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Constituency profile sirsa
Campaigning on virtual world is the latest fad
LS polls a beginning of the end of Hooda rule: INLD
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campaign trail
CONSTITUENCY PROFILE LADAKH
Home Ministry chalks out big plans for security
Will put corrupt behind bars, says Rajnath
It’s veteran Purno Sangma versus greenhorn Daryl Momin in Tura
Sonia: Don't vote for those who preach hatred
Yashwant shoots 18 posers to Chidambaram on economy
BJP sets 24-hr deadline for TDP to seal AP alliance
Opponents take the battle to Cong bastion in Assam
BJP can’t form govt at Centre, says Antony
Sabir dares Naqvi to prove his Bhatkal link
This jumbo Bihar family of 47 voters wooed by all parties
snapshots
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Cong faces multi-cornered contest
Party chief Ashok Tanwar confident of a comeback despite anti-incumbency wave Sushil Manav Tribune News Service
Sirsa, March 30
Being a constituency reserved for the SC, Sirsa is not a high-profile seat in terms of resources deployed by contestants. But the seat being the home turf of the Chautala clan and being represented by Tanwar, the election here is arousing interest throughout Haryana. A drive down Dabwali, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Ratia, Tohana and other towns of Sirsa Parliamentary seat does not, at first sight, give an impression that people here are going to polls very soon. Not many posters, banners, hoardings, etc, are seen on roadsides, which were often found covered with pictures of political leaders. The model code of conduct and implementation of laws on defacement of public properties, it seems, are being followed strictly by the Election Commission. Sirsa Parliamentary constituency covers nine Assembly segments — Narwana (SC) from Jind district, Tohana, Fatehabad and Ratia (SC) from Fatehabad district and Kalanwali (SC), Dabwali, Rania, Sirsa and Ellenabad from Sirsa district. The total number of voters in Sirsa constituency is 16,60,557, out of which 8,86,302 are men and 7,74,255 women. Five of the nine Assembly segments under the Sirsa parliamentary seat were won in the 2009 Assembly polls by the INLD and its ally SAD, two by the Congress and the two others by Independents. The INLD has fielded SAD MLA from Kalanwali Charanjit Singh Rori against the sitting Congress MP Ashok Tanwar. The Haryana Janhit Congress has given its ticket to a turncoat, Sushil Indora, a two-time MP who switched loyalty from the Congress minutes before Kuldeep Bishnoi announced his candidature. Indora became the MP in 1998 and 1999 on the INLD ticket and when he lost this seat to Atma Singh Gill of the Congress in 2004, Chautalas fielded him from Ellenabad in 2005 Assembly polls, which he won. However, Indora quit the INLD when the party opted for Sita Ram instead of him in 2009 and joined the Congress to get the Assembly ticket from Kalanwali. He lost the election to Charanjit Singh Rori of the SAD, who is now pitted against him as the INLD candidate. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded a former Sarva Karamchari Sangh president, Poonam Chand Ratti, while the CPM has given the ticket to its 2009 candidate Ram Kumar Bahbalpuria, while septuagenarian Mange Ram Dahiya is the BSP candidate. Though generally perceived as the INLD's stronghold, the Congress has won this seat eight times since 1967. The INLD or its previous 'avtars' has won Sirsa seat on five occasions. Late Chaudhary Dalbir Singh won this seat in 1967, 1971, 1980 and 1984. But riding on Janata Party wave, Chand Ram defeated him in 1977. INLD's Het Ram won a bypoll held after Dalbir Singh's death in 1988 and the general election held in 1989 while Dalbir Singh's daughter and now Rajya Sabha MP Kumari Selja won this seat in 1991 and 1996. In the elections held in 1998 and 1999, Sushil Indora of the INLD won this seat while in 2004 and 2009, Sirsa went to the Congress - Atma Singh Gill and Ashok Tanwar, respectively. Meanwhile, the top leadership of the INLD also realised that if they have to make a comeback after failing to win even a single seat in the last two parliamentary polls, their counting has to begin from home turf (Sirsa). The party left many surprised when it named Rori as its candidate after first telling its candidate in the last polls, Sita Ram, to start his campaign, obviously with an eye on the Sikh voters in this area. However, some people in urban areas believe that Sita Ram, a dental surgeon, could have been a better bet than a matriculate Rori to raise issues concerning the area in Parliament. As far as Tanwar is concerned, people say he has been approachable as an MP in the past five years of his term. His meteoric rise to the position of the Congress state president in a small period has won him friends as well as foes. AAP candidate Poonam Chand Ratti has also been making inroads in Tanwar's Balmiki community.
