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State of parties: Congress
BJP prefers young guns over Munde
GROUND REALITY:
Jammu-Poonch |
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Reality check Kurukshetra
Kejri takes on Moily on his home turf
This Congress man doesn’t want ticket!
‘Aam aadmi’ to decide TDP ticket using mobile
phone
AAP fund-raising dinner collects
Rs 50 lakh
Bihar BJP leader accepts party’s decision on
seat
Footwear is Kiran’s party symbol
Notice to Kejriwal for allegations against Gadkari’s firm
Exponential rise in AAP poll fund
Cong-TRS war of words escalates
AAP a non-entity, says MP minister
Varanasi to be Modi's political graveyard: Lalu
SUCI(C) nominee has total assets of Rs 750
Shiv Sena spokesperson may join NCP
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Factionalism puts party in disarray
Bumpy road ahead for Cong in Uttarakhand, tough to repeat 2009 performance when it won all 5 seats SMA Kazmi Tribune News Service
Although after taking over as the Chief Minister on February 1, Harish Rawat has been trying to unify the divided party. Rawat knows that he has to prove his credibility not only as a mature politician but also to give a better performance in the Lok Sabha polls. As the party is in the process of distributing tickets, two senior leaders Satpal Maharaj, sitting MP from Pauri Garhwal and former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna have declined to contest elections. Satpal Maharaj, a known opponent of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, alleged that nothing had been done during the past two years of the Congress rule in the Garhwal region. "With a heavy heart, I announce that neither me, nor my son will contest the Lok Sabha elections. I have also informed the party high command about my decision," he said.
Former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and sitting Congress MP from Nainital KC Singh Baba are also reluctant to contest polls. The Uttarakhand Congress has a history of factional feuds. This all started when veteran Congress leader ND Tewari was made the Chief Minister of the state after the first Assembly polls in February 2002, ignoring the claims of the then Uttarakhand Congress chief Harish Rawat, who led the party to victory. Although Harish Rawat commanded the support of a majority of the party MLAs, the party high command preferred ND Tewari to head the state government. During Tewari's tenure from 2002 to 2007, Harish Rawat acted more as an opposition leader even resorting to protests against the Congress government. Since then, the Congress has been divided into two groups - one headed by Harish Rawat and another owing allegiance to ND Tewari. Senior leaders Satpal Maharaj and Vijay Bahaguna sided with Tewari. After the slender win of the Congress in the 2012 Assembly polls, the party high command again ignored Harish Rawat and selected Tehri Garhwal MP Vijay Bahuguna as the next Chief Minister. This again triggered a revolt by Harish Rawat and his supporting MLAs who sat on a dharna at his residence in New Delhi against the decision of the party high command. Harish Rawat was placated by elevating him as the Union Cabinet minister and adjusting his supporting legislators in the state Congress ministry. The Harish Rawat camp did everything possible to rattle Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna during his 21 months tenure and the natural disaster that struck the state in June 2013 and the inability of state Congress to respond positively to provide relief and rehabilitation, gave a chance to Harish Rawat camp to paint the working of Bahuguna black in the eyes of party high command. The party high command afraid of getting an adverse verdict in the Lok Sabha polls, finally brought Harish Rawat as Chief Minister on February 1, 2014. Insiders believe that the message of unity being given by Chief Minister Harish Rawat is superficial. Already, Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj has given vent to his feeling by charging that the Garhwal region has been given a step motherly treatment by the party high command. Satpal Maharaj was also amongst the contenders along with four other state leaders for the position of the Chief Minister. It is still unclear whether veteran Congress leader ND Tewari decides to enter the electoral fray from his home constituency of Nainital or fields his biological son Rohit Shekhar. His entry in the fray would change the entire poll scenario in Nainital. The Congress had won all five Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 elections with 43.13 per cent votes. But it would be a Herculean task to repeat the performance in the 2014 polls. Congress workers feel motivated with the elevation of Chief Minister Harish Rawat but infighting could be a bane of the party. The supporters of both Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat are suspicious of each other. Vijay Bahuguna or his son Saket Bahuguna are likely candidate from Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha seats while Anupama Rawat, daughter of Harish Rawat could be Congress candidate from Haridwar Lok Sabha seat represented by her father. The situation is no different on other three Lok Sabha seats of Almora, Pauri Garhwal and Nainital where supporters of both the groups would work against each other.
