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Ground reality Bhiwani-Mahendragarh
State of parties Others
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Didi struggles to play her cards right on home turf
Congress rules out supporting Arvind Kejriwal against Modi
Poaching by rivals leaves Sena reeling
Discontent in UP BJP over tickets
AAP releases list of 19 candidates
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Ground reality Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Jats, Ahir hold the key; Congress fights anti-incumbency against state, Central governments Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service
Bhiwani, March 19 Although progeny of only one 'Lal' is in the poll fray this time, the caste equation and the presence of two archrivals of this region has made the battle interesting. Sitting Congress MP Shruti Choudhry, who is carrying forward the political legacy of her grandfather and former Chief Minister Bansi Lal and father Surender Singh, is locked in a multi-cornered contest.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded veteran leader of the Bhiwani region Dharamvir Singh. He managed to get the ticket within 24 hours of resigning from the Congress and joining the saffron party. Dharamvir, a powerful political rival of the Bansi Lal clan, had successfully contested the last Assembly elections from Sohna on the Congress ticket in 2009. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has fielded its MLA from Nangal Choudhry (Mahendragarh) Rao Bahadur Singh, while Lalit Agarwal, a social activist, is trying his luck on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket. Shruti, daughter of Haryana Public Health Minister Kiran Choudhry, is seeking votes on her performance and development works carried out in the past five years. Announcements of Central Sports University and a medical college in Bhiwani before the declaration of polls are likely to go in Shruti's favour. Shruti's rivals would try to corner the Congress on the alleged discrimination by the state government in providing government jobs and development in the constituency. They would also expose the 'failure' of the UPA government in checking corruption and inflation. Caste equation
Caste equation is going to play a key role in this constituency. The segment has over 3.75 lakh Jat voters followed by around 3 lakh Ahir voters. Bhiwani is the stronghold of Jats, while Ahirs dominate the Mahendragarh region. Among three candidates of the main parties, two belong to the Jat community (Shruti and Dharamvir). Rao Bahadur Singh belongs to the Ahir community. Being a lone Ahir candidate, Rao Bahadur may have the advantage of caste equation. The division of Jat votes and infighting within the Congress may pose a challenge to Shruti. Bastion of Bansi Lal’s clan
Bhiwani has been a bastion of Bansi Lal's clan. Three generations of this family contested nine Lok Sabha elections in the past 37 years and romped home victorious six times. Known as Haryana's 'Vikas Purush', Bansi Lal won the Lok Sabha elections in 1980, 1984 and 1989 after losing to Chandrawati in 1977. Bansi Lal's son Surender Singh carried forward his legacy and won the Lok Sabha elections in 1996 and 1998. He, however, lost the 2004 elections. After his death in a chopper crash in 2005, Shruti had to enter the poll fray. She clinched victory in close contest in 2009. Other key issues
The prevailing anti-incumbency storm against the Centre and the state governments is likely to go against Congress nominee Shruti Choudhry. Residents of Bhiwani are unhappy with the 'lopsided' development by the state government in the area. However, inclusion of Bhiwani and Mahendragarh districts in the NCR, inclusion of frost in the list of natural calamities, potable water supply to 118 drought-stricken villages of Nangal Chaudhary and Narnaul blocks, announcements of a sports university and medical college in Bhiwani are in Congress favour. Assembly segments
The Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency has nine Assembly segments — Loharu, Badhra, Dadri, Bhiwani, Tosham, Ateli, Mahendragarh, Narnaul and Nangal Chaudhary. Result of 2009 elections
In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Shruti Choudhry polled 3,02,817 votes, while Ajay Chautala of the INLD got 2,47,240 votes, Rao Narender (HJC) 2,14,161 and Vikram Singh (BSP) 61,437 votes. What they have to say
Shruti Choudhry, Congress nominee Dharamvir Singh, BJP candidate Rao Bahadur Singh, INLD candidate Lalit Aggarwal, AAP nominee
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Regional parties fail to gain ground
Only BSP got more than 15% votes in 2009; UKD, SP hope for better performance in Uttarakhand Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service
Dehradun, March 19 Leave apart two national parties — the Congress and the BJP — the smaller parties in Uttarakhand are prominently represented by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), Samajwadi Party and Left parties. The regional parties have been repeatedly rejected by voters in the state and there is little hope from the Aam Aadmi Party, the latest entrant in the state politics. In the 2009 elections, the BSP was the only party other than the BJP and the Congress that polled more than 15 per cent of the total votes cast in the state. The vote share of the UKD and the Samajwadi Party (SP) was just 1.23 per cent and 1.82 per cent, respectively.