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Campaigning on virtual world is the latest fad
Rewari, March 30
Through voice messages, Kejriwal is exhorting voters to keep the Congress-BJP away from power to root out corruption completely from the system, while Deepender is seeking his re-election on the basis of development he carried out in his constituency. The INLD, too, has recorded voice messages of its jailed leader Ajay Chautala, but they are only being used at public meetings and rallies to win voters' sympathy. Though abstaining from door-to-door campaigning due to health issues, Deepender is connected with people of his constituency through Facebook and Twitter. He has uploaded a report of development works undertaken during his stint on his official Facebook page and is also inviting people to join his poll campaign by filling an online form. Many people are seeking votes for Deepender by opening accounts in his name. Similarly, AAP candidates Yogendra Yadav from Gurgaon and Naveen Jaihind from Rohtak are updating their Facebook and Twitter accounts with their daily campaigning activities and photos. Outgoing MP Naveen Jindal, Arvind Sharma, Avtaar Bhadana, Rao Inderjit, Ashok Tanwar and Kuldeep Bishnoi are also quite active on Facebook and Twitter. Shruti Choudhry is perhaps the lone sitting MP who is inactive on Facebook. INLD nominees Shamsher Kharkara (Rohtak), Dushyant Chautala (Hisar), Padam Singh Dahiya (Sonepat), Rao Bahadur Singh (Bhiwani-Mahendragarh), Zakir Hussain (Gurgaon), HJC candidate Sushil Indora (Sirsa), Congress nominee Rao Dharampal (Gurgaon), Sampat Singh (Hisar) and AAP candidate Lalit Aggarwal (Bhiwani) are also leaving no stone unturned to impress the techno-savvy voters. OP Chaudhary, a retired principal, said: "I am seeing such a high-tech poll campaigning for the first time in my life. Technology is being exploited to the hilt by political leaders to seek votes from people. Receiving calls of Arvind Kejriwal and Deepender Hooda was a good experience."
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LS polls a beginning of the end of Hooda rule: INLD
Chandigarh, March 30
In an interview to The Tribune, the Punjabi face of the Jat-dominated party, Ashok Arora, underlined INLD's political strategy ahead of the April 10 Lok Sabha polls. How do you foresee political events shaping up ahead of the Lok Sabha elections? On account of various acts of omission and commission of its own government and the Congress-led UPA Government, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is facing twin anti-incumbency ahead of the polls. The Congress is clearly fighting with its back to the wall in the country in general and Haryana in particular. Haryana goes to the Assembly poll later this year. How do you foresee the situation after the Assembly elections? The Lok Sabha elections will mark the beginning of the end for the Hooda regime. The Congress is a sinking ship. While the Lok Sabha results will mark the end of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, the Assembly elections will signal the end of the corruption-ridden Hooda regime. The Congress says that the INLD is on its way out after the conviction of Om Praksah Chautala and his son in the JBT recruitment scam. Your comments. The Congress is living in a fool's paradise. The party cadre is intact even though Chautala is in jail. The Congress is a sinking ship as its leaders are leaving the party to join other outfits, including the INLD. What are the national issues on which the INLD is going to people in the upcoming elections? Corruption, price rise, unemployment and policy paralysis are the main issues which will be taken up by the INLD in the polls. What about the state issues? Large-scale corruption, anti-farmer land acquisition policies, skewed development in the state, rampant nepotism in government jobs, worsening law and order situation, atrocities on Dalits and women are some of the issues to be taken up by the party in the upcoming polls. Can you elaborate on allegations of discrimination in development and government jobs? The Hooda government has broken all records regarding skewed development and nepotism in government jobs. A majority of the development works had gone to Rohtak, Hooda's home district and Rohtak parliamentary segment represented by his son. Not to talk of Opposition parties, even senior Congress leaders have been alleging discrimination in development and government jobs vis-à-vis their respective areas. But your party leader Om Prakash Chautala and his MLA son Ajay were jailed in the JBT recruitment scam. How do you respond to that? It was the Congress-led UPA government's conspiracy to defame the INLD. The Congress government misused the CBI to frame Chautala and other INLD leaders. We have faith in the judiciary and the truth will come out soon.
