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BJP wearing political mask: Birender
Shimla kids to persuade parents to cast vote
Constituency watch: mandi
Rampur |
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Jwalamukhi
Jawali
HLP trashes BJP manifesto
gagret
Distance Education
‘Dham’ to prove costly for
candidates
Detractors tarnishing my image: Chandel
More than 3 lakh to cast vote in Sirmaur dist
Buffalo sacrifice prevented
Hi-tech pre-poll voting for staff held
EC allows more documents to prove voter identity
Cong heading towards victory: Zahida
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BJP wearing political mask: Birender
Shimla, October 24 “The party does not believe in long-term commitments and takes opportunistic decisions. The nomination of former Health Minister Rajeev Bindal, who was forced to step down in the wake of serious charges, provides the latest example of the politics of convenience being practised by the BJP. Once it gains power it forgets its political agenda and pursues its hidden agenda of favouritism, nepotism and business interests of supporters. The manner and the zeal with which Chief Minister PK Dhumal had gone about implementing the hidden agenda during his current term has left the party in tatters,” said Chaudhary who is in the city with his team to oversee the party’s management. He said the allotment of the government land to Baba Ramdev, the illegal permission granted to Prashant Bhushan for acquiring land belonging to tea estate and the blatant misuse of Section 118 to allow outsiders to acquire land in the state left no one in doubt about the real motives of the BJP. The party’s own leaders, including its national vice-president Shanta Kumar and Kangra MP Rajan Sushant, had put the Dhumal government in the dock on several such issues. Besides Sushant, there were other leaders like Maheshwar Singh who levelled serious charges against the Dhumal government and left the party in frustration as there was no one in the high command to hear their voice. The BJP’S own leaders and workers had rejected the leadership, as evident from the large-scale exodus from its ranks and formation of the Himachal Lokhit Party, the breakaway group headed by Maheshwar Singh. A party which has lost the confidence of its own leaders cannot win the trust of the people, he asserted. The Congress was set to wrest power in the state and it would ensure that those who had put Himachal on sale were held accountable. It would get all the charges against the current government pertaining to land, deals, private universities, sports bodies and other issues and bring the guilty to justice. Heads would roll and some leaders might be put behind the bars. The illegal and anti-people decisions would be reviewed. |
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Shimla kids to persuade parents to cast vote
Shimla, October 24 The administration held a meeting with Principals of over 25 schools yesterday to encourage them to motivate electors with the help of their children to come out in large numbers to elect their representative. Shimla with a literacy rate of 89 per cent is comparable with the metropolitan cities in all other respect except poor voter registration and poll percentage. Shimla with an adult population of 1.02 lakh has a voter registration figure of 50.3 per cent (51,746) only, which is probably the lowest in the state. As per figures available with the Election Department, even now 49,000 persons have not got their voter registration done. What is even more alarming is the fact that the lowest voter turnout in the past elections in Shimla is in localities like Kasumpti, which is the residential area of all senior bureaucrats and other officials. “As per directions from the Election Commission, we have made efforts to enhance the voter registration in Shimla, which is the lowest in the state,” said Arun Sharma, Deputy Commissioner. He urged school heads to make students aware about the importance of exercising their right to franchise so that they impress upon their parents to be a part of the election process. The voter registration in Shimla rose by a 6 per cent in the revision of rolls, the highest in the district after concerted efforts were made to get students in Himachal Pradesh University and other colleges enrolled on the voter lists. School heads too assured that they would educate students about the importance of voting and elections. They would put up posters and distribute pamphlets to them so that the message reaches home to adults. “What is most unfortunate is the fact that the most literate and elite who hold a strong opinion on everything, including politics, never cast their vote,” said Kanwar Ramanjeet Singh, who was representing Chapslee School. |
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Sukh Ram’s son faces multi-cornered contest
Kuldeep Chauhan
Local residents have come out with an agenda for them to make the town a better place to live in. Sharma is inaccessible to the common man and is surrounded by his clique while Thakur has spent most of the time at the Kotli rest house, voters point out.