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BJP prefers young guns over Munde
Mumbai, March 16 BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy was rushed to Mumbai by the party high command to placate sulking Uddhav Thackeray indicated as much when he announced that Fadnavis would henceforth deal with the Shiv Sena leader. Party sources say Rudy's announcement has upset Munde who has been staying away from party responsibilities for the past three days. So far, Munde has been staying put in his constituency, Beed, on the grounds that he was monitoring relief work following last week's hailstorm. The BJP's decision to clip Munde's wings has hurt Uddhav Thackeray, who was dealing with the veteran BJP leader ever since the two parties struck an alliance two decades ago. While Munde is keen on humouring Thackeray, younger leaders like Fadnavis and Tawde are keen on BJP snapping ties with the Shiv Sena. Tawde had even told reporters in private conversations that the BJP was more comfortable with Uddhav's estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray. Although the MNS is a much diminished force as compared to five years ago, the BJP leadership looks at Raj as a more pliable leader who would be dependent on the saffron party in the absence of any party organisation and infrastructure. On the other hand, Munde and his supporters are not in a hurry to write off the Shiv Sena. The party is still holding strong more than a year after the death of founder Bal Thackeray. Raj has been unable to attract any Shiv Sena leader of importance. A few dissidents who left the Sena migrated to the NCP and the Congress rather than to the MNS, Munde's supporters point out. Munde's opponents, however, say that the veteran BJP leader has been unable to expand the party's sphere of influence in the post-Bal Thackeray era. Instead, Munde's nephew Dhananjay quit the BJP to join Sharad Pawar's NCP. Munde's relationship with the RSS is cordial. The torchbearer of Hindutva is more comfortable with a Brahmin like Nitin Gadkari who grew up in the shadow of its headquarters than Munde from the backward Vanjari (Banjara) tribe. The RSS is now gradually prising the BJP from grip of those brought into the party by Munde and his late brother-in-law Pramod Mahajan. It is symbol of Munde's diminishing clout that the party denied a 'safe' seat to Mahajan's daughter Poonam and instead fielded her against a tough candidate like Priya Dutt.
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Political parties go back to basics
Focus on people’s well-being; promise to solve problems faced by refugees, residents of border areas, Gujjars Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 16 During the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, religious polarisation was at its peak after the Amarnath land row. To reap political benefits of the prevailing situation at that time, the BJP had fielded Leela Karan Sharma, who led the Amarnath law agitation. He lost the election by a huge margin. But the scenario is different this time as real issues confronting the common masses are dominating the electioneering. Welfare of refugees In Samba and Jammu districts, the welfare of refugees is the biggest issue. All categories of refugees have been living in different parts of these two districts. West Pakistani refugees, who have the right to cast their vote only in the Lok Sabha elections, have a good strength in these two districts. Their support will prove crucial in deciding the fate of the candidates. Refugees from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and those of 1965 and 1971 also have a strong strength. PDP candidate Yash Pal Sharma is also a refugee from the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and is doing all he can to woo them. On the other hand, the Congress and the BJP are also promising to look into their problems. Out of 20 segments in this constituency, 12 are touched either by the International Border or the LoC. The problems of the border residents will figure during the polls. Although religious polarisation, which was the main poll agenda in 2009, has taken a backseat, the ethnic divide still seems to be the talking point in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Here, the division between Gujjars and Paharis has always influenced the elections. Demand for ST status The nomadic Gujjars are mainly Muslims. They were granted the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in the early 1990s but the Paharis, comprising Muslims and Hindus, were denied the same. So, differences prevail on this issue between the two communities. In the last Lok Sabha elections as well, the Paharis had demanded the ST status. Over 17 lakh voters The total voters in Samba district are 1,80,678, of whom 93,877 are males and 86,801 females. The Rajouri district comprises 3,64,081 voters, including 1,93,154 males and 1,70,864 females. In Poonch district, the total numbers of voters is 2,54,331, comprising 1,34,565 males and 1,19,766 females. 