Haridwar, April 23
The civic elections for Haridwar Municipal Corporation are witnessing women coming out in the open for campaigns in large numbers.

Wives of the candidates, their female relatives, neighbours and those associated with the party cadre women's wing can be seen moving from colony to colony and house to house to garner support for the candidates.

With civic elections being confined to small segments, women find it quite easy to campaign, making it easy for women voters, too, who get easily connected to these campaigners.

This has made the contest quite interesting as most of the local issues being raised by candidates relate directly to women folk.

Be it providing water, power, sanitation, sewer lines, parks, women voters are raising these issues with female campaigners directly.

Wearing smart sunglasses and clad with election symbol dupattas and campaign material in hands, female election campaigners can be easily seen in almost every ward, lending charm to the entire activity. Be it posh colonies like Aawas Vikas, Vivek Vihar, Gobindpuri, Shiv Lok or suburban congested Jwalapur, main Haridwar, female activists moving from door to door, convincing voters to vote for their respective candidates is a common sight.

Many of these female activists can also be seen accompanied by their children, as many of them reason that they can’t leave children at home, and it is better they accompany them in election campaigns.

A special women's campaign cell of Congress is being led by veteran party leader Santosh Chauhan, who is leading female workers in door-to-door contact and street side meetings. Meeting politely with the voters and often sipping tea and juice with the women voters, they are easily connecting with the voters.

“During our campaigns we met senior citizens who apprised us that there is no age-old home, while working women in industrial areas pointed towards lack of women hostels and accommodation and basic amenities like public toilets. This we have put forward to our mayoral candidate Rishiwaranand, who has put this in his election campaign on a priority basis,'' said Chauhan.

Sanjana Sharma, BJP activist, campaigning for an Independent candidate from Ward no-21, opined that it was a good sign women were coming out to seek votes as otherwise it was majorly males who campaigned and issues related with women got somewhat ignored.

“Women voters easily pinpoint their problems related with wards and we, too, are jotting them down so that they get resolved when our candidate emerges victorious. Wards don’t have a huge population. So it is easy for us to cover a majority of households and convey our candidates' names and election manifestos,'' added Sanjana.

Geeta Goyal, candidate from Jwalapur, stated that she had formed special women's election campaign squads, which are campaigning as per their convenience from morning till evening.

She accepts that she, too, finds it comfortable when going out for campaigns with a majority of women supporters.

Dehradun, April 23
The BJP said today that it was confident of winning five mayoral seats and above 35 nagar panchayat and nagar palika seats in the civic bodies' elections scheduled for April 28.

“It is my personal assessment and the outcome of ground report that the BJP will win five mayoral seats and more than 35 seats in the nagar palika and nagar panchayats. In 2008, we had won the Dehradun mayoral seat. Now with five new corporations created during these elections, I think we will be able to win at least five mayoral seats while retaining the Dehradun seat that we had won in 2008,” said BJP state chief Teerath Singh Rawat, at a press conference today.

He said there was resentment among people against the Congress government. “The absentee Chief Minister and infighting among ministers has created resentment among people. There is a conducive environment for the BJP and would be reflected in our performance in these elections,” claimed Rawat.

Lashing out at Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna for taking hasty decisions, Rawat said the party would oppose the Coca plant in Vikas Nagar. “Any attempt by the government to promote companies that are coming here with the profit motive and putting the ecology at risk would be opposed by the BJP,” he said.

He also lashed out at the Chief Minister for not opposing the notification issued by the Central Government on eco-sensitive zone. “We have a CM who prefers to stay in Delhi most of the time. Still he did not keep himself informed about the notification declaring the Gaumukh-Uttarkashi stretch as an eco-sensitive zone, which reportedly came in December 2012,” said Rawat.

Rawat said the notification would prove counter-productive, bringing to halt development activities in the area. “When the issue of the notification had first come up, the BJP government had opposed it and had even conveyed it to the Central Government. It was expected of the Congress government to take up the matter, but it slept over it,” said Rawat.

