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Constituency profile AMRITSAR
Varanasi fears polarisation as Kejriwal hits campaign trail
Campaign
trail: Preneet Kaur |
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Interview Kamal Sharma
Constituency profile
SriGanganagar
Sixth FIR against Azam Khan after poll panel’s rebuke
Congress, BJP rope in star leaders to pull up support
Gimmicks won’t do, voters want serious representatives
Stage set for NDA’s post-poll
tie-up with INLD, BJD: Gujral
Cong ministers on a sticky wicket in R’sthan
Rajnath meets Muslim clerics in Lucknow
Twitterati
SP polarising votes to win polls: BJP
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Jaitley, Capt locked in fierce battle
Ruling alliance projects him as next Dy PM; Cong banks on Sikh, SC votes Neeraj Bagga & Neha Saini Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 15
On the negative side, the unceremonious ouster of Sidhu has not gone down well with voters here. Sidhu's decision to stay away from Jaitley's poll campaign has further added to the party's woes, as his presence alongside Jaitley during the campaign could have helped the BJP counter Amarinder. Also, anti-incumbency against the state government over the imposition of taxes on urban voters and skyrocketing prices of construction material may also work against him. The SAD-BJP alliance is trying to garner support for him by not only terming him as the 'dohta' (grandson) of Amritsar, but also projecting him as the Deputy Prime Minister or Finance Minister in the next government who could bail Punjab out of all its woes, besides ensuring all-round development of Amritsar. On the other hand, the Congress has the advantage of fielding a well-known Sikh face. The community has 64 per cent votes in the constituency. Besides, Amarinder had been the Chief Minister of the state for five years and hence needs no introduction. He is among the most charismatic leaders of the Punjab Congress having the support of farmers. The congress also enjoys the support of the sizable Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population in the constituency. Captain's candidature has also united the otherwise divided local Congress unit here. The Congress is also raking up the issues of Sikh farmers in Gujarat and the BJP "throwing out Sidhu from Amritsar without offering any credible reason" to garner electoral support. Amarinder also reminds the Jat Sikh farmers, who are traditionally the supporters of the SAD, how he annulled water sharing agreement with neighbouring states to protect their interests, besides ensuring smooth procurement of their agricultural produce during his stint as the CM. However, Amarinder may have to pay the price of anti-incumbency against the UPA government. Besides, he has been often accused of being inaccessible even to his party leaders. Aam Aadmi Party candidate Dr Daljit Singh, CPI candidate Amarjit Singh Asal and CPIM (Punjab) candidate Rattan Singh Randhawa are from Amritsar and are seeking votes on local issues in the big battle between the two "outsiders". They are focusing on personal contact and are primarily resorting to door-to-door campaign. Traditionally, rural areas of Amritsar have been the stronghold of the SAD. Out of the four rural Assembly seats in the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency, three are represented by the SAD. There are five Assembly segments in the urban areas, out of which three are with the SAD-BJP alliance and two with the Congress. In the past, the Congress has won the seat for a record nine times, followed by the BJP four times. Candidatespeak Arun Jaitley, BJP Captain Amarinder Singh, congress Dr Daljit Singh, AAP
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Varanasi fears polarisation as Kejriwal hits campaign trail
Varanasi, April 15 While senior leaders from BJP dismiss the impact of any anti-Modi polarisation among Muslims, who account for about 18 per cent votes here and close to 30 per cent in urban areas, local leaders from various parties, including the saffron party, said there was a high probability of Muslim votes being polarised towards the strongest candidate against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Local leaders from various parties including, the Congress, SP and BSP, also accused Kejriwal of trying to influence Muslims by projecting himself as the strongest candidate against Modi. Soon after arriving here this morning, Kejriwal met Benares Shahar-e-Kazi Ghulam Nasir and sought his support. According to AAP leaders here, Nasir told Kejriwal that he would pray for his success. Kejriwal also met some Balmiki Samaj leaders and visited areas populated by Dalits to seek their support. He is staying at the house of Viplav Mishra, brother of late Veerbhadra Mishra, who was mahant of Sankat Mochan Mandir, a Hanuman temple which is very popular among locals and people visiting Varanasi. Kejriwal is likely to file his nomination on April 23, before which he may go to Amethi for a couple of days to campaign for party colleague Kumar Vishwas who is fighting against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. When asked whether BJP was wary of any anti-Modi polarisation among Muslim voters in favour of Kejriwal, party leaders dismissed such claims, saying Modi's win was a foregone conclusion and the fight was only about margins. BJP's Nalin Kohli, who is camping here for elections, said it was not at all concerned about polarisation and the party was fighting the elections with agenda of 'one India, great India' and the new government would work for solving the problems faced by people of this country. However, some other local BJP leaders accepted that there were apprehensions about polarisation of votes against Modi, but the quantum would not be enough to defeat the party's prime ministerial candidate and the 'ever-growing' wave in his favour. On the other hand, Congress candidate Ajay Rai said that it was BJP which was working towards creating a polarisation on the religious lines and the party had done similar things in last Lok Sabha elections. Rai went on to blame BJP of conspiring to put Muslim strongman leader Mukhtar Ansari in the fray so that minority votes get divided between him and Samajwadi Party. — PTI SC refuses to stay defamation proceedings
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay defamation proceedings against AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in a case filed by Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal’s son Amit. The case will be heard on July 22. Amit has filed the suit against AAP leaders for alleging that he had taken advantage of his father’s ministerial status to represent telecom companies in court cases.
