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Constituency profile:
Sonepat
Young voters bat for change
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Khaps refuse to back parties, will only offer ‘sympathy’
4 candidates withdraw nominations from Sonepat
ground reality:
Anantnag
news analysis
BJP manifesto ‘cautious’ on FDI, to focus on jobs
Those denied ticket will be adjusted: BJP
EC struggles to keep tabs on social media campaigning
Karuna calls Cong an ungrateful partner
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Stage set for multi-corner contest
Dharmendra Joshi Tribune News Service
Sonepat, March 26
Three of them — Jai Singh, Ramesh Kaushik and Jagbir Malik — started their political career from late CM Bansi Lal's Haryana Vikas Party (HVP). Ramesh Kaushik was elected as HVP MLA from Gannaur in 1996 and served as a minister in the Bansi Lal Cabinet, but joined hands with Om Prakash Chautala to topple the Bansi Lal government in 1999. Similarly, former minister Jagbir Singh Malik won the Assembly election from Gohana in 1996 on the HVP ticket. He continued with the party till its merger with the Congress before the 2005 Assembly elections. AAP candidate Jai Singh Thekedar was also a senior activist of the HVP and a strong contender for the party ticket from Gohana. However, he was denied the ticket. He is using the name of Bansi Lal in his campaigning. Political history
Not just Devi Lal, sitting Congress MP Dr Arvind Sharma — eyeing a hat-trick from Karnal — has also entered the Lok Sabha for the first time after winning from Sonepat in 1996. He made his LS debut from this seat as an Independent in 1996 by defeating Rijak Ram. Earlier in the one-sided contest, Devi Lal (2,55,363 votes) contesting on the Janata Party (S) ticket defeated Randhir Singh (97,572 votes) to enter Parliament for the first time in 1980. Late freedom fighter Devi Lal was a member of the seventh Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1982, representing the Sonepat constituency. However, Devi Lal, who served as the Deputy PM and the Union Minister of Agriculture and Tourism from 1989 to 1991 and remained Haryana Chief Minister twice from 1977 to 1979 and from 1987 to 1989, had to bite the dust from here twice — first in the 1983 bypoll and then in 1984. After his selection as an MLA in the 1982 state Assembly elections, he resigned from the Sonepat seat paving the way for the by-election. Later, he again tried his luck in the 1983 by-election, but was defeated in a triangular contest by Congress candidate Rizak Ram, who contested for the first time. Subsequently, riding on a sympathy wave post-Indira Gandhi assassination in 1984, Congress candidate Dharampal Singh Malik (2, 43,491 votes) defeated Lok Dal candidate Devi Lal (2, 40, 550 votes). Lucky for greenhorns
The seat, which came into existence in 1977, proved lucky for greenhorns. Apart from Devi Lal and Arvind Sharma, Rizak Ram, Dharampal Singh Malik, Kapil Dev Shastri and Kishan Singh Sangwan made their debut in the Lok Sabha from this seat. However, several first-timers, including former MLA Kitab Singh Malik, Rajinder Singh Dahiya (Janata Dal), Dr Dharambir Nandal (BJP), Abhai Ram Dahiya (HVP) and Balbir Singh Malik (Congress) suffered defeated here. In the 1998 mid-term elections, Kishan Singh Sangwan for the first time contested the Lok Sabha election as a Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) candidate from the constituency and emerged victorious in a four-corner contest. Others in the fray were Independent sitting MP Arvind Sharma, HVP's Abhai Ram Dahiya and Congress nominee Balbir Singh Malik. Again in the 1999 mid-term elections, Sangwan retained the seat as the BJP candidate. Five women contested
Interestingly, only five women candidates have tried their luck from Sonepat since it has been declared a Lok Sabha seat in 1977, but none could make it to Parliament. Thus, it seems that parties have been reluctant to field women candidates from here. The Congress and the INLD were the parties which fielded women contestants from here in 1977 and 2004, respectively. The other three had contested the elections as Independents. Now, it will be interesting to see who will win the faith of over 13 lakh voters. If experts are to be believed, it will be a nail-biting contest with a thin victory margin. Sonepat goes to the polls on April 10. Factfile
Total voters: 13 lakh
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Young voters bat for change