The town is losing its heritage and a proper waste disposal management system is yet to be put in place, say RTI activist Lawan Thakur and Mandi Bachao Morcha convener Lakshmender Guleria. There is no connectivity to Jogindernagar across the left bank of the Beas, rues Sanjay Mandial of Tungal. CPI candidate Des Raj and Himachal Lokhit Party candidate Harish Chander are questioning Sukh Ram and his son on their achievements. They claim that the family has been lording over Mandi as their fiefdom for the last three decades. Des Raj is banking on the strength of Left cadres and his rapport in the Tungal belt. He says the BJP and the Congress represent the same face of corruption. “The BJP has no base here. The government mortgaged resources to outsiders. It ruled the state like land and mining mafias. It did nothing for the poor and the unemployed youth,” he alleges. Sharma claims that all panchayats and villages have road links and school buildings and the town has all facilities. “We will add more parking space, a bridge and pedestrian paths. The BJP government has halted all work,” he says. Harish Chander claims that the BJP and the Congress have not done anything. The youth, women and the poor are disillusioned and seek a change, he claims. They are looking for a leader who has a vision, he adds. Shyam Lal, a BJP rebel, claims that he is the BJP’s real face while Thakur has been propped up by Sukh Ram. Chandermani Sharma of the BSP and Kishan Kumar Dhasu of the Lok Janshakti Party, a Dalit leader, can worry Sharma as they may cut into the Dalit vote bank. Thakur is banking on his simplicity and work done by the Dhumal government. “The BJP built the bus stand and the ESIC medical college. It raised daily wage, pension and pay scales,” he asserts. Sukh Ram is his son’s star campaigner. Other candidates are raking up Sukh Ram’s tainted past, but his supporters trash it as a political conspiracy.
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Ex-IAS, ex-IPS officers contest in Cong citadel
Rakesh Lohumi
The Congress lost from here only once, in 1977, when the Janta Party swept the polls. Singhi Ram of the Congress won six times from 1982 and never polled less than 58 per cent, achieving a high of 81 per cent in 1985. In the last Assembly elections, he was replaced by Nand Lal, who won with a reduced margin and polled 55 per cent. Apart from anti-incumbency, Nand Lal has to face a strong candidate in Drek, who took premature retirement from the IAS to contest the elections. It is the first time the BJP has fielded a strong candidate who has been in touch with the people and has helped many during his innings as a bureaucrat. The presence of former MLA Ninju Ram, who quit the BJP and joined the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) to contest the elections, is a cause of concern for Drek. Ninju Ram won in 1977 and last contested the elections in 1998 as the BJP candidate, polling 22 per cent. He will cut into the BJP vote bank. BJP leader Brij Lal, who polled over 42 per cent in 2007, has quit the party and joined the Congress. He is actively involved in Nand Lal’s campaign. On the other hand, Singhi Ram is lying low, but his supporters may back Drek. Going by the individual merit of candidates, Drek scores over Nand Lal, but will ultimately have to contend with Virbhadra Singh’s clout, which matters the most. Drek’s main poll plank is that Rampur has remained a backward area despite being represented by the Congress all these years and he is seeking vote for change. He is focusing on unemployment and maintains that people of Rampur have not got their share of jobs in power projects. Nand Lal is blaming the Dhumal government for the slowdown in development activity, especially the construction of new roads. He alleges that the constituency has suffered neglect during BJP rule and promises to make up for the lack of development if the Congress comes to power.
