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5 lakh first-timers a deciding factor in Punjab
Poll panel to announce schedule today
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STOCK-TAKING: Pawan Kumar Bansal Chandigarh
Mulayam gives Akhilesh dressing down
SAD may get stuck in toll trouble
Digvijay’s ex-secy joins fray in Punjab
BJP 2nd list to be out on March 8
First Cong list not before March 7
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5 lakh first-timers a deciding factor in Punjab
Chandigarh, March 4 The SAD-BJP government had made similar promises to students ahead of the Assembly elections as well but not many were kept. The main among them was unemployment allowance to the youth, which is yet to be fulfilled. Catching them young
All political parties begin attracting the youth in colleges itself through their student outfits. In Punjab, the Congress has the National Students Union of India whereas the BJP has the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. The SAD has Students Organisation of India while the Left has Students Federation of India. Student supporters then graduate to youth wings of these parties, including the Youth Congress (Congress), Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJP) and Youth Akali Dal (SAD). The three traditional parties in Punjab, however, have a new political foe to deal with in the coming elections. Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been fast spreading its base in Punjab. Kejriwal has been promoting his party as an "alternative" among the youth. In fact, the AAP's emergence on the national political scene has been attributed to youth power. However inexperienced they may be, youth belonging to ordinary families have become active in the countryside in Punjab, promoting AAP as the "option to cleanse politics". A student says, "The mainstream political parties have used us for votes since decades. But, the youth are cold-shouldered when it comes to sharing of power or passing on bigger responsibilities to them." Only a handful of politicians have been able to climb the ladder from college to assembly level politics, SAD's Prem Singh Chandumajra and Congress's Kuljit Singh Nagra being the main among them. Youth statistics
There are only a handful of youth MLAs and MPs in Punjab even as the count of young voters is quite high. More than 50 per cent of the electorate in Punjab is below 40 years of age, and of them over five lakh are first-time voters. In the age group of 18 to 19, there are 4,85,490 voters, 46,66,788 in the 20-29 years age group and 46, 27,111 in the 30-39 years group. The total number of voters in the state is 1,92,07,230. Going by the figures, over 98 lakh youth voters (below 40 years) will become the deciding factor in the Lok Sabha elections. The largest chunk of first-timers is in Ludhiana (53,527), followed by Amritsar (35,548) and Jalandhar (34,858). Ludhiana also tops the chart as far as the number of voters below 40 years is concerned, followed by Amritsar and Jalandhar. A peek into history
The quality of the youth brigade determines the prosperity and future of any nation. Punjab is a state that has a huge treasure of quality young force. As such, Punjab not only led the nation in Green Revolution but also in other fields. During the freedom movement as well, the Punjabi youth were considered the most active. Even today, Shaheed Bhagat Singh is an icon for the youth. But after the freedom movement, most of the Punjab's youth started drifting towards Marxist ideology. In the 1960s and 1970s, Left parties had become powerful political entities in the state because of their youth force. To oppose the Emergency in 1970s, a large number of college-going youth in Punjab went to jails. In the post-1980s period, a large section of youth remained part of Akali 'morchas'. From the existing mood in the countryside, it appears there is great urge among the youth in Punjab to give a new turn to state politics. But, there appears to be no one on the political scene to provide leadership to the youth. Young turks speak
"The sense of insecurity is visible among the old generation politicians as they are reluctant in inducting the young blood. Passing over the baton to the youth is the need of the hour. Youths have the energy and enthusiasm to take the country
forward." Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Congress MLA from
Gidderbaha "Given a chance, the youth can play a vital role in making the society better. They are energetic, amenable to new ideas and enthusiastic to bring about change. I am happy that my party has given me a chance to be in public
life." Inderbir Singh Bularia, SAD MLA from Amritsar-south "Like other fields, youth can play a significant role in politics . They can play an effective role to check the menace of drugs. The youth should not get upset in case they don't get a chance to rise in politics. They should continue to work hard and it will get
noticed." Gurkirat Kotli, Congress MLA from Khanna "Young politicians can easily follow new developments in technology, agriculture and industry. As the world is changing rapidly, the entry of youth in politics can play a positive role in changing the system. The younger generation has an
edge." Harpreet Singh, SAD MLA from Malout
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Poll panel to announce schedule today
