EC freezes party name UKD, symbol chair
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 28
In a decision that would have far-reaching ramifications in the ensuing polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come out with an interim order on the conflict between the two factions of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) on the issue of recognition and granting of the party symbol of the chair.

While both the factions led by Trivendra Singh Panwar and Diwakar Bhatt have been granted the interim status of state parties, the party name, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, and the symbol of the chair have been frozen till further orders of the commission.

The two factions have been asked to choose separate names for themselves and apprise the commission of the same within the next seven days.

“It would be open to the two groups to use the name of the mother party with separate appellations/suffixes, but different from the names of other existing parties” the ECI order states.

The two groups have also been told to indicate the choice of symbol to be allotted to them as their reserved symbol till the time they enjoy the interim recognition as state parties. The choice of symbol is to be relayed to the ECI within the next seven days.

The ECI has also called for the list of their respective office- bearers. Meanwhile, the time allocated in the name of the UKD on Doordarshan and All India Radio for propagating the viewpoints of the party will now be divided equally between the two groups.

After the hearing to held on Thursday, the Commission stated: “This, in the commission’s view, will be in the interest of equity and fair play and will meet the ends of justice, in the circumstances of the case.”

The CEC, Dr SY Quraishi, along with the two ECs HS Brahma and VS Sampath had taken up the petition for hearing that had been filed by the Panwar group.

The decision is likely to have a huge impact on the party leadership.

With the very name of UKD being frozen for now, it will be the party leaders who would have to make a fight of their contests merely on the basis of their personal reputations and hold.

Both factions demoralised
Tribune News Service

Dehradun December 28
The decision of the Election Commission of India to freeze the ‘chair’ symbol of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has dampened the spirits of members of both the factions, who fought over it after they split up last year. One faction, the UKD (P), is led by party president Trivender Singh Panwar, and the other faction, the UKD (D), by Diwakar Bhatt, state minister.

Satish Semwal, spokesperson, UKD (D), said they got the symbol by dint of the diligence and dedication put up by party activists for many years. “We have lost credibility before the public by losing our party symbol. It is all due to the immaturity and obduracy shown by Trivender Singh Panwar that we lost the symbol, which we had achieved because of the hard work of our activists.”

Though it has been an interim order, both the factions are considering it final. “As per the Election Commission of India, we need four MLAs and 8% votes to claim the party symbol, which none of us is in a position to do so at the moment. So we are taking this decision as final,” he added.

Party’s two MLAs, Diwakar Bhatt and Om Gopal, are with the UKD (D) and the third, Pushpesh Tripathi, with the UKD (P).

Trivender Singh Panwar, president of other faction, blamed the Congress and the BJP for the decision. He said: “This is the handiwork of the BJP and the Congress that we have lost the symbol. The Congress has influenced the Election Commission in divesting us of our symbol. But we will apply for a new symbol and go among people with an invigorated spirit.”

Sadly, his party mates do not think on the same lines. They are stunned over the decision. Promila Rawat, president of the women’s wing of the UKD (P), said the members felt cheated by the Election Commission of India and demoralised by the decision. “It is sad the Election Commission of India did not recognise us as the regional party though we had been fighting hard in the public on several issues concerning people but it all seemed wasted now.”

NK Gusain, district president, said all was not lost as yet as they would take up the new symbol among the people by using swiftness of the Internet and mobile phones.

It was on November 27 last year that Trivender Singh Panwar, president of the then combined UKD, withdrew support to the state government, but when the party’s member, Diwakar Bhatt, did not resign from his position as minister in the state government, Panwar expelled Bhatt on January 1 this year for lifetime. After the division, some of the senior leaders and members from the Panwar camp shifted to the Bhatt camp. Bhatt constituted a new working committee and got himself appointed as the president of the party and claimed his party was the real UKD. Both went to first state EC and then to the ECI to claim the party symbol.

new Year effect
Politics takes back seat in Kumaon for now
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 28
With the tourist destinations in Kumaon gearing up for the tourist rush for the New Year celebrations, politics has taken a back seat for now.

There is hardly any election related activity visible in the tourist destinations of the region like Nainital and Almora. The reason being that most of the people are employed in tourism-related activities and the last week of the year is their last opportunity to make some money that would help them see through the remaining winter. Hence, the hoteliers, those running tourist agencies, restaurant owners, travel guides and the sort are keeping away from the political activity, at least till the first of January.

In the absence of a constant inflow of tourists round the year, Nainital has its tourist season in patches. For example, the town sees the maximum inflow of tourists in the summers. The arrivals are mostly linked to the opening and closure of schools in the plains which is followed by families rushing to the town to beat the heat. Then there is a lull during the monsoon. The tourist season again picks up just before the Hindu festival of Dasehra and lasts till a week after Diwali.