Dehradun, April 23
Senior Congress leaders who of late had been at each others throats have jumped in the election fray to support their candidates in the civic bodies' elections.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna addressed two election rallies in support of party mayoral candidate Suryakant Dhasmana here yesterday and criticised the opposition BJP for having failed to "digest" the development agenda of the Congress.

He addressed election meetings at Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal and Roorkee today. He said the Congress-led state government had again started development woks that were stopped during the previous BJP regime.

He said the government had embarked upon an agenda to accelerate growth in the state by inviting industrial capital and to generate employment for the youth.

On the other hand, Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat also addressed election meetings at Roorkee, Haridwar and Dehradun. Speaking at an election meeting at Deep Nagar here, he appealed to people to vote for the Congress for the development of the city.

He said it was necessary that a Congress-led board of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) take the city towards civic betterment.

Uttarakhand Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal alleged that the outgoing BJP Mayor, Vinod Chamoli, had failed to fulfil the needs and aspirations of the people. He said civic amenities had deteriorated over the years and it was the time for the people of the city to bring about the change. He appealed to people to vote for Dhasmana.

Earlier in the day, chief of the state unit of the Congress and Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya addressed a joint meeting of all party candidates in 60 wards of the city. He asked them for better coordinated efforts to take the message of the Congress to each and every voter in the city. Later, he also addressed an election meeting organised by the Roadways Karamchari Sanyukt Parishad.

Dhasmana promised that if a Congress-led board took over, he would try to bring back the old glory of the city by providing better civic amenities in the city.

Pithoragarh, April 23
With the civic bodies' elections nearing, senior BJP and Congress leaders are busy campaigning for their candidates in the Kumaon region.

Congress leader Yashpal Arya today held meetings in support of party candidate from Lohaghat Sajjan Lal Varma and Rama Varma from Champawat. "The Congress-led state government has initiated many development projects. And if the party came to power at the local bodies, too, its top priority would be to initiate measures towards the development of backward towns," said Arya.

Another party leader, Indira Hridyesh, held a roadshow in Haldwani last evening to seek votes for party candidate for the post of Haldwani Mayor Hemant Bagadwal. "The Congress wants to bring Haldwani on the list of top destinations for sports. And it is possible only if the Congress comes to power at the Haldwani Nagar Nigam," said Hridyesh.

Congress leader and former Cabinet minister Tilak Raj Behar sought votes for party mayoral candidate from Rudrapur Mamata Rani during a roadshow at Rudrapur today.

On the other hand, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt today sought votes for Joginder Singh Rautela, party mayoral candidate from Haldwani. "Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna spends most of the time in Delhi. The state government is busy selling state land to capitalists," alleged Bhatt.

The BJP leader claimed that his party would win all six seats of Mayor in the state.

BJP state secretary Suresh Joshi and Cabinet minister Mantri Prasad Naithani also sought votes for their respective candidates in different towns of the region.

Naithani, along with State Labor Minister Harish Durgapal, appealed to people to cast their vote in favor of Independent candidate Bhuwan pandey in the Lalkuwan Nagar Panchayat, whereas BJP secretary Suresh Joshi campaigned for party candidate for post of Nagar Palika president Rajwanti Garhkoti at Tanakpur.

Haridwar, April 23
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, the regional outfit which is slowly making its base in Haridwar, has failed to field any candidate from the 30 wards of the Municipal Corporation.

This is quite in contrast to the previous Assembly elections when the two broken outfits of the main party, UKD (Progressive) and UKD (Democratic), had fielded its candidates in Haridwar city, Haridwar Rural , Ranipur BHEL and Jwalapur Assembly segments.

The main reason is the deepening inner party factionalism, petty interests and conflict over holding party posts, which is threatening the party towards another major split.

Initially, it was party central chief Trivendra Singh Panwar and Cabinet Minister Preetam Singh Panwar, who were at loggerheads with each other, but now a whole set of leaders have come out openly against the so-called dictatorial leadership of TP Panwar.

Last month party central chief, while on a visit to the district, had claimed of fielding party mayoral candidate from Haridwar also. The party has not even fielded a single ward candidate. Though UKD has fielded mayoral candidate from Roorkee Prema Upreti, but it could not find one in Haridwar.

