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Constituency profile: Patiala
campaign trail:
ch santokh singh |
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key Constituency:
Porbandar
campaign trail:
Renuka rawat
campaign trail:
farooq abdullah
‘Modi tsunami’ will decimate other parties in UP: Shah
Calling govt ‘indifferent’, ex-servicemen vow to back candidates with Army background
Mulayam ‘defends’ Azam
Over 77 % polling;
cop killed in Kokrajhar clash In Assam, PM says no Modi wave
Rahul slams Modi on snoopgate
Gujarat no ‘swarg’: Sonia Book Modi for road show telecast: Cong Modi nomination date part of BJP’s bigger plan? Minimum enthusiasm in maximum city; turnout 53%
YSR Cong leader dies in car crash
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‘Maharani’ tries to hold her fort
Congress turncoat Dhillon accuses Preneet of non-performance, AAP claims to dent her vote bank Aman Sood Tribune News Service
Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh's wife is facing Congress turncoat Deepinder Singh Dhillon of the SAD and Dr Dharamvir Gandhi of AAP.
The sitting MP is facing strong anti-incumbency. Before joining the Akalis, Preneet's SAD rival Dhillon was her close confidant. She will also miss her husband Capt Amarinder Singh as he is contesting elections from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. Preneet is accused of not getting any major project for Patiala during her 15-year tenure. The SAD-BJP has also been raking the issue of her alleged foreign bank accounts. SAD candidate Deepinder Dhillon, on the other hand, is facing anti-incumbency in Punjab, thus giving an advantage to AAP candidate, who is gaining ground not only in urban but also in rural areas of the constituency. Congress stronghold
Preneet Kaur, who became the Minister of State of External Affairs in UPA-II, has won the seat three times since 1999. Her mother-in-law Mohinder Kaur represented the seat in 1967 and 1980. Since 1957, the Congress won the seat nine times while SAD bagged it four times. Switching loyalties
After Dhillon, former Patiala Mayor Vishnu Sharma joined the SAD on Wednesday along with his close friends and former councillors, who have been opposing Preneet's candidature. Sharma is a known Hindu leader of the city. The royal family is trying its best to take along Patiala (Rural) Brahm Mohindra along and though Mohindra is addressing rallies in Preneet's support, his opposition to Amarinder Singh needs no introduction. In Nabha, the Congress is trying hard to gain ground while trying to woo Amloh MLA Kaka Randeep Singh, who has a strong base there. Dhillon's clean image
Deepinder Dhillon, known for his clean political image and an educated background (lawyer by profession), has been slowly but steadily gaining ground in Patiala. Already having a good base in Dera Bassi and Rajpura areas, the recent rallies by the SAD leaders have ensured that he gets a strong backing in rural areas too. Chinks in SAD
The SAD may be facing infighting in Nabha, Sanaur and Patiala (City and Rural) Assembly segments over political supremacy, but Dhillon's no-tagged image with any particular group within the local politics will get him good support. Recently there were some differences reported between Dhillon and Surjit Singh Rakhra after the latter inaugurated a party office in Haryana instead of Samana. However, stern warnings to local units from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to work united may work for Dhillon. Rise of AAP brigade
AAP candidate and cardiologist Dharamvir Gandhi is a prominent social figure in Patiala and adjoining areas. It was the Jan Lokpal campaign, started by Anna Hazare, which inspired him to join AAP. He is confident of a "historic upset" as he is finding support from intellectuals, youths, professionals and villagers. He is stressing his campaign on Patiala-centric issues. Others in the fray
Kamaldeep Kaur, foster sister of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is on a death row in the Beant Singh assassination case, is also in the fray. While she is expected to take away some Panthic votes, CPI's Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal and BSP's Ram Singh Dhiman could prove spoilers for the Congress. In all, there are 20 candidates in the fray, which has 15.7 lakh voters. Key issues