20 Assembly segments The 20 Assembly constituencies of the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat are Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu East, Jammu West, R S Pura, Suchetgarh, Nagrota, Marh, Raipur Domana, Akhnoor, Chamb, Nowshera, Kalakote, Rajouri, Darhal, Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch-Haveli segments. The Gandhi Nagar Assembly segment has the highest number of votes (1,59,047), followed by Jammu West (1,48,778) and Rajouri (1,06,004). Jammu East, Jammu West, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, Nagrota and Raipur-Domana are represented by the BJP while the Samba segment is represented by the Panthers Party. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has two seats, Darhal and Mendhar. The coalition partners National Conference (NC) and the Congress have control over nine segments, Gandhi Nagar, Akhnoor, Chamb, Rajouri, Surankote (represented by the Congress); Vijaypur, Nowshera, Kalakote and Poonch-Haveli (NC). Bishnah Assembly segment is represented by the Jammu State Morcha MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma. Sitting Cong MP starts campaigning Refugees to field Labha Ram Gandhi A conglomeration of refugees has announced to field
Labha Ram Gandhi as their joint candidate from the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. Gandhi had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election as a candidate of the West Pakistani refugees and got only 17,972 votes out of the total of 8,42,662.
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No cakewalk for two-time MP Jindal this time
Direct rail link between Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, incomplete flyovers, unemployment among other issues Nitish Sharma Tribune News Service
Nearly 14,60,521 electors will cast votes at 1,534 polling stations. Sitting Congress MP Naveen Jindal is confident of scoring a hat-trick on the basis of work and performance. Jindal believes that the people will elect him for the third consecutive time as he had done more than what he had promised.
The Kurukshetra parliamentary constituency witnessed its first election in 1977 which was won by Raghbir Singh Virk on the Bharatiya Lok Dal ticket. The seat was won by Manohar Lal Saini of the Janata Party (S) in 1980, Sardar Harpal Singh of the Congress in 1984, Gurdial Singh Saini of the Janata Dal in 1989, Tara Singh of the Congress in 1991, OP Jindal of the Haryana Vikas Party in 1996, Kailasho Devi of the Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtryia) in 1998 and then in 1999 on the INLD ticket, while Naveen Jindal of the Congress in 2004 and 2009. Candidates in the fray
Naveen Jindal (Cong), Jaswinder Singh (BSP), Balwinder Kaur (AAP), Balbir Saini (INLD) and Raj Kumar Saini (BJP) are in the fray.
Projects in limbo
The government has failed to revive the Saraswati river, while the National Institute of Design project is yet to take off.
Women voters
With 45 per cent of the total electorate, women will play an important role. Issues of crime, women empowerment and rising prices of essential commodities would definitely play a crucial role.
Discontent in AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has failed to retain its magic in the region. Ever since the party declared the name of Balwinder Kaur, AAP workers have been protesting against her candidature.
Local issues
Local issues including the long-pending demand of direct rail link between Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, overbridges, subways, industrialisation, trauma centre, incomplete flyovers, unemployment and basic amenities will be monitored closely by the voters. Residents of Umri village feel that a trauma centre should be constructed in place of the National Institute of Design for which the village had given 20.5 acres of land.
New parties
Besides the AAP, Haryana Jan Shakti Party led by Didar Singh Nalwi and Indian Bahujan Sandesh Party led by Kanta Alariya, would be in the fray for the first time. While the political parties have started wooing voters with various promises, however, there is no wave
in favour of or against any party yet.
