Shimla, December 18
As many as 44,77,524 electors will exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 324 candidates contesting from 65 assembly segments in the second phase of elections in the state tomorrow.

Prominent leaders in the fray include Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal, power minister Vidya Stokes and irrigation and public health minister Kaul Singh.

Polling for the three tribal segments of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Bharmour was held in the first phase on November 14.

The BJP is contesting all 65 seats, the Congress and the BSP 64 each, CPI (8), CPM (7), LJP (38) and the NCP(4), besides 74 Independents. There are 25 candidates from the fair sex in the electoral arena and there are three constituencies, Naduanta, Hamirpur and Banikhet, where the main contest is between women candidates. All 65 segments are witnessing multi-cornered contests.

The maximum number of nine candidates is in Arki, while nine constituencies have the minimum number of three candidates.

In all 5,946 polling booths have been set up out of which 621 have been declared hyper- sensitive and 1084 sensitive.

A polling booth had been set up in the landlocked Bara Bhangal for 45 voters. Polling parties and election material had already been airlifted to Bara Bhangal and Dodra Kawar.

Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda said here today that 117 polling stations had been shifted for the convenience of electors. While 50 polling stations had been shifted from the first and second floors to the ground floor, 35 polling stations had been shifted because of the dismantling of or damage to the buildings of previous polling stations. Besides, 20 polling stations had been changed for other reasons.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. In all 40,000 personnel have been deployed on poll duty. Over 16,500 security personnel, including 2,000 from the ITBP, and home guards had been deployed for the purpose.

The borders with the neighbouring states have been sealed and a strict watch was being kept on the movement of vehicles.

Electors photo identity cards have been issued to 86.74 per cent of the voters but the commission had also allowed 16 other documents on the basis of which identity could be established. Polling will take place from 8 am to 5 pm.

Shimla, December 18
The BJP has complained to the Election Commission about the misuse of official machinery and distribution of household items by Congress candidate and excise and taxation minister Rangila Ram Rao in his constituency, Gopalpur, in Mandi district.

The BJP complained that supporters of Rao were distributing pressure cookers, blankets and watches to woo the voters, said state BJP secretary H.N. Kashyap.

It also sent a complaint to the Election Commission about the election meetings held by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at Battakufar and Krishnanagar here today. He said Pratibha Singh had addressed three election meetings at Lalsa, Dansa and Jeori in the Rampur segment after the close of campaign.

The BJP also demanded that a senior IAS officer should be posted as deputy commissioner, Kangra, to ensure a free and fair poll as ADC Lakhanpal was acting in a partisan manner and helping the Congress. 

Paonta-Doon/Shillai, December 18
Away from the frenzy of tomorrow’s elections, 45-year-old Rehana is nursing an old dream. “I am waiting for a day when I and my daughters will no longer have to defecate in the open. Men can still manage, but women…” she loses her thought to complacence bred by years of official neglect. However, her traditional loyalties rest with the Congress.

Here in Missarwala, a tacky little hamlet on the margins of Paonta-Doon, the Congress has always enjoyed foothold. “Development or no development, commitments must be kept,” insists a village elder. But the writing on the wall behind him tells a different story. “Aurat ke maan ki khatir, shauchalaya pardah awwal pardah” (covered toilets are a must to protect the dignity of women)” - it goes, baring the desperation of the people who have waited long enough for change. This time, they might just bring it home, though the Congress feels otherwise.

“Last time when we lost Poanta-Doon to the BJP, we had retained our support base here,” claims a senior Congress leader, who was on the forefront at a recent rally by union minister of state Anand Sharma. There was a reason why Sharma held a rally at Missarwala, the Muslim-dominated area, where most houses still don’t have toilets, though they still have some loyalties left.

In the most remote villages of Sirmaur, natural lavatories remain a norm. About 20 per cent rural households across this second most backward district of Himachal (after Chamba) are yet to see flush toilets. There are parts of Shillai and Paonta segments where people still carry night soil on heads. The situation is particularly grim in far-flung areas of Shillai like Kotapabh, Kyari Gunda, Murar and Bashua, which are yet to see the fruits of development.