Devastation caused by the Ghaggar, ill-equipped Government Rajindra Hospital, poor roads, short supply of potable water and poor sanitation facilities to about 40 per cent people in the constituency. Nine Assembly segments
Patiala has nine Assembly segments: Nabha, Patiala (City), Patiala (Rural), Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Ghanaur, Sanour, Samana and Shutrana. The Congress has five seats while the Akalis have four. Candidatespeak
Preneet Kaur, Congress Deepinder Dhillon, sad Dharamvir Gandhi,
Aam Aadmi Party
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campaign trail:
ch santokh singh Rachna Khaira Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 24 Dressed in a white kurta pyjama and a pastel green Nehru jacket, Santokh Singh gives instructions to party workers for the day before having breakfast. He is ready to hit the road in his Tata Innova SUV. He has to cover 345 kms to address nine public meetings across four Assembly segments. Addressing a gathering at Adarsh Nagar, he said: "The Badals control the transport and liquor businesses in the state. They are hand-in-glove with the sand mafia and Majithia is involved in the drug trade." After addressing supporters at Wadala village, his next stop is Kishangarh village. "The Badal and Majithia syndicate is following the divide and rule policy." At Kala Bakra village, he terms Modi as 'chalawa' (illusion), CM Parkash Singh Badal as 'Baba Badal','Aurangzeb' and 'nizaam', his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur as 'Nanhi Chaan' and Sukhbir Badal as 'Shekh Chilli'. "Sukhbir becomes 'Shekh Chilli' and claims that he has surplus power to sell it to Pakistan," he says. After lunch, the Congress candidate makes a halt at Buta Singh's house at Jalowal Colony, set up by his father Master Gurbanta Singh in 1957. Targeting the SAD-BJP government in the state, Santokh Singh says CM Parkash Singh Badal is trying to take the credit of schemes launched by the UPA government. "The CM cannot fool the voters by pasting his pictures on the Central government schemes." He addresses the next meeting at Kapoor Pind where hundreds of children welcome him with Congress flags in their hands. He addresses his last public meeting of the day at Deep Nagar around 10 pm. But the day is not over for the Congress candidate. He still has to meet the party workers of the area.
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Musclemen slug it out in the land of Mahatma
BJP’s Vitthal Radadia takes on Kandhal Jadeja of NCP — both having criminal background — in battle of clans Manas Dasgupta
Porbandar, April 24 Sounds strange, but neither the BJP strongman Vitthal Radadia nor his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rival Kandhal Jadeja are talking about strengthening or weakening Modi's hands in the coastal constituency of Porbandar in the Saurashtra region. It is a battle of supremacy of their respective clans, not so much of the political parties. No cakewalk for
BJP
Porbandar, the birth place of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, is the only seat in the state conceded by the Congress to the NCP to avoid division of
anti-BJP votes. Jadeja's arrival has forced the BJP to concede that it would no longer be a cakewalk for
Radadia. Member of the state Assembly from Kutiyana, one of the seven Assembly segments of the Porbandar constituency,
Kandhal, son of mafia don Sarman Munjha, and Santokben Jadeja, on whom the Bollywood movie "Godmother" was filmed, is competing with Radadia in respect of criminal cases pending against each of them. Criminal past
If Radadia has 10 cases of assault, rioting, destruction of public property and criminal intimidation pending against him, Kandhal is not far behind with nine cases related to the Arms and Explosives Act pending against him. A Leuva Patel leader, Radariya had been walking over the seat at will winning in the Parliamentary or Assembly elections irrespective of the party. Shifting loyalties
Radadia shot to infamy by brandishing a revolver at a toll plaza near Vadodara just before the last Assembly elections. The fault of the toll clerk was only that he had demanded his identity to allow him free onward journey. The case is still pending against him. The BJP workers managing Radadia'S election campaign admit that their candidate has a "bad image" of being a hot-headed person, but take solace that his NCP rival was no better.