The final spurt in tourist-related activities is experienced in the last week of the year from the Christmas eve to Jaunary 1. After this several hotels and restaurants are shut for a month and even more.

It is a well-known fact that the entrepreneurs in the town are affiliated to various political parties and are keenly engaged in political activities. A couple of hoteliers approached by The Tribune said: “Let the tourist rush be over and then we shall have ample time for politics and campaigning. As of now it’s business over politics”. The town has already started witnessing preparations on a large scale to usher in New Year. With the presence of tourists increasing by the day, people are busy with their shops, hotels and eating joints.

Another reason why there is hardly any political activity visible in the town is that the two main political parties, the Congress and the BJP, are yet to come out with the list of their official candidates. With the ticket seekers camping in Delhi, the political workers find it more beneficial to complete their professional and personal jobs before they get busy with the campaign.

It will be Cong vs BJP in Almora
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, December 28
A direct contest is expected between the Congress and the BJP in the six Assembly seats of Almora district despite the fact that both the parties have yet to decided their candidate. Only the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has declared its candidates for the six seats.

On the prestigious Almora Assembly segment, which is represented by Congress legislator Manoj Tiwari, there are other party candidates who are in race for party nomination. Prakash Joshi of Teachers Association and Jaman Singh, a senior advocate, have also applied for the party ticket.

“We have worked for the party in the teachers’ association and want to have a new face from Almora,” said Prakash Joshi.

Kailash Sharma, a former MLA, is a front runner for the seat along with Raghunath Singh Chauhan, a former MLA from Jageswar, for the BJP nomination. The BSP has already announced the name of senior social activist, Shekher Lakhchaura as its candidate from the seat. The Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha, a regional party launched by Lt-Gen TPS Rawat (retd), has named present Palika chairperson Shobha Joshi as its candidate from the seat.

The Someshwar seat in the district has also a large number of candidates vying for the party nomination in different parties. Ajay Tamta, the sitting BJP legislator is the front runner but Mohan Ram Arya, chairman of the Zila Panchayat has also applied from the party for the seat.

Rajendra Barakoti, district president of the Congress, is also fighting for the Congress ticket. Rekha Arya, a former member of the Almora Zila Panchayat, and Sachin Tamta, a Nagar Palika member, are other candidates for the party ticket.

A new political outfit, the Sainik Samman Party, and the BSP has announced the names of Amar Singh and Sudha Anand, respectively, from the seat.

For Ranikhet Assembly segment, Ajay Bhatt, a former BJP minister, and sitting Congress MLA Karan Mahara are likely to get nominations of their respective parties. The BSP has announced Puran Singh Dangwal’s name from the seat.

For the Dwarahat seat, being represented at present by lone UKD MLA of the Panwar group, Pushpesh Tripathi, would see a fresh face from the BJP as the names of Anil Shahi and Narendra Singh Bisht have been sent by the party from the seat. Madan Singh Bisht is another Congress contender to challenge the sitting party legislator. The BSP has announced the name of Meena Kandpal from the seat.

Ranjit Singh Rawat, sitting Congress legislator from the Salt Assembly segment, is a strong candidate and unlikely to face any challenge from within the party. Two BJP aspirants, Surendra Singh Jeena and Dinesh Mahara are in the race for the BJP ticket.

Govind Singh Kunjwal, a former Congress minister and sitting legislator, is sure to get party nomination from the Jageshwar seat. The BJP has two aspirants, Prem Singh Gaira and BS Negi, claiming tickets while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has announced the name of Tara Dutt Pandey from the seat.

Number of voters 4,21,682
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 28
The total number of voters in Almora is 4,21,682. Out of these, the number of women voters in all 6 Assembly seats is 2,00,890, and the number of male voters is 2,20,792. A total of 784 polling booths have been formed in the district.

According to the election office, the number of voters - seat wise - is as follows: In Dwarahat, out of a total number of 76,781 voters, the number of women voters is 40,590 and male voters is 36,191. In Salt seat, the number of total voters is 83,091, out of which male voters are 40,926 and the number of female voters is 42165. In Ranikhet seat the total number of voters is 67,147, out of which the number of women voters is 33,022 and men voters is 34,125.

In Someswar seat, out of a total number of 69,053 voters, the number of male voters is 34,382 and the number of female voters is 34,671. In Almora seat the total voters is 69,464, out of which male voters are 33,785, and the number of female voters is 33,679. The total number of voters in Jageswar seat is 76,126, out of which the number of male voters is 39,383, and the number of female voters is 33,679.