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No voting rights for nomads in Haryana
Panipat, March 16 There are nearly 800 members of the community living in Panipat alone. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer (DEO) Ajit Balaji Joshi said: "Technically, they cannot be registered as voters as they do not have mandatory residence proof, including the ration card or the birth certificate, as they keep on moving from one place to another. Also, they do not approach the authorities concerned for registering themselves as voters." On the contrary, Banarsi said he, his wife Sandhra and several other nomads contacted the officials concerned a number of times for preparing ration cards and voter identity cards but to no avail. Admitting that they keep on moving from one place to another, he said, "30-odd such families have been living at Hanuman Chowk in HUDA Sector 25 here for the past 10 years." About their historical background, Mithu, a young nomad, said, "We belong to a nomadic community of Rajasthan. Our ancestors were ironsmiths in the army of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. When Mewar fell to Mughals, we pledged never to return to our homeland and settle anywhere else until Maharana's hegemony was restored. Since then, we have been moving from one place to another on bullock carts and earning our livelihood by making and repairing agricultural and household articles. It has become very difficult for us to make our both ends meet as now readymade tool are in demand." Surprisingly, none of his five children has ever gone to any school despite tall claims of strict implementation of the Right to Education (RTE). "I went to a government school at Khanpur in Gohana to admit my eldest daughter Monica, but she was not admitted as she had no birth certificate." Their children Maina and Deva said they also wanted to study like other children. “I had sent a proposal to the state and Central governments for rehabilitation of Gadia Lohars when I was posted at Sonepat a few years ago. I will renew my efforts after elections and I will leave no stone unturned for their rehabilitation,” said the Panipat Deputy Commissioner.
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Akhilesh slams Modi
Mathura, March 16 "For the post of prime minister, the country needs a secular person, who has broad outlook and bothers about villagers, farmers, poor etc. The developmental model of Uttar Pradesh is better than that of Gujarat," Yadav said when reporters asked him about Modi and his Gujarat model. The Chief Minister said the Congress would face a tough time in the polls as the work of the UPA government would be evaluated. "The people of the country will evaluate the Congress-led UPA in the elections," he said. The Chief Minister was here along with Union minister Rajiv Shukla to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of Vrindavan Chandrodaya temple in Vrindavan. The project for building a 70-storey temple, billed to be the tallest shrine in the world, was inaugurated here. It will cost more than Rs 300 crore and ISKCON is hoping to conclude the temple construction within the next five years. "With the construction of this temple, it will become difficult for the tourists to skip Mathura. Today is historic day as the construction of the temple in Vrindaban started today," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister expected that the temple would become a binding force for people of the country. "It is a historical programme since stage has been set for the construction of such a high temple in Vrindaban. It would act as magnet for people all over the world," Union minister Rajiv Shukla said.
— PTI
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Kejri takes on Moily on his home turf
Addressing a rally after his road show, Kejriwal alleged that Moily had caused huge loss to the country and electing him again would pave the way for more loss to the nation. Moily is seeking a re-election from Chikkaballapur. Moily had also failed to develop Chikkaballapur constituency, alleged Kejriwal, who has been targetting him persistently on the issue of gas pricing. AAP, which is aiming big contesting all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, has fielded former Inspector General of Police of CRPF, K Arkesh, known for his pro-active role in softening up forest brigand Veerappan during the abduction and later release of thespian late Rajkumar in 2000. As Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal had opened a new front ordering filing of an FIR against Moily, former minister Murli Deora and Mukesh Ambani for alleged collusion in the hike in prices of natural gas from KG basin. Asking the Centre to put on hold the decision to hike price of gas, to be implemented from April 1, he had directed Anti Corruption Branch of his government to file a criminal case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Moily had then attacked Kejriwal as "ignorant", saying he did not know how government functions. He had said fixing of price of petroleum products is done as per expert advice. In his speech today, Kejriwal continued his tirade against BJP's prime minsterial candidate Narendra Modi. Kejriwal said the poor and common man's problems of Gujarat were not being focused on and only business magnates were getting attention.
— PTI
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This Congress man doesn’t want ticket!