The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party did try to take a lead in Uttarakhand by announcing their candidates almost a year ago. Both the parties kept their stakes high in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts of the state. But this proved counter productive. The Samajwadi Party had announced Sardar Avtar Singh from the Nainital Lok Sabha seat, Kuldeep Singh Rawat from Pauri Garhwal, Bhagwati Prasad Trikoti from Almora, Azmal Nawaj from Haridwar and Neeraj Chauhan from Tehri. But after announcing these candidates, the Samajwadi Party had to withdraw the candidature of Neeraj Chauhan after his alleged involvement in a sex scandal a month ago. Its candidate from Haridwar, Azmal Nawaj, shot himself and is undergoing treatment. The Samajwadi Party top leadership is now looking for an alliance with the Left, mainly the CPI and the CPM and it will have to leave Tehri and Pauri Lok Sabha seats for the two Left parties. Thus, announcing the candidates a year ago proved counter productive for the Samajwadi Party, as the party will now have to draw its strategy afresh. Former Samajwadi Party state chief Vinod Barathwal said the party had been representing the Haridwar Lok Sabha in the past and had a good support base in Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts. He hopes for better results for the party this time. The BSP also had announced its candidate long back. The party has fielded Hazi Islam from the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat and Laik Ahmed from Nainital. The candidature of Sheeshpal Singh from Tehri was announced recently. The other regional party Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has been reduced to a paper tiger. The party that is credited with the formation of the separate state of Uttarakhand is yet to announce its candidates. There are already two factions in the party — one led by Kashi Singh Airy and identified as UKD (Airy) and another led by Trivendra Singh Panwar identified as UKD (Panwar). Both the factions, who claim all set to contest the five Lok Sabha seats, are still to announce their candidates. UKD (A) president Kashi Singh Airy did not rule out an alliance with like-minded parties. "We have already got proposal from the Left parties and even the Trinamool Congress for an alliance," he said. As of the Left parties, Narendra Singh Negi has been announced as the CPI candidate from the Pauri Lok Sabha seat, whereas Shiv Prasad Devli is the CPM candidate from Tehri. The CPI (ML) candidate, Indresh Maikhuri, is contesting from the Pauri Lok Sabha seat. The latest entrant, the Aam Aadmi Party, has taken into fold personalities such as Shamsher Singh Bisht, Rajeev Lochan Shah, Kamla Pant and Bali Singh Cheema and wants to cash in on the groundwork done by them. The AAP's only shot in the arm is that the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha led by former Cabinet minister Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd) has merged with it.