— TNS
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From queen to a commoner
Preneet says SAD-BJP leaders worked for personal gains Gagan K Teja Tribune News Service
Patiala, April 15 As The Tribune team reaches Moti Bagh Palace, her residence at 7 am, she is ready to attend a bhog of an akhand paath at Qila Chowk, Patiala. After attending the bhog ceremony and meeting her supporters there, she returns to her residence for sometime before heading to Rajpura villages for her day-long campaign. Clad in a classy cotton suit, Preneet leaves the palace at around 10 am after virtually passing through a sea of party workers who are there to meet her. However, she politely manages to buy some time following the hectic schedule till the Lok Sabha elections, especially with the harvesting season about to begin in the next few days. Being a seasoned politician, she knows she will not be able to reach out to farmers after the second week of April. Hence, she rushes to her Innova car and her cavalcade then heads off to the Basantpura village near Rajpura. Talking to TNS while travelling to Basantpura, Preneet exudes confidence and throws light on various development works carried out in the constituency by her despite being in Opposition since past several years. She names a few major development projects, including setting up of Footwear Design and Development Institute at Banur worth Rs 500 crore and upgrade of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital under the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) with a total cost of Rs 150 crore. She also accuses the SAD-BJP combine of pushing Punjab towards virtual bankruptcy and says they worked for their personal gains. She also expressed annoyance with the ruling Punjab government for taking credit for all development projects which were funded by the Centre. All the while during the interaction, she is seen coordinating with party workers and leaders about her future campaigning schedule. As soon as her car halts at Basantpura, she waves to the crowd amidst loud cheers. She seeks blessing from elders and greets everyone with a smile. After local leaders of the given area shower praises on her, she takes the centre stage to address the masses not just to talk about the works done by her and her future plans for the constituency, but also "to apprise them of various policies of the Centre and to expose the misdeeds of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance". Her speech is well-knitted with refined words. However, she doesn't forget to mention a scheme implemented by the Centre for the first time, wherein women deserted or abandoned by NRI husbands are entitled to get a lump sum grant starting from $1,500 to $ 3,000 to secure legal aid in foreign countries considering the fact that a large number of girls from Punjab were marrying NRIs. Amid loud cheers of villagers pledging support to her, Preneet then sits in the car and her cavalcade heads towards Khera Gajju village, Dharamgarh, Banur and Rajpura city, where she attends an equally impressive gatherings before retiring for the day.
