Delhi HC seeks EC’s response on AAP registration
New Delhi, March 21
The Delhi High Court Friday sought response from Election Commission on a PIL seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities during registration of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Sidharth Mridul asked the poll panel to file an affidavit on factual position behind AAP's registration.

Never wanted to bring down U'khand Govt: Satpal Maharaj 
New Delhi, March 21
Senior Congress leader Satpal Maharaj from Uttarakhand — who joined the BJP today — pinpointed his "distinctively Hindu image" as the reason for the Congress "denying him what was his due".

Shinde promises security to BJP leaders under threat
New Delhi, March 21
Allaying concerns of the BJP that their leaders were under threat, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today assured the party that its leaders would be provided security.





BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad addresses mediapersons in New Delhi on Friday. A Tribune photo

Sena to contest on 20 seats in UP; BJP denies rift
Mumbai, March 21
In an indication of its vexation with ally BJP, the Shiv Sena today said it will contest 20 seats in electorally vital Uttar Pradesh, but the BJP downplayed it saying they share "strong and old" ties and are "inseparable".

Jammu, March 21
There seems to be a straight fight between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency. The Congress has fielded one of its most trusted men, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, whereas the BJP has fielded a renowned endocrinologist Jitendra Singh.

It was due to pressure from Congress leaders of Jammu and Kashmir and the party high command that Azad has agreed to contest from the Udhampur-Doda segment, which is his home constituency. Azad, a few days ago, had said it was impossible for him to contest as he had other engagements as well but he kept the window of hope for his supporters open by leaving it to the party high command to take the final call.

The Congress has got an edge over the BJP by fielding Azad, as he has a strong base in the entire region being a native of the state. His pro-development policies during his term as Chief Minister of the state augur well for the Congress.

On the other hand, the BJP is trying to ride on the "Narendra Modi wave" in the Jammu region and party candidate Jitendra Singh is reaching out to people in rural and far-flung areas.

The Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency, with headquarter at Kathua, comprises six districts — Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua. This Lok Sabha constituency further comprises 17 Assembly constituencies. More than 14,12,794 electorates, including 7,58,354 male and 6,54,440 female voters will be exercising their franchise in the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency during the General Elections on April 17. On March 19, the notification was issued to file nomination papers, which will continue till March 26. On March 27, scrutiny of papers will take place. The candidates can withdraw their nomination till March 29.

At present, out of the 17 Assembly segments falling in this Lok Sabha seat, eight seats are with the Congress, four with the BJP, two each with the National Conference (NC) and the National Panthers Party (NPP) and one with an Independent candidate, who is also supporting the Congress. On all eight seats of the Congress, Azad enjoys a stronghold and loyalty of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

Hotbed of militancy since 1989, most areas have registered a very low voting percentage so far. Most areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Reasi districts and a few pockets of Kathua district used to be quite volatile during the elections, but for the past few years, militancy has waned there. Only a few pockets of Kishtwar districts are still vulnerable to militancy and now people come out in huge number to vote during elections.

The constituency has mostly been represented by a leader from either Jammu or Kathua. Only once in 1988 byelection, Muhammad Ayub Khan of Banihal of erstwhile Doda district represented this constituency. Thereafter, no face from the entire Chenab basin managed to win this seat. Even the sitting Congress MP Lal Singh hails from Kathua and only managed to win in 2009 because of the votes of people of the erstwhile district.

Since 1967, the Udhampur-Doda constituency has witnessed 12 Lok Sabha elections, including one bypoll in 1988. The Congress has managed to win the seat nine times whereas the BJP thrice in 1996, 1998 and 1999 when former Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta emerged as winner. Whenever the voting percentage in Muslim-dominated erstwhile district Doda has remained low, either due to poll boycott call of separatists or having no local string candidate, the BJP has managed to win the seat. However, when people come out to vote in huge numbers, the Congress has managed to regain the seat.

This year, Jammu and Kashmir is going to witness two elections, Lok Sabha in April and the Assembly elections later in the year. The Udhampur-Doda parliamentary seat is a kind of constituency where different political parties will have to strike a balance between the Muslim and Hindu voters, because if any community decides to vote in bulk to a particular party or candidate, the chances of winning goes up.

Many areas of this seat like Gool and Kishtwar are communally sensitive. Huge protests broke out in Gool last year when four people lost their lives in the alleged BSF firing on July 18 and communal clashes were reported in Kishtwar on August 9 (Eid). These incidents had strong impact on other parts of the state and the Kashmir valley observed a shutdown on the Gool incident and Jammu plains showed their anger against Kishtwar clashes.