New Delhi, March 4 With the announcement of poll dates, the Model Code of Conduct for governments and political parties will come into force with immediate effect. Polling is likely to commence from the second week of April and may be spread over six to seven phases, the longest so far, highly placed sources said. The probable dates for the commencement of polling are between April 7 and 10, sources said. As of now, the plan is to have the voting exercise involving an electorate of 81 crore in six to seven phases. The 2009 polls were held in five phases from April 16 to May 13. The term of the current Lok Sabha expires on June 1 and the new House has to be constituted by May 31. Along with the Lok Sabha election, Andhra Pradesh, including the regions comprising Telangana, Odisha and Sikkim will go to polls to elect new assemblies. It could be the first time the country witnesses elections over such a long period in six or seven phases. Sources said the attempt is to "maximise" use of forces and the polling days. In the first phase, polling is expected to be held in some of the Naxal-hit states and in some northeastern states. For the first time in Parliamentary polls, a system of paper trail for electronic voting will be introduced in some constituencies on a trial basis. There have been demands that a paper trail should be in place so that a fool-proof record is created and controversies avoided in case of a dispute or an election petition. — PTI
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STOCK-TAKING: Pawan Kumar Bansal Chandigarh The four-time MP has a lot to his credit, but allegations of bribery against his nephew maligned his image Rajmeet Singh and Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 4 Bansal was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from Chandigarh constituency after he defeated BJP's Satya Pal Jain by a margin of 58,967 votes. Bansal had won the Chandigarh seat for the fourth time (third time in a row). He had won it in 1991, lost to Satya Pal Jain in 1996 and 1998, and won in 1999, 2004 and 2009 consecutively. Bansal has been credited with improving city's rail connectivity with other parts of the country by starting nine new trains and improving the railway station. But work on the Dappar-Chandigarh track is yet to be completed. Bansal is also credited with increasing the Budget allocation for the UT Administration. From Rs 1,036.77 crore in 2003-04, the allocation shot up to Rs 3,669.15 crore in 2013-14. The plan allocation alone has risen from Rs 167.79 crore to Rs 839.01 crore during this period, a five-fold increase. But Bansal reportedly failed to bring any major project, industry and employment opportunities for the city's youth. He also apparently failed to solve problems of traders, industrialists and allottees of Chandigarh Housing Board flats. MPLADS funds
Bansal's usage of funds allotted to him under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is all about construction and development of parks, installation of lights, garden benches, pave blocks, water coolers and providing educational material to a few government schools. Bansal had recommended 327 works under MPLADS, out of which the UT Administration rejected 73. Only 80 works have been completed so far and the rest are under process. Though the official website states that Bansal had spent 89.66 per cent of the funds till February 3, 2014, officials attached with him claim that 96 per cent funds had been utilised till date. What he says
Bansal said the major work for which he earned appreciation was development of parks in the city. Initially, he issued grants to develop parks from his MPLADS funds, but now the Municipal Corporation has taken over. Bansal said starting nine new trains from the city to various parts of the county was another achievement. He also provided funds to Panjab University, the PGIMER, government schools and colleges for infrastructural development. Bansal said his next dream was to provide pipe gas supply to local residents. His past at a glance
Bansal, 65, an advocate by profession, had been a student of Yadavindra Public School. He did his BSc from Patiala Government College, Chandigarh, and LLB from the Department of Law at Panjab University, Chandigarh. The positions he held were Union Cabinet Minister of Railways, Union Cabinet Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, Union Cabinet Minister of Water Resources, Union Cabinet Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of State for finance (Expenditure, Banking & Insurance). The moment of glory
In October 2012, he was made the Union Cabinet Minister of Railways, the first from the Congress since 1996. Major
controversy
On May 3, 2013, the CBI arrested his nephew Vijay Singla for allegedly accepting Rs 90-lakh bribe from a middleman on behalf of a member of the Indian Railway Board. Subsequently, Bansal resigned from the office on May 10, 2013. The railgate effect
Before the railgate, Bansal was a trusted bet of the Congress for the Chandigarh seat. But now, apart from Bansal, five local leaders have already applied for the ticket. Before Bansal's name cropped up in the controversy, he had the backing of senior party leaders, but now things have apparently changed for the worse. Bansal said he was confident that he had nothing to do with the railgate. "I had only become the victim of circumstances. The CBI did not find any evidence against me. The court has taken cognizance of the chargesheet and there is nothing against me in it," he said. The rival’s take
Former MP Satya Pal Jain said almost all promises made by Bansal remained unfulfilled. "He failed to bring any major project to Chandigarh. He always attempts to claim credit for anything and everything good done by the local administration and blames others, including the governors, DCs and other officers, for his own failures," Jain said. "In a nutshell, I will say that Bansal had failed on all fronts. The involvement of Bansal and his relatives in the "cash-for-job scam" in the Railways, a portfolio that he himself was heading, brought down his credibility and reputation to the lowest ebb. The explanations given by him in this regard came out to be lame excuses and unconvincing. The whole incident brought a bad name not only to him but also to the people of his constituency. People who had supported him have been let down by him," Jain added.