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I’m CM candidate, Bishnoi tells voters
Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service
Hisar, March 30
Amid pleasant weather, Kuldeep exchanges pleasantries with the visitors. He takes a stroll in the lawn and at the same time discusses the day's canvassing strategy with his loyalists. After directing them to intensify the campaign, he moves inside the house to get ready for the day's grind. Kuldeep performs the morning 'puja' and has his energy-rich breakfast comprising cornflakes and fruit. At 7 am sharp, the family's driver Santosh Kumar parks a white-coloured SUV, Audi Q7, at the entrance. The HJC leader leaves for Ghirai village, 30 km from Hisar, the first destination of his campaign. Driving through dilapidated approach road and then bylanes inside the village, his cavalcade halts near a narrow street, next to a locality of Backward Class people. In a corner meeting, a pair of loudspeakers is ready and Kuldeep begins his address with a direct assault at the Congress regime in the state and the Centre: "It's time to get rid of the corrupt regime, which has failed to protect your interests. There is an anti-Congress and pro-Narendra Modi wave in the country. Modi will become the Prime Minister. Assembly elections are also round the corner and you would get an opportunity to be in power Haryana too." Before concluding, he doesn't forget to mention that he is the HJC-BJP combine's chief ministerial candidate. The Scheduled Caste 'chaupal' at the other end of the village is his next destination. Why the gathering is moderate at both the places? He tells The Tribune he has suffered a big loss in this village in the previous election. "But I am confident of better response this time," he avers. Kuldeep greets people sitting at various places along the streets he drives past but gets rather cold response. At the village's outskirts, a HJC worker introduces two farmers to him, who assure their support to the MP nominee. In turn, they want the leader to raise their demand for compensation to mustard growers who suffered losses due to the hailstorm. The next halt is at Chainat village. Here, he takes a dig at INLD candidate Dushyant Chautala, grandson of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who is in jail in connection with a teachers' recruitment scam. "Corruption is a big issue in the Lok Sabha elections. Those who have been convicted on corruption charges have lost all credibility," he says as he meets a few people. As Kuldeep doesn't get that good response in Ghiray, Chainat and Bhatla villages, he explains the reason to this correspondent accompanying him in his SUV: "These are Jat-dominated villages of Hansi assembly segment. People here are traditionally 'Lokdali' (Indian National Lok Dal followers) who will never support a non-Jat candidate." Where is the support of the alliance partner BJP? Bishnoi is quick to point towards people in saffron caps waiting to garland him in the next village. As he readies to alight from the car, his colleague and party treasurer Shivjeet Singh reminds him about the request of BJP candidate from Bhiwani-Mahendergarh to campaign for the latter in Dadri segment of Bhiwani constituency. The HJC leader arrives to a good response in Sainipura village near Hansi in the afternoon. His supporters have gathered outside the village to welcome him. His party worker Rinku Saini asks Kuldeep to ride a tractor, which is also the party's poll symbol. The leader is happy to oblige his supporters and takes charge of the steering to reach the meeting venue in the village. Striking an emotional chord with the villagers gathered at the rally by referring to them as members of his extended family, he urges them to work hard for the party's success. He also appeals to bring back in the party fold disgruntled HJC workers, if any. As it's lunch time, he along with other leaders halts for a meal at Rinku's house. He has a lively tete-a-tete with his supporters, who seem more eager to see him as the Chief Minister rather than an MP. A supporter quips: "This election is a done thing. But we want him to be in the Chief Minister's 'kursi' (chair)." After lunch, Bishnoi visits various villages. Around 7 pm, he reaches Barwala and addresses meetings. The exercise lasts another few hours and he readies to return to Hisar at 10:30pm.
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Political temperature soars in cold desert
Parties begin campaigning, BJP rides ‘Modi wave’ in Cong stronghold; sparsely populated region always records high turnout Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 30
The Congress has won the seat six times, while its alliance partner in the ruling Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference has emerged victorious twice. Independents have won the seat thrice.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Thupstan Chhewang, who had won the seat as an Independent in 2004, while its arch-rival Congress has fielded Tsering Samphel, president of the District Congress Committee (DCC), Leh, and former member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, from the constituency. Samphel is contesting the elections for the first time.
