votes and by the evening the turnout had crossed over 70 per cent. Interestingly, woman bearing “burkhas” carrying their children were seen waiting for their turn to cast their votes. Outside polling booths it seemed to be cheering time for children who were seen playing following a holiday in schools. When The Tribune team reached here, villagers and even children gathered around us to know about the trend of voting in the constituency and elsewhere in the state. Party affiliations did not matter for most of the electorate in this area. Ms Rani, wife of Mr Mehar-ud-Din, who came to cast her vote covered in a a black “burkha” said that she had exercised her vote for the one who had been in touch with the village and bore a good character. Similar were the views of Mr Shakil, the young sarpanch of the village. It may be mentioned that Mundigarhi and the adjoining villages of Rana Majra, Badleda, Bahargarhi, Sadarpur and Lalupura dominated by Muslims and Gujjars were hit the worst by malaria and viral infections claiming more than 12 lives. “I have kept all these things in mind before exercising my vote,” said Mr Aasim Nambardar of Mundigarhi village. Local issues, particularly pertaining to the development of the villages in the remote areas adjoining the Yamuna by and large influenced the electorate. |
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Six injured in Guhla constituency
Kaithal, February 3 As per the reports available, Rohtash, Sewa Singh, Ishwar Chand, Ajay Kumar, Suresh Jindal (MC) and Ranjit Singh were injured in a group clash. They were rushed to the local hospital at Guhla where their condition was stated to be out of danger. A local police official said that a cross party case was registered against both the parties. Ranbir Singh, Malkit Singh and Baljit Singh, supporters of INLD were booked on the complaint of a Congress worker Ranjit Singh while on the other hand an FIR was also registered against Suresh Jindal on the complaint of Malkit Singh. An average of 72 per cent polling was reported from all five constituencies of the district. However, the exact figures could be determined late in the evening. Maximum polling of 80 per cent was reported from Pai constituency while the lowest polling of 62 per cent was reported from Pundri in the district. In Guhla polling was around 71 per cent, Kaithal 70 per cent and Kalayat 75 per cent. |
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Poorest of the poor vote to choose their leader
Chandigarh, February 3 In elections poorest of the poor cast their votes along with well-to-do voters. Bridegrooms came to the polling booth and stood in the queue before they were to set out to get married, and a crippled woman hitched a ride in her brother’s mobike to come to the booth and then moved on all four to enter in the room to exercise her right to franchise. Bharat Bhushan, a motor mechanic from Rehour village in the Kalka Assembly constituency of Haryana, stood in the queue and gave his vote first before he set out for Kurukshetra to get married to Usha, his bride. Bharat Bhushan’s party comprised of about 50 people and all the adults in the group had cast their votes before they headed for Barana village in Kurukshetra district. “ We got late because we wanted to give our votes before we leave for the marriage”, said a companion of the groom. The day of polling was apparently an auspicious day for marriage. While touring Kalka, Mulana, Nilokheri, Karnal, Pundri, Jundla and Pehowa constituencies, this reporter saw a number of cars bedecked with flowers carrying bridegrooms. If Mr Ram Singh, an INLD worker helping voters in front of Raipur Roran polling booth of Nilokheri constituency, is to be believed, members of the marriage parties had all voted before they got busy with the function in hand. “ In our village also two boys are getting married. But they and their family members came to the polling station early to cast their votes”, he said. In Raipur Roran polling station only, one came across Ms Kela Devi, an indomitable character who could be an example to those who would rather watch TV then going out to cast their votes. Having one leg of her severely affected by polio, Kela Devi can move herself only with the help of a bamboo stick. If she does not have the stick, then she crawls on the floor to move from one place to another. But this mother of two sat on the pillion of her brother’s mobike to come to the polling station and then dragged herself to the covered area to press the machine. In Nissing village in the Jundla constituency, one met Rajputi, who was collecting firewood from the roadside for cooking her evening meal. She has voted for the “Panja” (Congress party’s symbol) was all she could say. In Rasina village of the neighbouring Pundri constituency, a group of women, all with their faces covered with dupattas and were carrying cattlefood on their heads, said they too had voted. But they would not say which party they had benefited from their support. The question evoked giggles from them. In Pundri an INLD worker talked about Independent candidate, Mr Dinesh Kaushik, who is “very rich”. “Every year he spends seven months in the USA and only five months in India”, the INLD supporter said. “ In comparism, the INLD candidate from Pundri is a very simple man. He has hardly any money”, he claimed. |
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