The BJP will be trying to cash in on the sentiments of a particular community, who suffered a huge loss during August 9 violence in Kishtwar. As Hindu electorates are more in this constituency, political parties prefer to field a candidate from Jammu or Kathua who can get vote from the Hindu belt. Moreover, both the Congress and the BJP have tried to follow this trend and fielded candidates belonging to plains of Jammu.

BJP's Jitendra Singh is presently the chief spokesperson of the state unit and a national executive member of the party. Singh's father belonged to the Malohri area of Doda district but moved to Jammu during his working days. Singh has grown up in winter capital city of J&K.

Azad, a native of the Bhalessa area of Doda district has the stronghold over people of his area and in 2009 also, it was due to Azad's help that Lal Singh emerged as winner.

New Delhi, March 21
BJP today attacked Rahul Gandhi for “changing” facts while targeting the party and asked the Congress leadership to introspect over the “lack of faith” of its leaders in the party instead of looking into BJP's affairs.

Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said Gandhi had recently attacked the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for claiming the legacy of Sardar Patel and cited certain figures to target the development during the NDA rule. "He was wrong on both counts," she told reporters.

“Instead of decrying attempts by Narendra Modi to honour Patel as a national leader..., Congress should come clean on how they have celebrated him,” she said, and quoted a report which claimed that over 460 official projects, institutions and other entities were named after members of Gandhi family but almost none, barring the police academy in Hyedrabad, after Patel.

Gandhi, she said, claimed in his rallies that only 2,650 kms of roads were built during the NDA rule even though his own government's affidavit in Supreme Court said it was 23,814 km.

"I wonder who gives him authority to change facts. Are you trying to mislead the country? Are you trying to reject the affidavit filed by your own government in the Supreme Court?," she said.

Referring to Finance Minister P Chidambaram's decision to not contest the Lok Sabha poll and defection of Congress leaders like Satpal Maharaj to the BJP, she said there is a challenge to Congress leadership. "Look at the number of leaving the party, not wanting the ticket... This reflects a lack of faith in the leadership. — PTI

New Delhi, March 21
The Delhi High Court Friday sought response from Election Commission on a PIL seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities during registration of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Sidharth Mridul asked the poll panel to file an affidavit on factual position behind AAP's registration.

"The Election Commission of India will have to file a short affidavit indicating the factual position behind registration of the Aam Aadmi Party," said the Bench.

The court asked the poll panel to appraise the court how it registered the party and how it has not violated the provisions of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act and the Representation of the People Act as it posted the matter for May 2.

The petition filed by Hans Raj Jain questioned the use of National Emblem (Ashoka Chakra) by the AAP during registration of the party with the poll panel, arguing that it is a violation of the Constitution as no one can use the National Emblem for personal use.

The plea said the AAP submitted on December 3, 2012, a request for registration of party on its letter pad with logo of National Emblem which is unconstitutional and illegal.

During the hearing, counsel appearing for the poll panel told the court that no norms were violated while registering the party. While giving the registration, the Election Commission specifically directed the party not to use the emblem, the lawyer said.

"No party can misuse the national flag. Flag can be used but not in a derogatory manner," said the poll panel counsel. — Agencies

New Delhi, March 21
Senior Congress leader Satpal Maharaj from Uttarakhand — who joined the BJP today — pinpointed his "distinctively Hindu image" as the reason for the Congress "denying him what was his due".

Joining the BJP with less than a month to go for the General Election, he also shot down speculations that his main aim now was to bring down the Congress government in the hill state.

"Everyone — including the MLAs who support me — has a free will. My aim is not to bring down the government," he said. At least 10 MLAs in the Harish Rawat government are said to belong to the Satpal Maharaj camp. His wife Amrita Rawat is also a Congress legislator.

Harish Rawat also denied any threat to his government. According to the Uttarakhand CM, Satpal Maharaj did not want to contest the elections "because he had been ignoring his constituency and did not want to face the people there". Sulking for quite some time at being sidelined and Harish Rawat being appointed the CM, Satpal Maharaj joined the BJP in presence of party president Rajnath Singh. However, the Pauri Garhwal MP denied that he would be contesting the elections on the saffron ticket, saying that he would support BC Khanduri — the BJP candidate from the constituency he represents — and canvass for Narendra Modi across the country.