In the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the Valley chooses 46 MLAs, the Jammu province elects 37 and the Ladakh region only four. Ladakh, which has four Assembly segments, has only 1,59,949 voters, comprising 81,168 men and 78,781 women, which means that on an average, each segment of the region has 39,987 voters. Kargil district with a population of 1,40,802 is scattered over 14,086 square km. It has two Assembly segments - Kargil and Zanskar. Kargil is mostly inhabited by Shia Muslims, while Zanskar is dominated by Buddhists. Leh district, which is the second largest district in the country after Kutch (Gujarat) in terms of area, has a population of 1,33,487 spread over 44,000 square km. It is bound by Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the West, China in the North and East and Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh in the South East. Buddhists comprise around 75 per cent of the district's population, followed by Muslims and Hindus. Politically, Leh and Kargil districts are governed by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), which are headed by the Chief Executive Councillors. The Congress apparently has an upper hand over the BJP in the region as it governs both the LAHDCs in Leh and Kargil, while the BJP is mainly banking on the "Modi factor". It believes that the party has improved its ground in both the districts in recent times and people will voluntarily come forward to vote for Narendra Modi. As far as local issues are concerned, there has been resentment among people that they have never been given proper attention by the successive state and Central governments. People feel problems such as lack of education, proper access to neighbouring districts, backwardness of the region and inability to provide solution to the problems caused by the climatic conditions in the region can only be solved if Ladakh is given the Union Territory status. The current Lok Sabha elections have also assumed significance for the people of Ladakh in the wake of "inch-by-inch" intrusion by Chinese troops in the region. They feel only a strong establishment in New Delhi will be able to take tough decisions vis-à-vis repeated intrusion bids by the neighbouring country. However, the vast and sparsely populated region has not witnessed any militancy-related incident in the past more than 24 years and is outside the purview of the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
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Home Ministry chalks out big plans for security
New Delhi, March 30
"It is a massive exercise. But we will ensure peaceful polling. We are also taking special measures for Naxal- affected states, Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast," Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, MA Ganapathy, said. The two lakh paramilitary personnel along with vehicles are being requisitioned from forces such as the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles for deployment across the country. The Home Ministry will press into service more than 100 trains to transport paramilitary forces for deployment during the elections. In this mammoth exercise, the trains will be used for the swift movement of forces from one state to another according to the election schedule and security considerations. The Railways has been requested to provide two sleeper coaches for each company (around 100 personnel) and two coaches with special trains instead of general coaches for the smooth mobilisation of troops. The hired trains will be used for long-distance transportation of forces while, for shorter distances, security personnel will travel by road. Thousands of private vehicles will also be requisitioned to ferry the forces. Nearly a dozen helicopters will also be deployed in each phase of Lok Sabha polls. But since no BSF Mi-17 helicopters are serviceable, the entire requirement will have to be met through the Indian Air Force choppers. Helicopters are the most important force multiplier when it comes to rushing in reinforcements or taking out casualties and injured persons during operations. The Home Ministry has identified 33 worst Naxal-affected districts as being very sensitive with the highest number of incidents having been reported in these areas in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and 2009 and also during Assembly polls in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013. The districts are Khunti, Gumla, Latehar, Simdega, West Singhbhum, Ranchi, Dumka, Giridih, Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Lohardaga and Bokaro (all Jharkhand). Bastar, Bijapur, Sukma, Dantewada, Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon (all Chhattisgarh), Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Muzaffarpur and Lakhisarai (all in Bihar). The Odisha districts are Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada and Bolangir, in Maharashtra it is Gadchiroli along with Vishakhapatnam and Khammam districts in Andhra Pradesh. The high-stake Lok Sabha elections will be held between April 7 and May 12 on nine dates, the highest number of phases for general elections so far. Counting of votes for all 543 constituencies will be done on May 16. As the Lok Sabha elections unfold, the Assembly elections will also be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh, including in the Telangana region, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. — PTI
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Will put corrupt behind bars, says Rajnath
Tinsukia (Assam), March 30 Addressing an election rally in this industrial hub of eastern Assam, the BJP chief charged Manmohan Singh of leading the most corrupt government in the country since Independence. "There has not been a single Congress government against which there was no corruption charge. If voted to power, the BJP will put all corrupt ministers in the UPA government behind bars," Rajnath said while campaigning for the BJP candidate from Dibrugarh seat, Rameswar Teli, a former MLA. "The Congress is in a habit of making false promises during elections. If the Congress had fulfilled half of its promises, India would have been the most prosperous country in the world today. The Congress has so far ruled the country for 55 years since Independence, but poverty has increased," said Rajnath. "In 1950s, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress said they were engaged in building India. Today, the Congress is still talking of 'Bharat Nirman'. How long will they take to build India?" he questioned.