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Didi struggles to play her cards right on home turf
Kolkata, March 19 Instead, they are drawing people's attention to the CPM's 34 years of "misrule", the Congress's corruption and anti-people decisions, and the BJP's "communal cards". The TMC is highlighting the state government's "good" performance, peaceful situation in the Maoist-dominated Jangalmahal and the turbulent hills at Darjeeling to seek voters' support for the party candidates. The Chief Minister accused the Centre of denying moratorium on repayment of loans borrowed during the former Left Front regime. For Mamata Banerjee, the Lok Sabha polls seem to be a game plan to retain the party's supremacy in the state by winning all 42 seats and emerging as a major political force in the country. But, the Opposition is trying hard to marginalise the TMC. After social activist Anna Hazare's refusal to back Mamata and her party, the TMC's image has gone for a toss, which several party leaders are openly admitting. She has even suspended her campaigning in other states, focusing more on her home state. Now, she also prefers to remain silent and wait for the election results. In the 15th Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 18 seats and became the third-largest party in Parliament. In the 2011 state Assembly polls, the party alone won 184 seats and ousted the ruling CPM-led Left Front government, which had been in power since 1977 at a stretch. The TMC's historic success also continued in the subsequent municipal and panchayat elections. In the last polls, the TMC had shared seats with the Congress but this time it has fielded candidates from all 42 seats. Mamata has roped in several matinee idols such as actor Mithun Chakraborty, Bengal's new super-star Deb and she is confident of the party's massive victory. She is hoping to play a major role in the national politics after the Lok Sabha polls. After the 15th Lok Sabha polls, the CPM's strength in Parliament was lowered to 16 (excluding Rajya Sabha), while other Left Front partners, the CPI, the FB and the RSP, also won lesser number of seats with the CPI bagging four and the RSP and FB two each. This time, the CPM and other Front partners have mainly chosen political leaders as candidates, while the Congress could not persuade the veterans to contest. The TMC's popularity has hit the buffers mainly due to its "failure" to fulfill old commitments, particularly at Singhur and Nandigram, and its inability to persuade Infosys and Wipro to open IT industries in the New Town near Salt Lake. Some people say Mamata has taken a hasty step by entering national politics as a major player. The CPM has, so far, "failed" to regain its "lost support and confidence. The Congress is still politically a "weak force" in Bengal, while the BJP could not make any major dent.
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Punjab Cong in ‘appease-all’ mode
Chandigarh, March 19 After dilly-dallying for more than 10 months, Bajwa had recast the PPCC on December 27. The new list, comprising 292 members, including 14 vice-presidents, 35 general secretaries, 61 secretaries and 34 permanent invitees, had virtually opened a can of worms with many senior Congress leaders openly voicing discontent and shunning their new party positions in protest against Bajwa's "high-handedness" and "autocratic style" of functioning. The revolt against Bajwa and his "cronies" was so intense that AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi had to intervene and form a committee under the chairmanship of Jalandhar MP and former PPCC chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee. The brief of the committee, comprising senior Congress leaders such as former PPCC chief Lal Singh, former minister Malti Thapar, former MLA Ramesh Singla and AICC secretary Kishori Lal, was to pin-point shortcomings and suggest remedial measures apparently to ensure that the party won maximum 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Sources said the committee had suggested that all senior leaders who were "left out" in the re-cast PPCC should be accommodated before the Lok Sabha polls. Those who were left out were former ministers Amarjit Samra, Avtar Henry, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh (Jalandhar), Rakesh Pandey (Ludhiana), Prof Darbari Lal (Amritsar), Rana KP Singh, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Jagmohan Kang, KK Sharma (Bathinda), KK Sharma (Patiala), Mohinder Lal Sharma (Bathinda) and others. "Such a step can assuage the hurt feelings of those senior leaders who were ignored despite being MLAs or ministers," said a committee office-bearer on the condition of anonymity. The committee has reportedly suggested that senior leaders should be re-inducted at least as vice-presidents or senior vice-presidents in the PPCC set up and that, too, before the Lok Sabha polls. Mohinder Singh Kaypee said he could not divulge details of the recommendations. "After listening to all sections of the state party unit at meetings held across Punjab, the committee has prepared a report on the factors that led to bickering in the party. I, along with other committee members, have submitted the report along with the proposed list to AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed," Kaypee said. PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa said he had no objection if the party high command made any changes to the PPCC. "Whatever the party high command feels is in the interest of the party should be done. How can I have any objection to inclusion or exclusion of any party leader in the PPCC list?" Bajwa told The Tribune.