First list of UPP out
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 28
The Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP) has come out with its first list of contesting candidates for the Assembly poll in the state. The party has decided to field its president PC Tewari from Dwarahat and its general secretary Prabhat Dhyani from Ramnagar.

The other contestants declared by the party after the meeting of its executive in Ramnagar this evening are Govind Lal Verma from Almora, KC Saklani from Dehradun (Cantonment), Prem Prakash Thapliyal from Doiwala, Raj Kumar Tyagi from Raipur, Jagdish Chand Rajwar from Khatima, Gyan Vir Tyagi from Mussoorie, Navin Bahuguna from Bhimtal and Krishnanand Chausali from Didihat.

Talking to The Tribune, Tewari said: “This is our first list. We will be declaring the remaining candidates soon. Our manifesto will also be brought before the public in the next few days. Our main plank will be employment for the educated youth in recognition of their qualifications.”

Section 144 imposed
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 28
Wary of the possibility of persons with vested interests trying to whip up sentiments on the lines of class, caste and region in the areas bordering the Almora and Someshwar constituencies, the administration has ordered imposition of Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code in the entire area falling under Almora tehsil.

It has been ordered that no one would be allowed to move in these areas with arms, ammunition, sharp-edged weapons and even sticks. Only the police and the Homeguards personnel along with the disabled would be allowed to carry sticks.

The poll machinery has also prohibited holding of any procession and protests without the permission of the Returning Officer.

In addition to this the use of sound systems by various groups has also been prohibited for airing inflammatory speeches. Only the marriage, religious gatherings and funeral processions would be allowed to use of sound systems.

The administration has also made it clear that the use of polythene manufactured poll material is banned. Meanwhile, the officials in the district entrusted with the task of carrying out the polling exercise would be trained with regards to the various aspects of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from Thursday.

Even in Champawat district District Election Officer (DEO) Ashish Joshi has called upon his subordinates to fearlessly perform their duties with regards to getting free and fair poll conducted in the district. At a meeting held at Champawat today, he asked the officials to lay emphasis on the law and order situation. He has ordered issuing of warrants against the history sheeters.

DEO seeks chopper service for snowbound booths
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 28
The Pithoragarh District Election Officer has demanded helicopters from the Election Commission to conduct elections in 12 snowbound polling booths of the Dharchula Assembly seat if snow and rain disturb the polling on the scheduled day of January 30, 2012.

“We have written to the EC to give us standby helicopter service if the weather on the polling day goes rough,” said R Rajesh Kumar, District Election Officer.

The election officer, talking to media persons on the preparation of the elections, said that an awareness programme for the voters will be run in the district with the help of a voluntary organisation from January 2, 2012, onwards to make aware the voters regarding bribes and liquor provided by some candidates to lure the voters to vote for a particular party. “According to the Election Commission, the political parties will not be allowed to have their offices at the polling booths,” said the election officer.

According to him, there are 78 sensitive and 13 highly sensitive polling booths in the district, the number of which could be changed till the polling date.

According to election office sources, nine committees to review election expenditure have been formed in the district. “These teams will be helped by expenditure control room, call centre, assistant expenditure inspectors, video surveillance teams, audit teams, flying squads and media certification teams in all four Assembly segments of the district,” said the District Election Officer.

ECI ‘not monitoring’ fund raising by Team Anna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 28
The Election Commission of India has denied that it is monitoring the funds being raised by Team Anna for it’s reportedly proposed campaign in the five poll-bound states, including Uttarakhand.

The ECI has come out with its clear stand on the continuing media reports with regard to its monitoring Team Anna’s proposed campaign in the poll-bound states and the funds being raised by the team.

While denying that it is monitoring any fund raising, the ECI has stated: “As regards the raising of funds by the team of Anna Hazare, the commission denies that it is monitoring any such fund raising. The reports to that effect are entirely baseless.The commission would only like to reiterate it’s clarification already given that if any organisation or an individual campaigns in favour of any particular political party or candidate, the expenditure incurred on any such campaign would be liable to be booked in the expenditure account of that party or candidate(s) concerned.”

The commission has further stated that everyone has the right to canvass for or against any political party or candidate, as it fully respects the freedom of expression of every Indian citizen guaranteed to them under the Constitution of India. “The commission’s concern is, however, limited to the extent that in such campaigns no inflammatory speeches or slogans are raised which may cause ill-will or disharmony between different sections of Indian citizens, disturbing the law and order or the level playing field between the political parties, which may have a serious impact on the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections.If anyone indulges in any such unlawful activity, the law will certainly take it’s own course,” a spokesperson of the commission has stated.