Rohtak, March 26 In Haryana, around 30 per cent of the total 1.59 crore voters are in the age group of 18 to 39 years. Over 3.5 lakh youngsters will be voting for the first time. Dr Sahil Arora, a junior resident (orthopaedics) at the PGIMS, Rohtak, says most youngsters in the professional world prefer to stay away from politics. "They think voting is a useless exercise and nothing will change. But they have to realise that voting gives them an opportunity to shape the country's future and every single vote counts. The youth should remember it is always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. They should use their energy to be the change or bring in change. And if somebody does not go to vote, they have no right to complain," he says. Dr Neha Sikka, a dental surgeon, says most of us complain about corruption and blame the "corrupt" leaders for the rot, but it is us who elects these leaders. "The politicians are our representatives as we have elected them. Now, it is time to elect the representatives again. At this juncture, voting and electing a suitable candidate is the best thing we can do for ourselves and our nation," she says. On being asked about political preferences, most youngsters said they would prefer to bring about a positive change, but did not have options. However, some were more open and forthcoming about making their electoral choices. For instance, 22-year-old Puneet Narwal, a career counsellor, says he wants to bring about a change by voting for an honest candidate and party such as the Aam Aadmi Party. "I am super-excited to cast my maiden vote… I am already feeling empowered," says Manisha (20), a first-time voter. She appreciates the work done by sitting MP Deepender Hooda in terms of infrastructure, education and overall development and says she will vote for the Congress. On the other hand, Rahul Lakra (21), a student, says he is eager to vote for the BJP to help Narendra Modi become Prime Minister. He hopes a change of guard would bring about development and growth. Gaurav, a 22-year-old employed youth, says he wants to vote this time to bring in a strong leader who can end policy paralysis and deal with the slowdown.
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50,000 cops to monitor Haryana poll
Chandigarh, March 26 What is the total number of voters in Haryana? On January 15, 2014, the total number of voters in the state was over 1.55 crore which included 84, 42,220 men and 71, 52,207 women. However, due to an intense campaign by the Election Department, over 3.73 lakh voters were added to the voters' list from January 15 to March 22, 2014, taking the total tally to about 1.59 crore. How will the department monitor the election process? The entire election process would be closely monitored and polling in all 16, 244 booths would be "watched" by micro-observers. There would be 10 general and expenditure observers each, besides two voter awareness observers. Three flying squads in each constituency would supervise the process and undertake videography of political functions and rallies, besides organising special nakas. What about the deployment of state government employees and security personnel to conduct free and fair elections? Over 70,000 polling personnel and nearly 1,300 supervisors would be pressed into service for free and fair conduct of the elections. Besides, over 50,000 police personnel would keep a watch on election proceedings in the state. In fact, 60 companies of the central security forces have been allocated to Haryana for the smooth conduct of the elections. Haryana has a substantial number of voters from the defence forces. How will they vote? Haryana has over 1 lakh services’ voters. Postal ballots would be dispatched to them when the ballot papers were printed after the last date of nomination withdrawal (March 26). Since Haryana is going to the polls on April 10 and the counting of votes was slated for May 16, there would be difficulty in receiving postal ballots on time. What are EC guidelines on the use of Internet or social media during campaigning? The parties will have to furnish the details of their social media accounts to the district-level Media Certification Committee. Besides, a pre-certification is needed by them before publishing any advertisement in social media. The candidates would have to give expenditure details incurred on posting such content, which would be added to the expenditure limit prescribed for contesting the elections. How will the Election Department deal with paid news? A monitoring committee has been formed to keep a watch on paid news during the polls. The expenses of any news proved "paid news" as verified by the committee would be added to the total expenditure limit of contesting candidates (Rs 70 lakh). What would be the role of the expenditure observers? These observers would keep a vigil on the expenditure of candidates