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Formidable challenge for three-time MLA
Pratibha Chauhan
A Shanta Kumar loyalist, Dhawala managed to secure the BJP ticket from his traditional seat with great difficulty as he was under tremendous pressure to shift to Dehra to make way for Ravinder Ravi. Dhawala won from here in 1998, 2003 and 2007. He had shot into the limelight when he helped in the formation of the short-lived Congress regime headed by Virbhadra Singh in 1998. He is pitted against Sanjay Rattan of the Congress. This election is proving a tough one as his home turf has been redefined to a great extent in delimitation. About 12 polling booths comprising sizeable
OBC-dominated villages have now been excluded from Jwalamukhi and included in
Dehra. This OBC pocket was Dhawala’s stronghold. He is Dhawala has a good hold as he is accessible and enjoys a clean image. He has never lost touch with the electorate and defeating him will not be an easy task. Rattan had contested the last two elections as an Independent. He has been fielded by the Congress for the first time. He secured over 17,000 votes in 2007 and Congress candidate Rooma Koundal was a poor third. Rattan was able to get sympathy votes as he was denied the Congress ticket. Koundal had to forfeit her security. Rattan is likely to give a tough fight to Dhawala as the traditional Congress vote bank will come his way. The sincerity of Nardev Kanwar, block Congress committee chief and ticket contender, is doubtful. He and a few party leaders are unlikely to back Rattan. This
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Rebel may make it tough for BJP candidate
Lalit Mohan
Baddi-based industrialist Sanjay Guleria has entered the fray as an Independent, making the contest triangular. Though it was being considered a tough fight for the Congress, the triangular fight may work to its advantage. Guleria was seeking the BJP ticket. He was instrumental in getting sub-tehsil status for Nagrota Surian. His village is in Nagrota Surian and he is considered strong in the area. The constituency comprises Jawali, Nagrota Surian and Kotla areas. BJP candidate Arjun Singh is strong in Kotla. Former BJP MLA Harbans Rana is a crucial factor is Jawali. Till a few days ago, he was reported seeking votes for Guleria. After a reprimand from the party, Rana has withdrawn from Guleria’s campaign, at least in an overt manner. The BJP candidate is close to party’s national vice-president Shanta Kumar. With a divided vote bank, he faces a tough task. Since Arjun Singh and Guleria belong to the Rajput community, it will divide the vote bank, that may give an advantage to the Congress candidate. Bharti is also facing anti-incumbency. Many Congress leaders were in favour of giving the ticket to his father.
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HLP trashes BJP manifesto
Shimla, October 24 The party had promised to set up a permanent bench of the State Administrative Tribunal at Dharamsala and Mandi, but after coming to power it had scrapped it altogether. The commitment regarding setting up of a circuit bench of the state High Court at these places was also not fulfilled, he said. The party had announced that it would construct a working women’s hostel in each district, but no hostels were built. It had promised benefits at par with Punjab to pensioners, but no steps were taken in this direction, he claimed. The party had vowed to bring a transfer policy to end exploitation of employees to wipe out the transfer industry, but the malaise operated even the Chief Minister’s office as was evident from the recovery of fake DO notes of MLAs. An inquiry was ordered, but no action was taken against the guilty officials, he said. The promise to return shamlat land to villagers was not fulfilled and instead over one lakh bighas of land was allowed to be sold to outsiders, he alleged. Similarly, no model college was opened in the state though the party had promised to set up one in each district. |
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gagret
Rakesh Kalia, who was elected twice from Chintpurni, had to opt for this constituency as Chintpurni was reserved for the Scheduled Caste category. He is considered resourceful and has a good rapport with the youth of the area. A section of local Congress leaders is terming him as an outsider. Local Congress leaders aspiring to get the party ticket had tried to raise the issue during the allotment of the Congress ticket before the high command. They had formed a committee to demand the Congress ticket for a son of the soil. This committee has fielded a rebel Congress candidate, Raman Kumar Jaswal, who is contesting as an Independent. The son-of-the-soil issue has become a major issue here and is being exploited by BJP candidate Sushil Kalia. To counter this, Rakesh Kalia is telling voters that he is not an outsider as he has built a house in the constituency. Sushil Kalia, who has been a Zila Parishad member, is known for good behaviour and organisational skill. He is taking credit for development carried out by the BJP government and raising the issue of corruption and price rise. He is also facing a rebel candidate, Luxmi Jaryal, who has been a Zila Parishad member and contender for BJP ticket. |
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Varsities barred from operating centres outside jurisdiction
Rakesh Lohumi/TNS
Shimla, October 24 However, the decision will open up a big opportunity for the International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL) of Himachal Pradesh University being the sole institution in the state offering courses in the distance learning mode. The issue was addressed after the Himachal Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission drew its attention to the mushroom growth of illegal off-campus centres being run in the state by universities located outside and urged the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development to take immediate steps to deal with the issue. The commission had been receiving complaints about such centres and during probe it found that most of the unauthorised centres were charging almost double the fees specified by the parent university and also fleecing students by charging an additional amount for superfluous add-on courses. Even under the distance learning mode, universities can only have counselling centres. However, the learning centres are offering regular courses and holding classes. The commission received details of over 250 such centres in response to a public notice issued by it . The centres are mainly associated with Sikkim Manipal University, Punjab Technical University and Karnataka State Open University. The commission has taken up the matter with the HRD Ministry, the UGC and the DEC.