Kandhal Jadeja is almost an equal match in share of notoriety. Not only that he bears the fearsome legacy of his mafia don father, who was killed in a gang rivalry decades ago, and later mother
Santokben, who virtually ruled the badlands of Saurashtra in their heydays, Kandhal has also been booked in several criminal cases. He was one of the main accused in his wife's murder case eight years ago. Later, he and his younger brother,
Karan, who remained behind the bars for several years in this connection, were let off by the court. Besides, he has an advantage of belonging to the Mer community. "We don't see a possibility of any threat to law and order in
Porbandar," said District Collector MA Gandhi. "Neither of the two candidates do anything to violate the Model Code of Conduct or threaten the law and order situation," he maintained. A similar assertion came from the Fisheries Minister in the Modi Cabinet, Babubhai
Bokhiria, himself accused of being a part of the mining mafia. "Things have settled down in Porbandar and it is no more like earlier days when bullets used to speak," Bokhiria said. According to Bokhiria's calculations, besides the Patel community, which has the largest chunk of voters in
Porbandar, other communities are also with Radariya giving him an edge over his rival. He agreed that Kandhal had some appeal in his Mer community, but claimed that his image was coming in the way of reaching out to the others. Not many seem to agree with
Bokhiria. "Kandhalbhai is a local boy and is available every time you need him," a local businessman said. Radadia is an outsider and is never accessible,” said another businessman. Dalits, Muslims want change
A NCP leader said: "People from my community and others too are dissatisfied with Radariya as he has divided the constituency on caste lines," Kandhal said. While the BJP candidate had a strong support from the Patel voters, others, including
Dalits, Muslims and Kharvas, were looking for a change, he added. Caste arithmetic
Five of the seven Assembly segments in the constituency are with the
BJP, one is held by Kandhal and one by the Congress. Of the 15.37 lakh voters, 30 per cent are
Patels. The Mer community has 1.22 lakh votes, Kolis 1.32 lakh, Dalits 1.22
lakh, Muslims 96,000 and Kshatriyas, the traditional rivals of the
Patels, have 95,000 votes. Assembly segments Gondal, Jetpur, Dhoraji, Porbandar, Kutiyana, Manavadar, Keshod.
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CM’s wife tries to shun her ‘outsider’ tag in Haridwar
Sandeep Rawat Tribune News Service
Haridwar, April 24 Her day starts at 5.30 am with meditation and 'puja'. Renuka's daughter Anupama Rawat is accompanying her. After sipping lemon tea, she moves to her election office at Devpura, where her day's itinerary has been of chalked out by workers of the party's women wing. "I don't have a lavish lifestyle. Since childhood, I have spent my life in Almora. I feel blessed and close to nature in Haridwar after Almora," said Renuka. A law graduate, Renuka's political acumen comes to the fore as she meets women, youths, Dalits and senior party activists calling them by their names. She has remained active in politics and has been accompanying her husband in the state functions. She also tries to shun her 'outside tag' saying that she is there to serve the people of Haridwar. Listing the villages in the Haridwar constituency, Renuka says no other candidate has covered the length and breadth of this segment as she has done. Renuka's charm lies in her simplicity and her ability to gel with party workers and voters. Addressing a gathering at the minority dominated Maidaniyan Mohalla, she says: "Will you want a destroyer Narendra Modi to lead the nation or Rahul Gandhi, who has no hesitation in eating and sleeping at a Dalit's place?" "Vote for the Congress if you want development and welfare of the weaker sections," said Renuka. "My husband lost four consecutive Lok Sabha elections from Almora, which could have shattered any other politician. I also lost by 15,000 votes in 2004, but I am with the people of Haridwar. Win or loss does not matter," said Renuka as she moves to another village in her open jeep.