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Cong stalwarts no match for SAD-BJP leaders
Umesh Dewan Tribune news service
Jalandhar, April 15 How many seats do you think will the SAD-BJP combine win? We will win a majority of the seats in Punjab. Out of the 13 parliamentary segments, we are comfortable on most. All three BJP seats (Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar) will be in our kitty. Do you think Arun Jaitley is on a sticky wicket, considering the Congress has fielded its firebrand leader Capt Amarinder Singh against him? No doubt the announcement of Capt Amarinder Singh's candidature from Amritsar came as a surprise but the BJP will win the seat comfortably with a huge margin. I believe the kind of projection the media is giving to the Captain is far from reality. The Congress is no match to the commitment of the SAD-BJP workers and there is a nationwide wave against the Congress-led UPA Government. Do you think the BJP has made a mistake by fielding a Hindu candidate, Arun Jaitley, from Amritsar, which is a spiritual centre for the Sikh religion? Will this harm your prospects? We don't indulge in polarised politics. The personality and stature of Jaitley is so tall that dividing him on the basis of being a Hindu or Sikh is not fair. By fielding Congress heavyweights in Punjab, has the party unsettled the poll calculations of the Akali-BJP combine? No, I don't think so. I agree that the Congress is taking no chance this poll and has all its heavyweights contesting. But we should not forget that leaders known for their drawing-room politics are no match against our candidates, who have their associations at the grassroots level. By fielding the top-layer leaders, the Congress may have played a gamble but it will cost them dear. Your comments on the Congress-PPP tie-up? PPP chief Manpreeet Badal has a lot to explain to the people of the state. He floated PPP by taking pledge of pursuing politics of principles. Now for his own political interests, Manpreet has aligned with the Congress, which is the most corrupt party. Today, PPP has lost its ground and their cadre has left the party, reducing Manpreet to a one-man show. The Congress will be the biggest loser in this alliance. Should Operation Bluestar be an issue in the elections? Punjab had witnessed much unrest and turmoil during the past. We feel that the politicians, media, social and religious bodies should deal with such issues in a more sensitive manner. But unfortunately, having no achievement of UPA-II to highlight, Capt Amarinder Singh has raked up the issue to divert the attention of the masses. Everything is in public domain today. Before training guns at others, Capt Amarinder should first clarify why is he in the Congress that gave nod for the Army action? Also, by giving the party ticket from Khadoor Sahib to former terrorist Harminder Gill, the double-standards of the Congress stand exposed. There is a strong anti-incumbency wave against the SAD-BJP government in Punjab. Industrial community and urbanites are not happy with the government. Will their anger prove detrimental for the SAD-BJP alliance? We are in power for the seventh consecutive year in Punjab. It is but natural that there may have been many who are not happy with us over certain issues. We have tried to resolve all issues and worked for overall development. Be it the issue of property tax or regularisation of illegal colonies, our party has always intervened and the government was also gracious enough to do the course correction. The present election is being contested on national issues and the anti-incumbency against the UPA-II is so high that the Congress tally will fall to two-digit number. The Congress has no answer for inflation and corruption, which have made the lives of common people miserable. What are your views on the AAP role in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab? AAP stands nowhere in Punjab. It may have had a phenomenal victory in Delhi but they failed to live up to the voters' expectations and stand exposed now. They began as ant-graft crusaders but today their agenda is anti-Modi, which no one in the country is buying. I will not go into the reasons whether the Congress is backing them or not. The air will be clear on May 16, the counting day.
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Constituency profile
SriGanganagar Congress, BJP facing tough opponent in NUZP’s candidate in Rajasthan’s border segment Amarjit Thind Tribune News Service
Sri Ganganagar, April 15 The Congress denied the ticket to previous incumbent Bharat Ram Meghwal and fielded former Education Minister Bhanwar Lal Meghwal. The BJP had reposed faith in Nihalchand Meghwal, who lost last time. Both are facing a tough opponent in Shimla Devi Nayak of the NUZP, who lost the Assembly elections. Sriganganagar has always been a Congress bastion. BJP's Nihalchand is contesting for the sixth time. He has won thrice and was among the youngest parliamentarians of the country. He also remained an MLA for two terms. The saffron party is synonymous with this clan for this seat since 1975. The largely Punjabi-speaking Meghwal (SC) clansmen enjoy a numerical superiority in this seat and have traditionally been voting en bloc for their candidates. Since the Congress and BJP candidates belong to the same caste, the division of votes is another factor that will affect the result.