New Delhi, March 16 Namgyal, whose name is doing the rounds for the Congress ticket, confirmed to The Tribune that he has written a letter to the party leadership urging that he may be recused from contesting the Lok Sabha elections this time. He has had enough of electoral politics and, at the age of 76 it was time to think of passing on the baton to someone younger to him, he has said. He, however, wants that a person from the Buddhist-dominated Leh district of Ladakh be nominated for the seat. According to him, the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat was created as the sixth parliamentary constituency in Jammu and Kashmir to give representation to the Buddhist. He expressed the same views at a meeting with party leaders from Ladakh and AICC general secretary and in charge of Jammu and Kashmir Ambika Soni a few days ago. Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present in the meeting. Namgyal has recommended the name of president of Leh Congress Committee T Samphel. He has, however, expressed reservations over the name of Rigzin Spalbar, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. The reason: A week-long international religious event of Buddhists, “Kal Chakra”, is to be performed by the Dalai Lama in July. “The calendar event calls for meticulous planning. Rizgin’s nomination would unsettle the apple cart at a crucial juncture. Moreover, he already enjoys the status of a Cabinet minister. Vacation of the seat of councillor following his possible nomination would call for a fresh election to the council,” Namgyal has said. In the meeting with Ambika Soni, he espoused the cause for nomination of a Muslim to the Rajya Sabha from Kargil district whenever that seat fell vacant. Enough is enough
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‘Aam aadmi’ to decide TDP ticket using mobile
phone
Hyderabad, March 16 Naidu said it was the first such experiment in the country that involved general public in choosing the party candidates to make the process transparent. Under the programme, a recorded message from Naidu would be sent to 8.5 crore mobile users across the state, including about 6 lakh party cadres, with option of four names each for the respective Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. “All they need to do is to listen to these names carefully and follow instructions to punch in the number of their choice, just as they do with any other interactive voice service,” Naidu told reporters here. Christened as “Your town, your candidate, your choice”, the new initiative also provides “none of the above” (NOTA) option allowing voters to reject the choices by pressing zero or also suggest their own choice. Another exercise was being done to take voters’ feedback about the functioning of the local party leadership, he said. “This is akin to the primaries system followed in the USA. We are the first party in the country to introduce the IVRS to select contesting candidates,” the TDP chief said. The candidates securing majority of the votes would be fielded by the party for the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The system
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AAP fund-raising dinner collects
Rs 50 lakh
Bangalore, March 16 The event was an initiative by a group called "Well wishers of
AAP" co-ordinated by former Infosys board member and party candidate from Bangalore Central constituency V Balakrishnan with an intention to raise fund for the party in a "transparent manner". "Around 200 persons attended the dinner. We have gathered about Rs 50 lakh," CN
Radhakrishnan, a member of "Well wishers of AAP", told PTI. "A few people had pledged support to us but could not attend the event... they will be sending in their contributions soon," he added. In what was said to be an interactive session, Kejriwal's recent salvo against the media was a hot topic among the attendees, who quizzed the former Delhi Chief Minister over the
issue. Naina P Nayak, AAP's candidate from Bangalore South who was part of the dinner event, said, "It was a great event. It was a completely interactive session. People asked him all kind of questions and pointed out some errors too." "People asked him about his recent comments about the media. Kejriwal sought to clarify his comment and tried to make them understand what he really meant," Nayak said without elaborating. "His resignation as Delhi Chief Minister was another hot topic. A few had some reservations on the way he resigned," she added. As he launched his roadshow here yesterday,
Kejriwal, unfazed by the criticism of his attack on the media, fired yet another salvo, questioning whether the media had the courage to show the "true story" about Narendra Modi's Gujarat. He accused the media of not bringing out the "truth" about the Gujarat Chief Minister before the people.