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campaign trail:
farooq abdullah Manages only two events a day in the Valley where he sticks to ‘fear the BJP’ and ‘hate the PDP’ campaign Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service
Srinagar, April 24 As Abdullah walks in, the security personnel heighten alert by getting into the finger-on-trigger mode amid the Union Minister's supporters raising slogans to the drumbeats. In Zadibal, an exterior locality of Srinagar city, Abdullah sits on the stage with his close aides, while a supporter holds the podium and speaks about the developmental progress of the Assembly segment. Abdullah, president of the state's ruling National Conference (NC) and a minister in the UPA-II Cabinet, listens. Soon, a poet takes over the dais and eulogises the NC founder and Abdullah's father, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, and exhorts workers to keep supporting the party. Abdullah, 76, calibrates his unique style of addressing people according to the audience and their mood. After filing his nomination for the 16th Lok Sabha election, Abdullah had launched his campaign trail from Hazratbal's white-marble mosque, which houses a locally revered relic and once represented the unbridled clout of Abdullahs and the NC. Abdullah, one of the most powerful mainstream politicians of Kashmir having two terms at Lok Sabha, two at Rajya Sabha, five at the state Legislative Assembly and three terms as the state Chief Minister, is holding workers' meetings to strategise his campaign trail. Restricted by his ailing health, he avoids going on a whirlwind tour of the constituency and instead holds one or two events a day. Aware of his audience's "limited" knowledge and interest in politics, he mixes serious political rhetoric and accusations, street humour and curses, invokes "God's fury" against opponents and presents a theatrical speech that often triggers laughter. "The question today is not about roads, hospitals or jobs. The question is whether the country will survive or not," he says. "Listen, the fight is of temple and mosque, the fight is to determine whether Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians will live equally or will it become a Hindustan of Hindus," Abdullah says, projecting his party and the alliance partner Congress as the saviour of Muslims against a "demonic" opponent. The constituency will go to polls on April 30. To garner votes, Abdullah is vigorously taking a dig at the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the local opponent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He defends Article 370, which includes temporary provisions with respect to Jammu and Kashmir and limits the power of Parliament to make laws for the state, as a protection for the "Muslim majority" of the state. The defense of the Article, which the BJP has decided to abrogate once in power, has become Abdullah's electioneering slogan. Accusing PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of "lying and deceiving" people, he says: "I am wondering that he is not even afraid of grave. When he goes to the grave, he will be thrashed like our women thrash rice." Abdullah led his party into an alliance with the BJP-led NDA and broke away from it as quickly as he formed a new alliance with the Congress-led UPA. Despite a perfect management at the national level and winning enough seats in the last Assembly election to lead a coalition government in the state, Abdullah and his party is struggling to attract huge crowds at the rallies and workers' meetings. Abdullah blames Sayeed for all that went wrong in the past. He accuses Sayeed of enacting the AFSPA, which, he says, enables soldiers to "rape their mothers and sisters" without the fear of trial. He also holds Sayeed responsible for bringing Jagmohan, whom he defines as the "killer of Muslims", as the Governor in 1990. "I am being honest, I don't know this politics. I want to see when God's fury falls on him (Sayeed). One lightening should also strike him," the Union Minister says. He predicts a "damning" forecast of the country's future if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister as his electioneering changes more and more into a "fear the BJP" and "hate the PDP" campaign, the two parties which he accuses of having forged a clandestine alliance.
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‘Modi tsunami’ will decimate other parties in UP: Shah
Varanasi, April 24 Shah, party in charge of UP, said the groundswell of support for Modi in Varanasi had left no doubt about the BJP forming the government at the Centre under the leadership of the Gujarat Chief Minister. "Till now, there was a Modi wave in Uttar Pradesh. But now, as he has filed his nomination, this wave has turned into a tsunami. It will help the party in UP, Bihar and other states," said Shah after Modi filed his nomination. "Because of this tsunami, the Congress, the SP and the BSP will be wiped out in UP. It is certain that the next government will be formed by Narendra Modi," he said. Earlier, Modi held a massive show of strength with people greeting and cheering him on the roads of this spiritual temple town on the banks of sacred Ganges. The entire city revelled in saffron as a sea of people wearing Modi T-shirt and masks and holding BJP flags lined up along the arterial roads in sweltering heat to have a glimpse of the party's prime ministerial candidate. Modi has been challenged in the constituency by AAP's Arvind Kejriwal. Voting in Varanasi will be held on May 12. — PTI
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Calling govt ‘indifferent’, ex-servicemen vow to back candidates with Army background