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It’s veteran Purno Sangma versus greenhorn Daryl Momin in Tura
Guwahati, March 30
Daryl Momin, who is the grandson of Meghalaya's first Chief Minister Captain Willamson Sangma, is cutting his teeth in electoral politics against a veteran like Sangma, known for his acumen in campaigning at the grassroots level. Daryl Momin is a protégé of Purno's bête noir Mukul Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Mukul Sangma wants to prove that he can kill a giant with a greenhorn in the battle of ballot and the people of Tura don't require the services of Purno Sangma. But it is easier said than done given the credentials of the veteran politician in winning elections irrespective of whichever party he contests from. The people of Tura have respected Sangma's stature and given him the mandate to represent them repeatedly in the state Assembly and the Lok Sabha. However, in the 2013 Assembly elections, PA Sangma's National Peoples' Party (NPP), which he formed ahead of the Presidential elections, managed to win only two seats. This has raised questions whether people of Tura will still vote for the veteran this time. This election is crucial for Sangma given that he wants to revive his political career. Advantage Sangma The NPP is aligned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Sangma knows the art of convincing rural folks. His opponent Daryl, a political greenhorn who joined the Congress in 2012 after completing his MBA from Bond University in Australia, will find it hard to match Sangma's ability to mingle with the grassroots voters in rural areas with an unparallel ease. "I contested nine elections from Tura. You know the results and make the assessment," said Purno Sangma, expressing his characteristic confidence of winning elections this time too. Advantage Daryl There are 24 Assembly segments in the Tura Lok Sabha seat out of which 13 are with the Congress. The independent MLAs are also supporting the Congress. If all of them back Daryl Momin, he might just be able to sail through. In the light of this argument, the chances for PA Sangma to win elections seem dismal since the NPP has only two MLAs in the Tura parliamentary constituency. "I am not sacred to take on Purno Sangma. The youth of Garo Hills are behind me to vote him (Sangma) out from Tura Lok Sabha seat," Daryl said. He enjoys the strong backing of his mentor Mukul Sangma who wants to see the end to PA Sangma's saga in the Meghalaya politics. Sangma's foray into politics began in 1977 when he won the Lok Sabha elections from Tura on a Congress ticket. He won the Lok Sabha elections in 1984, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004, besides the byelection in 2006. There are eight candidates in the fray in the Shillong parliamentary constituency. But the contest is expected between the sitting MP and Congress candidate Vincent H Pala and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate Paul Lyngdoh, who enjoys the support of Sangma's NPP. The BJP has little presence in Meghalaya. Other candidate in the fray are: BJP's Shibun Lyngdoh, CPI's Richard D Habong, Aam Aadmi Party's Armerington Kharshiing and independents PBM Basaiawmoit, Denis Siangshai and Ivoryna Shylla. Two regional political parties - the Hill State People's Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) - have extended support to Basaiawmoit. However, Pala is also not treading along a rosy path given the characteristic infighting in the Congress in Meghalaya. AICC president Sonia Gandhi has asked Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to campaign for Pala in Shillong constituency.
