|
|
|
|
|
People not interested in Cabinet reshuffle: Advani
A defensive BJP keeps Gadkari away from media
Key constituencies: Balh |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BJP aims to rout veteran Cong leader
Left may cut into Congress, BJP votes
Face-off between two women again
Rudy targets state Cong chief over corruption
BJP banks on Dhumal’s influence to win
69 candidates face criminal charges
To woo Brahmins, Maya says BSP a party for all sections
BSP supremo Mayawati at an election rally in Kangra on Sunday. Photo: Kamaljeet
Two BJP, one Cong rebel get HLP support
Cong will pay BJP in same coin: Virbhadra
VRMT: Cong accuses Shanta of corruption
|
|
People not interested in Cabinet reshuffle: Advani
Amb, October 28 Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader LK Advani said this while reacting to the reshuffle affected in the Union Cabinet today. He said scams had been inherent among the Congress governments. The government of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi fell due to the Bofors scam. He attributed the increase in corruption in the country to the current form of democratic government. Amendments should be made to the constitution to hold all elections in the country in one go. Advani favoured the presidential form of government. He said debates should be held between the two Chief Ministerial candidates in the states and people should be left with an option of decide the better one. Taking a jibe at Virbhadra Singh, Advani said in case the Congress did not want to send their HPCC chief for a debate, they could send the Leader of the Opposition for the debate. He added that the parliamentary elections in the country were likely to be held anytime in 2013. Advani, who hit the campaign trail in Himachal, today addressed an election rally in the Amb area of Una district. The Amb area is the part of the Chintpurni Assembly constituency. Advani praised Chief Minister PK Dhumal for giving able governance in Himachal. He said Dhumal was accessible to all and was known as the “common man’s Chief Minister”. He also praised former Himachal Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and said he was known as the “water man of Himachal”. Senior candidates, including state president of BJP Satpal Satti, who is contesting from the Una Assembly constituency, Sushil Kalia, contesting from Gagret, and Balbir Chaudhary, from Chintpurni, were among those present during the rally. |
|
A defensive BJP keeps Gadkari away from media
Shimla, October 28 Though AICC chief Sonia Gandhi will be arriving here for the second time to campaign in favour of party candidates, the BJP has no plans to bring in Gadkari to campaign here again. Even on his visit to the state yesterday, the party’s poll managers planned his trip in a manner where the possibility of him A last minute change in his programme ensured that he remains away from the media. In sharp contrast to the selection of venues for public meetings of LK Advani, Narender Modi and Sushma Swaraj to cover every region of the state, Gadkari was made to address rallies in remote areas in one part of the state only at Reckong Peo and at Nerwa in Chopal. National BJP spokesperson, Rajiv Pratap Rudy too was evasive and defensive over the issue of Gadkari, when quizzed by the media. “The party is deliberating on the issue and we will go into all the facts but one thing is very clear that the party is solidly behind Gadkari,” is all that he could say in defence of his party chief. Though Rudy attacked Virbhadra Singh on the issue of corruption by listing the allegations faced by the former Chief Minister but the unease over the latest business ventures of Gadkari was more than evident. All he could say in Gadkari’s defence was that he had volunteered
for investigation by the ruling government. Interestingly, Gadkari too chose to avoid the media after his rallies held yesterday, which made the discomfiture of the BJP more than obvious. After the two rallies yesterday, he avoided interaction with the media. State BJP vice-president and poll manager Praveen Sharma said Gadkai could come and campaign for another day but the
date and venue was yet to be decided. |
|
Rebels may affect parties’ vote banks
Kuldeep Chauhan
Balh: With nine candidates in the fray, the battle for the ballot in Balh (SC) has emerged as a four-cornered contest between sitting Congress MLA Parkash Chaudhary, new BJP face Inder Gandhi, BJP rebel Mahant Ram Chaudhary and CPM’s Paras Ram. With delimitation, voters have been reduced as 10 panchayats have been merged in Nachan and Mandi constituencies. In the political din raised by the nine candidates, residents have come out with their own agenda for candidates. India Against Corruption activist Des Raj says the rising crime among the local youth due to unemployment, illegal mining, wildlife menace and Suketi khud channelisation are the main issues which have not been addressed.