and the election process. The candidates would open a separate bank account to make transactions related to election expenditure. They would be required to make the payment only through a cheque and RTGS from this account. The limit in cash dealing with any person, firm or organisation is up to Rs 20,000 for the candidates. Any new initiatives to educate the voters? The Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign has been launched in all districts of the state. Under the campaign, informative material would be displayed on over 300 buses of the Haryana Roadways to create awareness among the voters. An audio-video CD to generate awareness among the voters would be run on the local cable television network and other local news channels. Tab on social media ads
The parties will have to furnish the details of their social media accounts to the district-level Media Certification Committee. Besides, a pre-certification is needed by them before publishing any advertisement in social
media. Shrikant Walgad, Haryana ceo Election in numbers
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Khaps refuse to back parties, will only offer ‘sympathy’
Jind, March 26 Their demands include an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to ban "same gotra and same village" marriages and Lok Adalat status for khaps as these social bodies have been settling disputes of villagers. "Parties remember us only during the election. We have been portrayed as a villain for opposing love marriages. But we are not against it and we are only opposing same gotra and same village marriages," said Kuldeep Singh Dhanda, convener of the Sarv Khap Panchayat, Haryana. Many villagers told The Tribune that khaps help resolve their problems. They said since khap leaders were aware of ground realities, they provide quick and proper justice to villagers. "The importance of khaps can never be ignored in rural Haryana as these are the only social bodies directly associated with the villagers." said Neeraj, a youngster of Ahirka village. Sumit of Khark Ramji village said khaps had been supporting villagers. "We don't want anything for ourselves, our demands are for the betterment of society," said Tek Ram Kandela, president of the Kandela Khap.
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Low turnout worries BJP’s Gujjar
Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service
Faridabad, March 26 At 7 am sharp, he leaves for a tour of the constituency in one of the SUVs waiting at his Sector 28 office. Little wonder then that Gujjar has covered almost one-third of the constituency since the declaration of his candidature. The constituency has over 16.83 lakh voters spread over nine Assembly segments. His first stop is the Rose Garden in the NIT to meet dozens of morning walkers. After 20 minutes of chit-chat with his voters, he proceeds to the nearby Shivaji Garden where he is welcomed by a group of local residents. After a quick round of greetings, he is down to business: support me and garner support for me. Gujjar returns to his Sector 28 office where he is told representatives from Prithala constituency are waiting. "You are doing good work. Let's all work harder and win (the rural segment is presently represented by a Congress MLA)," he says. The sitting BJP MLA from Tigaon Assembly segment then proceeds to take part in a debate organised by a print media group in Sector 15. He finds himself locked in arguments and counter-arguments over the issues of development with his main rivals, who include the Congress, the INLD, the AAP and the BSP candidates. Making his point heard in the 50-minute debate, it's time to leave. His next destination, also in the same sector, is a reception-meeting with leading industrialists and businessmen. He wastes no time in striking a chord with them and talks of the facilities available to entrepreneurs in Modi's Gujarat. "Choose me and my party and I will address the grievances of industry and bring in a special package," he says. He speaks with ease on GDP, economic growth, infrastructure, rupee value and inspector- raj. Given the poor attendance, he stresses the need for the urban voter to come out on poll day. "Low turnout is my only worry." Gujjar is running late by around 45 minutes by the time he reaches Sector 9 to address a gathering of local residents. A traditional welcome is followed by speeches by the organisers and other party activists who stress on the need for a change in guard in the country. By now, it's cloudy outside. Gujjar wraps up the meeting with a short speech and leaves for his next destination, about half an hour away. As he sits in his Toyata Fortuner, one of his assistants suggests