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Mulayam gives Akhilesh dressing down
Lucknow, March 4 Speaking at a public function at the CM's official residence, Mulayam took everyone by surprise by not mincing words in attacking his party's ministers and bureaucrats. "Neither would you remain a minister, nor would you get a ticket," senior Yadav warned ministers present at the function giving them a 10-day ultimatum to improve their performance. He did not even spare his son and CM Akhilesh Yadav alleging him of being surrounded by sycophants. He embarrassed the CM in full public view by warning him not to fall in the trap of flatterers who kept calling him "sir". Mulayam was perturbed at the state government sitting on files relating to crucial sectors like power, roads and irrigation projects. Reminding those present that the party was more important that the government, he advised the government to improve its performance so that its image does not harm the party in the coming elections. Addressing a rally in Allahabad on March 2, the senior Yadav had similarly reprimanded party workers asking them to resist the temptation of indulging in illegal mining and getting government contracts and instead focus on development.
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SAD may get stuck in toll trouble
Jalandhar/Hoshiarpur, March 4 There seems to be a mismatch in the number of toll collection centres in the state. The 273-km Pathankot-Chandigarh road has six toll plazas followed by five on the 234 km Amritsar-Chandigarh road and six on the Attari-Chandigarh road. However, there is not a single toll collection centre on the 230 km Bathinda-Patiala-Chandigarh road or the Bathinda-Faridkot-Ferozepur road in the Malwa region. Road users in Malwa enjoy smooth drive without paying toll tax. The condition of roads in the Malwa region is better than the roads in Doaba and
Majha.
Multiple taxes
It is not only toll tax, but the commuters also have to pay road tax. Although the concept of toll tax has been borrowed from foreign countries, but no freeway has been provided to road users anywhere in Punjab. They have to pay through their nose the one-time road tax and toll tax at a number of points each time they use the road. Their repeated protests have failed to move the authorities. There is no uniformity in toll charges. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) charge nominal toll per kilometre, vehicle users have to pay huge toll on roads maintained by the state authorities. Roads in bad shape
Most of the roads having toll plazas are in a bad shape. "What is our fault? Apart from shelling out money, a lot of time is wasted at six toll plazas when we have to go to Chandigarh from Pathankot," said Ashok Sharma, a resident of Pathankot. For Amar Iqbal Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, going to Ludhiana in his car is nothing short of a money-wastage exercise as apart from fuel, he has to shell out Rs 110 at the toll plaza. Those heading towards Ludhiana from Jalandhar and vice-versa were forced to pass through bad roads due to the six-laning of the road. However, they have to pay toll tax at Laduwal barrier near Phillaur. "Toll barriers affect residents of Phagwara, Goaraya and Phillaur the most. Does it make sense for a Phillaur resident to shell out Rs 165 to cover a stretch of 20 km to Ludhiana? The toll tax system is irrational, lacks transparency and is aimed at fleecing people of Punjab, particularly those living in the Doaba region," said Ashwani Kohli, a resident of Phagwara and the vice-president of the Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters. The Jalandhar-Chandigarh highway is in a bad shape near Banga, Nawanshahar, Balachaur, Ropar and Kharar. The Chandigarh-bound vehicle users are forced to pay Rs 109 or even more at three toll plazas on the stretch. Similarly, people covering a short distance of 35 km from Nabha to Malerkotla have to pay Rs 35 (one-way trip) and Rs 50 (for a return trip the same day). The roads near Banga, Nawanshahr and Ropar are potholed and road berms are also missing. Traffic bottlenecks
Alleged mismanagement at toll plazas lead to snarl-ups at toll-collection booths where long queues of vehicles can be seen. Vehicles can also be seen lined up at the toll plazas near Phillaur, Kathgarh and at Solsian (Ropar), apparently owing to heavy traffic and few staff to manage the flow of vehicles. The per vehicle maximum retention time, according to Baldev Singh, executive engineer, PWD (B&R), Nawanshahr, is approximately one minute even as there is no provision of any penalty in case of violation of norms.
OFFICIALSPEAK "The Sewerage Board authorities have failed to plug leakage in Banga and Nawanshahr. Owners of eateries in Balachaur have converted a part of the road into a parking lot in front of their outlets. This blocks the drainage system alongside the road. We have written to the authorities concerned a number of times, but to no avail," said Upinder Kumar, project manager of Rohan-Rajdeep Private Limited, the company that maintains the Jalandhar-Nawanshahr highway. He said as per the agreement with the Punjab Government, the latter had to ensure re-carpeting of the Phagwara-Ropar road after five years in 2013, but the work was not executed. Executive Engineer Baldev Singh, who is responsible for the maintenance of the Phagwara-Kathgarh stretch, said the patchwork on the road would be completed within a fortnight.