On the other hand, Congress candidate Bhanwar Lal is battling the outsider tag and is finding the going tough with an influential section of local Congress leadership keeping away from campaigning for him. Insiders are of the view that he had to be roped in because no one else was willing to contest given the huge win of Kamini in the Assembly polls. So much so that even Bharatram too was reluctant to contest this time due to the NUZP factor, mainly because of its patron's money power. Shimla Devi was the NUZP candidate from Raisingnagar in the Assembly polls and had given a tough fight to her opponents. Given the infighting in the Congress, she has the potential to upset the permutations and combinations of the BJP and the Congress. Locals liken her to a goliath who will humble the two. Interestingly, BSP had announced Sohan Nayak as its candidate but chose to hoodwink his supporters and did not file his papers at the last moment. He had to face the ire of the rank and file of his party since it had polled over 29, 000 votes in the previous elections. Other candidates who have made their mark include Dr Balkrishan Bavari of AAP and Pala Ram of the CPM. Know your
constituency
THOSE SLUGGING IT OUT
BJP CPM
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Yeddy faces tough challenge from newcomer
Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service
Shimoga, April 15 Shivrajkumar is not preparing for a role that requires him to sport a dishevelled look. Round-the-clock campaigning for his wife Geetha Shivrajkumar, Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from Shimoga, has taken its toll on the film actor's appearance. "No shooting for last nine days. I shall start working again from April 22," the 51-year-old actor told the TNS. Karnataka will go to polls on April 17. Shivrajkumar, who has two films on floor, will use the period between April 17 and April 22 to get back into shape. Pitted against BS Yeddyurappa, BJP candidate and former Karnataka Chief Minister, Geetha, however, is banking more on the legacy of her father late Bangarappa, former Chief Minister, than her connection with the first family of Kannada film industry.
Though the JD(S) nominee claims counting more on the legacy of her politician father than her matinee idol father-in-law, her campaign is heavily dependent on personalities from the film industry. Fielding her against Yeddyurappa could be a masterstroke by the JD(S) as Geetha has emerged as Yeddyurappa's main challenger. Manjunath Bhandary, candidate of the ruling Congress party, is in fact yet to make a serious impact on the voters of the constituency. Yeddyurappa, who has recently returned to the BJP after a brief period of estrangement, also considers the JD(S) candidate as his main rival. "In 2009, my son BY Raghavendra defeated Bangarappa in Shimoga in the Lok Sabha elections. In the 2008 Assembly elections, I defeated Bangarappa in Shikaripur (an assembly segment of Shimoga). I shall easily beat the daughter this time", Yeddyurappa (71) told the TNS. Yeddyurappa refused to accept that the track-record of the first BJP government in Karnataka (2008-13) that came to power under his leadership has become a liability for the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "Because I broke away from the party, the Congress could defeat us in the Assembly elections", he said while admitting that forming of the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) by him "was a mistake". The BJP leader claimed corruption charges against him had failed to reduce his stature. "I shall win with a big margin", he said. Political observers in Shimoga, however, disagree. They say Yeddyurappa may win from the constituency, but not with a big margin. This correspondent met Yeddyurappa in his Shikaripur house at around 7.30 am. He was having tea and reading newspapers in a room all alone. Supporters, favour- seekers and the others, who are normally found around a successful politician, were missing. Bangarappa's two sons, Madhu and Kumar, are in opposing political camps. Madhu remained loyal to his father and is now a JD(S) MLA, the party that Bangarappa, a consummate party hopper, had joined shortly before his death. Madhu is in charge of campaigning for his sister Geetha. Kumar, who is with the Congress and wanted the Congress ticket for the seat for himself to challenge his sister, is making occasional appearance to seek vote for the Congress candidate. Assembly segments Shimoga Rural
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Sixth FIR against Azam Khan after poll panel’s rebuke
The latest FIR was registered against Khan on
the night of April 13 at Afzalgarh police station in Bijnore, official
sources said today. While two FIRs have been lodged against Azam in
Bijnore, one FIR each has been lodged in Ghaziabad, Rampur, Sambhal and
Shamli districts for allegedly making inflammatory speeches and
violating the mode code of conduct. The EC
had been critical of the role of the Samajwadi Party government in the
state for "soft-pedalling" on registration of FIRs against
Khan and not dealing with the sensitive issue with alacrity. Khan had
addressed an election rally at Afzalgarh in support of Moradabad's SP
candidate, ST Hasan, on April 10 in which he had allegedly tried to
flare up communal feelings by speaking on the Gujarat and Muzaffarnagar
riots in detail. Another FIR was lodged against Khan in Bijnore on
April 11 for allegedly making provocative remarks at an election rally
in Nehtaur on the same day. He has been accused for flaring up communal
feeling and trying to divide people on religious lines. Earlier, an FIR
was lodged against Khan in Sambhal on April 12 on charges of inciting