In Kotapabh, it’s normal to see men and mules carry ration on their backs. The village has no road; naturally no transport plies. “We travel several miles to the nearest grocer to fetch ration. But we are sure things will change,” says Bisma, a 50-something woman who has spent a lifetime hoping for a road from her village to the world. She’s still not all fret and fume as she boasts of how her village just got a drinking water facility.

“Recently the state government gave us a water lifting pump. We now get water in our houses though it is sometimes dirty,” she says, hoping roads will also come some day. As for toilets, that’s a luxury most villagers here have stopped dreaming about. They would rather ask for clean drinking water, roads and healthcare than waste time over flush toilets.

“What will we do with flushes when there is no water to drink? Our women still stand for hours on the road waiting for the municipality tanker that fetches water,” says Dilsher Khan, a dhaba owner at Sainwala at Nahan.

He pays for eight water tankers a month to run business; each costing Rs 400. His monthly income is just Rs 6,000.

At another village - Kyari Gunda in Shillai - Raksha Devi makes her case for a toilet. “We need covered toilets. It’s okay as long as we have forests. But someday they, too, will shrink. What will happen then?” she leaves the prospective state government with some food for thought.

Sundernagar, December 18
Congress workers burnt copies of a Hindi daily at three places in the town today. They were annoyed over the alleged wrong publication of the party symbol in an advertisement appealing for vote for party candidate Sohan Lal Thakur. The advertisement carried photographs of Sohan Lal, Virbhadra Singh and Sonia Gandhi but the party symbol was shown as “Lotus” instead of “Hand”.

The workers termed it as an intentional act on the part of the newspaper. They also submitted a written complaint to the authorities concerned.

According to sources in the Black Congress Committee, they had never issued any such advertisement. Moreover, it carried the wrong party symbol. They termed it as a mischief.

On the other hand, it was being said that it was a clerical mistake.

Shimla, December 18
Accusing L.K.Advani of misleading the people of Himachal Pradesh on the Indo-US nuclear deal, minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma today sought an unqualified public apology from former Deputy Prime Minister for telling a “blatant lie” that the country’s right to test nuclear weapons would be forfeited.

Addressing a press conference here he said it did not behove a leader of Advani’s stature who was being projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate to indulge in such falsehood as there was no mention regarding the detonation of nuclear devices in the deal. In fact, the government had rectified the blunder committee by the NDA regime by imposing a unilateral moratorium on all nuclear tests after carrying out the 1998 detonations. Not only that the then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addressing the UN Assembly had stated that the government was willing to convert de facto moratorium de jure and also ready to sign the CTBT (comprehensive test ban treaty).

With such a track record Advani had the cheek to accuse the UPA of harming the country’s national interests, said the Congress leader.

To take full economic and strategic advantage of its nuclear potential the country had to end its isolation and join the nuclear mainstream. The Indo-US deal had provided a great opportunity for ending the nuclear apartheid on its own terms.

India’s stand was very clear that it would only be interested in non-discriminatory multilateral negotiations with regard to arriving at a treaty on nuclear tests. It would not discuss the issue bilaterally with anyone. 

Shimla, December 18
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said here today that the BJP was adopting double standards on the issue of internal security as they were indirectly encouraging and supporting the Maoist activities in Nandigram.

When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself admitted that the single largest factor threatening national security was Maoists, Yechury said the BJP was not only encouraging but also justifying the act of terrorism at Nandigram.

“How can the BJP accuse the CPM of trouble in Nandigram when the Home Minister himself admitted in Parliament that it was the handiwork of the Maoists,” he said.

Taking strong exception to the remarks made by L.K. Advani here yesterday, the CPM leader said that unlike BJP-ruled Chattisgarh, where half of the state was under the control of Maoists, the CPM would not allow this kind of terrorism in West Bengal.

