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Last lap: Candidates go door to door
Major parties fear betrayal by disgruntled cadres
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Triangular fight on three seats
CM’s remarks betray nervousness: Arya
Haridwar border with UP sealed
Varsity officials on poll duty, admissions hit
20 doctors on emergency duty
... ‘Bhojan matas’ for officials
Influenza kills three more horses
Train engine derails
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Last lap: Candidates go door to door
Dehradun, May 12 The main candidates in poll fray from Tehri Garhwal parliamentary constituency started their door-to-door campaign early this morning. Along with his supporters, Congress candidate Vijay Bahuguna went to Ordnance, Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) and Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL). During his interaction with the electors, his main thrust was on the development works initiated under the Central schemes. “I will make sure that the problem of traffic congestion in Dehradun is sorted out,” Bahuguna told majority of the Dehradun electorate. While BJP candidate Jaspal Rana laid emphasis on a door-to-door interaction in Dehradun city, BSP candidate Munna Singh Chauhan preferred to interact with the electors of his stronghold, Chakrata belt. Meanwhile, Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana visited DL Raod, Rajeevnagar Kandoli, Karanpur and Old Dalanwala areas of Dehradun seeking votes for Vijay Bahuguna. Dhasmana was accompanied by local councillor Vinay Kohli, former councillor Bansilal, Qumar Siddiqui, Rajesh Uniyal and Rakesh Kumar. |
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Major parties fear betrayal by disgruntled cadres
Roorkee, May 12 Though the leaders of these parties are stressing that everything has been settled, party insiders, on the other hand, claim that the candidates are still wary of the "annoyed elements" within their respective parties. Requesting anonymity, a local Congress leader admitted that earlier it had seemed to be a smooth ride for them, but now the equations had changed. “Everybody knows that some senior leaders had openly protested against the candidature of Harish Rawat. It is possible that they may play a negative role on D-day,” he said. The BJP is also not immune to this phenomenon. “Fielding an unknown and non-political candidate Swami Yatindranand after cancelling the ticket of Madan Kaushik, who holds a good rapport among the local public, could be a big mistake," a BJP leader said. "Though everything has been settled, backstabbing can’t be ruled out,” he added. Supporters of BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand have already expresses unhappiness over Yatindranand’s candidature. BSP’s Mohammad Shahzad, who is a strong contender because of the party’s strong base in the area, is also reportedly facing an internal strife. An influential party leader said that several top party leaders of the area were not happy over the ticket to Shahzad. “I will not take names but these leaders did not even participate during campaigning. Though not openly, they appear to me to be supporting the Congress,” he claimed. |
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Triangular fight on three seats
Dehradun, May 12 As many as 76 candidates are in the fray and the main contest is between traditional rivals - Congress and BJP. However, at some seats, including Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal and Nainital, there is a triangular contest between the Congress, BJP and BSP. Haridwar is likely to witness an interesting electoral battle. From this constituency Harish Rawat of Congress, Shahzad of BSP, Ambrish Kumar of SP and Swami Yatendranand Giri of BJP are the main contestants. Last time, it was Rajendra Kumar of SP who had defeated BSP candidate Dr. Bhagwan Dass by a margin of 37,659 votes. This time, however, the political scenario is completely different. Political observers feel the main contest here is between Congress and BSP. The Tehri Garhwal seat is also likely to witness a contest among Vijay Bahuguna of Congress, Jaspal Rana of BJP and Munna Singh Chauhan of BSP. This time, the otherwise traditional bi-polar electoral battle in Tehri will see a triangular contest. Although so far the Congress candidate has an edge, but on account of considerable number of Dalits and Muslim voters in this constituency, BSP may eat into Congress votes. Currently Vijay Bahuguna, who had won Tehri Garhwal by-election in 2007, is representing this seat. Once the high-profile seat represented by the Congress stalwart ND Tiwari, in Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency in Kumaon, BJP state president Bachi Singh Rawat is up against sitting MP KC Singh Baba of Congress. After Almora got reserved in the delimitation, Bachi Singh had to shift to Nainital. Albeit the constituency has been a fiefdom of the Congress, barring a few elections when the part lost, this time BSP candidate Narainpal is likely to make the contest triangular in Nainital as well. In 2004, KC Singh Baba had defeated Vijay Bansal of BJP by a margin of 49,184 votes. The Almora (SC) constituency is witnessing a battle between two Tamtas - Ajay Tamta of BJP and Pradeep Tamta of Congress. The BJP is trying hard to pocket this constituency for the sixth time in a row. BJP had been fielding Rawat and he had won four consecutive times from this constituency. But now after the constituency has become reserve, BJP had to field Ajay Tamta, who is first-time MLA and is being tagged as a “light” candidate. The Congress has, however, fielded Pradeep Tamta, who is former MLA and remained active in the statehood agitation as well. Pauri Garhwal is set to witness a close contest between the BJP and Congress. While BJP has fielded its sitting MP Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd), the Congress has decided on old horse Satpal Maharaj. It seems that it will be a tough battle between the two parties. |
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CM’s remarks betray nervousness: Arya
Dehradun, May 12 “One of the BJP MLAs, who recently resigned from the post, had accused Khanduri of functioning like a dictator. Furthermore, perturbed at the Chief Minister’s style of functioning, 28 legislators from his own had met the BJP top brass in Delhi last year. “It is sad that Khanduri, himself a retired Major General, is issuing baseless statements,” he remarked, adding that it was the Congress at the Centre when India won the Indo-Pak wars on 1965 and 1971.