Retired judge-turned-politician Mahant Ram, ditched by the BJP for the second time, is fighting a battle for political survival. The BJP has fielded a newcomer, Inder Gandhi, an IPH surveyor and Sangh Parivar activist, who represents the Duman community. Mahant Ram is banking on the legacy of his father, the late Piru Ram Chaudhary, a four-time Congress MLA, and is cutting mainly into the BJP vote bank in his community. But his fate hangs in the balance as it is not clear if his community rallies behind him or Parkash Chaudhary. It is not a cakewalk for Parkash either. He won two elections, first on Sukh Ram’s Himachal Vikas Congress ticket in 1998 and on Congress ticket in 2007. Both Chaudharys represent the same community. The trend in Balh shows that Parkash has managed to keep his base intact in three elections. This time, he is banking on the strength of the Congress, taking advantage of the caste combinations and permutations that have emerged in Balh. Parkash is not only seeking to take advantage of Mahant Ram, an Independent candidate, but also of two rejected BJP ticket seekers, Sanjay Surehali (Independent) and Netar Singh (HLP), and two non-Chaudhary candidates, Purshotam Bhatia (BSP) and Padam Singh Bhatia (Himachal Swabhiman Party). These candidates will corner their pockets of influence in the non-Chaudhary vote bank, which can dent the BJP’s non-cadre vote bank as Gandhi is also a non-Chaudhary. But he has a clean image and is social and accessible. He is banking on the support of the divided Sangh Parivar cadre among different contestants. Parkash also faces a Congress rebel, Shakuntla Kashyap, now a Trinamool Congress candidate. But she hails from Kumi, the home area of Gandhi, and may corner her pocket of influence spread across different panchayats. CPM’s Paras Ram is banking on the strength of the Left cadre and his community.
|
||
|
BJP aims to rout veteran Cong leader
He faces challenge from BJP candidate Suresh Kashyap for the second time. In the 2007 polls Gangu Ram Musafir humbled him by more than 1,700 votes. In 2003, he managed to win by a narrow margin of 1,300 votes which indicating that the gap is closing. Till 1998 he had won all the elections with impressive margins. There are four more candidates in the fray, Rangi Ram Bhatti (TMC), Shanti Devi (BSP), Desh Raj (HLP) and Ram Rattan Premi (NCP) but it is a straight fight. Unlike other segments of Sirmaur, this constituency has not seen any changes after delimitation. Gangu Ram has been deeply entrenched and he is gaining support owing to his rapport with the people. However, 30 years is a very long time and it is for this reason that some Congress leaders like Nityananda Sewal had opposed his candidature and wanted the party to field a new face instead. It is also an indication of the growing anti-incumbency factor against him. It is a reserved constituency but Musafir’s strength has been its Rajput and Brahmin vote banks. Leaders like Nityananda belonging to the Brahmin community have been opposing him, which should be a cause of concern. Also, because his opponent Suresh Kashyap has been in touch with the electorate over the past five years. The longstanding demand to open a college at Sarhan has been fulfilled by the government only a few months ago with an eye on the
polls and it would certainly benefit Kashyap. Musafir’s strength is his humble behaviour. He has had long stints and minister and also remained the Speaker for a full term but that did not affect his behaviour a bit and it is one of the reasons that he had good support among the higher castes. He has been a staunch supporter of Virbhadra Singh and his return as the state Congress President has strengthened his position. Sirmaur has traditionally been a stronghold of the Congress but the BJP has covered much ground in recent years and it is not far behind. This became evident when the party wrested the adjoining Renuka seat in the by-election. Thus, a close contest is on the
cards. |
||
|
Left may cut into Congress, BJP votes
It is the old Assembly segment of Kot Kehloor in Bilaspur district, which has been re-named Naina Devi. The contest is mainly between the traditional Congress and BJP rivals with Kaushal likely to cut into the vote bank of both political parties. Sharma, a staunch Dhumal loyalist is giving a tough fight to Thakur, who is trying to seek votes claiming that the Congress party would give him the status of a senior cabinet minister if voted to power. Thakur, after his defeat in the 2007 polls has changed himself to a great extent and has kept close contact with the people of his constituency all through the five years. Thakur, a close confidante of Virbhadra Singh has won from the Kot-Kehloor assembly segment in 1985, 1993, 1998 and 2003. He has remained a minister in Virbhadra regime while holding important portfolios like forest and industry. The presence of Hoshiar Singh Thakur, former Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) and Zila Parishad member is making winning an uphill task for the Congress nominee. With a sizeable Rajput population in this segment, his presence will split their vote, which would have otherwise gone to the Congress candidate. Randhir, with the whole-hearted support of the Chief Minister has been instrumental in getting a lot of development