Jalandhar, April 24 There are above four lakh ex-servicemen in Punjab. Brig Amarjit Singh Minhas, vice-president of the Zila Sainik Board, believes that they can be a game-changer in the General Election. "The indifferent attitude of the successive governments has forced the ex-servicemen to unite and raise their voice against the system," Brig Minhas said. The vote power
The ex-servicemen have become an important vote bank in the 16th Lok Sabha elections. "Many ex-servicemen associations and leagues are making efforts to be heard in the civil administration," Brig Minhas said. He said he liked the working style of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Col GS Sandhu, president of the Majha Ex-Servicemen Human Rights Front, Amritsar, and Brig Inderjit Singh, vice-president of the Indian Ex-Servicemen League, said they had supported Gul Panag, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Chandigarh, because her father was an ex-serviceman. In Punjab, they would be supporting the Congress candidate from Amritsar, Captain Amarinder Singh. "Being an ex-serviceman, he will understand our plight in a better way," Col Sandhu said. "Besides people with Army background, we will support candidates with clean image such as Manpreet Badal, who has been fielded as a joint candidate of the PPP and the Congress from Bathinda," Brig Inderjit Singh said. Demand for reservation
Demanding due representation in Parliament and the Assembly, the ex-servicemen have sought reservation as given to the Scheduled Castes and women. Brig Minhas said: "Since there are more than 25,000 ex-servicemen in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts, there should be an ex-servicemen quota." Struggle for one
rank one pension
The ex-servicemen have been struggling for the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme. Frustrated at the government's "neglect", ex-servicemen had started surrendering their medals to the President. "In the wake of medal-surrendering protests, the UPA government assured us in February that the OROP scheme will be implemented. However, no notification in this regard has been issued so far," Col Sandhu said. Brig Inderjit Singh said the requirement for the scheme was Rs 2,500 crore, but the UPA had announced only Rs 500 crore. Post-retirement jobs
"The Army personnel get retired at the age of 35, which is considered to be the prime age of one's youth. Due to lack re-employment policies, we face difficulties. Seats must be reserved for us in every sector," Brig Minhas added.
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Unnao, April 24 Citing the example of martyr 'Abdul Hamid', Yadav said in an an election rally, "There is contribution of Muslims in saving Indian borders. In 1965 Indo-Pak war Abdul Hameed had played a crucial role. When we say it, nothing happens, but when Azam talks on this matter, a lot of hue and cry is raised." Azam, who has been banned by the Election Commission from campaigning for his provocative speech, had earlier during a rally in Ghaziabad said that "Kargil was won by Muslim soldiers". Yadav said the contribution of Muslims in development of India could not be ignored. "Who used to make Banarasi sarees, jewellery, brass utensils... all by muslims. There is contribution of Muslims in development and that cannot be overlooked," he said. — PTI
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Cong says Modi diseased, is
megalomaniac
New Delhi, April 24 Lashing out at the BJP leader for his "self obsession" and "narcissistic streaks", Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said: "If God has already ruled in the favour of Narendra Modi, what are people voting for? He is diseased. He is a megalomaniac. He has for long been conducting himself as a Prime Minister even before the results have been pronounced. That shows how much faith he has in democratic processes and institutions." Modi had sought people's support for his prime ministerial bid yesterday, saying God had chosen him for the job. "God chooses certain people to do the difficult work. I believe God has chosen me for this work. Now, I only need your blessings," he said during a 3D telecast he has been using to connect with people across the country. The Congress spokesperson also took potshots at Modi's key aide Amit Shah for telling that Modi wave has now turned into a Tsunami. "Tsunami can only bring devastation and grief. What Amit Shah has said is something very ominous. We should be worried," Sharma said.
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Over 77 % polling;
cop killed in Kokrajhar clash
Guwahati, April 24 According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the constituency-wise polling percentage was Dhubri (80.97 %), Kokrajhar (77.74 %), Barpeta (74.21 %), Gauhati (74.06 %), Mangaldoi (80.01 %) and Nowgong (75.33 %). Seventy-four candidates are in the fray in the six constituencies. There were reports of malfunctioning of EVMs at a few polling booths across the constituencies. The polling, by and large, remained peaceful barring a couple of incidents of poll-related violence at two places. A police constable was lynched and two others were seriously injured in a clash with voters at No 180 polling station at Harbhganga LP School under Tulsibeel outpost in Gossaingaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district. Inspector General of Police LR Bishnoi said the clash broke out following a rumour about EVM malfunctioning. He said the slain police constable was identified as Pinku Rahang. The injured policemen were ASI Yunus Ali and constable Nareswar Roy who had to be shifted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital later. In another incident, 11 persons were injured, four of them seriously when workers of the Congress and the All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) clashed at a polling station at Nagarabera in the Gauhati constituency. Four seriously injured persons were shifted Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.