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‘Dham’ to prove costly for
candidates
Organising ‘dham’ for supporters after filing nomination papers or organising political rallies is a tradition in the state. With the increase in cost per person, many candidates are now avoiding ‘dham’ for supporters after filing nomination papers or organising rallies. A candidate said on the condition of anonymity that the cost of a ‘dham’ was between Rs 7 and Rs 10 per person, depending on the number of dishes. He said a ‘dham’ organised by a candidate generally had only boiled rice and pulses. He added that the cost of Rs 36 per person was unjust as thousands came from far-flung hilly areas during political rallies and offering them simple food was the duty of the candidate. Sources said candidates were now arranging meals for their supporters at hotels and restaurants to escape the eye of the EC. They said hotel and restaurant owners were directed to treat supporters of political parties and poll managers of candidates were generally present to attend to these supporters. Meanwhile, KR Bharti, District Magistrate, Kangra, issued directions to all returning officers to ensure that all publicity material carried a print line. Directions of persons getting posters and pamphlets printed giving proper authorisation were also issued.
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Detractors tarnishing my image: Chandel
Bilaspur, October 24 Talking to mediapersons here today, Chandel said someone had sent a false complaint under his fake signature to the Election Commission (EC) alleging several election irregularities against Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Patial here. Chandel said till now he had not submitted any complaint against anyone, much less against the SP, and this complaint not only deserved to be summarily rejected, but the EC should also hold an enquiry to locate its real writer and bring him to book. According to Chandel, this complaint, which was shown to him by investigating ASI Naresh Kumar, who had come from IGP, Mandi zone, says the SP has become an “agent of the BJP” and is forcing some 10,000 truck operators of ACC factory at Barmana here to support the BJP candidate and that he is terrorising Congress party supporters. He said though names of Col AP Gauttam (retd), president, Bilaspur Sadar Block Congress Committee, and other top leaders like Pratap Kaundal, Santosh Dhiman (president, District Congress) and Pravin Sharma were written on this complaint, yet their so-called signatures were not on it. |
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More than 3 lakh to cast vote in Sirmaur dist
Solan, October 24 Apart from this, 2,733 voters belonging to the services will also exercise their franchise, out of which 544 are women. The District Election Officer said free and fair polling would be ensured in all the five constituencies of the district. Different teams were keeping a close eye on the election expenditure of the candidates as well as political parties during the poll campaign. There are 518 polling stations in the district which comprise 72 hyper-sensitive and 107 sensitive polling stations. |
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Buffalo sacrifice prevented
Karsog (Mandi), October 24 “This has quelled myths about the sacrifice that it does not rain if the sacrifice is not given to the Kamaksha, devi of Hindu Tantras,” said residents who supported the local administration in stopping the sacrifice for the second time. It rained here despite the fact that no buffalo was sacrificed yesterday and last year as well. While in Assam this practice continues, the dispute over the sacrifice has reached the high court in Himachal. The high court has fixed November 14 as the date of hearing in the case. Hundreds of devotees throng the temple to witness the ceremony and pay their obeisance before the devi on every Navmi here. SDM, Karsog, KK Sharma said no sacrifice took place at the temple last night. “We took preventive steps last year and stopped this queer practice with the help of local residents,” he added.