he swing by Rajasthan Bhawan en route as voters there were very keen to meet him. Gujjar agrees. Eight minutes into the unscheduled meeting, organisers of the next event start calling him up to know when he is arriving. Gujjar asks his driver to proceed to Indira Colony, a slum cluster near the YMCA. Once there, he is quick to change track and speaks on how high prices of daily commodities and spiralling inflation have made life "hell" for the poor. "The ruling party and its MP only come to you to seek votes. We will address the issues of unemployment, poor housing, and expensive gas, water and power if you give us a chance." Gujjar reaches his ninth destination -- Mujesar village of NIT, around 11.30 am. The gathering is one of the largest so far in a rural and densely-populated locality. The speech is preceded by a roadshow through the narrow bylanes. "Children and women have come out in large numbers hoping for a free snack," says local resident Vinay. Just as Gujjar is repeating his poll promises, a team of election observers arrive to take stock of the number of vehicles and expenses. His supporters start dispersing. After some minutes at a community function in NIT, he dashes to Old Faridabad. He turns down the offer of lunch, saying it could be included in his poll expenses. Around 4 pm, Gujjar starts his whirlwind tour of colonies and villages in his stronghold of Nehapar and spends an average of 15 to 20 minutes at each stop. Drum beaters and local residents enthusiastically welcome him. Without a proper lunch or a break, Gujjar concludes his daylong tour at his office around 9.15 pm. Faridabad
The game plan
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4 candidates withdraw nominations from Sonepat
Sonepat, March 26 The main contestants in this multi-corner contest will be Congress candidate Jagbir Singh Malik (64), INLD's Padam Singh Dahiya (51), BJP's Ramesh Kaushik (54), AAP's Jai Singh Thekedar (62) and BSP's candidate Suman Singh Sharma (64). Jagbir Malik, Ramesh Kaushik and Jai Singh are advocates by profession, while Padam Singh Dahiya is a farmer and Suman Singh Sharma is a businessman. Malik was elected as MLA in 1996, 2008 by-elections and 2009 general election from Gohana assembly constituency. He also contested as HVP candidate in 1999 Lok Sabha elections from this parliamentary constituency but was defeated. Ramesh Kaushik was elected MLA from Kailana (now Gannaur) assembly constituency in 1996 on HVP ticket and from Rai Assembly constituency in 2004 General Election on Congress ticket. Padam Singh Dahiya was elected MLA from Rohat (now Kharkhoda) Assembly constituency in 2000 Assembly election on INLD ticket but was defeated in 2005 Assembly elections. Jai Singh Thekedar and Suman Singh Sharma are first timers to enter the election fray.
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Mehbooba challenges allies in stronghold
The constituency will be the first to go to polls in Jammu and Kashmir on April 24 Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 26 The Parliamentary constituency is spread over four districts, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam. It is a PDP stronghold and was instrumental in dethroning the NC in the 2002 Assembly polls. The PDP improved its performance in the 2008 Assembly elections, which were held immediately after the Amarnath agitation in the state, bagging 12 of the 16 Assembly segments that comprise the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. Out of the four remaining seats, two went to the Congress and one each to the National Conference and the CPM. Impact on Assembly poll
The PDP has fielded its "firebrand" speaker and party president Mehooba Mufti, who will be in a direct contest with sitting NC MP Mehboob Beg. The Congress has already decided to support the NC candidate in the state. In the 2009 Parliamentary polls, Beg, backed by the Congress, had defeated the PDP candidate Peer Mohammad Hussain by a thin margin of 5,224 votes. “Apart from the NC party manifesto, for which I will be seeking votes, the voters of south Kashmir will decide on my last five years' performance. The voters can see on the internet what I have done for them in terms of development as well as representing them at the national level," he said. Beg claimed there was a huge anti-incumbency against the sitting MLAs of the PDP and this would ensure his smooth sailing. However, the PDP claims that there was an anti-incumbency factor against the NC and this would help them. The PDP, in its campaign, is stressing that the voters need to send stronger voices to Parliament. "We need sincere representatives in Parliament who can strongly voice the issues concerning Kashmir at the national level," said Mehbooba. The party claims it was instrumental in bringing a sea change in the ground situation after coming to power in 2002, and that the people this time were "unhappy" with the NC, which has been in power since 2008. Terror shadow