He said that CPM was keen that the UPA regime implements the common minimum programme in letter and in spirit.

Shimla, December 18
The Election Commissions of India has issued notice to the Congress for use of derogatory slogans against a particular community at an election meeting of the Chief Minister in Kullu.

It is reliably learnt that the commission has asked the Congress to clarify its position on the issue of using casteist slogans. It was during the December 6 rally of Virbhadra Singh at Kullu that the party worker conducting the stage had made mention of certain objectionable slogans used by the BSP in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda confirmed the notice had been issued to the Congress by the commission from Delhi. She said the commission had looked into the matter as the BSP had sent a direct complaint to it.

Shimla, December 18
BJP chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal today served a legal notice on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for issuing the report of a fabricated hard disk alleging irregularities in recruitments.

Satya Pal Jain, in charge of BJP affairs in Himachal, said that the notice had been issued by the BJP legal cell, seeking an unconditional apology from the Chief Minister failing which a defamation case would be filed.

The notice had also been served on Animal Husbandry Minister Harsh Mahajan who had released a press statement giving details of the alleged irregularities in recruitment in the State Public Service Commission, Subordinate Services Selection Board at Hamirpur and in various universities and departments in the state.

A day later the Chief Minister had released the entire over 180-page forensic laboratory report to the media here on December 15.

The BJP has sought an apology from the Chief Minister and his colleague within a week failing which a defamation case would be filed.

Jain said if the contents of the hard disk were true why did the state government sit over it for almost five years. “The fact that the hard disk report was released barely a week before the elections points to the fact that it is politically motivated,” he said.

Shimla, December 18
The government today ordered a police inquiry into the landing of Air Deccan chopper at Bilaspur that resulted in the breach of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s security.

The DIG (Centre), Mandi, has been entrusted the task. He has been asked to submit his report at the earliest and also liaise with various central agencies and suggest remedial measures to prevent any such incident in future.

It was at the Luhnu ground in Bilaspur yesterday that an Air Deccan helicopter landed when the Prime Minister was ready to take off to address an election rally at Palampur.

The pilot and the co-pilot were arrested and the chopper seized. The chopper had reportedly come to carry AICC general secretary R.K. Dhawan from Bilaspur to Palampur for the Prime Minister’s second rally.

The police today released the helicopter following the execution of a security bond of Rs 2 crore. The two pilots were released late last night on payment of a personal security of Rs 50,000 each.

SP Balbir Thakur said the matter was being investigated and documents examined.

Mandi, December 18
The poll observers posted in 65 Assembly segments “have taken cognisance of the defamatory surrogate ad war campaigns launched through features and special media supplements published on behalf of candidates in news format”, circumventing provisions of the Peoples Representation Act, violating the modal code of conduct for media, undermining the chances of “free and fair polls” in the state.

These “supplements and advertisements had come out recently in the guise of “surveys and exit polls” and were circulated through newspapers.

The commission had banned such advertisements and surveys before elections.

Though the election commission has laid a ceiling of Rs 7 lakh on election expenditure of individual candidates, no ceiling has been fixed on expenditure by political parties. Consequently, the expenditure on these surrogate ads is generally attributed to the parties.

Although it is mandatory to publish a “disclaimer under the Act in such supplements, features or promotional advertisements, theses provisions are not being followed.

State electoral officer Manish Nanda said: “CEC poll observers are taking note of such things and we are aware about the problem. All surrogate ads need to carry word “ADVT” and a disclaimer”.

Solan, December 18
Frustration due to lack of jobs for youth, little opportunities for women and disregard of the demands of senior citizens appear to be some of the issues which will be the deciding factor for poll in Solan.

The district, which houses about 70 per cent of industries, has failed to generate adequate jobs for the local youth.

“The ruling Congress made mockery of the educated youth by conducting tests and interviews but later failed to make appointments. What surprises me is the manner in which less educated parent-teacher association presidents interviewed candidates. Isn’t this a mockery of the educated poor, who are unable to procure a decent job?” quipped Sunil Kumar of Nalagarh, a science postgraduate.