communal passions during his election meeting on April 9 where Khan had
exhorted the electorate to take revenge from the rioters of
Muzaffarnagar by pressing the (EVM) button in the Lok Sabha polls. On
April 12, Khan was booked in Masuri police station of Ghaziabad for his
controversial remarks on the Kargil war on April 7. The SP leader,
during his party rally in Muslim-dominated area Masuri area, said,
"Kargil ki pahadiyo ko fateh karne wala koi Hindu nahi tha, balki
Kargil ki pahadiyo ko nara-e- takbeer Allah-Hu-Akbar kehkar fateh
karnewale Musalman fauji the" (peaks of Kargil were not conquered
by Hindus, but by Muslims). Another FIR was registered against Azam in
Shamli district on April 12. In his home district Rampur too, an FIR
was registered against Khan for his speech at Kila Rampur made on April
10 in which he purportedly reiterated his controversial Kargil remarks
and also targeted BJP leader Amit Shah, terming him "fascist and
‘insaniyat ka qaatil’". In these FIRs, charges against Khan
included Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on
ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc), 153B
(imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505
(statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between
classes) of IPC besides Section 125 (Representation of the People Act,
1951). — PTI
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Congress, BJP rope in star leaders to pull up support
Jammu, April 15 BJP national president Rajnath Singh also addressed a public rally in Udhampur today and sought votes and support for party candidate Jitender Singh. Congress MP and Bollywood actor Raj Babbar today held a road show in Kishtwar, after holding the same in Udhampur and Kathua district on Monday. Kishtwar had witnessed communal tension last year on August 9, (Eid), where three persons lost their lives and property worth crores got damaged. Tension polarised the area people. They are scared even today. Political parties are well aware of this fact, which a section of politicians have tried to exploit during the campaigning process.
The BJP fielded its national executive member, Jitender Singh, who has never contested any election so far. But the party is depending mostly on the Modi wave to click in this part of the country as well. During the campaigning, Congress touched the issue of secularism and work done by the UPA I and II for the past 10 years and the work by its candidate, Ghulam Nabi Azad, during his tenure as J&K Chief Minister from 2005 to 2008. BJP on the other hand has focused on corruption, unemployment in the country and in the state and plans made by Modi to change the destiny of the people of the country and implementing the Gujarat model. On the last day of the campaign, Congress and its alliance partner National Conference showed their presence in all six districts-Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua-and sought votes for Azad.
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Gimmicks won’t do, voters want serious representatives
Jalandhar, April 15 Earlier, in the absence of social media, political parties had to plan gimmicks to attract voters. But now, people want to debate on serious issues before casting their vote. They don't want their leader to be a gimmick artiste, but the one who could resolve their problems. Strict guidelines by the Election Commission of India have also restricted the election 'tamasha'. Candidates now prefer contacting voters. A little bit hullabaloo related to the election is now restricted only to election campaigns and rallies called by senior party leaders. Hari Chand (106), who is one of the country's oldest voters from Mahisampur village near Phillaur, said: "There was a time when people used to paint their bodies with Tricolour or the colour of their favourite party. Candidates used to ride on elephants while going to file nominations and supporters walked behind him dancing on patriotic Bollywood numbers and while taking out processions on major roads and intersections." He said: "Even until a few years ago, youths could be seen having their favourite party symbol carved on their head. It used to be great fun, more like a mela thing. But nobody is interested in such gimmicks now. The election fervour has moved from exuberance to soberness." Kabir Sahni, director, Election Awaaz, a firm offering election management services to various political leaders, said: "The politicians have realised the importance of micro-management concept in elections, where they have to reach out to the micro (voter) level. Hence, instead of pompous shows, they prefer making a one-to-one contact with voters and visit their homes." "Campaign material, including vinyl-box posters, flex, paper posters, cut-outs, banners, flags, handbills, kites, caps and umbrellas printed with party symbols, which used to sell like hot cakes initially, is now being mostly used as a filler to add some fervour to election rallies," he said. He added that besides cutting the cost, personal contact programmes help a candidate in building a strong relation with his voters. Criticising the strict guidelines laid down by the ECI this time, MS Gill, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, said: "The election code of conduct was made strict long time ago, as it was necessary then. But now, I see a trend that I do not agree with. Remember, elections are a celebration of democracy; a people's mela. Not allowing people to put party flags on their homes or wearing garlands while filing nominations is not right according to me. One should be careful while framing laws and balance it out accordingly.” With election fervour and gaiety dying a slow death, the country is moving towards a silent
election this time.