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Sonia: Don't vote for those who preach hatred
Guwahati, March 30
"While on the one hand you have the Congress that has struggled for betterment of all sections of the society, on the other hand you have a party that believes in hatred," she said without taking any party's name. "These leaders were not to be seen when Congress leaders from the northeast struggled along with other national leaders for the country's independence. "Even after independence, these forces have wasted their time criticizing the Congress," Sonia added. She said: "You have to decide the future of our country. Your vote will decided as to what type of leadership will run the country." Sonia referred to the floods and erosion problems faced in Assam and said several steps had been taken for better flood management in places like Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli. "I am confident the people of the northeast know what is real nationalism. I hope you will not be misled by those who are simply beating the drums of nationalism," she said. — IANS
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Yashwant shoots 18 posers to Chidambaram on economy
New Delhi, March 30
He also launched a frontal attack on Chidambaram for reportedly blaming his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee for the fiscal stimulus which is said to be one of the reasons for the present economic troubles of the country. “It is strange that he is now blaming the man sitting at the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Pranab Mukherjee) for the stimulus...it is bad manners but then Chidambaram is not famous for good manners,’’ he said. Sinha claimed that the high economic growth rate witnessed in the first four years of UPA I (2004-2007) was largely on account of measures initiated by the NDA government and not because of any steps taken by UPA governments. "You really harvested what was sown by us," he said. "Is it fact that after 10 years of misrule by the UPA government economic growth rate has once again slowed down drastically...the GDP growth rate for seven consecutive quarters has been below 5%?" he asked. The former minister said the GDP growth rate has registered a mere 4.7% in October-December quarter of 2013-14. Manufacturing and mining registered a decline of 1.9% and 1.6% during the quarter, he said. Sinha said these numbers would have been worse but for 7% increase in the personal, community and social services category "reflecting irresponsible government spending rather than real economic expansion". Taking a dig at Chidamabram, who had announced he would not be contesting this elections, Sinha asked: "Is it a fact that the markets have celebrated your announcement of not standing for the elections; that on March 19, 2014 when you made this announcement the BSE sensex shot up by 125 points, that the forex market was also delighted and the rupee has strengthened considerably against the dollar since then." On the issue of employment and job creation, quoting a survey by NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation), Sinha said that over 6 crore job opportunities were created between 1999-2000-2004-05 (NDA government) as opposed to 1.5 crore between 2004-05 and 2011-12 (UPA governments). Hints at Aadhaar scheme review
* The BJP indicated that it would review the Aadhaar Card scheme if the NDA came to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections *
Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said: "We are not in favour of the Aadhar Card Scheme crafted by the UPA Government...it is better to go by the national population register. A multi-purpose card to all citizens of India is a better option.'' *
Sinha launched a frontal attack on Chidambaram for reportedly blaming his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee for the fiscal stimulus which is said to be one of the reasons for the present economic troubles of the country
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BJP sets 24-hr deadline for TDP to seal AP alliance
Hyderabad, March 30 Admitting that a stalemate in talks continues with the TDP on seat-sharing in both Telangana and Seemandhra, Venkaiah said the party's central elections committee will meet tomorrow in New Delhi to decide the future course of action. Venkaiah said the BJP cannot wait inordinately on its future course of action. "As per the information I have received, there seems to be some sort of a stalemate (over talks with the TDP). And we cannot wait indefinitely," he said. Venkaiah said the state committee of Telangana has been asked to make its recommendations by tomorrow when the BJP's central committee will be meeting in the national capital. "....And if something happens in between then the central committee will take a decision, otherwise we will have to go ahead with the preparations," he said. "As a precaution I have already told both units of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to be ready to contest all seats if necessary. Or to be ready if there is some sort of understanding to make seat adjustments also," Venkaiah told reporters here. Several rounds of talks were held between TDP and BJP leaders in the last few days over sharing of seats but the talks are inconclusive so far. — PTI
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Opponents take the battle to Cong bastion in Assam