"Harish Rawat was given everything by the party. First, he was made a Cabinet minister in the Centre and then appointed the CM. The man who becomes the CM must have some experience. His performance in public life also should be taken into account. Perhaps, I was sidelined because of my distinctly Hindu image. Maybe, they had some allergy to it...Only the Congress leaders can tell," he said. "Himachal Pradesh with four MPs had two ministers in the Central government. Could Uttarakhand with five MPs not have two Central ministers? I was feeling claustrophobic in the Congress," he said.

A veteran of seven Lok Sabha polls, Satpal Maharaj 'Rawat' has a massive following in the hill state and other parts because of his religious sermons. He is also called "Bal Bhagwan ji" by followers.

He also denied speculations that he may fight from Haryana or elsewhere on a BJP ticket. "I can contest from anywhere. People know me in Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. But this time, I have decided to stay out of the electoral fray and strengthen the hands of Modi," said the former Congress leader who was once a bitter critic of the Gujarat CM. But the fact that he has long-term plans is also clear. Sources say Satpal Maharaj is positioning himself as the next CM of Uttarakhand.

New Delhi, March 21
Allaying concerns of the BJP that their leaders were under threat, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today assured the party that its leaders would be provided security.

He said this after a BJP delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad met him and urged him to ensure security of BJP leaders during the Lok Sabha elections.

"All BJP leaders who are under threat will be provided security," agencies quoted Shinde saying after the meeting. Prasad said they raised the issue of terror threat to BJP leaders and requested him to ensure fool-proof security to them during campaigning. "There are some elements who want to hamper election process. We told him to ensure proper security," he said.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sithraman said Shinde assured the delegation that he would look into the BJP's concerns.

Yesterday, the Home Minister had said that the government had no information about possible threat to them from terror groups.

He said adequate security had been given to BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "We have no information regarding terror threat to BJP leaders," he had said.

Sitharaman had yesterday cited media reports that quoted Intelligence sources saying that the lives of the top BJP leaders were under threat. "There is a threat to all BJP leaders. Based on IB sources, a section of media has been reporting that the BJP leaders' lives are under threat and the BJP is very concerned and worried," she had said.

Mumbai, March 21
In an indication of its vexation with ally BJP, the Shiv Sena today said it will contest 20 seats in electorally vital Uttar Pradesh, but the BJP downplayed it saying they share "strong and old" ties and are "inseparable".

Sena, an NDA ally led by Uddhav Thackeray, however, maintained it will not field nominees against BJP's Prime Ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi and party president Rajnath Singh, contesting from Varanasi and Lucknow, respectively.

Sena's decision to contest in the most populous state, which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha, comes in the backdrop of a section of Maharashtra BJP making overtures to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Uddhav's estranged cousin and rival, for some sort of poll-related arrangement to avoid a split in saffron votes.

"We have our alliance with BJP in Maharashtra, not in Uttar Pradesh. We will strive to expand our party in other parts of the country. Shiv Sena will field 20 candidates in Uttar Pradesh," Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut told reporters. He did not name the seats from where Sena will contest. Meanwhile, the BJP said it has old ties with its trusted alliance partner and they would achieve success in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra by bagging the maximum seats.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh asserted that if there are "any shortcomings in the alliance, we can resolve through talks". "I can vouch with confidence that the relations of BJP with Shiv Sena cannot break at any cost. If there are any shortcomings in the alliance, we can resolve through talks," he said in Delhi. BJP is making heavy political investment in Uttar Pradesh and fielding Modi from there is part of a strategy to maximise its electoral gains from that state.

"We will not field candidates from Varanasi and Lucknow," Raut told PTI. Sena is miffed ever since BJP leader Nitin Gadkari met Raj early this month to reach an understanding to consolidate anti-Congress votes. — PTI

Karnal, March 21
It all began with a battle within the allies: Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi was forced to concede the Karnal seat to the ally BJP. Bishnoi’s brother Chander Mohan withdrew a day after the party announced his candidature.

The HJC then accepted the Sirsa constituency.

And now it all looks like this: sitting Congress MP Arvind Sharma is pitted against BSP’s Maratha Virender Verma, who was the runner-up in the 2009 Parliamentary elections, BJP-HJC's journalist Ashwini Kumar Chopra, INLD’s Jaswinder Singh Sandhu (former Agriculture Minister), AAP state secretary Paramjeet Singh, Communist Party of India's (CPI) Mam Chand Saini and a few Independents.

The elections might be an acid test for the Congress, which is working hard to retain the seat, the BJP-HJC, as the alliance will contest the General Elections for the first time with a new entrant Chopra.