The other factor which would play a crucial role in Anantnag is militancy, which can affect the poll percentage. There are pockets in south Kashmir like Tral, Awantipore, Shopian, Keller, Pulwama and some other areas that have the presence of militants. The Kashmir's most dangerous militant module, headed by Pakistani militant Qasim, reportedly operates from south Kashmir. Since last year, this module has carried out many attacks in south Kashmir and Srinagar and it would be a major task for the security forces to deal with. Police sources said nearly 40 militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad are operating in south Kashmir. The South Kashmir's Pulwama district alone has 29 active militants. The separatists have already called for a poll boycott. "The voter turnout has a direct bearing on poll results," said an analyst from south Kashmir. "The large voter turnout will help the PDP and if there is a less turnout, it will be beneficial for the NC," he said. The analyst said in the 2008 Assembly polls, higher voter percentage was recorded in south Kashmir and it helped the PDP. "In the 2009 Parliament elections, 27.09 per cent polling was recorded in south Kashmir, which was quite less than the Assembly polls, and it helped the NC," said the analyst. Segment profile
Past winners
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Aam aadmi to big biz — Cong manifesto comes a long way
Document reflects realisation that it must take the poor and rich along to spur investment Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 26 That explains why Economic Growth is the first chapter in the party's poll appeal, released today in the presence of Rahul, Sonia Gandhi and PM Manmohan Singh. The document offers a five-year roadmap (2014-2019) to return the economy to 8% plus growth in three years and launch 100 million jobs for the youth within the first 100 days of coming to power. This agenda is a new feature and stems from the recent evidence that the lack of jobs, rising inflation, economic slowdown on account of unfavourable investment climate and rigid project clearance proposals were hitting party's poll prospects. The 2009 manifesto spoke in general terms about restoring a "high growth rate". The 2014 document commits itself to 8% growth in three years. As against the previous manifesto that stressed improvement of domestic demand to spur growth (it was a period of global recession) and raise public investment in infrastructure, today's document talks clearly of pushing FDI and PPP to improve infrastructure and attract business, which seems to be leaning towards BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi and his Gujarat model. The 2014 manifesto also proposes an authority under the PM to speed up delayed projects and set up another body outside the Environment Ministry to grant time for speedier environmental clearances. "There is no room for aversion to FDI," says the manifesto continuing Congress' old rights-based regime which began with the RTI and NREGA in 2005. This time the party has promised five new rights - of housing, health, pension, entrepreneurship and dignity. In 2009, the Congress had promised the right to food and fair compensation for land. It has fulfilled these. The document has a chapter on how Congress performed better than NDA on most counts of growth and development. Apart from the heightened stress on jobs and growth — a new feature —most other proposals in the manifesto are continuations of Sonia Gandhi-led UPA's "inclusive development agenda". Politically, the 2014 manifesto is critical as it drops all references to aam aadmi after losing the constituency to Arvind Kejriwal's AAP. The party has now found a new segment to tap - 80 crore Indians who live above poverty line but below the middle class. "We will target these skilled persons and bring them into middle class in 10 years," Rahul said. The Congress manifesto also says that the 2014 fight is between Congress' secular liberal vision and BJP's "narrow minded communalism". Also, unlike the 2009 manifesto which slammed the Third Front as a "recipe for chaos", the 2014 document skips it, perhaps because the Congress identifies better with this "secular formation" that shares its anti-Modi sentiment. Further, the 2014 document is silent on alliances (which Congress has been struggling to forge) as against the 2009 document which urged people to support Congress and "its like-minded allies". Past forward