On the other hand, disturbance in the agrarian community is due to the forcible acquisition of fertile, tillable land at Vaknaghat for setting up of a satellite township. “Despite protests against the land acquisition, the government appears to have made up it’s mind to acquire our land. More than 100 families would be landless after the acquisition and there is no rehabilitation plan till today,” rued a villager from Vaknaghat village in Solan.

The government never stopped claiming credit for having drawn investment worth Rs 27,000 crore through the 2003-central package for industries. But it is the lack of infrastructure which has made the setting up of an industry an arduous task in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, lamented Ritesh Kumar, an investor. 

Jwali, December 18
Trees seem to have borne the brunt of campaign frenzy of political parties and their supporters. Supporters of the Congress, the BJP, the BSP, other political parities and even Independents have been nailing banners and flags to trees in violation of the Indian Forests Act.

Blatant violations of the Act can be seen in Nurpur, Gangath, Jwali, Guler and Jaswan constituencies of Kangra district.

Similar is the situation in almost every other part of the state.

Although the ban on the use of polythene for making campaign material produced some results, but the plastic strings used to hang and display advertisement material, including banners, flags and posters, was again a violation of the norms.

The forest authorities had reportedly deployed additional manpower to remove flags, banners, posters and other material nailed to the trees. Environmentalists, however, have demanded registration of criminal cases against party leaders who had violated the Act.

The department should lodge FIRs against political parties whose advertising material was found so displayed, said Vinod Kalia of Dhameta.

Nurpur DFO P.C. Kaushal admitted the workers of different political parties had violated the Indian Forests Act by nailing publicity material to trees in Nurpur, Gangath, Jwali and Guler. Similar reports had come from other districts also, he added.

However, no case has been registered in this connection so far.

Gohar (Chachiot), December 18
It has turned out to be a battle of ballot between Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and BJP state chief Jai Ram Thakur in Chachiot, giving tough time to two-time winner Jai Ram, facing Shiv Lal of the Congress, who is a “non-Seraji” and the “united Congressmen of Seraj.”

Both the BJP and the Congress are playing up on development issues to woo voters. But residents resented that the government and local MLAs have done nothing to promote tourism in Janjheli and Shikari Devi that could provide more employment opportunities to youngsters in tourism sector.

Jai Ram Thakur and his supporters have been promoting among 66,107 voters in this segment that he is a “son of the soil,” a Seraji, while Congress candidate Shiv Lal is a “non-Seraji.”

But this time, Virbhadra Singh has succeeded in forging a unity among three main Seraji Congress rivals and Shiv Lal’s baiters Professor Veer Singh Chauhan, Chet Ram Thakur and Tara Thakur, all Seraji, all Congress ticket-seekers, giving tough fight to Jai Ram Thakur.

The Congress is upbeat here this time as Mandi MP Pratibha Singh, who has campaigned in almost all segments, has got a lead of 2,000 votes from here in Lok Sabha election.

They have rallied behind Virbhadra Singh’s clarion call: “Trounce Jai Ram Thakur this time from Chachiot to repeat BJP presidents’ history of defeats in the state - Jai Kishan Sharma (Una), Suresh Bhardwaj (Shimla) and now Jai Ram”.

Though Jai Ram Thakur has recovered losses in Janjheli-Balichowki to some extent by organising rallies, one addressed by Sushma Swaraj, but he still is finding hills of Seraj valley tougher to riding on his son-of-soil slogan, which has not caught the fancy of voters.

Making things difficult for Jai Ram, who has emerged as a young BJP leader from Mandi district, is that he is facing undercutting in the peripheries of segment from his BJP rivals.

He said all entry-points from J&K and Punjab to Chamba had been sealed and strict surveillance was being kept to curb infiltration.