Knowing the candidates

Though the ruling Congress received a major jolt in Karnal in 2009 Assembly elections (had lost seven of the nine Assembly seats), Arvind Sharma hopes for a hat-trick.

The issues such as resignations of former Transport Minister Om Prakash Jain and former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Zile Ram Sharma in the former Kombopura sarpanch Karam Singh death case, ongoing war of words between Arvind Sharma and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Sharma would be taken into consideration during polling.

The allegations of discrimination in jobs against north Haryana by the Opposition as well as by a few Congress leaders set a disturbing trend for the Congress.

HJC-BJP's Ashwini Chopra has no political experience, but his father Ramesh Chander had been Punjab MLA twice. BJP leaders claim that it has been their traditional seat. Though the BJP gave the ticket to a Punjabi candidate, it is yet to be seen whether voters would accept an outsider or not. But, the alliance would be a force to reckon with as the BJP has some influence in the urban areas and the HJC wields considerable influence in rural pockets.

INLD's Jaswinder Singh Sandhu has represented Pehowa constituency thrice. The party has gone on the offensive after the conviction of Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala, claiming there was a sympathy wave in favour of the party. Though he had been the district convener for many years, he would be contesting from Karnal for the first time.

Bureaucrat-turned-politician Maratha Virender Verma is a prominent leader of the Ror community, which has a significant presence in the constituency. Defeated by Arvind Sharma in the 2009 Parliamentary elections by 76,346 votes, he had defected from the BSP to the BJP, hoping that he would get a ticket, but after he was denied one, he rejoined the BSP.

AAP's Paramjeet Singh had participated in the Anna movement and was also a founder member of the party's state unit.

Known as a Brahmin seat

Brahmins may not be the majority community in the constituency, but somehow the seat is considered theirs. For the past few years, Brahmin candidates have been calling the shots here, be it Arvind Sharma or ID Swami, or Bhagwat Dayal Sharma, or Haryana Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma's father Chiranji Lal. The only non-Brahmins who have won the seat are Bhajan Lal and Mahinder Singh Lather.

This time, only the Congress has fielded a Brahmin candidate, while the BSP is banking on a member of the Ror community, the HJC-BJP has played a Punjabi card, the INLD is trying luck on a Jat Sikh candidate and the AAP on a Punjabi candidate.

Though members of the Punjabi community have maximum votes in the constituency, a Punjabi leader has never been elected.

Voters averse to women MPs

The constituency has a unique record of never electing a woman to power in the 13 elections held so far since 1967, after the partition of Haryana and Punjab. BJP's Sushma Swaraj had once tried her luck, but failed.

Issues in focus

Besides discrimination in development, incomplete flyovers and shifting of toll plaza from Karnal area located in Samanabahu, Panipat and near Dahar village of Panipat are the key issues this time.

Arvind Sharma claims to have fulfilled his promise of shifting the highway toll plaza outside the city limits. However, he has failed to keep his promise of establishing a railway coach factory in the parliamentary area.

He said he played a major role in getting approval for a domestic airport for which the construction would start soon. He said it was due to his efforts that the construction of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College Hospital was in progress.

Despite construction of elevated flyover in Panipat city, residents of the industrial town failed to get any respite from regular traffic bottlenecks. They are demanding a permanent solution to the problem.

The solid-waste-management plant in the constituency is yet to start functioning even after 15 months of its inauguration by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Candidatespeak

Some of the major projects I brought to the constituency include first synthetic rubber plant of India at Panipat refinery, Kalpna Chawla Govt Medical College, inclusion of Karnal in the NCR and nod for a domestic airport — Arvind Sharma, Congress

Though I am contesting for the first time, I have a political background. I am always connected with people. The Modi wave might help us win the seat. If given a chance, I will try my best to bring important project to Karnal and Panipat — Ashwini Kumar Chopra, BJP

Bias in development and employment, and deteriorated law and order situation here are the major issues this time. I will focus on local as well national issues if voted to power — Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, INLD

Outsiders are not aware of the local issues. I know the issues here inside out. No major project has been allotted to this region in the past. The MP has failed to develop the area — Maratha Virender Verma, BSP

New Delhi, March 21
Sending out a strong message to the party workers, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party today expelled two leaders of its Uttar Pradesh camp, Avadh zone convener Aruna Singh and Hardoi's treasurer Ashok Kumar, following allegations of demanding money in lieu of giving party tickets for Lok Sabha elections.

"There is no compromise on honesty and clean politics. There were complaints of offering tickets in exchange of money against the two. The matter was investigated and based on the evidence we have expelled the two with immediate effect," said AAP's national convenor Kejriwal during a media briefing at his Tilak Lane residence here.