Veteran statehood activists and UKD workers are quite unhappy with the ongoing functioning of the party, which was the leading party during separate Uttarakhand statehood movement.

Rana Ranbir Singh, one of the grassroot workers since the 80s and founder-member of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, feels that despite having played a pivotal role in state formation, the party has failed to make a political impact in the past 12 years. ''Even the hill capital issue credit has now been taken by Congress Party, while in 1992, along with Kashi Singh Airi,

TS Panwar, Diwakar Bhatt , Nityanand Bhatt, DP Uniyal and other leaders, including myself, had laid the foundation stone of the capital at Gairsain,'' he added.

''Laying the foundation stone at the statue of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali was a milestone in separate statehood movement of Uttarakhand and also for the hill capital aspect. But now we seem to be losing base in hill areas while we have failed to increase our minimal base in plain areas, too,'' lamented Rana.

Similarly, central secretary of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, labour cell, Uday Ram Semwal, said that they had been working for the past two years for the party, making a substantial number of new party workers but the high command never bothered to boost their morale. ''We have been working all alone. Senior party leaders, including our lone Cabinet Minister, are not keen to get a foothold in the district of Haridwar. We are getting good response as our ideology is development of the hill state, that includes Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar,'' said Semwal.

Former state Cabinet Minister and firebrand statehood fighter Diwakar Bhatt, who is now living a secluded life at his Shiv Lok Colony-based Tarun Himalaya residence, tries to give an explanation on UKD's pathetic state. ''I accept we have failed to give UKD a proper direction as was expected from it. But major blame goes to some party leaders who think the party is their property. Some mistakes were also made from my side but still I made UKD a force to reckon with in Haridwar. But it is quite optimistic to say that the party just needs good leadership and not dictatorship to regain its lost touch,'' said Bhatt, who formed Uttarakhand Jan Kranti Dal after being expelled from UKD by Trivendra Singh Panwar.

Dehradun, April 22
Mayoral candidate of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal Manmohan Lakhera took to the city pockets in Ballupur, Vanasthali, ONGC Colony and Ravi Basti in a big way yesterday.

However, the mayoral candidate of BSP Rajni Rawat concentrated more on slum colonies around Kanwali road, Sahstri Nagar, Nai Basti Tyagi road, Dharampuri and Chamanpuri.

Lakhera asked for votes in the name of clean and green Doon. He said he would replenish the town with green cover by planting more and more trees. Similarly, cleanliness would be top his priority list as well. He said he would make the best use of manpower resources of Dehradun Municipal Corporation in keeping the city clean.

Rajni Rawat avoided addressing public gatherings and opted for door-to-door campaign instead. Slum colony dwellers from Dharampuri and Chamanpuri came to meet her at her residence in the Chukuwala in the morning itself. She then accompanied them and visited these localities and interacted with the residents. She said:''My heart bleeds for poor people. Since I grew up in poverty and saw adversity at each step in my life, I can relate to the life of people in these slum colonies. I have been serving

them all my life and will continue to do so even when I become Mayor. These people will get ownership rights. They will have their own pucca house soon.''

Dehradun, April 23
Uttarakhand Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal has said the outgoing Mayor, Vinod Chamoli, had utterly failed to solve the problems of the people of Dehradun city. The voters were ready to punish him during the civic body polls this time.

Aggarwal was addressing a public meeting in the Rest Camp area in support of Congress mayoral candidate Suryakant Dhasmana. He said Dhasmana had been working for the poor and slum-dwellers in the city for the past two decades and the next Municipal Corporation board would be constituted under his leadership.

He hoped that Dhasmana after winning the election would work wholeheartedly for the better upkeep of the city.

Dhasmana said he would try to solve the problems of the people of the Rest Camp area as well as the entire city in a timeframe. He added if he wins the election he would like the corporation to go to the doorsteps of the people.

Dehradun April 23
Mayoral candidate of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) Manmohan Lakhera claims to be giving fourth dimension to the civic poll, which is otherwise considered triangular contest among the BJP, the Congress and the BSP being the major contenders in the fray.

He said the Congress, the BJP and the BSP were embroiled in intra-party squabbles. Among these, the UKD had emerged as a party with a fresh face with clean and honest image.