— PTI |
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Bihar BJP leader accepts party’s decision on
seat
Patna, March 16 Giriraj said he was confident that BJP leaders and workers of Nawada district would work hard to send him to Parliament to achieve the larger objective of making Narendra Modi the next PM. He said he had already held meetings with party leaders and workers of Nawada district. Giriraj Singh, who was miffed with the state party leadership for ignoring his demand for a ticket from
Begusarai, said all controversies over his constituency were over for now. Admitting that he had certain problems with the state BJP leadership, Giriraj Singh said he would speak up at an appropriate time after the polling in his constituency next month. Without naming him, Giriraj Singh had blamed former deputy CM Sushil Modi for scuttling his candidature from
Begusarai, and said yesterday that he would reciprocate Sushil Modi in kind when the latter would seek to fulfil his chief ministerial ambition next
year. Giriraj Singh had also threatened to expose — at an appropriate time — those BJP leaders who were working against the party's interests in Bihar. Stating he had taken note of state BJP vice-president Sushil Sharma's jibe at him apparently at the behest of Sushil Modi that he was undeservedly promoted by the party and made a member of the Legislative Council for two terms, he said he would respond to these comments at an appropriate time.
— PTI |
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Footwear is Kiran’s party symbol
"JSP has got the approval of the Election Commission to use footwear as its poll symbol," a party official said. According to a statement issued by the party, footwear was chosen as the symbol as it not only bears the burden of the wearer, but also protects him. "Footwear is also a sign of equality as it offers similar protection to everyone, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or class," it said. Besides, footwear is owned even by the poorest of the poor, the party said recalling that the footwear of Lord Rama inspired Bharat in achieving 'Rama Rajya'. Reddy, who quit as Chief Minister in protest against state's division, launched JSP on March 12. The Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled to be held simultaneously in undivided Andhra Pradesh on April 30 and May 7.
— PTI
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Notice to Kejriwal for allegations against Gadkari’s firm
Purti Power and Sugar Limited has dragged Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal, Damania and five other AAP activists to civil court for allegedly making "baseless and defamatory" accusations against the company and its former director Nitin Gadkari. The civil court registered the suit yesterday and issued notices to Kejriwal, Damania, AAP spokesman Girish Nandgaokar and party activists Rahul Pugalia, Devendra Wankhede, Prajakta Atul Upadhyay and Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee. The civil suit filed by Purti sugar factory managing director Sudhir Dive has sought injunction against the AAP leaders charging them with deliberately making allegations on the eve of elections. The company had earlier filed criminal as well as civil complaints against the AAP leaders. Earlier, Damania had alleged that Purti Power and Sugar Company cheated a farmer as well as the central government and pocketed the entire amount of the loan which was subsequently waived by the Centre.
— PTI
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Exponential rise in AAP poll fund
New Delhi, March 16 Today, the day Kejriwal accepted the challenge of contesting against Modi from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, 973 donors had contributed over Rs 23,68,713 till 8 pm. In all, AAP has collected over Rs 13 crore from 61,551 donors residing in 100 countries, including India, since December 12. But the party requires much more, say AAP leaders. Details posted on the party website reveal that the donors from Maharashtra have been the most generous with 22 per cent donations coming from there. Maharashtra was followed by Delhi (20.7 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (17 per cent) and Karnataka (10 per cent). This week, the party organised fund-raising sessions in Bangalore and Gurgaon that were addressed by AAP mascot Arvind Kejriwal and Prof Yogendra Yadav respectively. “We will be holding fund-raising activities across the country. These platforms also help us connect with the masses,” said a member overseeing the party’s online fund collections.
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Cong-TRS war of words escalates
Hyderabad, March 16 Recalling that the TRS had also promised to make a Dalit leader the CM of
Telangana, he charged that the sub-regional party's leadership is synonymous with 'betrayal'. Meanwhile, TRS president K Chandrasekhar
Rao, who has been saying that “reconstruction” of Telangana can be ensured by TRS alone, alleged that it was Congress and TDP which were responsible for several development problems in the region. Dashing the last hopes of the Congress, the TRS president had ruled out even an electoral alliance with the party for the forthcoming polls to Lok Sabha and state Assembly. “They say KCR betrayed them but what was the betrayal," he questioned, referring to remarks made by AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on
TRS' refusal to merge with the Congress after the creation of Telangana.