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In Assam, PM says no Modi wave
Guwahati, April 24 "I don't think the Congress is losing ground. We should wait till the outcome of the polls, which will be known on May 16," he told mediapersons after casting his ballot at a Dispur school in Guwahati. "I have not seen any Modi wave sweeping the country. The Modi wave is only a creation of the media," he said. The Prime Minister and his wife, however, skipped a visit to his rented house in the Sarumotoria area, located close to the polling centre, and instead left for New Delhi immediately after voting. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has been representing Assam in the Rajya Sabha since 1991, is listed as a tenant at House No 3989 in the Sarumotoria area of Guwahati. Earlier, Manmohan Singh and his wife arrived at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi international airport around 11.45 am and were flown to the Veterinary College ground in the Khanapara area in an Indian Air Force helicopter. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and state Congress chief Bhubneswar Kalita received them at Khanapara, from where they proceeded to the polling centre. They entered the polling centre around 12.25 pm and cast their votes. — IANS
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Rahul slams Modi on snoopgate
Jalaun/Sitapur (UP), April 24 Addressing election rallies in Jalaun and Sitapur, the Congress vice-president said Modi gave 45,000 acres belonging to farmers to Adani group at the rate of one rupee per square metre, but not a single industry was set up. He said in turn Adani sold the land at the rate of Rs eight per sq metre. "This is Modi's Gujarat model," he said. "In Gujarat, Modi gets the phone of women tapped. Modi makes huge promises of giving respect to the women. In reality, Modi's government does not respect the women," he said. Priyanka Gandhi yesterday took on Modi by raking up the "snoopgate" controversy surrounding him. — PTI
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Valsad (Gujarat), April 24 Addressing her first election rally in Gujarat, which goes to the polls on April 30, she tore into Modi’s much-touted Gujarat “development model” and appealed to the people to reject the “divisive” ideology of the RSS and the BJP as it was “bad” for the country. “The BJP leader claims if he comes to power, he will transform the country into ‘swarg’ (heaven). But he does not tell you the truth about difficulties that you might be facing in your day-to-day life,” Gandhi said, targeting Modi without mentioning his name. “The debt of Gujarat Government stands at 1.75 lakh crore, many villages do not get drinking water, every second child below the age of five is malnourished here and school dropout ratio is the highest in Gujarat,” she said. “The most surprising thing is that all those who earn more than Rs 11 a day are not considered poor by the Gujarat Government. Now you tell is this ‘swarg’ (heaven) or something else?” she asked the people at the well-attended gathering. “He is just interested in his chair. They are not interested in the welfare of the poor.” Sonia also targeted the BJP and Modi on corruption and raked up the issue of non-appointment of the Lokayukta for 10 years in Gujarat. “The BJP has broken all boundaries of corruption. They are levelling baseless corruption allegations against the Congress but it is we who brought a law like the RTI Act. We have also taken strict action against those who were found guilty of indulging in corruption,” she said. “Has the BJP government taken such steps? No, they have not. Why was the Lokayukta appointed in Gujarat after 10 years? Was the appointment delayed to cover up corruption,” she asked. — PTI
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Book Modi for road show telecast: Cong
New Delhi, April 24 Citing provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which bars political parties from holding processions during the period of polling, the Congress wondered why the EC failed to prevent the beaming of Modi's show while polling was on in 11 states today. The party said the EC, tasked with conducting free and fair elections, should have ring fenced all poll-bound segments to ensure voters were not influenced by the telecast of Modi's show. "What has happened is without precedent. The sanctity of the electoral process in 117 segments has been gravely violated, the model code of conduct has been thrown to the winds and the RPA brazenly infringed. We don't want to hear of notices by the EC. We want action. We demand an FIR against all BJP leaders present in the Varanasi procession, including Modi," said Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, senior spokesperson of the Congress. The Congress said the BJP and its PM nominee deliberately chose April 24, the date of polling in 117 segments, for the latter's road show during nomination filing in Varanasi. "It was a deliberate attempt to influence the voters. It is a grave violation of the law governing free and fair conduct of elections," Sharma said. Section 126 of the RPA prohibits public meetings during 48 hours immediately preceding the conclusion of polling. It says, "No person shall convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election; or display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus; or propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any polling area during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in the polling area." Two-year imprisonment is prescribed for the violators. The Congress argued the telecast of Modi's Varanasi procession "needed to have been prevented today till the last vote had been polled". The telecast could have started after the polling concluded, Sharma said. Ironically even Rahul Gandhi's procession on April 12, the day he filed his nomination papers from Amethi, was telecast in poll-bound areas. The Congress replying to this issue said the EC should prevent violations of the law irrespective of who the violator is.