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Stage set for NDA’s post-poll
tie-up with INLD, BJD: Gujral
After striking an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu and his
TDP, an encouraged NDA leadership is making fresh efforts to bring as many regional parties under what it describes as “rainbow coalition”. The NDA top leadership is also in touch with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and is hoping to get the “powerful didi’s nod” for a post-poll tie-up. “The NDA-INLD alliance is almost a reality. The only hitch is that the Chautalas are in jail. We are working out the technicalities for a formal announcement that you will be hearing about very soon,” said
Gujral. “I assure you that the INLD is not going anywhere except the
NDA. I am in touch with the INLD leadership as an emissary of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal,” said the soft-spoken Naresh Gujral, who has emerged as one of the main mediator-cum-strategists of the
NDA. On the NDA strategy to bring Naveen Patnaik and his BJD into its fold, Naresh Gujral said the BJD was a part of the NDA earlier. “This time too, the BJD will again be siding with us. We are in an advanced stage of parleys. I am in touch with Naveen
Patnaik,” said Gujral. Referring to the NDA’s exploration of the possibility of a tie-up with Mamata
Banerjee, who has a reputation of being “too tough a lady to handle” for any alliance, Gujral said he and the NDA leadership were confident that after the elections, Mamata would join their flock. “West Bengal is in a huge fiscal mess and needs a lot of money for development. The UPA refused to extend it the much-sought-after debt re-structuring facility. “The NDA will do it without any hassles. Once it is done, West Bengal will be on the path of development once again,” said Naresh Gujral who was in Punjab to garner support for his family friend and BJP candidate from Amritsar Arun
Jaitley. On Jaitley’s poll prospects, Gujral said that as Jaitley was a “Punjab da
puttar” who has been raising the voice of Punjab time and again like his father and former PM Inder Kumar
Gujral, he would win the seat by a big margin. “Jaitley is the real ‘aam
aadmi’ as he preferred to stay in his private accommodation in Delhi. As Leader of Opposition, he was entitled to a huge bungalow,” said
Gujral.
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Cong ministers on a sticky wicket in R’sthan
Ajmer, April 15 Having won the last Lok Sabha elections in 2009 by a margin of over 76,000 votes, Pilot, a Gujjar, this time finds himself on a sticky wicket, especially after the November 2013 Assembly elections which brought the BJP back to power in desert state of Rajasthan. Despite a strong performance in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress lost all the eight Assembly elections in November last, which had made Pilot jittery. He had sought to move to another constituency. But taking it as a prestige election, Congress high command chose to re-nominate Pilot from Ajmer, in a way sending a signal to the people of Ajmer that the party is confident of a victory here. In the 2013 Assembly polls, a section of Gujjars voted for the BJP and the saffron party swept all the eight Assembly segments. However, reports suggest that on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, Pilot has consolidated Gujjar and minority votes in a bid to give a tough fight to Sanwar Lal Jat. However, it is just not Pilot, among the Congress Union Ministers, contesting elections from various constituencies in Rajasthan, who are facing a tough contest and find themselves on slippery turf. Non-performance by the candidates over the last five years and a strong anti-Congress feeling has put five others, who were ministers in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, on a slippery wicket. They are Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Namo Narain Meena, Jitendra Singh, Girija Vyas and top party leader and former minister CP Joshi. While the fate of Chandresh, from the royal family of Jodhpur, and Joshi, also the former party chief in the state, will be decided on Thursday, Meena and Jitendra Singh face the ballot on April 24. Unable to put in a good performance, CP Joshi shifted his constituency to Jaipur (Rural). But he has ended up facing ace shooter turned politician Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore of the BJP. With a groundswell of support for the BJP and more importantly for its PM candidate Narendra Modi in the state, which borders Gujarat, Joshi is not a front-runner.
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Rajnath meets Muslim clerics in Lucknow
Lucknow, April 15 Talking about the meeting, Tandon today said, "These are courtesy meetings. Every candidate meets prominent people of different sections of society and seeks their support." He claimed there was no political discussion at the meet during which the clerics discussed problems faced by the Muslims and emphasised on the need for a special opportunity for the community in the field of
education. Maulana Farangi Mahali said the meeting was held in a good atmosphere during which discussions took place on the issues related to Muslims. He said Rajnath Singh had old relations with his father and had been visiting him even when he was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
— PTI
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Twitterati
When Gandhi ji did not head government of independent India, it was sacrifice. When Sonia ji did so, it was a smokescreen.