In the matter, in which Kejriwal said no money transaction took place, one Rajesh Kumar from Sitapur had raised the issue first and then a sting operation was done by a news channel. The evidence from the sting operation was sent to the party by the TV reporter and after inquiry the two were fired.

Assuring of strict action against anybody within the party found indulging in corrupt practices, Kejriwal exhorted the media and the ticket hopefuls to conduct sting in such cases and send the raw footage to the party. "It is a clear message to anyone found asking money for the ticket will be sacked within 24 hours if evidence proves the allegations," Kejriwal said.

Meanwhile, the AAP declared its ninth list of 30 candidates for Lok Sabha polls and this takes the total number of seats for which candidates have been announced to 317.

AAP's online donations today crossed Rs 20 lakh in a day and stood at Rs 22,53,950 coming from 805 donors till around 6 pm. Today's collection with which the party's online funds has climbed to Rs 14.5 crore, is perhaps the third highest that the party has received in a day after Rs 63 lakh in January and Rs 44 lakh later, said a member from the party's online donations team. 

Patna, March 21
Supporters of actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha today beat up a group of protesters who were waving black flags at the sitting BJP-MP from Patna Saheb.

The youths, claiming to be members of NGO "Lokhit Vikas Manch", waved black flags at Sinha at Kargil Chowk as he was on his way to file nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections.

City Superintendent of Police Jaykant said it was "a skirmish".

Though Sinha did not comment on the incident, which occurred for the second consecutive day, BJP MLAs Nitin Navin and Prem Ranjan Patel, who accompanied him, described it as the "handiwork" of political rivals.

"Most of the protesters were young and when asked the reason for showing black flags did not comment," Navin said.

Patel alleged that the protesters appeared to be under the influence of liquor.

Yesterday, a group had protested Sinha's re-nomination from Patna Saheb during his visit to the BJP office and was allegedly thrashed by BJP supporters.

A complaint was registered at the Kotwali police station, Kotwali SHO Alok Kumar said, adding that the complainants had named Sinha and his supporters for the assault.

Sinha, popularly known as 'Bihari Babu', incidentally, had been opposed by a section of leaders in the Hindutva party.

There were reports that senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad wished to contest from Patna Saheb.

Due to resistance, the candidature of Sinha, who had served as Cabinet Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, was earlier put on hold and his ticket was approved only in the second lot for Bihar.

Sinha would face Bhojpuri actor Kunal Singh of Congress, former Bihar minister and AAP leader Parveen Amanullah and JD(U)'s Gopal Prasad Sinha on April 17. — PTI

New Delhi, March 21
Former Union Minister Ajay Maken, ex-Army Chief VK Singh and journalist-turned-politician Ashutosh are among an array of key leaders of the Congress, BJP and AAP who filed their nominations today for Lok Sabha polls across six states.

Delhi witnessed the highest number of high-profile personalities entering the poll fray, including Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit of Congress, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi and Ashutosh of AAP.

Maken, AICC general secretary and communication department chairman, was the first to submit his nomination papers followed by his challenger Lekhi for the prestigious New Delhi constituency.

Maken had won unopposed the US-style primaries, a brainchild of Rahul Gandhi, to select the party's choice of nominee for the constituency.

The AAP has fielded journalist-turned-politician Ashish Khetan from the seat. He filed his nomination papers yesterday. Ashutosh filed his papers from Chandni Chowk constituency where he will challenge union minister Kapil Sibal of Congress and BJP veteran Harsh Vardhan in what promises to be an exciting clash. — PTI

BRIEFLY

snapshots

SP fields Buta Singh from Jalore-Sirohi
Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Friday named former Union Home Minister Buta Singh, a long-time Congressman who wielded considerable power in PM Rajiv Gandhi's government in the 1980s, as its candidate for the Jalore-Sirohi Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan. SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav announced it here. — IANS

NK Singh quits JD(U), likely to join BJP
New Delhi: In what may come as a major setback to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP NK Singh seems all set to join the BJP on Saturday. Apparently, he has written to Nitish Kumar conveying his decision to quit the party and also the reasons behind it. Sources said he was disappointed over the current situation in Bihar. — TNS

Single-window system for clearance on rallies: EC
New Delhi: Seeking to cut bureaucratic red tape, the Election Commission today issued orders for setting up a 'single-window system' in all parliamentary seats to provide clearance to candidates and political parties to hold rallies and public meetings during the Lok Sabha polls. — TNS