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Digvijay’s ex-secy joins fray in Punjab
New Delhi, March 4 Top Congress leaders from Punjab have met senior Central leaders and complained to the party high command against the claim of Amar Singh, a retired bureaucrat close to Congress veteran Digvijay Singh, over the Lok Sabha ticket of Fatehgarh Sahib (reserved) constituency. Amar Singh, who retired as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India recently, served as Secretary to Digvijay Singh when the latter was Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. He also authored "Dalit Agenda", a pro-Dalit sop that Digvijay Singh unveiled a year before the 2003 Madhya Pradesh elections which he lost to BJP's Uma Bharti. Sources said Amar Singh was among top three contenders for the Congress ticket from Fatehgarh Sahib with others being former Punjab Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, president of District Congress Committee of Ludhiana Rural Malkit Singh Dakha and ex-minister Ishwar Singh. There are 11 applicants for the seat where Congress' sitting MP is Sukhdev Singh Libra. Libra, 81, is unlikely to be fielded. Congress sources today told The Tribune that all leading contenders from Fatehgarh Sahib - Dullo, Dakha and Ishwar Singh - had met Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmed and Chairman of Congress Screening Committee for Punjab PC Chacko to express resentment over the consideration of Amar Singh, whose brother Gurcharan Singh is a sitting Punjab MLA. Punjab Congress leaders have sent e-mail complaints to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, besides meeting members of the Congress' Central Election Committee. A top Punjab Congress leader questioned: "How will the party explain the entry of a retired bureaucrat in this race? What would happen to people who have spent decades serving the Congress? The question we are asking is whether this ex-bureaucrat claiming a seat in Punjab is even a primary member of the Congress? Even if he is, can he match years of our dedicated service to the people of Punjab?" Congress leaders admitted that they had received complaints and the CEC would look into the issue. Discussion on Punjab, Haryana LS seats delayed Discussions on Lok Sabha tickets for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh did not crop up during the meeting of Congress' Central Election Committee held here today. The discussion will take place after March 7.
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BJP 2nd list to be out on March 8
New Delhi, March 4 In Haryana, the party may announce candidates for Ambala, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The BJP will also make official the seats it will be leaving for its Haryana ally, Haryana Janhit Congress. While Bishnoi is demanding Karnal and Hisar, the BJP is in favour of Hisar and Bhiwani- Mahendragarh. Rao Inderjit Singh, who recently dumped the Congress in favour of the BJP, will be the saffron party's candidate from Gurgaon. Former MP Rattan Lal Kataria is the front runner in the Ambala constituency. In Faridabad, it could be a toss-up between former MP Ramchandra Bainda and Krishan Pal Gurjar. Capt Abhimanyu's name is being considered for Rohtak and Sudha Yadav for Bhiwani- Mahendragarh. Former Army chief Gen VK Singh is also being considered for Bhiwani- Mahendragarh. In Hoshiarpur (Punjab), the choice is between Som Prakash and Vijay Sampla and between Vinod Khanna and Swarn Salaria in Gurdaspur. From Amritsar, teh competition is between sitting MP Navjot Sidhu, Rajinder Mohan Chinna and former Health Minister Baldev Chawla. In Uttarakhand, it may be Bhagat Singh Koshiyari for Nainital, BS Khanduri for Garhwal and Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah for Tehri Garhwal. Uma Bharti's may contest from the Haridwar LS constituency. — TNS
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First Cong list not before March 7
New Delhi, March 4 The meeting of the Central Election Committee, Congress' top poll panel headed by party president Sonia Gandhi, ended today with discussions only on LS seats of three major states - Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Discussion remained incomplete with consensus on some seats not achieved. Sources said agreement on candidates on 35 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats had been reached but the names would not be announced until "at least March 7" when the CEC would meet again to take up more states. Final discussions on Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh are expected to happen only after March 7, in the next scheduled CEC meeting. On what happened to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's assertion that candidates would be announced by mid-February, Congress general secretary in charge of CEC Madhusudan Mistry said: "We want complete agreement on names. Process is on." Mistry said at least 40 per cent new faces could be expected in the Congress list this time. "There will significant number of new faces," he said. It is learnt that the Lok Sabha seat of Sabarkantha in Gujarat which Mistry represented in the 14th Lok Sabha will now be given to senior Congress leader Shankar Singh Vaghela to contest. Mistry, a strong Narendra Modi critic, was tipped to contest the seat till he was named Rajya Sabha member recently.
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Tytler files papers from Northeast Delhi Sena miffed over Gadkari-Raj meeting Nitish rules out possibility of JD(U), Cong alliance After LJP, AGP on BJP’s radar
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AAP ‘alternative’