Parties find it tough to abide by code norms
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 28
With the announcement of the state Assembly polling dates by the Election Commission and, thereby, instant application of the election code of conduct into effect, political parties are finding it quite tough to adhere to these norms.

While a few days ago it was state Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik who came under Election Commission scanner for distributing free clothes in a religious function in a disputed park-cum-temple premises, today it was the turn of Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha to face wrath for not adhering to the election norms.

District election officials didn’t gave permission to the outfit’s election meeting organisers at Jwalapur-Nai Sabzi Mandi area, citing the area falling under government property.

As the majority of URM district leaders are involved in election process for the first time, they failed to apply on time to the district election office to get the meeting clearance, and as a result, the permission was not given.

Initially, it was decided to cancel the Jwalapur meeting but candidate from Ranipur-BHEL segment Mohan Singh Rawat decided to hold the meeting at another place.

But as this meeting was the first one in the morning, very little time was left for the organisers to inform the party workers, public and the media. The turnout at the new location, Hari Lok Colony, adjacent to Haridwar-Delhi National Highway, was quite poor.

Forget the common public, even the party activists found it tough to reach the new venue as most of them were seen thronging at the previous venue only.

As morcha district chief Rekha Valmiki pointed: “Most of us are new to politics; so such things happen, but what was most heartening was that we didn’t cancel the meeting. Whatever crowd was there was a dedicated one, with local people coming in by themselves when they knew TPS Rawat was going to address.”

Barring this Jwalapur election meeting, the other two meetings at Bahadrabad and Sapt Rishi drew a sizeable crowd with dozens of activists, former bureaucrats, ex--Army personnel, women and youths joining the outfit.

IT sleuths to check cash movement, ostentatious expenditure
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 28
As part of the Election Commission’s directive to check electoral malpractices, Income Tax sleuths in Uttarakhand are all ready to monitor the movement of cash and other valuables suspected to be used

for bribing of voters, including ostentatious expenditures.

Addressing a press conference at Dehradun, Chittaranjan Dash, Joint Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Dehradun, disclosed that a control room had been set up at Ayakar Bhawan on the direction of the Election Commission of India to check electoral malpractices linked to cash and other valuables. “The control room will have a call centre facility, which will work round the clock and entertain complaints”, he said.

He said an Air Intelligence Unit had been deployed at Dehradun’s Jollygrant Airport that will keep a tab on the movement of unaccounted cash. “We have also written to banks, both government and private, to

keep an eye on suspicious transaction records”, he added. He said similar instructions had been passed on to the railway stations and bus terminus so as to ensure that none of human carriers was allowed to ferry heavy money. Hoteliers had been asked to keep a vigil on the occupants.

Significantly, the Income Tax authorities will also be verifying the details of declaration of assets given by candidates at the time of filing of nominations. “Action will follow if any candidate tries to hide his income”, Chittaranjan Dash said.

He said the Income Tax Department, as mark of precaution, was also keeping an eye of 35 richest people of Uttarakhand who were either Hawala operators or into financial banking and had the potential to influence the polls. Chittaranjan Dash pointed out that a team from the Election Commission and Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) SS Bajpai would be holding a meeting in Dehradun on January 30 to supervise the arrangements.

Cong, BJP have betrayed people of state, says morcha chief
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 28
In the maiden election rally in Haridwar, Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha chief Lt General (retd) Tej Pal Singh Rawat today heavily came down upon the BJP and the Congress, charging them with “betraying” the hopes and aspirations of the people of the hill state.

Rawat was on a whirlwind tour of the city, presiding over three election meetings in Jwalapur,Bahadrabad and Sapt Rishi. He termed present Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri’s governance as just based on announcements and also cornered previous CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank for his involvement in multiple scams.

“Khanduri is hell bent on just making development announcements while on reality everyone knows that neither are there funds nor the determination that is needed to implement the promises. If a CM is trying to befool voters, then one can just assume how the other BJP ministers and leaders will be doing to just get the votes,” said the former Army general, who separated from the BJP in August to form a different outfit.

While taking on former CM Nishank, he termed his tenure as one “marred by scams,” and told the people that it was their money only which had been gulped down by the BJP Government, be it during the Maha Kumbh scam, hydro electric projects, land scams, relief aid scam, or even minor ones such as ginger scam.

He also blasted the Congress, which he had joined just after his retirement from the Indian Army. He sought an explanation from the party leaders on “56 scams during the tenure of ND Tiwari” from 2002 to 2007.