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Congress rules out supporting Arvind Kejriwal against Modi
The Congress has already shortlisted three candidates for Varanasi to take on Modi and the final choice will be announced soon. "There are many names under consideration for the Varanasi seat. The Congress will field a strong candidate and we will fight with full strength," party spokesman and Union Minister Anand Sharma told reporters. A senior party leader said on the condition of anonymity that the party will put up strong candidates against Modi in both Varanasi and the Gujarat seat from which he would be contesting. On Tuesday, the AICC had urged all like-minded parties to support its nominee in Varanasi in the "battle against communalism". "Do not be surprised if Varanasi witnesses a similar spectacle as Ghaziabad from where BJP chief Rajnath Singh ran away after Congress fielded Raj Babbar," party spokesman Randeep Surjewala had said. The remarks of Surjewala came two days after the party general secretary, Madhusudan Mistry, had declared that the Congress would give a good fight to Modi on Varanasi seat and did not rule out fielding an 'outsider'. Among the local candidates, the names of Rajesh Mishra and Ajay Rai are doing the rounds. A section in the Congress wants an influential leader pitched against Modi, while others want a celebrity to be fielded against him. A section views that after the exit of BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi from the electoral contest from the holy city, the Congress fielding a Brahmin candidate could be advantageous. Senior Congress leader Anil Shastri in a tweet had said: "If the BSP and SP are serious on defeating Modi from Varanasi, they along with the Congress should put up a joint candidate against him." AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has declared that he was ready to take on Modi in Varanasi but linked his final call to the people's approval
there. — PTI
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Poaching by rivals leaves Sena reeling
Mumbai, March 19 The latest to switch sides was the Shiv Sena's spokesman and English-speaking face on television, Rahul Narvekar, who joined the NCP on Holi and was promptly rewarded with a ticket from the Maval constituency. While Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today likened Narvekar's departure to that of a man moving into his father-in-law's house, a jubilant NCP said it was hopeful of drawing more leaders from the regional party. "There are many in the Shiv Sena who are looking to switch sides and join the NCP," party spokesman Nawab Malik said. Uddhav Thackeray's hold on the Shiv Sena is suddenly looking shaky since Narvekar's departure comes days after BJP leader Nitin Gadkari met the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader and Uddhav's estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. While the Shiv Sena leader fumed and raised a storm, his decision to stay in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is now seen as a weakness. Sources said the Congress has also redoubled efforts to woo disgruntled leaders from the Shiv Sena. The party already got the Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi, Bhausaheb Wakchaure to switch sides. Wakchaure is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket. Leaders of both the Congress and NCP say they are seeing a lot of movement from the Shiv Sena to their respective parties at the local level. "You will see even MLAs from the Shiv Sena join the Congress in the run up to the Maharashtra Assembly elections," says a Congress leader. Observers say both the Congress and NCP have been on the prowl for Shiv Sena's leaders ever since the death of party founder Bal Thackeray more than a year ago. The expected exodus hasn't happened so far. "Defections are common in every party before the elections. Only a few inconsequential leaders with no mass base have left the Shiv Sena," Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said, referring to the departure of Narvekar and Wakchaure. Shiv Sena's spokesmen are, however, silent on the issue connecting those quitting the party: Uddhav Thackeray's style of functioning. Right from Raj Thackeray, who formed the MNS eight years ago, to other leaders, everyone insists that Uddhav has isolated himself from the Shiv Sena's rank and file. Even former BJP leader Nitin Gadkari complained that his calls to Uddhav were not put through. Narvekar, who was upset after the party left him in the lurch after nominating him for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, says Uddhav did not take his calls afterwards. Uddhav's coterie, including his personal assistant Milind Narvekar and Saamna editor Sanjay Raut are among those blamed for this. But Uddhav's loyalists insist that everything is normal with the Sena. "The strength of the Shiv Sena is its loyal Shiv Sainiks who are still active in 'shakhas' across the state. They are still with Uddhav," says Neelam Gorhe, a spokesperson of the party. Party’s dissidents
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Jagdambika Pal, Raju Srivastava join BJP
New Delhi, March 19 Known as the one-day Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Pal is keen to contest from Domariyaganj, the constituency from where he won on a Congress ticket in the last elections. Rajnath Singh, while handing over membership slip to Pal, said he has quit his primary membership of Congress as well as the Lok Sabha seat. When asked about reasons for quitting, Pal claimed there was a 'communication gap' between the new and the old generation leaders in the Congress. In an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi, he said there was a "disconnect between the young leaders and the veterans". A section of BJP leaders feel Pal should not be allowed to contest from Domariyaganj as he was an "outsider". Srivastava, who was offered a ticket from the Kanpur seat by the Samajwadi Party, said he was not keen to contest and will do party work as entrusted to him. He said he would willingly campaign for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. The SP had later withdrawn Srivastava's candidature from Kanpur.
