Chandigarh, September 28
The ongoing festival season coupled with paddy procurement operations is likely to take its toll on the electioneering for the Haryana assembly elections.

Political pundits predict a low-key electioneering this time, despite Haryanvis being highly politicised as a class.

The extraordinary delay in the finalisation of candidates by the Congress has further delayed the high-pitch campaigning normally associated with the assembly elections.

Most of the ruling party candidates are still busy in opening their central election offices, which function as nerve centres of campaigning in the constituencies. Other political parties like the HJC, the BJP and the BSP, which had been hoping to grab possible rebels of the Congress, too had to announce their final lists a day before the last date of nominations.

As a result, the electioneering in the state is still to pick up though the polling date is just 16 days away.Only the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which had, more or less, finalised its list of candidates well before the nominations opened, is in the thick of electioneering.

So much so, the INLD is the only party, which has released its manifesto so far. The BJP will release its manifesto in the presence of leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and party national general secretary Vijay Goel here tomorrow.The Congress, the HJC and the BSP are still to announce when they will release their manifestoes.

Meanwhile, various political parties are trying to find issues for the current elections. The Congress, understandably, plans to woo the voters on the issue of development and also to cash the gentleman-politician image of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, juxtaposing with that of INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, who somehow enjoys the reputation of being stubborn.

On the other hand, the opposition parties are raising the issue of alleged irregularities in the land acquisition and subsequent release of land from the acquisition proceedings. These parties quote various adverse comments by the high court in such cases.

The Congress counters this by saying that before it came to power, the precious land of the farmers was being acquired for paltry sums. It was only the Hooda government, which fixed minimum acquisition rates for various parties of the state, which led to a boom in the land prices.

The ruling party claims this decision made farmers crorepatis overnight.The INLD has indirectly acknowledged this fact by promising to fix the minimum acquisition rate of Rs 1 crore per acre in the national capital region and Rs 50 lakh per acre elsewhere in the state.The Congress counters by saying why the INLD, which was in power before 2005, had fixed the minimum land acquisition rates at that time.The opposition parties are also likely to corner the ruling party on the issue of price rise, deteriorating law and order, inadequate power and water and lack of development.

Fatehabad, September 28
Congress nominee Dura Ram, INLD’s Swatantar Bala Chaudhary and Congress rebel Pahlad Singh Gillankhera have intensified their election campaign in Fatehabad.

Ajay Singh Chautala, Rajya Sabha MP, today addressed a rally for the INLD candidate at Bhattu Kalan today and also inaugurated her election office.

Equating the Congress with Ravana, he called upon the people to take a pledge to liberate themselves from this “demon” in the coming elections.

Ajay Singh called upon the people to be careful in differentiating between their “own” and the “outsiders” and vote accordingly.

Congress nominee Dura Ram listed the development activities carried out by him during his tenure as MLA.

Addressing villagers at Dhani Majra, he said Bhupinder Singh Hooda has proved the best Chief Minister of Haryana so far.

Congress rebel Pahlad Singh said he had decided to enter the fray to save the prestige of local people, which, he alleged, had been mortgaged by Dura Ram.He said the Congress ticket had been given to Dura Ram for “extraneous” considerations.

HJC candidate Ran Singh Beniwal, BJP’s Bhisham Pitameh and CPM’s Ram Swaroop have had a low-key campaign so far.

It is the INLD that has scored over other parties in canvassing.

Rewari, September 28
Congress nominee Rao Yadvendra Singh faced a hostile crowd at Surehli village near Kosli where MP Deepender Hooda had come to address an election meeting.

The leader also addressed meetings in Bhakli, Kosli and Nahar of the Kosli constituency. The villagers at Surehli expressed resentment at the “unfair intervention” by Yadvendra’s elder brother Rao Inderjeet Singh, a former Union Minister, in a criminal case some time ago.An apologetic Yadvendra eventually succeeded in mollifying the irate villagers.Deepender Hooda took pains to convince the villagers that Yadvendra Singh was the official Congress nominee and warned them against being misled by any other candidate projecting himself as having the patronage of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Kaithal, September 28
Despite tension in Chandan Gate area last evening with miscreants destroying effigies prepared by the local Ram Leela Committee, a huge crowd turned out to see the effigy of Ravana go up in flames at the Ramlila Ground here this evening.