works done and has helped many voters. He wielded more influence than JP Nadda, who was a minister in the Dhumal regime and proved to be a very effective MLA. However, the presence of Kaushal, whose absence from the election arena in the 2007 polls was the single largest factor for Sharma’s victory, is likely make a dent in the BJP vote bank. Both Sharma and Kasuhal not only belong to the same area below Naina Devi but also belong to the Brahmin community. Kaushal, who had won the Assembly election in 1990, has a sizeable vote bank, which he will poll. Though he will damage both Congress as well as the BJP but his presence is proving to be a disadvantage for Sharma. Resentment prevails among the electorate especially in the Namhol and Salapar areas over the issue of more benefits going to people of Arki, the adjoining constituency, due to the establishment of a cement plant by JP Company. The contest is between two strong candidates who have the complete backing and support of their senior leadership. It is a close contest where it could be anybody’s game in the end.
|
||
|
Face-off between two women again
While Asha Kumari is a member of the royal family of Chamba, Renu Chada is a former Congress leader who joined the BJP in 1998. Asha Kumari had been winning comfortably till Renu Chada joined the BJP and became her rival. Renu Chada is the wife of former municipal council president Ashok Chada. She has also remained president of Dalhousie municipal council before being elected as MLA. She is an hotelier by profession. The victory margin of Asha Kumari was reduced after Renu Chada became her rival. In 1998, when Renu Chada contested on the BJP ticket for the first time, Asha Kumari won by just 421 votes. In 2003, Asha Kumari once again managed to defeat Renu Chada by a margin of just 1.23% votes. In 2007, Renu Chada managed to defeat Asha Kumari by a margin of 3.40% votes. A tough contest is on the cards in Dalhousie. Both Renu Chada and Asha Kumari have maintained close contact with people in the last five years. Renu Chada has remained closely associated with the people of the constituency as MLA. Since the constituency borders Punjab, the fact that the SAD-BJP alliance is in power in Pathankot district of Punjab can have some impact in the area. The rivalry between Asha Kumari and state Congress president Virbhadra Singh can also have an
impact on the election result in the constituency. Asha Kumari is considered to be a rival to Virbhadra Singh. He has not visited this constituency despite campaigning for two days in the other four Assembly constituencies in Chamba district. Asha Kumari has also reportedly issued a statement that Virbhadra Singh cannot be the next Chief Minister, that can only add fuel to the fire. Supporters of Virbhadra Singh in Dalhousie may not support Asha Kumari due to the rivalry between the two leaders. Both Asha Kumari and Renu Chada are carrying out a hectic campaign in the constituency. Both candidates are carrying out door-to-door campaigning and organising small public meetings as no senior leader of either the BJP or the Congress is visiting
this constituency. |
|
Rudy targets state Cong chief over corruption
Shimla, October 28 Addressing a press conference here today, National BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said before voting for the Congress, the electorate of Himachal must ponder over the allegations faced by Virbhadra Singh. “The four files pertaining to the allegations faced by him are like fiction, which have a lot of mysteries yet to be unravelled,” he said. Rudy said the Congress was contesting the Assembly polls under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh, who was facing serious charges. “The manner in which Virbhadra’s income from the apple orchards has shown phenomenal growth, apple growers must hand over their farms to him, which will create a history of records,” he quipped. He said the manner in which the two insecure Chief Ministers of the Congress had ruled Haryana and Rajasthan had come to the defence of Robert Vadra, was rather amusing. “It is for everyone to see how land bought at a pittance was sold for several lakhs per acre and the two state governments coming to the rescue of Vadra, giving him a clean chit,” he said. Rudy also tried to rake up the issue of UPA’s discriminatory treatment to non-Congress ruled states and attempts to weaken the good policies of the states by the Centre. “The Congress-led UPA regime had starved the state government of funds and attempts were being made to weaken the good policies as was the case in Gujarat,” he alleged. He said the Centre had tried to create hurdles in way of Gujarat government’s project to provide piped LPG to consumers, as a target had been set to provide the facility to 20 lakh people. “The good schemes like the CFL bulbs, free school uniform, subsidised ration has benefited every family in Himachal,” he claimed. He said Dhumal regime had promised to provide free medicines and induction heaters to minimise the impact of LPG shortage being felt by the common man. In reply to a query about Shanta Kumar having admitted that the BJP too was not insulated from corruption, he said no political party can claim to be above board but the principle of the BJP is to sanitise the party against corruption.