— TNS
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Hi-tech pre-poll voting for staff held
Chamba, October 24 The poling process has been carried out under the surveillance of Closed -Circut Television (CCTV)
cameras, which was viewed on the official website of the government on www.hpchamba.nic.in by high ups and other website users today. Stating this here today, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Chamba Rohit Rathour, who is also the returning officer for the Chamba Assembly constituency, said it was for the first time that such a hi-tech process of voting for officials requisitioned for poll duty had been performed at Chamba. “This process had been designed to ensure greater number of participation of poll staff, who being on poll duty many a time remain deprived of their voting right,” the SDM
added. |
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EC allows more documents to prove voter identity
Hamirpur, October 24 District Election Officer-cum DC Hamirpur Rajinder Singh Thakur said in addition to photo identity card, 14 other documents can be used by any voter to prove his or her identity. The other documents include passport, driving licence, pan card, ration card, photo identity cards issued by employers, bank pass books and credit cards issued by PSU banks, photo identity cards issued to SC/ST and freedom fighters, certificates issued to physically challenged persons, gun license, MNREGA job cards, pensioner card, land registration deeds, widow and old-age pension cards, Swasthaya Bima cards and IGR cards issued under the NPR Scheme. He said NRI voters would be identified on the polling station by their passport. |
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Cong heading towards victory: Zahida
Chamba, October 24 Zahida, who is also Congress observer for Chamba district, said the Congress would win all five seats of Chamba district. Regarding the FDI, Zahida stated that the UPA government at the Centre had always been safeguarding the interests of the poor. |
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Rampur: The electoral fight has taken an interesting turn with the ruling BJP fielding former IAS officer Prem Singh Drek to challenge former IPS officer and sitting MLA Nand Lal in this Congress stronghold.
Mandi: A dairy inspector-turned-politician, Congress MLA Anil Sharma is still cashing in on the legacy of his father Sukh Ram, a five-time Mandi MLA and three-time Mandi MP. Sharma is pitched in a tough battle with BJP candidate DD Thakur in a multi-cornered contest. Eight other candidates in the fray can dent BJP and Congress vote banks.
Mandi Citizens Council president YN Vaidya says the 300-bedded Zonal Hospital needs 15 more doctors and there is not enough parking space. He points out that there is no ‘mudrika’ bus service and stray animals are wreaking havoc. Artist Manjit Mana rues that BJYM chief Anurag Thakur promised an auditorium, but nothing has happened on the ground in this regard.
Rampur: The electoral fight has taken an interesting turn with the ruling BJP fielding former IAS officer Prem Singh Drek to challenge former IPS officer and sitting MLA Nand Lal in this Congress stronghold. A part of the erstwhile princely state of Rampur Bushahr, the constituency has been an impregnable citadel of state Congress chief
Virbhadra Singh.
Jwalamukhi:
Securing the ticket from his home turf was nothing less than a battle for Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala. The struggle is far from over as he is facing a formidable challenge from an old opponent, who now has the stamp of the Congress.
Jawali:
The sitting Congress MLA from Guler, Neeraj Bharti, is facing a new BJP candidate, Arjun Singh, from this constituency. Guler constituency was scrapped in delimitation and most of its areas are now a part of Jawali. Bharti is relying heavily on the support of his father, Chander Kumar, former Kangra MP, to ensure his victory. Guler was considered the bastion of Chander Kumar, a prominent OBC leader.
Gagret:
This constituency has 10 candidates, the maximum in the district. The main contest is between Congress candidate Rakesh Kalia and BJP candidate Sushil Kalia, but rebels of both parties may play spoilsport. Both belong to the Brahmin community and are contesting from the constituency for the first time as it was put in the open category in delimitation after being reserved for the Scheduled Caste category for several decades.
Dharamsala, October 24