Dibrugarh, March 30 The party can’t be comfortable with the presence of hardly 5,000 persons for such a high-profile rally and that too in an area surrounded by tea estates inhabited by thousands of “adivasi” tea workers for whom election used to mean “hand” of Congress till recently. The PM sought votes for Congress sitting MPs Paban Singh Ghatowar and Bijoy Krishna Handique in the presence Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita. The bastion of Congress among the “adivasi” tea garden workers in eastern Assam’s tea belt that forms parts of Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituencies holds the key to the outcome of election in these constituencies. The Congress, by virtue of its rapport with INTUC-affiliated Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), has been able to woo tea workers through different means so far. Compared to the Congress, the other two main political parties in the fray-the BJP and regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)-don’t have significant base among tea workers. However, the small gathering at the PM’s election rally has made the Congress rethink its poll strategy. The party’s poll managers, however, dismiss the happening as not a matter of serious concern. They are not yet ready to accept that the so called “Modi wave” has created an undercurrent even in far-flung tea estates inhabited by largely illiterate tea workers. The Congress has fielded Union Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar from Dibrugarh, Bijoy Krishna Handique from Jorhat and Tarun Gogoi’s son Gaurav Gogoi from Kaliabor. The BJP has fielded two young leaders from the tea workers’ community Rameswar Teli and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa from Dibrugarh and Jorhat constituencies, respectively. The party has fielded Mrinal Saikia, an Assamese, from Kaliabor. The AGP has fielded Anup Phukon, Pradip Hazarika and Dr Arun Kumar Sharma from Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Kaliabor constituencies, respectively. The BJP poses main challenge to the Congress in Dibrugarh and Jorhat constituencies, while it is expected that the AGP will be a cause for concern for the Congress in Kaliabor. The Congress is facing the hurdle of internal conflict in the Jorhat constituency with a section of the Congress being opposed to the candidature of veteran Bijoy Krishna Handique. There are over 36 lakh workers in over 800 organised tea gardens in Assam that contribute more than half of country’s tea production. Tea gardens have remained focus areas for political parties with the Congress, the BJP and the AGP going an extra mile to woo the voters ahead of every election. Around half of the tea gardens are located in these three constituencies. Various organisations representing tea garden workers have criticised political parties for failing to fulfil tea workers’ aspiration for ST status and ensuring their better socio-economic condition. Cause for concern
* Only around 5,000 persons attended the Congress rally addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Khumtai in eastern Assam on Saturday *
The development has become a cause for concern for Congress poll campaign managers
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BJP can’t form govt at Centre, says Antony
Kasargod (Ker), March 30 “I am sure we will succeed in it,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an election meeting here. He said to keep the communal forces at bay from coming to power at the Centre, they would accept cooperation from all secular parties. “If the CPM was sincere in their pronounced aim to keep the communal forces at bay, they will have to cooperate with a front under Congress leadership. If they cooperate, we will accept it,” he said. Antony said there was a favourable climate for the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala. “The people of the state are happy with the performance of the UDF government. They are also satisfied with the sympathetic approach shown by the UPA government at the Centre towards Kerala,” he said. “We are getting good support from the people this time than in the last polls. Youngsters are showing reluctance towards CPI(M),” he said. Antony claimed that 80 per cent of the youngsters would favour the UDF. To a query on the Kerala High Court pulling up the Office of CM Oommen Chandy and ordering a CBI probe into the land grab cases involving his former gunman Salim Raj, Antony said Chandy need not resign. — PTI
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Sabir dares Naqvi to prove his Bhatkal link
New Delhi, March 30
Ali was dropped from the BJP yesterday barely within 24 hours of being inducted into the party following opposition from senior party leaders who alleged that he was a sympathiser of Bhatkal. Naqvi had gone to the extent of asking on Twitter if the party would next recruit underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. "I am ready to hang myself if Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi can prove my relations with any terrorist," Ali said at a press conference. Ali, a former close aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, even threatened to sue Naqvi. “I want a written apology from Naqvi saab within 24 hours or give proof of our relations with Yasin Bhatkal... otherwise I will hold a protest outside his house," said Ali's wife, who also was present. Ali had yesterday declared that he would "quit politics forever" if the allegations levelled against him were found true.
