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Cong to step up tirade against Modi
Varanasi admn biased, AAP tells EC
It’s desperation, says BJP
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Court orders CBI probe into assets of TRS chief
Priyanka adds punch to Congress poll campaign
Priyanka Gandhi campaigns for her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli on Friday. PTI
Cong Muslim quota vow triggers row
Giriraj gets bail in hate speech case
Not able to vote, hundreds of Mumbaikars fume
campaign trailaxpartap singh bajwa
Congress candidate Partap Singh Bajwa meets shopkeepers at Qadian in Gurdaspur. PTI photo
Fans launch animation movie, theme song on Modi
‘Kakajis’ take ‘poll break’ from studies to fire up campaigning
Sonia made no sacrifice by
relinquishing PM post: Rajnath
BJP chief Rajnath Singh being presented a sword during a public meeting in Kheda, Gujarat. PTI photo
Modi nomination: Mayawati wants poll panel to take action against BJP
Cong pins hopes on
tribal, Muslim votes
Congress candidate Shankersinh Vaghela with party chief Sonia Gandhi at an election rally. AFP photo
Decent turnout in Muslim areas of Mumbai
campaign trail
campaign trail  Chamba, April 25
Tired after rallying through the roads of Banikhet and Chamba, it’s time for BJP leader Shanta Kumar to discuss the day’s developments with his party workers in a hotel room. BJP candidate Shanta Kumar being greeted by his supporters. A tribune photograph witterati
EC warns Mulayam
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Cong to step up tirade against Modi
New Delhi, April 25 "We are gaining from the strategy of exposing the lies of Narendra Modi. Had we started this exposure earlier, we would have gained more," said a top Congress leader admitting that the party's attacks on the BJP's prime ministerial nominee would get stronger by the day. With polling still due in 194 Lok Sabha constituencies (35 per cent of all seats), the Congress believes it can turn the tide to the disadvantage of Modi and the BJP, if not to its own advantage. "The focus is on stopping the march of Modi and the BJP and that is possible. We may not be in a position to form the government, but the BJP won't be either. You can't, however, rule out UPA-3," said a senior leader hinting at a scenario where the Congress supports a formation at the Centre with the PM not from its fold. Today, the party mocked the BJP leader for invoking all historical legends in his letter to people during the filing of nomination papers from Varanasi, but "far removed from all of them in reality". "Modi said the Ganga has called him to Varanasi. The Ganga can distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly. Modi invoked Lord Buddha who had given up his kingdom for Nirvana, whereas Modi has come to Varanasi in search of a kingdom. If he wants to attain Nirvana like Lord Buddha, we will help him," said Law Minister and senior Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal today. Congress' attack on Modi today was about exposing his "lies" on two counts-first, his claim that the Sardar Sarovar Project was his brainchild, whereas it was actually conceived during the times of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961 and implemented in 1985. "Modi had promised to irrigate Saurashtra by 2010, but that could not be done. All canals have collapsed despite Rs 29,000 crore being spent. The farmers are committing suicide whereas Modi says not one farmer in Gujarat has died," Sibal said. The second point he made was about Modi's claim to cleanse the Ganga after "coming to power". "Why does not Modi clean the Sabarmati first? He says his divine touch will clean the Ganga in a day, but it could not clean the Sabarmati in 15 years. Gujarat today is home to the country's three most polluted rivers - Sabarmati, Khari and Amlakhadi," he said. Congress' bottom line - Modi's facts are as polluted as the Sabarmati. PARTY'S ANTI-MODI stance
* He talks of securing women, but Gujarat has the lowest rate of conviction for crimes against women *
He talks of cleaning the Ganga, but has failed to clean the Sabarmati in 15 years of his rule *
He talks of secularism, but consistently refuses to wear a skull cap, though he wears headgears associated with all other communities
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Varanasi admn biased, AAP tells EC
New Delhi, April 25 Expressing apprehension of more violence, AAP leader and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan met the commission and submitted a complaint addressed to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath against the local administration’s response in handling the matter. The party has alleged that the UP police in Varanasi are “biased” and allegedly acting under the instruction of sections of the BJP leadership. It further alleged that the police failed to take any action to reach the masterminds behind the attacks on AAP workers over the last few days. On Wednesday, former Delhi Law Minister Somath Bharti and his aide were allegedly assaulted by BJP supporters in Varanasi during a TV debate at Assi Ghat. Bharti had raised the issue of attacks on North Indians in Mumbai by the Shiv Sena and asked Modi to clarify his party’s alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
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It’s desperation, says BJP
New Delhi, April 25 "The Congress is rattled by Modi's success," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said in response to the grand old party's objection to the telecast of Modi's road show in Varanasi while voting was on. He also dismissed Congress leaders' assertions that the people were hired for the show. He called it a reflection of their "exasperation and desperation". "Yesterday, what we saw was a spontaneous response for Modi. The Congress is feeling completely desperate, which is why it has gone to the Election Commission," Javadekar said. Not only the Congress, but other players in the UP poll arena (the SP and the BSP) have also objected to the telecast of Modi's road show and complained to the Election Commission seeking action against the BJP and its PM candidate. "Who are they complaining against? It seems the other parties are complaining against the Election Commission because they hold it responsible for clubbing together dates for filing nominations and voting," Javadekar said. Justifying the road show, he called it "perfectly legal. This just shows their exasperation". On the Congress' tirade against media, he said: "The media is independent. Obviously, they would not want to air flop shows. They also want houseful shows."