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Haridwar border with UP sealed
Roorkee, May 12 Superintendent of police (rural) Ajay Joshi said that the border, which Haridwar district shares with the neighbouring state, would be sealed tomorrow. “All entry points will be under strict vigil and special ‘nakas’ will be set up. Nobody will be allowed to cross without checking,” said the police officer. The measures are being taken as many miscreants after indulging in criminal activities during polling cross over to UP to escape from the Uttarakhand police. “As the local police has no jurisdiction in Uttar
Pradesh, it becomes difficult to maintain law and order,” said Joshi. Three districts of UP -
Bijnore, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur - share the border with Haridwar district. “All three districts are infamous for criminal activities so we have to be extra cautious,” said Joshi. The administration has declared 218 polling stations as sensitive. As many as 111 highly sensitive booths lie in Roorkee region. SP (rural) Ajay Joshi assured that all arrangements for the smooth, free and fair conduct of poll have been made. He said that besides the local police, consisting of two
SPs, 10 dy SPs, 10 inspectors, 95 sub-inspectors, 1,500 constables and 750 home guards, eight companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Haridwar district. |
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Election officials get final briefing
Haridwar, May 12 Security personnel from Indian Tibetan Border Force, Border Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Central Reserve Police Force and PAC are on a high alert. SSP Haridwar Sanjay Gunjiyal said security has been beefed up in the border areas and additional forces have been deployed here. Vehicles are also being regularly checked. Meanwhile, District Magistrate today said all government and non-government organisations, and schools, would remain closed on the day of polling. He said poll officials would be given a holiday on May 14. Many candidates were seen distributing bags, popularly called ‘bastas’, which bear the names, enrolment numbers and booth numbers of the local voters. Earlier, these slips were on plain paper but with modern low-cost printing technology, they bear the candidates’ photo, election symbol and voters illustration in print form, which are quite attractive. This practice has still not come under the Election Commission’s scanner. |
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Varsity officials on poll duty, admissions hit
Dehradun, May 12 The delay in admissions has put a question mark over the academic future of a large number of aspirants. The need of new rules arose after the university got the status of a central university. All affiliated institutes were ordered by it to wait for new rules in accordance with the Central University Act. “We had been hopeful of putting new rules in place by May. But this could not be done as university officials and staff have been put on election duty,” said Vice Chancellor SK Singh. He failed to give any definite time frame for formulation of new rules. The delay in starting the admission process has affected more than 100 institutes in the state offering BBA, BCA, paramedical and other courses. Some institutes moved the HC requesting directions to the university to allow admission as per the old rules. But the decision is pending. “We are waiting for the HC’s decision. In the academic interest of students, we will allow admissions as per old rules only to affiliated institutes,” said the VC. However, the university is yet to convey this to the institutes in writing. The Association of Self-Financed Institutes of Uttarakhand whose delegation met the VC recently alleged the university did not seem concerned with the loss to the students caused by the delay. “How can you expect the institutes to undertake admissions in absence of any written communication? The university authorities are trying to run away from responsibility. It is the failure of the university to get the new rules in place that has forced some institutes to look to the HC. Since the decision is pending, we cannot do anything except wait,” said its general secretary Sunil Aggarwal. |
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20 doctors on emergency duty
Dehradun, May 12 "We have constituted a team of 20 specialists who will be on emergency duty. These include physician Dr SD Joshi, surgeon Dr Rajiv Tamta, orthopaedician Dr GS Rawat, anaesthetist Dr NS Tomar, radiologist Dr GS Rana, eye surgeon Dr BC Ramola, ENT specialist Dr RS Chauhan, dental surgeon JDS Rana and paediatrician Dr D.P Joshi. There will be 10 other doctors, along with nurses and paramedical staff, who will be on duty," said Dr RK Pant, CMS Doon Hospital. Meanwhile, doctors allege that no party has included a comprehensive health policy or made health a part of their political agenda. |
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... ‘Bhojan matas’ for officials
Haridwar, May 12 These women, popularly known as 'Bhojan Matas', will cook food and provide tea to employees on duty, which was earlier prepared by local caterers. A directive in this regard has already been given to school principals, where, under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, the mid-day meal scheme is provided. The expenditure on this will be borne by the district election office. "Now, we won't have to bother about food and refreshments, as election duties are very stressful. Besides, it will provide a homely today," said an employee on poll duty at Lal Dang area in Haridwar district. |
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Influenza kills three more horses
Dehradun, May 12 The National Research Centre for Equines, Hisar, had diagnosed Aequity H3N8 virus attack on Gaurikund mules and horses. “After the diagnosis of the influenza, we have started speedy treatment. We have increased the number of monitoring ‘chowkies’ from 13 to 14,” Dr VP Singh, Additional Secretary, State Animal Husbandry Department, said. The department has also segregated the affected beasts to avoid spread of the influenza. This is for the first time that the Uttarakhand Animal Husbandry Department is confronting this challenge. Meanwhile, Brooks, an NGO that has been working on mules and horses affected with influenza, reached Gaurikund to assist the Animal Husbandry Department. |
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Train engine derails
Haridwar, May 12 The Bandikuiyan-Rishikesh passenger train was crossing Haridwar when the incident occurred. The engine got off the track but the driver applied brakes immediately and stopped the train. No injuries to passengers were reported due to the impact of engine sliding from the track. Haridwar railway station incharge Samarendra Goswami inspected the spot and enquired about the incident. |
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