Una, December 18
The stage has been set for keen contest in five Assembly constituencies of the district. Una: In Una Assembly constituency, there is a direct contest between sitting MLA of BJP Satpal Satti, chairman of Kangra central cooperative bank and Congress nominee Varinder Gautam.

The Congress candidate is a close confident of Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh. The CM is taking personal interest in the constituency and has rung up many leaders to extend support to Gautam.

However, dissidence within the party is stumbling block for him. The supporters of HPCC spokesperson O. P. Rattan, who was also a candidate for Congress ticket from the area, are keeping their cards close that could prove a deciding factor.

Satti is relying on establishment factor against the government. He is also relying on his easy assess to voters as a strong point. The ABVP cadre for Una colleges is campaigning hard for Satti that could tilt the balance in his favour. The caste card is also played by rival candidates in the constituency.

Santoshgrah: In Santoshgarh constituency, Congress nominee Mukesh Agnihori is facing BJP candidate Jagroop Singh. The Congress seems to have an edge in the constituency due to phenomenal development carried out in the past five years, including development of industrial area, laying of roads and providing tubewells for irrigation.

However, Jagroop Singh is relying on Jat vote bank in his constituency. He is also hoping that former minister and BSP candidate Vijay Joshi would cut into Congress vote bank.

Kutlehar: In this constituency, the Congress is trying to tilt tables on the seat where it has not earned victory in the last 20 years. It has pitted Ram Nath an old warhorse, who is the only Congressmen to have won from the area in early 80’s. Congress district incharge O. P. Rattan has been camping in the constituency to control dissidence in the party.

However, here also Varinder Singh, a sitting MLA of the BJP, seems to be having an edge over his rival. He is banking on strong vote bank of party in the area and dissidence in Congress to romp him home for second time in Himachal Assembly.

Gagret: In Gagret reserved constituency, industries minister Kuldeep Kumar is likely to face tough contest with BJP candidate Balbir Singh. Kuldeep has centred his campaign around the development works done in the last five years, especially the industrial areas’ developed in his constituency. BJP candidate Balbir is relying on anti-establishment factor against the government.

Chintpurni: In this constituency, Congress candidate Rakesh Kalia is facing Narinder Sharma of the BJP. The constituency is likely to witness a keen contest with the candidate confident of their victory. The BJP in this constituency is relying on strong anti-establishment factor owning to strong presence of government employees in the area.

Kangra, December 18
A 23-year-old house wife committed suicide allegedly because she was tortured and humiliated by her husband and mother-in-law after she delivered a daughter.

The deceased consumed poison in Kachiari village on the outskirts of the town yesterday, the police said.

Kangra sub-divisional police officer Jeet Singh said Monika Devi had consumed poison yesterday at her home in Kachairi village.

She was rushed to Dr R.P.Government Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, but died on the way.

He said the police had recovered a suicide note in which Monika had stated that she was physically and mentally tortured by her husband, Bindoo Saini, and mother-in-law, which forced her to commit suicide. She added that her daughter should not be kept with her in-laws and handed over to her parents.

Father of the deceased, Jugal Kishore, resident of Ladwara, lodged a complaint alleging that his daughter was tortured by her husband and mother-in-law after she had delivered a girl child. He also stated that the acussed had been demanding dowry and at the time of the delivery, he had given them Rs 10,000.

Meanwhile, Singh said Bindoo Saini and his father, Prakash Saini, who were absconding, have been arrested today. 

Mandi, December 18
All four occupants of a jeep died on the spot after the vehicle fell into a gorge at Dabedh, 53 km from here, on the Balichowki-Sudhrani road in this district around 4 p.m. yesterday, the police said today.

The deceased have been identified as Bhim Sain of Pannu village, driver Subhash of Nadaun in Hamirpur district, Chaman Lal of Kharlach and Bodh Raj of Suragi in this district.

The accident occurred as the jeep driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve. Local people and ITBP personnel helped the police in extricating the bodies from the mangled jeep. A case has been registered. — UNI