The security was unusually tight following threats by some organisations to disrupt the Dusehra function.

Not taking any chances, a heavy police force was deployed in the entire mela area and a special vigil maintained at the effigy site.

SDM Hawa Singh, DSP Jagat Singh and SHO Ravinder Tomar remained at the spot to ensure the celebrations were not disrupted.

Representatives of certain organisations had submitted a memorandum to the administration opposing the burning of Ravana’a effigy.

Sonepat, September 28
The District Consumer Forum had ordered a doctor of a private hospital in Kharkhoda to pay a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh to a woman, who allegedly became a victim of wrong operation at the hands of the doctor.

In her complaint to the forum, Poonam, wife of Rajinder Singh of Silana village who resides in local Garib Nagar, stated that she went to Bhardwaj Hospital, Kharkhoda, for vasectomy operation on April 7, 2007. While operating upon her, Dr Devender Bhardwaj made a deep cut in the intestine which carries out stool.

Realising his blunder, he immediately stitched the cut and sent her back home without completing the vasectomy operation.

She further stated that after sometime, the stool started getting discharged through the cut. Panicked over the situation, she went to PGIMS Rohtak and later to a private hospital in Dwarka, Delhi, where she was again operated.

She also submitted that she was still under treatment from the GB Pant hospital, Delhi, for the same problem and demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for her treatment and Rs 25,000 for suffering mental agony.

During hearing of the case, the doctor also confessed to have made a deep cut and after taking into consideration of all relevant records and statements, the forum ordered compensation of Rs 2 lakh for treatment and Rs 5,000 for bearing mental agony during these days.

Bhiwani, September 28
The first semester examinations for middle, secondary and senior secondary classes to be conducted by the Haryana Board of School Education, Bhiwani, will commence from October 24.

A spokesman of the Board said envelops containing roll numbers and pre-printed continuous comprehensive evaluation lists concerning regular students of these examinations would be distributed by the Board officials in the institutes specified by district education officers concerned or in the offices of district education officers on September 29 from 11 am to 5 pm and on September 30 between 9 am and 4 pm.

He said the students should deposit the marksheets after filling up the marks of continuous comprehensive evaluation with the officials of the School Education Board either in the office of district education officer or at the specified places on October 7 between 11 am and 5 pm and on October 8 between 9 am and 4 pm and get the receipt.

He said in case the desired documents were not deposited on the fixed dates, these would have to be deposited with the headquarters of the board in Bhiwani with a fine of Rs 5,000.

He said all heads of schools concerned should get the above-mentioned envelops from the said places on the prescribed dates and deposit these with the officials of the educational board otherwise they themselves would be held responsible.

Sirsa, September 28
The Haryana Rajkiye Adhyapak Sangh, affiliated to the Sarva Karamchari Sangh, will hold a protest in Gandhigiri style by sitting in dharna with black badges on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Phool Singh Lohani, president of the district unit of the sangh, said a meeting of schoolteachers was held recently in this connection.

He said the sangh had been demanding withdrawal of a circular dated August 18, 2009, whereby salaries of teachers had been decreased. The sangh has also been demanding the removal of some other anomalies in their pay scales and creating only three categories of teachers namely primary teachers, trained graduate teachers and postgraduate teachers instead of the existing plethora of categories.

Chandigarh, September 28
The Regiment of Artillery today celebrated its 182nd Gunners’ Day at the Chandimandir military station. It was on this day in 1827 that the first Indian artillery unit, 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery, was established.

A solemn ceremony was organised at Veer Smriti, where serving and retired personnel paid tributes to martyrs. This was followed by a sammelan and a get-together.

The use of artillery in India goes back several centuries. Artillery was used for the first time during the Deccan War in the 14th century. From then on, it became a decisive component in the armies of the Mughals, Marathas and the Sikhs.

Besides the traditional role, artillery units have also been engaged in counter-insurgency operations alongside the infantry. The battlefield of the future holds immense promise for the Gunners with the induction of the latest state-of-art-weapon-systems into their armoury.

Chandigarh, September 28
The campaigning has gained momentum with barely a fortnight left for the Haryana Assembly elections, which will witness multi-cornered contests in the absence of alliance between major political parties.