|
|
BJP banks on Dhumal’s influence to win
Since 42 polling booths of Bamsan constituency, represented by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, were merged into it there was a long suspense on whether Dhumal would contest from here. Anita and Urmil contested three elections against each other from Hamirpur constituency and have now shifted to Sujanpur. Verma, who is the national president of Mahila Congress, was active in Sujanpur for several decades being an MLA from Hamirpur. While she is banking on traditional Congress votes and division of the BJP votes between Urmil and Rana; but getting sufficient votes in 42 polling booths merged from Bamsan, from where Dhumal had won with an overwhelming margin of 26,000 votes in the last elections, would be a challenge for her. A reluctant BJP candidate, Urmil Thakur shifted to Sujanpur is banking on committed BJP votes since the time of her father-in-law Jagdev Chand Thakur as well as Dhumal’s influence, but she is worried about Rana. Rajender Rana after remaining close to Dhumal has now entered the fray as an Independent. He has been concentrating on this constituency for last few years.
|
|
|
69 candidates face criminal charges
Mandi, October 28 In 2007 elections, 18 per cent of the candidates had declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) at the time of nominations. According to the National Election Watch (NEW), they analysed 445 candidates in fray for elections as per their affidavits filed by them to the ECI. They found that 16 per cent of them faced criminal charges against them. However, 30 candidates face serious criminal charges like murder, attempt to murder, robbery, extortions, etc, while six of them have declared that they also face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The national coordinator, NEW, said all the parties had given tickets to every candidate who had declared criminal cases against him. The Congress had 16 out of 68 (24 per cent), the BJP had seven out of 68 (10 per cent), the BSP had eight out of 62 (13 per cent), the Himachal Lokhit Party had six out of 32 (19 per cent), the All-India Trinamool Congress had two out of 26 (eight per cent), the CPM had 10 out of 16 (63 per cent), and nine out of 90 independent (9 per cent) candidates had declared criminal cases against them, the NEW said. The candidates who have declared serious charges against them include two candidates from the CPM, one from the BJP, one from the CPI, and one candidate from the SSH. The NEW said the percentage of candidates declaring criminal cases against them had come down marginally compared to the 2007 Assembly elections.