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Court orders CBI probe into assets of TRS chief
Hyderabad, April 25 Judge N Balayogi passed the orders after hearing a petition filed by advocate V Balaji seeking a probe into the allegedly disproportionate assets of the three leaders. Actress-turned-politician Vijayashanti recently quit the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and joined the Congress. She is now contesting election from the Medak Assembly constituency. Balayogi, in his petition, alleged the TRS leaders had amassed huge wealth since 2001 in the name of the agitation for a separate Telangana state. — IANS
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Priyanka adds punch to Congress poll campaign
New Delhi, April 25 While Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice- president Rahul Gandhi have been countering Modi's claims at various public meetings and responding to his jibes, it grew sharper and took the political centrestage after Priyanka, moved into campaign mode touring the family held seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli. The last time Priyanka's campaign in the area caused a major political upheaval was in 1999 when she took a break from Amethi, crossed over to neighbouring Rai Bareli, where family loyalist Satish Sharma was pitted against Arun Nehru, a cousin of her father Rajiv Gandhi and declared: ``The BJP candidate here is someone who betrayed Indiraji's family and stabbed my father's back with a dagger. How did you let that traitor even enter this place?” She alluded to the fact that the constituency was once represented by her grandmother. And when the results came out, Captain Sharma won and Nehru finished fourth. Her remarks expressing anguish at statements against her husband Robert Vadra or referring to the Congress as ABCD or RSVP and likening it to instructions to primary schoolchildren, party insiders believe allows an emotional connect with the people in the area. Priyanka, who has studiously avoided stepping out from campaigning outside the geographical boundaries of these two constituencies despite suggestions and pronouncements by some party leaders, has picked up phrases that appear politically chiselled and appearing to have the desired effect - forcing the BJP to respond. A day after Jaitley sought to endorse her charge that personal attacks cause pain and helpfully suggesting that the Congress should introspect and start walking the talk, Priyanka today fired another salvo at Modi and his campaign that instead of harping on Gujarat model he should explain why the poor in the state continued to languish. With three more rounds of polling to go, the high-octane campaign by prime political opponents may still turn sharper. Blast from the past
The last time Priyanka's campaign in the area caused a major political upheaval was in 1999 when she took a break from Amethi, crossed over to neighbouring Rai Bareli, where family loyalist Satish Sharma was pitted against Arun Nehru. When the results were declared, Captain Sharma won and Nehru finished fourth.
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Cong Muslim quota vow triggers row
New Delhi, April 25 The BJP accused the Congress of releasing an additional manifesto promising reservation for backward Muslims, saying it is their "last desperate" act to get some votes. —PTI
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Giriraj gets bail in hate speech case
Patna, April 25 Singh, a former minister in the Nitish Kumar government, had stoked controversy during an election meeting in Jharkhand's Deoghar district on April 19, saying that those who opposed Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan. Singh's advocate Janardan Rai argued before the court that his client has already submitted his reply to the show cause to the competent authority and that his assertions were not aimed at any particular caste or community. — PTI
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Not able to vote, hundreds of Mumbaikars fume
Mumbai, April 25 Among the prominent citizens whose names were missing included HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh, jurist Ram Jethmalani, chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange Ashishkumar Chauhan, media personality Pradeep Guha and more. Most of them had cast their votes in the 2009 General and Assembly elections in Maharashtra and the civic election in 2012. Candidates of several political parties, including the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party have alleged conspiracy over the missing names. BJP candidate from Mumbai North East Kirit Somaiya alleged that one lakh names were missing in his constituency. He had threatened to file a police complaint against the EC. AAP candidate from South Mumbai Meera Sanyal said 21,000 names were missing in her constituency. Earlier, similar allegations were made in Pune and Nagpur. In Pune, even the police commissioner Satish Mathur could not cast his votes. At a number of polling booths insistent voters were advised by political parties told to check the "mother lists" containing the names of those who voted in the last election. At other places families found their names in different booths and had to run from place to place before they could cast their votes. Names of voters in entire buildings were deleted from the electoral lists. EC officials here said enumerators who were responsible for collecting information are often not allowed entry into buildings because of which the lists could not be updated. With the plight of citizens deprived of their franchise being taken up by the media, the Election Commission today apologised for the inconvenience. "We will look into the matter and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to voters," Election Commissioner HS Brahma has been quoted as saying. Brahma, however, said there was no way these people will be allowed to vote again. The EC has promised to rectify its error before the assembly elections later this year. Many big shots couldn't vote
Among the prominent citizens whose names were missing included HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh, jurist Ram Jethmalani, chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange Ashishkumar Chauhan, media personality Pradeep Guha and more.