Leaders of key parties are crisscrossing the state, having 90 assembly seats, to woo the voters.

The mood is upbeat in the Congress camp after the party bagged nine out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in May and advanced the assembly elections by seven months to cash in on its popularity.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today addressed an election meeting in Kalka constituency for Congress nominee Satvinder Rana. The party had denied ticket to former deputy Chief Minister and four-time MLA Chander Mohan from the constituency over his controversial second marriage with Fiza Mohammed.

Hooda sought votes on development plank and promised to set up power plants to solve power shortage over the next two years.

Though it had been a direct fight between the Congress and the INLD in the past, many parties are testing their electoral fortunes in the elections this year.

The BJP, which severed ties with INLD, is contesting all seats. The Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) has also fielded candidates in all segments like the BSP.

Former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal is campaigning for his son and HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi in family’s stronghold Adampur constituency. Bishnoi, who three years back floated the HJC after coming out of the Congress, is pitted against Congress candidate Jai Prakash.

INLD president Om Prakash Chautala claimed that people would vote against the “corrupt” Congress government.

Addressing a series of rallies in Ellenabad in Sirsa district from where he is contesting, the former Chief Minister scoffed at the “Haryana No 1 state” slogan of the Congress government, saying that the state was lagging behind in several areas.

The BJP, which won just two seats in 2005, is facing the voters with “Sarkar Badlo-Haalat Badlo” slogan (change the government to change the situation).

State BJP president Krishan Pal Gurjar and other saffron leaders are targeting the Hooda government for its alleged failure on various fronts.

The BSP had started off its campaign in Jind district last week with party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati addressing a rally.

National leaders of both the Congress and the BJP are expected to spice up the campaign early next month.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will be seen canvassing for party candidates, BJP’s LK Advani, Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states would heat up the campaign for the saffron party. — PTI

Chandigarh, September 28
Despite having an alliance with the BJP in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will campaign for Om Parkash Chautala-led INLD nominees in Haryana for the October 13 election to the 90-member state Assembly.

“Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal will actively campaign in Haryana for the candidates of INLD-SAD combine,” party secretary Daljit Singh Cheema said here today.

Cheema had earlier said here that the party had decided to contest from two constituencies in the state keeping in view the sentiments of the local party cadre. Charanjit Kaur and Charanjit Singh would contest from Ambala City and Kalanwali in Sirsa district, respectively.

The party has favoured the Om Parkash Chautala-led INLD over party’s alliance partner BJP in Punjab for the next month’s elections to the 90-member Haryana Assembly poll.

Asked about the SAD putting up candidates against the BJP - its alliance partner in Punjab and at the Centre - Cheema said the decision was taken keeping in mind the view of the party’s cadre in the state which favoured a tie up with the INLD.

“The alliance with the BJP continues as ever in Punjab and at the Centre,” Cheema said adding that even during the recent Rajasthan Assembly elections the SAD and the BJP had put up candidates against each other after taking into consideration the situation at the state level. — PTI

Gurgaon, September 28
All polling stations will have ramps for the convenience of physically challenged voters during the Assembly elections in the state. Besides, Braille ballot papers will also be available to enable the visually impaired voters to cast their vote without the help of an escort.

Disclosing this here recently, Gurgaon DC-cum-district electoral officer Anurag Agarwal said 48 sector magistrates and 54 sector supervisors had been appointed to ensure free and fair polling.

“Four poll observers have been deputed to keep a vigil on the election process in all four Assembly constituencies falling in the district,” he said, adding that all of them would remain available between 4 pm and 6 pm daily.

Agarwal said as per the guidelines issued by the Central Election Commission, the polling centres had also been categorised as “vulnerable” and “critical” apart from the sensitive and hypersensitive categories followed earlier.

The areas where voters are likely to be intimidated would be called vulnerable, while those areas which had witnessed more than 75 per cent polling during the last elections and more than 75 per cent votes polled went in favour of a particular candidate would fall under the critical category.

In response to a query, the DC asserted that as many as 18 voter registration and information centres had been set up to provide the information to the voters. These centres function from 9 am to 8 pm, except on Sundays and gazetted holidays. “Besides, the residents can access voter helpline on 155212 or www.ceoharyana.nic.in,” he added.