Though Rahul today claimed the party has delivered on 90% of tasks promised in 2009, here are the facts:
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BJP manifesto ‘cautious’ on FDI, to focus on jobs
New Delhi, March 26 The party's manifesto is likely to say that it will also introduce a general sales tax and overhaul the financial sector. Party sources told Reuters that these concrete steps formed the core of a pitch to voters that sets aspirational goals of creating 250 million jobs over the next decade, building up to 100 'smart' cities and constructing a high-speed rail network. "The manifesto's priorities, in this order, are jobs, investment, manufacturing and infrastructure," said a BJP official drafting the document due out next week. He refused to be identified. The party's PM candidate Narendra Modi is campaigning on his economic record in running his home state, Gujarat, where the party trumpets an unemployment rate of less than a third of the national average. In contrast, the Congress is running campaign ads appealing to its core constituency of poor voters. While the BJP platform seeks to tap into the hopes of 100 million first-timers, the tenets of
"Modinomics" remain nebulous beyond a broad focus on supply-side reforms. "Most of these proposals have been discussed by other parties too," said Shumita Sharma
Deveshwar, a director at Trusted Sources, a policy advisory firm. "The key is implementation of these policies. That is the bigger challenge." — Reuters
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Those denied ticket will be adjusted: BJP
Lucknow, March 26 "When any party becomes popular, the number of those wanting to become prospective candidates from all areas also increases. But only one can get the ticket. Not getting ticket does not mean that that the worker has been ignored," Singh, who arrived here after his candidature was announced from the seat, told newspersons while responding to a question on rebellion in the party over ticket distribution. "If the BJP forms its government, Modi will be the PM, there is no dispute over the issue," Singh said in reply to another question. "Any candidate gets ticket only after deliberations in the state election committee and central committee... Those of our workers who could not get ticket would be adjusted when the party comes to power," Singh said. About his agenda for the city if elected to the LS, Singh said he would try to follow the path shown by ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who represented it in the past, to develop it as a biotech city, besides cleaning river Gomti as visualised by the leader. — PTI
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EC struggles to keep tabs on social media campaigning
Bangalore, March 26
"What if an advertisement promoting a candidate is put up on Facebook by someone whom the candidate may claim he does not even know? How can we hold the candidate accountable for it," said KS Bevinmadar, officer on special duty at the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO's) office. "What if someone sends 100 e-mails to people favouring a candidate and the recipients of the mail forward it to 100 others? How can the candidate be held accountable for these mails?" Bevinmadar said, citing another example of the challenges being faced by the EC to monitor money spent on propaganda in the new media. Candidates have been asked to declare expenditure incurred on maintenance of their personal websites, wages paid to people hired by them to run them, and so on. Prominent Karnataka politicians such as Yeddyurappa, Ananth Kumar and Veerappa Moily already had websites when the elections were announced. They have been asked to give expenditure details for maintenance of their respective websites during the period when the code of conduct was in force. Advertisements on the social media require online payment and there is no scope of playing down these expenditures. "It is not the candidates themselves. Mostly it is the others who are propagating them on their behalf. What the EC should do is to get in touch with social media marketing agencies and connect the dots," said Vishnu Vardhan, programme director at Bangalore-based Centre for Internet and Society, which studies the impact of Internet. Vardhan said candidates who are connected with the "upper middle class" and contesting from constituencies in metropolitan areas are more active on the social media. "This is for the first time that the EC is monitoring expenditures incurred on account of propaganda on the Internet. There are some hitches, but we are working to plug them," Bevinmarad said.