“I have been for five years in the Congress, served as minister and then joined the BJP, vacating my Dhumakot Assembly segment for Khanduri to contest the Assembly election when no party legislator was willing to vacate his seat. But both the parties are driven by their high commands in Delhi, and just filling party fund coffers seems to be the motive of the Chief Ministe. The ones who make such leaders happy, survive, but people like me, who want to work for the public, find no backing despite our hard work,” said Rawat, a former Pauri Garhwal parliamentarian.

One of the core members of the morha, BC Chandola said that it was time for the people of the state to realise that national parties had failed to address the problems of the hilly state due to which the statehood agitation was carried out.

He said the solution of the people’s woes lay in electing a regional outfit like the Raksha Morcha, as it catered to all segments of society without political motive only.

At the Jwalapur meeting the outfit also disclosed names of its two candidates - former cop Mohan Singh Rawat from Ranipur, BHEL Assembly, and Rekha Valmiki from Jwalapur(reserve) seat - while three candidates’ names would be soon finalised.

MPs failed to protect interests of state:Maheshwar Bahuguna
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 28
The president of the State Advisory Committee, Maheshwar Bahuguna, has asked the five MPs of the Congress to tender their resignation as they had never protected the interests of the state at the Centre.

Bahuguna said the five MPs from Uttarakhand were mute spectators when the industrial package was withdrawn by the Centre. He also blamed the Centre for failing to curb inflation in the country and said the party would raise the issue in the Assembly elections.

Tall promises (in manifestoes), rarely implemented
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 28
The manifesto of a political party is a blueprint for the future of the state usually made by political parties after undertaking intensive discussions with the people and civil society members.

To this end the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the manifesto has wide appeal among voters.

While the party is busy in finalising the list of candidates, the party manifesto is also being given due importance. Senior BJP leader and manifesto in charge Bachi Singh Rawat said the party manifesto would focus on giving a clean and good governance with measures for checking corruption.

“The rough draft is ready and some issues have to be discussed with the Chief Minister.

The meeting with the party chief will take place on a later date as there has been a death in his family. But the focus of the manifesto is on providing good governance, development of infrastructure and also initiating welfare programmes for the people belonging to the weaker sections of society and women,” he said.

But the election manifestos presented to the voters before the elections are not binding and after five years, several issues continue to be repeated and become permanent fixtures in the manifesto.

“The parties do make serious efforts to draft the manifesto; these are promises made to attract the voters but, yes, there is no action punitive or otherwise in case the parties fail to implement the promises made in the manifesto,” said Ravi Chopra of the People’s Science Institute (PSI). Take the case of the BJP, in the 2007 Assembly elections the party had promised to punish the guilty involved in the several alleged scams that took place during the Congress rule but the action is awaited. So also the party had promised to provide jobs to the unemployed but these promises have not been fulfilled. So, do the voters take the manifesto seriously?

“I do not think the average voter has that much time to go through the manifesto and then go about making his choice. I think most of us are aware what the party stands for and how much we can trust the candidate,” said Balbir Rawat, a voter.

80th All-India Swami Shraddhanand Hockey Meet
PNB-Delhi, Core of Signals in final
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 28
After yesterday’s brawl during the match played between Uttarakhand Police and Gurukul Kangri University, today, the semifinal matches were played amid deployment of security personnel.

All the matches were played peacefully. However, there was a verbal duel among the players during the first semifinal match played between Shahbad Markandey and PNB. The security personnel acted fast and controlled the situation. During the matches announcements urging players to adhere to ethics of fair play and team spirit were made from the commentary box repeatedly.

Meanwhile, PNB-Delhi cruised into the final with a 2-1 victory over Shahbad Markandey.

The first goal came off Shiv Deep’s stick. He singlehandedly dribbled the ball past Railway’s defense and hit the board in the 38th minute but rival captain Raju equalised in 43rd minute.

In the 56th minute, Gagan Deep Singh scored the second field goal leaving Markandey team just 14 minutes to score an equaliser. But, they could not succeed.

In the second semifinal, the hosts Gurukul Kangri University lost the match to Core of Signals, Jalandhar, 0-5.

Gypsy Club victorious
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 28
Gypsy Football Club and Western Boys Football Club won their respective matches in the 44th Amar Shaheed Kharag Bahadur Bisht Memorial Football Tournament played at Nehru Gram here today.

Gypsy Club defeated Nehru Gram Football club 2-0. Kiran Gurung scored two goals in the 41st and 58th minutes of the game. He was declared as the man of the match.

In the second match, Western Boys Football Club trounced Nagar Nigam Football Club 2-0. Rahul Thapa scored the first goal in the 54th minute of the game while Guru Sagar Sudan increased the lead by scoring the second goal for his team in the 56th minute. Guru Sagar Sudan was declared the man of the match.