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Modi nomination date part of BJP’s bigger plan? New Delhi, April 24 In other words, the day was not as auspicious as the BJP, which is believed to take most decisions keeping such astrological factors in mind, would have liked it to be. It is also believed that several yajnas and prayers were performed in different temples to "sooth" the stars and constellations and make the situation conducive for the BJP and its PM candidate. The question, therefore, is why the BJP, which is so particular about getting the dates and the time right, choose April 24 for its PM candidate to file his nomination papers from Varanasi? Apparently, the carefully measured move was designed to impact the polling throughout the country. Today's polling (the fifth phase) was the biggest of the nine-phased Lok Sabha elections, covering 13 states and 122 constituencies. So, with images of Modi in pristine white (perhaps to send a message to Muslims that it was not all about saffron with him) streaming on televisions sets, the BJP wanted to target voters throughout the country. "The mega reality show was a way to ensure that Modi's images remain in their minds when voters go to the polling booths, whichever part of the country they are in," analysts say. "A lot was on stake today. The BJP managed to ensure election campaigning even at places where it had ended hours before," they add. The BJP has been quite careful in choosing dates for various important events whether it was Modi's anointment as the PM candidate on September 13, 2013, or the unveiling of its election manifesto on April 7 (the day India started the poll process with the first phase elections).
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Minimum enthusiasm in maximum city; turnout 53%
Mumbai, April 24
Less than 35 per cent of registered voters had cast their votes by 3 pm today with maximum turnout being reported from polling booths in slum areas. During the hour just before close of polling, workers of different political parties were seen going house to house to persuade voters to come out and cast their votes. By 5 pm, the turnout had risen to 47 per cent. The queues outside polling stations had become lengthier towards the end of the day, thus nudging the overall poll percentage to around 53 per cent. In the 2009, the voter turnout in Mumbai stood at 43.52 per cent. Of the six seats in the metropolis, Mumbai North saw the turnout cross 49 per cent by 5 pm, while Mumbai South recorded the lowest turnout of 35 per cent. For several days before the polling day, newspapers and commercial establishments had come out with several deals to persuade people come out and vote. Several restaurants in the tonier areas of the city had announced discounts to customers on showing their inked fingers. Top celebrities were also roped in to encourage people to vote. However, all measures resulted in a tepid response. Among the first to come out and vote today were prominent Bollywood celebrities such as actress Rekha (Rajya Sabha member), Vidya Balan, Sunny Deol, Aamir Khan and Suneil Shetty. Others like industrialist Anil Ambani were also among those who exercised their franchise. Names of some voters were missing from the electoral rolls in some areas. HDFC boss Deepak Parekh had to go back dejected as his name was not in the voter list. Elsewhere also in Maharashtra, the turnout was rather poor and did not exceed 40 per cent at most places by 3 pm. However, officials said long queues had formed and the turnout could be higher by the end of the day. Polling in most parts of the city was peaceful though some minor incidents of clashes between workers of different parties were reported in some areas. At Ghatkopar in Mumbai, a police constable was hit with a hockey stick when he tried to pacify groups of clashing workers of the Shiv Sena and the MNS.