|
|
|
To woo Brahmins, Maya says BSP a party for all sections
Dharamsala, October 28 During her stint as the UP Chief Minister, the poor among all castes were allotted government land for agriculture purpose, she claimed. The Brahmin face of her party, Satish Mishra, former minister from Uttar Pradesh, accompanied Mayawati. Mishra said despite being a Brahmin he got a ministerial berth in the Mayawati government. The upper castes constitute a considerable presence in Kangra district. Mayawati also emphasised that she has given party ticket to many candidates belonging to the upper castes. She also accused the Centre of diluting the benefit of reservations awarded to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution. She said over a period of time the Centre has been adding more castes under the SC and ST categories thus diluting the benefits meant for the weaker sections of the society. Mayawati also alleged that the policies of the UPA government were being controlled by the corporate sector. An unprecedented price rise had hit the poor and middle class in the country. She also accused the state government of not giving fair treatment to the Dalits in the state. Unlike other rallies in the state, the BSP leaders presented a show of strength at the rally held today. The high number of people attending the rally was also attributed to the inflow of party workers from adjoining districts of Punjab. The BSP had won from the Kangra Assembly constituency in 2007. It was the only Assembly seat won by the party. However, later lone BSP MLA from the state, Sanjay Chaudhary had joined the BJP. This time he is contesting as a BJP candidate. In the last Assembly elections, the BSP had garnered a considerable vote share in the state that was considered as one of the factors for the defeat of the Congress in the state. |
|
Two BJP, one Cong rebel get HLP support
Shimla, October 28 A spokesperson of the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), Mahender Nath Soft said the party had decided to back BJP MLA Roop Singh Thakur (Sundernagar), Sudha Sushant (Fatehpur) and Karnesh Jung (Paonta). Interestingly, two of the three rebels are from the BJP with Karnesh being a Congress rebel. Sushant is the wife of the BJP MP from Kangra and Roop Singh is a former minister and sitting MLA who was denied party ticket. “It is not just the HLP but even the CPI and the CPM which are a part of the Himachal Lok Morcha have decided to back the candidature of these three rebels, who are going very strong,” claimed Sofat. He said the decision was taken to strengthen the Morcha. The HLP has fielded candidates from 38 seats while in the remaining the CPM and the CPI have fielded their candidates. A large number of former ministers and MLAs are contesting on the HLP ticket in the state. |
|
Cong will pay BJP in same coin: Virbhadra
Nurpur, October 28 He alleged that Chief Minister PK Dhumal had set a new record of corruption in the state and the Congress would expose every case related to
graft. Virbhadra targeted Dhumal by accusing him of dividing the state on caste lines. He added that the BJP had commercialised politics in the state and the Dhumal government was taking false credit of centrally sponsored schemes and public welfare
programmes. Varinder Chowdhary, in charge of the state Congress, also spoke. |
|
|
VRMT: Cong accuses Shanta of corruption
Shimla, October 28 Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Singla alleged that fraudulent practices had been adopted and no proper accounts had been given of the public donations that had been received. “Shanta Kumar’s family, relatives and friends are running the project and the recommendation by the Health Secretary that the accounts be audited by the CAG was rejected,” he said. He alleged that irregularities had been committed in the setting up of VRMT and the government had provided 20 acres for the hospital. “A club is being run by Shanta Kumar’s brother on 10 acres of this land, which is in violation of norms as land had been given for a super-speciality hospital,” he alleged. |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Naina Devi:
The Naina Devi constituency is witnessing a triangular contest between former Congress minister Ram Lal
Thakur, sitting BJP legislator Randhir Sharma and former CPI legislator KK
Kaushal. It is likely to be a close contest. It is the old Assembly segment of Kot Kehloor in Bilaspur district, which has been re-named Naina
Devi. The contest is mainly between the traditional Congress and BJP rivals with Kaushal likely to cut into the vote bank of both political parties.
Dharamsala, October 28
Ravi Rana, a veteran Congress activist, says the BJP government has done nothing for Balh and roads are in a bad shape. Milkfed Chairman Mohan Joshi says the BJP has launched the Dugdh Ganga Yojna in the state and Balh has performed well. Both the Congress and the BJP claim credit for the 500-bedded ESIC Medical College in Balh.
Pachhad: Having registered seven consecutive wins in the Assembly polls held since 1982, senior Congress leader Gangu Ram Musafir now aims to make his way to the Vidhan Sabha for the eighth time from the Pachhad constituency.
Naina Devi: The Naina Devi constituency is witnessing a triangular contest between former Congress minister Ram Lal Thakur, sitting BJP legislator Randhir Sharma and former CPI legislator KK Kaushal. It is likely to be a close contest.
Dalhousie: This constituency is witnessing a tough contest between AICC secretary Asha Kumari and sitting BJP MLA Renu Chada. Earlier named Banikhet, the name was changed after delimitation. It the only Assembly constituency in the state where the main contest is between women.
Sujanpur: The constituency is witnessing a triangular contest between Anita Verma of the Congress, Urmil Thakur (BJP) and Rajender Rana (Independent). The constituency was created after scrapping Bamsan constituency and merging areas of Bamsan and Hamirpur constituencies.