He said, "All big parties are doing their level best to woo the voters and claiming to be the winner party. On the hindsight, they themselves are suspicious of their victory. The reason, the factions within the party are hell-bent on spoiling their arithmetic in the poll."

While talking about the Congress, he said the party despite being in power in the state was not in a comfortable position. "The Chief Minister made Suryakant Dhasmana party candidate for Mayor's position, but his path to victory is ridden with obstacles. A big group in the party is not supporting him. Then groupism among top-rung leaders is also coming to his way. Discontentment and rebellion are posing challenges of different sort. This is the reason, many candidates for councillors positions are also hesitating in using his photo in their posters and banners."

He further added that Dhasmana's negative role during the statehood agitation had put the party in serious trouble. The Opposition has made it an election issue and terming Dhasmana's candidature as disgrace to the sentiments of the citizens of the state.

While coming to the subject of the BJP, he said the BJP might be concealing the cracks of conflict in the party by feigning solidarity with candidate Vinod Chamoli but the truth was that Chamoli's arrogant behaviour, obstinate attitude and spoiled relations with counsellors were

creating problems in election campaign. He said, "Just like the Congress, a big group in the BJP too does not want to see Chamoli winning. They are fearful if Chamoli wins, then his stature in the party would grow to an extent where it will become difficult for them to face him."

He was also of the view that Chamoli did not have much to count on his achievements. Just by flaying the Congress, he was not going to score much either.

About BSP's candidate Rajni Rawat, he said, "The BSP has fielded Rajni Rawat. She is running the entire show of election on her own shoulders. Her ratings too have plummeted this year after creating unexpected upheavals with her brilliant score in the last MC election." He said, she was able to gain the sympathy on fighting the election as an independent. But now she had been with a party. This could mar his prospect in the civic election.

Coming lastly to his own party, he admitted that his party too did not remain untouched from the evil of factionalism and controversies, which further deepened with the announcement of his candidature.

Despite these facets, he said his image of being clean and statehood agitator stood him in the good stead. His strong networking in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation and contacts were his positive points. Before the staggering picture of candidates of other three top contenders, he said, his party was safely in the fourth reckoning in the race.

Haridwar, April 23
Legislator from the Ranipur-BHEL Assembly segment Aadesh Chauhan has said the BJP will win a majority in the 30-member Haridwar Municipal Corporation.

Chauhan was speaking at a public meeting at Jwalapur yesterday while seeking votes for BJP mayoral candidate Manoj Garg and candidate from the Jwalapur ward Geeta Goyal.

Chauhan cited the lack of development in the suburban Jwalapur-Ranipur and said it was imperative that the people would elect BJP candidates for the overall development of the city.

“The BJP has four legislators from the city periphery and hence having the Mayor and ward councillors too from the party will usher in development in the area. All legislators have been working relentlessly for the development of their constituencies and have also used the allocated funds the best way,” said Chauhan, who had defeated heavyweight Ambrish Kumar in the last Assembly elections.

Chauhan took credit for the formation of a separate Municipal Committee for Shivalik Nagar, Subash Nagar and Tehri Vistapith Colony. He said the local people had been demanding the inclusion of these three colonies in the Haridwar Municipal Corporation but when it didn’t happen he began an agitation. This ultimately pressured the Congress-led government to form a separate Nagar Palika for the three colonies. This would surely bring a drastic improvement in terms of civic facilities, amenities and development works.

The MLA also inaugurated the election offices of various candidates at Jwalapur and Ranipur. 

Dehradun, April 23
In the third Welham Girls' School Invitational Hockey Tournament 2013 being played at Welham Girls' School, Dehradun, MKP and Welham Girls Blue teams stood victorious in their respective matches.

In the first match, MKP beat Moravian 2-1. Mamta and Pooja scored goals for MKP Inter College. Similarly, Welham Girls' School Blue team beat Scholars' Home 7-0. Ishrat Hans scored maximum 4 goals for Welham Girls' School Blue team.

The match between Welham Girls' White team and Government Girls' Inter College ended in a draw with score card reading 2 each.