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YSR Cong leader dies in car crash
Hyderabad, April 24 Shobha, a four-time legislator, was grievously injured after her car turned turtle after skidding off the road. The mishap occurred near Allagadda around midnight when she was returning home after participating in the election rallies in Nandyal. The driver lost control while negotiating a curve and the vehicle overturned and rolled four times causing severe head injuries and multiple rib fractures to the former MLA. A profusely bleeding Shobha was first admitted to a hospital at Nandyal and later shifted to a corporate hospital here. Two gunmen, who were travelling with her, and the driver also suffered injuries and were undergoing treatment at Kurnool. Their condition was said to be out of danger. Shobha, 46, is survived by her husband former MP Bhuma Nagireddy, who is contesting from Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency, two daughters and a son. "We are sad to inform that Shobha Nagireddy, who was brought to Care Hospital on April 24 following a major road accident, is no more," said a medical bulletin issued by the hospital. She was the daughter of former TDP minister SV Subba Reddy. She entered active politics in 1996 at the initiative of her husband who was then with the TDP. She was first elected to the Assembly in 1997 from Allagadda, a constituency she represented for four terms.
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AK 49 claims to have only Rs. 500. Did he inflate his asset worth in the affidavit submitted before the returning officer? — ShivrajSingh Chouhan This is not dharna. Hum sadhna aur prarthna karne ja rahe hain. — Arvind Kejriwal 'Jod-tod' politics has ruined our nation. Time has come to vote for a stable Govt. that is not dependent on unhealthy politics. — Narendra Modi All Fascists Dictators project themselves as God Chosen !Unsuspecting People only realise their mistake when it is too late. May God help us — Digvijaya Singh An all pervasive culture of corrption misuse of pblic asset & money & admnstratve discretion to enrich a few-been hallmark of the UPA — Rajeev Chandrasekhar
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Bank accounts of Ramdev trusts under EC scrutiny MNS-Sena men clash over 'cash distribution'
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Sitting MP Preneet Kaur is trying to stop the Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates from denting her vote bank.
It is 6 am and the well-guarded residence of Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Congress Candidate from Jalandhar (Reserve) Parliamentary constituency, is buzzing with activity.
It is perhaps the only constituency in the country where Gujarat Chief Minister and the BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi is not in the fray.
Congress activists outnumber saffron clad seers at Chetan Jyoti Ashram in
Haridwar. Party candidate and Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat's wife, who is the Congress candidate from the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat, had made the ashram her unofficial residence.
Srinagar, April 24
Narendra Modi's close aide Amit Shah today said the BJP would decimate the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh as the Modi wave had turned into a tsunami that was sweeping the entire country.
Jalandhar, April 24
Patiala, April 24
The Modi model of development is more a hype than reality. The Congress has always believed in all-round development. Congress is not the party of rich industrial houses, but of the ordinary
citizens. 
It has been proved that the Congress leaders are the root cause of corruption in the country. They have been robbing the poor with a series of scandals and stashing their money in foreign
banks.
Despite being the Patiala MP for the past 15 years, Preneet Kaur has done nothing for the people of the constituency. She has not even been able to address the Ghaggar issue. She has not been able to touch the soul of Patiala.~
It is perhaps the only constituency in the country where Gujarat Chief Minister and the BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi is not in the fray.
Radadia had won the Dhoraji Assembly seat twice, once as a BJP nominee and later as a Congress candidate. He had won the Porbandar parliamentary seat twice on a Congress ticket and once on the BJP ticket in the 2013 by-elections. He resigned from the Lok Sabha and successfully contested the Assembly elections in 2012. However, being denied the post of the leader of the Opposition, Radadia left the Congress and returned to the BJP fold after resigning from the state Assembly. His son, who was also a Congress MLA, followed suit. The elder Radadia was re-nominated by the BJP for the Porbandar Parliamentary by-election last year and his son for the Jetpur Assembly by-election and both won with ease.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today took on Narendra Modi on his home turf, saying Gujarat was nowhere near “swarg” (heaven) as claimed by him. She accused the BJP prime ministerial nominee of being concerned only about his chair.