— PTI
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AAP a non-entity, says MP minister
Indore, March 16 "AAP has become a useless party in this country. I think it is not in a position to play a decisive role in any Lok Sabha seat across the country," said
Vijaywargiya. "AAP had got an opportunity to rule Delhi, but it ran away from the seat of power and now its leaders are not only misleading people of the country but are also attacking the very media which had made it big," he said. The minister said top BJP leaders should be given tickets to contest from safe seats. "Because even if these leaders are unable to devote much time in these constituencies, due to compulsion of campaigning in other parts of the country, local activists can do the spadework necessary to win elections for their leaders," he said. The minister said BJP workers, like their counterparts in Bhopal and
Gandhinagar, had invited party patriarch LK Advani to contest from here. He said seven-time MP and BJP veteran Sumitra Mahajan would win by a margin of over 3.5 lakh votes this time.
— PTI
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Varanasi to be Modi's political graveyard: Lalu
Patna, March 16 "What do you think of Varanasi? It's a completely secular place. Narendra Modi is going to be defeated there. It will prove to be his political graveyard," Prasad said. He also questioned why Modi was "fleeing from his own state". Prasad claimed BJP leaders were not getting seats to fight the Lok Sabha elections. "This is hilarious. The BJP leaders are not getting places to contest the Lok Sabha elections. They are running helter-skelter to find a seat. Modi is also one of them. He has fled from Gujarat in search for a safe constituency," added Prasad. At a press conference today, the RJD chief said vested interests were spreading rumours that a couple of dissatisfied RJD candidates were thinking of returning Lok Sabha tickets. He also lambasted media in this connection. "Whatever is reported in the media is on the directions of the owner and management of the media house. Journalists do what the owner or the management wants them to do," said Prasad. — PTI
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SUCI(C) nominee has total assets of Rs 750
Thiruvananthapuram, March 16 Biju, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) candidate from Kottayam, has declared in the affidavit that his cash in hand is Rs 500 and the available balance in a local co-operative bank is Rs 250. The 46-year-old social worker also said neither he nor his spouse has immovable property, motor vehicle or jewellery, official sources said. Shajar Khan, another SUCI candidate who filed nomination from Thiruvananthapuram, said his total cash in hand was Rs 1,500 and the total assets, including the price of his motorcycle and bank balance was Rs 26,800. He said that he had no jewellery or immovable properties. Filing of nominations of Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats began yesterday and the candidates of mainstream political parties are expected to file nominations in the coming days.
— PTI
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Two OJM leaders join BJD JD (U) forms alliance in MP Two Cong leaders join TDP
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The ruling Congress faces a mammoth task of unity amongst its rank in the Lok Sabha elections in
Uttarakhand. Some senior Congress leaders have opted out of the electoral contest.
It is easy to make statements, but difficult to run a government. I don't see any achievements of the AAP government in
Delhi." — Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice-president
We should have become the greatest country in the world in the 20th century itself, but could not, because of poverty and lack of
education. — L.K. Advani, BJP leader
Dehradun, March 16
Each Assembly segment has its own share of problems, which are likely to have an influence on the polling day.
Though there is calm on the International Border and the Line of Control, providing alternative land to border inhabitants at safer places is a big issue here, which can tilt the vote bank to any side. 
The Lok Sabha constituency has 17,63,579 voters. Jammu district has the highest number of voters. Out of the total 9,64,552 voters, 5,03,448 are males and 4,61,104 females. 
Although the Congress has not announced its candidate from the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat,
sitting MP Madan Lal Sharma has already started campaigning. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz launched campaign from Sunderbani in Rajouri district on March 14.
Kurukshetra, March 16
His case is not an isolated one. There are more than 40,000 members of his "Gadia Lohar" nomadic community in the state who have been deprived of their right to franchise.
Chikkaballapur (Karnataka), March 16
Hyderabad, March 16
Nagpur, March 16