— PTI
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Discontent in UP BJP over tickets
Lucknow, March 19 Three-time MP from Domariganj Rampal Singh is protesting for the past few days in anticipation of sitting MP Jagdambika Pal joining the BJP and being fielded from Domariganj. With Jagdambika Pal joining the BJP today and the announcement of his candidature from Domariaganj in the coming days, the protest is bound to get shriller. Former MLA from Balrampur Dhirendra Pratap Singh is unhappy at former Mayawati minister Daddan Mishra being named as the BJP contestant from Shravasti. He along with his supporters today burnt Rajnath Singh's effigy in Shravasti. A section of the party in Bahraich is in revolt against sitting MLA from Balha in Bahraich Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phule getting the Lok Sabha ticket. In a letter to Rajnath Singh, they have threatened of mass resignation if the party does not reconsider its decision. Similarly, the BJP Mainpuri district unit is protesting against the naming of SS Chauhan as the party nominee charging that he is not even a primary member of the party.
— TNS
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AAP releases list of 19 candidates
New Delhi, March 19 Activist Tanveer Maqbool Dar will contest from Anantnag and Harbans Lal Bhagat from the Jammu Lok Sabha seat. Among others are Dalit rights activist Kishori Das (Sitamari constituency in Bihar), Dayamani Barla (Khunti -Jaharkhand), Mithilesh Kumar Dangi (Hazaribagh-Jahrkhand) and Tiliya Devi, who will be the AAP bet for the Jhanjharpur parliamentary seat in Bihar. With today's list, which included seven seats of Jaharkhand, five seats of Bihar, two seats each of Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Maharashtra and one of Madhya Pradesh, the tally of parliamentary seats announced by the AAP has reached 287.
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No objection to aid from relief fund, says EC Caller tune, mobile app to promote voting NCP leaders to meet Pawar over tie-up Race on in TN Cong
to bag ‘star seats’ NPF announces 12 candidates
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I worked hard for the overall development of the constituency and tried to resolve people's problems. I will seek votes on my performance. I am confident that people will again shower their blessings
on me.
People are fed up with the UPA government, which failed to check inflation. People want to see Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister. Hence, I will seek votes in Modi's
name. 
Besides rising inflation and corruption, we will make Shruti's failure in fulfilling her promises of a railway line from Bhiwani to Loharu and bringing industries to generate employment avenues the poll
issue.
We are striving to make India corruption-free. Corruption will be our main issue. We will also focus on development, besides other local
issues.
Bajwa okay if PPCC is recast
New Delhi, March 19
To a question as to why the Congress was not announcing its candidate and whether it could support Kejriwal's candidature, Sharma said: "Is there any dearth of candidates? It will be declared in the party list in time. The question does not arise of supporting Kejriwal. The Congress will fight the battle on its own strength. The Congress is a national party and will fight on the ground."