— ShivrajSingh
Chouhan Shahzada has not got over his childhood days, which is why he can't see beyond balloons & toffees. Development is a non-issue for him. — Narendra Modi
First Amrinder's failure to disclose illegal account then Booze and final Robber's fraud. Wait for Namo's Special Courts . Within one year!
— Subramanian Swamy Qamar Wahid Naqvi in IndiaTV resigns because of a fixed interview of Rajat Sharma with Modi. Media ke liye "Ab achhe din aane wale hein!" —
Digvijaya Singh Desh me 12 gas cylinder par bhashan dene wale Rahul Gandhi ke apne kshetra Amethi mein 4 mahine se janta ko mitti ka tel kyu nahi mila hai? — Smriti Z Irani
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SP polarising votes to win polls: BJP
Lucknow, April 15 "Despite a ban by the Election Commission on UP Cabinet Minister Mohd Azam Khan to hold a rally, his speeches were being read in public meetings that spit venom of communalism," Laxmikant Bajpai, UP BJP president, told reporters. He said the party would raise the issue before the Election Commission. The former UP Chief Minister had also accused Narendra Modi of indulging in lies and fraud, and said "if such a man becomes the PM...the country will be in disarray and communal forces will be strengthened."
— PTI
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Campaign ends for 7 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar 11 UP seats to see polling on Thursday Ongole Congress MP joins TDP
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The battle lines are drawn in Amritsar and the stage is set for the clash of the titans. The Congress has turned the tables on the SAD-BJP alliance by fielding former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh against Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley.
Jalandhar, April 15
Key CONSTITUENCY Shimoga
If you want to know if there is any Modi wave in the country, better ask BJP leader Murli Manohar
Joshi. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Home Minister
They (DMK and others) say only two things. One, Jayalalithaa should not become the PM and the other is only those whom they identify should become the
PM. J Jayalalithaa
Replacing three-time MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, the road is not smooth for Jaitley. He, however, has an edge over Amarinder as he is one of the top national BJP leaders and is a known face among urban voters. Moreover, the state BJP stands united and is supporting him. The ruling SAD has thrown its entire weight behind him with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal personally evincing interest in his poll campaign. The ruling alliance has covered a lot of ground in terms of campaign as the SAD-BJP workers are out among the people for the past over a fortnight seeking votes for Jaitley. 
I will like to see Amritsar a more planned city emerging as a great tourism centre and a city which will have buoyancy in its trade. I visualise an Amritsar which is connected by highways. Amritsar with a legacy of medical colleges could be an ideal location for AIIMS. The expansion of the industrial corridor to Amritsar can boost the economic activity in the city. This should be accompanied by the creation of suburban
townships. 
I have plans to revise the blueprint for the overall development of Amritsar conceptualised during my tenure as the Punjab CM. Bringing back the industries with improved infrastructure and instilling confidence in investors will be my priority. I will try that the border areas get
concessions. 
I want to see Amritsar as one of the best cities in the world. I will try to revive the industry and improve infrastructure. Farmer-friendly policies for border villages, better and extended road connectivity with local bus services and zero tolerance to drug trafficking will be my
priorities.
Lack of all round development, non- availability of the canal water and compensation for lands inside the barbed wire fence on the international border with Pakistan were major poll issues in the past and are being raised even today. People are of the opinion that Nihalchand has not been able to raise these issues effectively on the floor of the house and this will reflect on the percentage of votes polled by him on April 17.
"I am trying to carry out the good works of my father. Since my mother is not well, I have taken her place and decided to contest in the elections", she tells this reporter. A housewife till recently, Geetha (49) looks happiest when talking about her two daughters, one a doctor and the other an architecture student.
Lucknow/Bijnore,
Apr 15
On
April 11, the EC had banned Khan from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh and
asked authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against him.
There is a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP, as Congress fielded its best candidate from J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad, to minimise the Modi wave on the seat. The Congress party replaced the candidature of its sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Lal Singh and asked Azad to contest.
Chandigarh, April 15