Meanwhile, DCP (West) Rakesh Arya said as many as 3,878 police personnel and home guards would be deployed to tighten the security arrangements during the polls. He said seven companies of the armed police and para-military forces would be pressed into election service.

Karnal, September 28
Contrary to the general belief that women candidates are not capable of winning elections, women candidates have fared exceedingly well in Karnal district since 1977. Seven out of eight who contested from the district made it to the assembly. In 2005 elections, four women candidates were elected. Yet parties are wary of fielding women candidates.

Sumita Singh of the Congress won from Karnal, Meena Mandal from Jundala (SC) and Raj Rani Poonam from Assandh while Rekha Rana of the INLD was elected from Gharaunda in the last elections. Raj Rani was the only prominent women candidate who lost in 2000.

Prasanno Devi of the Congress won from Indri in 1977, Shanti Devi (Congress) was elected from Karnal in 1982 and Janki Devi of the HVP from Indri in 1991. The Congress has fielded two women candidates from Karnal district this time, Sumita Singh from Karnal(renominated) and Meena Mandal from Nilokheri. Raj Rani Poonam is out of the race as her constituency had been de-reserved.

The BJP, INLD, HJC and BSP have opted for male candidates for all five constituencies.

Kurukshetra, September 28
Concerned over the bitter infighting in the Congress in several constituencies, convener of the HPCC Intellectual Cell, MM Goel, has urged party candidates not to be complacent and work hard not only for winning seats but also for increasing the margin of victory.

In an open letter to all official party candidates, Prof Goel said sincere efforts would have to be made by candidates and party workers for getting majority and increasing the vote share was the only mantra for victory.

Conscious of the fact that rebels could play a spoil sport and mar the chances of official candidates, Prof Goel disapproved the conduct of some leaders who deserted the party after denial of ticket, he said such leaders were in the party only to serve their vested interests and their real faces have been unmasked.

Assuring the candidates, of all possible help, Prof Goel said the Intellectual Cell of the HPCC was at their beck and call to render assistance in any form, especially, for projecting the developmental endeavours of CM Hooda.

Rewari, September 28
Two persons were killed in road accidents here on Saturday.Ram Phal (30), a resident of Ahmedpur Partal village, died when the motorcycle he was riding on reportedly collided with a car on the Guriani-Kosli road here on Saturday.

The mishap took place when Ram Phal was on his way to Kosli while the car was going towards Guriani.

In another incident, Kuldeep Yadav (18), a resident of Narnaul, died when the motorcycle he was riding on reportedly collided with a car on the Rewari-Narnaul road, near Kund, on Saturday.The mishap took place when the teenager was on the way to Rewari from Narnaul while the car wa going towards Narnaul.

The police has registered cases in this regard.

Yamunanagar, September 28
The police today arrested three persons in connection with a case registered against a Nepalese domestic help, who had allegedly given intoxicants to the Rewari SP’s wife and son and then looted their house at Tagore Garden here. The three arrested have been identified as Babu Ram, owner of a Delhi-based placement agency, manager Jeevan and Narender Bahadur. However, the domestic help is still at large.

Police sources said the trio had been arrested as they had hired the domestic help and verified his credentials. They were also alleged to be involved in the conspiracy.

However, the domestic help is believed to have fled to Nepal, said police sources. The servant had allegedly given intoxicants to SP’s wife Saroj and son Jatinder in their meal on September 17.

Rewari, September 28
An ex-serviceman, Bhagwan Singh (55), was allegedly stabbed to death by unknown assailants in his rented accommodation at Dhaliawas village, near here, last night.

His body was found lying in a pool of blood on the roof of his room here today.

The deceased, a resident of Jhabua village, near Bawal, was a widower and had been living in a rented accommodation in Dhaliawas village for the past several months.

On a complaint filed by Ram Singh, brother of the deceased, the police has registered a case of murder in this regard.

In another incident, a farmer, Prem Singh Yadav (51), was allegedly axed to death by his farm worker, Pappu (35), at his farmhouse in Bohatwas Bhondu village, near Jatusana, on Saturday. Sources said the accused also looted the money lying in Prem Singh’s pocket. The police has registered a case.