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Karuna calls Cong an ungrateful partner
Chennai, March 26 Opening a virulent attack probably for the first time against the Congress after it snapped ties in March last year, party chief M Karunanidhi accused it of failing to show gratitude to his party which lent crucial support to the Congress-led UPA. Launching his party's election campaign from the city which has three Lok Sabha segments, Karunanidhi lashed out at his "Congress friends" saying: "They were more inclined to save their government but showed no gratitude," apparently pointing to the way the Sonia Gandhi party treated DMK while handling the 2G scam. Karunanidhi's anger stems from the turbulent time its leaders - his daughter Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minister A Raja - had to face. The DMK patriarch has all along been maintaining that Raja and Kanimozhi are innocent and repeated his claim saying "all zeros added to (the scam) are falling one by one", indicating DMK leaders' innocence. Apparently predicting doomsday for Congress in the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, he said, "They don't know the meaning of gratitude. That's why today in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere Congress' situation is abysmally low." "To lead a good life, you have to have gratitude. Congress never realised who gave them a helping hand in the past and gave so many troubles to DMK and its members and they are paying for it now," Karunanidhi, who vehemently rejected alliance offers by the Congress for this year's polls, said. However, extending an olive branch to Congress, he said: "If the Congress men regret and get back to their secular credentials, the DMK will support them, not in terms of votes, but to change the evils that had gripped them, and is ready to forgive them." — PTI Alagiri targets Stalin, says won't contest polls
A day after being expelled from the DMK, Madurai strongman MK Alagiri today said he would not contest the Lok Sabha polls and targeted his younger brother MK Stalin, saying action should be taken against those who commit "mistakes". Sticking to his stand, Alagiri said he had not committed any wrongdoing that warranted his expulsion from DMK. Alagiri, who was sacked by his father and DMK chief M Karunandhi yesterday, said he would not contest the elections and predicted a bad show for the DMK in the hustings, saying it might not win more than a couple of seats. He said: "I didn't do any crime. I won't relent till action is taken against those who had committed mistakes," targeting Stalin. — PTI Extends olive branch to Cong
If the Congress regret and get back to their secular credentials, we will support them, not in terms of votes, but to change the evils that had gripped them. We are ready to forgive
them. M Karunanidhi, dmk chief
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twitterati NaMo plays fast & loose with the truth. He quotes me & can't even get that right. — Omar Abdullah After visiting Vaishno Devi, Modi's language has gone further down. Desperate..?? — AAP, Mumbai He refuses to respond on his compulsions to give tkts to riot accused. Why……And he responds by using foul language against me? Ye to theek nahi hai — Arvind Kejriwal In all my media interactions, not a single question was asked on Cong. Is the Congress disappearing from the mindspace? — Arun Jaitley
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Ramdev for Uma vs Sonia Sonia defends Chavan Cong ungrateful ally: DMK Shinde owns a tractor
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Sonepat, the town from where Deputy Prime Minister late Devi Lal made his Lok Sabha debut in 1980, is set for a multi-corner contest.
Representatives of all major parties — Jagbir Malik (Congress), Ramesh Kaushik (BJP), Padam Singh Dahiya (INLD), Jai Singh Thekedar (AAP) and Suman Singh Sharma (BSP) — are in the fray.
Rahul Gandhi's statement summed up the spirit behind Congress' 2014 election manifesto launched in the capital today. "We believe for this country to grow we need a partnership between business and the poor….We have to give the poor a minimum guarantee of rights and to those in business a promise of ease of doing business…," he said, marking Congress' leap from 'aam aadmi' in the 2009 manifesto to 'big business' in 2014.
Representatives of all major parties — Jagbir Malik (Congress), Ramesh Kaushik (BJP), Padam Singh Dahiya (INLD), Jai Singh Thekedar (AAP) and Suman Singh Sharma (BSP) — are in the fray. 
The Election Department is gearing up for the first phase of the General Election in Haryana on April 10. In an interview to The Tribune, Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shrikant Walgad talked about the the departments' preparations in the state. Excerpts:
Though the poll results of the General Election in J&K will have a minimum bearing on the national politics, the results are sure to have an impact on the Assembly elections in the state scheduled for later this year.