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This jumbo Bihar family of 47 voters wooed by all parties
Patna March 30 The family of 35 children, 30 women and 55 men lives under one roof in Jiyagachi village in Purnea district, about 350 km from Patna. Their village may be in Purnea, but they are part of the Kishanganj parliamentary constituency after delimitation. Muslims make up more than 66.7 per cent of the voters in Kishanganj. The Congress has fielded its sitting MP Maulana Ishrarul Haque, ruling Janata Dal (United) has fielded Akhtarul Iman after he quit the Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the BJP has fielded Dilip Jayswal. "We are in high demand as 47 members of our joint family would cast their vote in the Lok Sabha polls," said Mohd Nazir who is head of the family. Nazir, in his early 60s, is a farmer. He said that his joint family's importance has increased ahead of the polls. "Leaders are trying to take us into confidence for support as we are equal to more than a dozen nuclear families," he said. His joint family owns 20 bighas of agriculture land. Nazir's two younger brothers are school teachers and they provide their monthly salary to him to manage the family. "I have been given the responsibility to run and manage the joint family, which has been living together for three generations," he said. "We consume 20 kg rice and same amount of flour in each meal," he said. Nazir brother Mohd Ashfaque's wife Anjera Khatoon is mukhiya, village head of the panchayat. Khatoon said that all children of her joint family are getting education. “We have decided to provide education to all children in the family because it is the only way to get ahead in life," she said. Khatoon said she may be mukhiya of panchayat but the family head is her husband's elder brother Nazir. "He is the final authority and manages the family in such a way that no one has any grievances," she said. Police official Mahender Prasad Yadav said that Nazir's family also provides help to police to solve disputes and problems in the village. — IANS Much in demand
* The family of 35 children, 30 women and 55 men lives under one roof in Jiyagachi village in Purnea district, about 350 km from Patna *
Their village may be in Purnea, but they are part of the Kishanganj parliamentary constituency after delimitation *
The head of the family, Mohd Nazir, is a farmer. He said his joint family's importance has increased ahead of the polls. "Leaders are trying to take us into confidence for support as we are equal to more than a dozen nuclear families," he said
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One killed as SP,
BSP men clash
Hathras (UP): One person was killed when supporters of the SP and BSP clashed at Ladhauta village in Sasni tehsil, police said on Sunday. The incident took place on Saturday night when supporters of SP candidate Ramjilal Suman and BSP candidate Manoj Soni clashed with sticks injuring an elderly person Vijaypal Jatav (80), who later died in a hospital. — PTI Gorkhaland demand
legitimate: Ahluwalia
Sukna (WB): The demand for a separate state in the Darjeeling hills is legitimate and constitutionally valid, BJP Lok Sabha candidate S S Ahluwalia on Sunday said. Addressing an election rally at Sukna, Ahluwalia, the BJP nominee from Darjeeling, said in the presence of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung that his party would consider the demand for Gorkhaland, if it came to power. — PTI EC plans to set up
model polling stations
Bhopal: In a bid to attract voters to the polling booths and give a festive look to the electoral exercise, a few model polling stations are planned to be set up in the country for the first time, Election Commissioner of India Dr Nasim Zaidi said here on Sunday. "Besides providing basic minimum facilities such as drinking water, shed, toilets, ramps at all polling stations, some model polling stations will be set up in the country to give a feeling of festivity, which is happening in India for the first time," Zaidi said. — PTI CPI, CPM to fight polls
together in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi: The CPI and CPM will together fight the AIADMK, DMK and the Congress party in Tamil Nadu on 18 Lok Sabha seats for the first time since 1964. "In Tamil Nadu, the CPI and CPM are contesting on 18 Lok Sabha seats for the first time together since the united CPI split in 1964," CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said. "We are contesting these seats to win, opposing all other forces including AIADMK, DMK and the Congress," he said. — PTI
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Political atmosphere is heating up in Ladakh — the cold desert of the country that constitutes two-thirds of the entire Jammu and Kashmir territory — as election campaigning is gaining momentum for lone Lok Sabha seat of the area, which is going to polls on May 7.
Tough geographical and topographical locations and hostile weather conditions have never been a deterrent to enthusiastic electorate of this sparsely-populated region. They turn up in hordes to exercise their right to franchise.
In Rohtak, leaders have created a mobile bank in which they have included activists from rural areas as well. Besides sending SMSes to mobile phones of voters, the nominees are also approaching voters through recorded voice messages. People residing in Rohtak and Jhajjar are persistently receiving voice calls from Arvind Kejriwal, Deepender Hooda and Narendra Modi.
Tough geographical and topographical locations and hostile weather conditions have never been a deterrent to enthusiastic electorate of this sparsely-populated region. They turn up in hordes to exercise their right to franchise. In 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the total poll percentage in Ladakh region was 73.52 per cent and in 2009 Parliamentary polls it was 61 per cent.
As the BJP is riding high on "Modi wave", Ladakh is all set for a tough battle between the two arch-rivals, Congress and BJP, this time, following the decision of the ruling coalition partners, National Conference and Congress, to contest the elections in alliance.
During the nine-phased polls, spread over nearly two months, the Home Ministry has chalked out the deployment plan for 543 constituencies having a total electorate of 81.4 crore with a special focus on violence-hit states.
It is a straight contest in Tura between Purno A Sangma of the Nationalist People's Party (NPP) and Daryl Momin of the Congress. 
“We are not in favour of the Aadhar Card Scheme crafted by the UPA Government...it is better to go by the national population register. A multi-purpose card to all citizens of India is a better option,’’ senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said at a press conference here. 