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campaign trailaxpartap singh bajwa Amarjit Thind Tribune News Service
Gurdaspur, April 25 AAP candidate Sucha Singh Chottepur is giving a tough fight to Bajwa and Khanna. Bajwa is tied down in his constituency with little time to campaign for other candidates. However, he is regularly giving instructions to Congress candidates over phone. A Tribune team catches up with him over breakfast in his fortress-like residence in Qadian where he discusses the day's schedule before stepping out for the day at 8.15 am. As scores of workers wait for him on the lawns of the house, he seeks blessings of his octogenarian mother Gurbachan Kaur before stepping out of the house. "I always start my day with her blessings whenever I am at home," he says. After a quick word with party workers, he settles down in his SUV only to be told that some ex-servicemen were waiting for him since 7 am. After admonishing his staff for not letting ex-servicemen in, he goes and enquires about their well-being. Back in his SUV, he says ex-servicemen form a substantial vote bank and he has always enjoyed a good rapport with them. "I am a proponent of the OROP (one rank, one pension) and have raised this issue on the floor of the House. They are happy now that the Centre has agreed to their demand," he says. As the convoy makes its way to the first meeting of the day at Taragarah village, he says: "The sand mafia is active in the area sand-laden tippers are a problem for the people of this belt. I got some funds released from the Centre to improve the condition of roads. The state government has not bothered to undertake patchwork here," he added. En route to the venue, he stops to meet small groups of supporters and asks them to fan out so they contact all the voters in their areas. Rubbishing opposition charges of non-performance, he said he got relaxation on property tax on agricultural land within 12 km of the municipal limits. "I also got Rs 2,500 crore released from the Centre for the second phase of the Shahpur Kandi Dam and got it declared as a national project. Similarly, I got a bypass sanctioned for Sujanpur, Dinanagar, Dhariwal, Batala, Verka and Gurdaspur. It was also after 83 years that Rs 250 crore was sanctioned for the Beas-Qadian rail link," he said. As the convoy makes its slow and bumpy ride, he decries the 'narrow vision' of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in scuttling big-ticket projects such as a central university for Pathankot. "The project came up at Ghudda, the ancestral village of the Badals, as the CM was not in favour of setting up the university in Pathankot. Badal also ensured that the Rs 15,000 crore rail coach factory did not come up at Kalanaur. The project went to Sonepat in Haryana," he says. He is given a rousing welcome at Taragarh where he accuses the Badals of patronising the drug mafia. "The ruling party wants to ruin our youth. Even BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi has admitted to the rule of the mafias in the state," he says while showing a copy of an advertisement to this effect inserted by the BJP in an English daily. Workers later distribute copies to the curious gathering. A large number of women meet him and urge him to do more for road connectivity and girl education in the far-flung areas of the constituency. Similar scenes are witnessed at Kathlor and other places before the convoy halts for lunch at Narot Jaimal at 3.30 pm. "It was initially an uphill task, but now my campaign is on full steam and Ahmediyas, Christians and Rajputs are coming forward in my support. I have not asked for any star campaigner and prefer to go it alone," he says. Bajwa rules out the impact of AAP saying it is confined to the urban areas. "People are furious at the Akalis for their misrule, vendetta politics and the menace of drugs," he remarks. After a gruelling day traversing bad roads and sometimes even dirt tracks, Bajwa calls it a day at a last meeting at Datial village. On the one-and-a-half-hour journey back to Qadian, he calls for status reports from his supporters canvassing in other parts of the constituency. As he reaches his house around 10.30 pm, he calls a meeting of his core team to chalk out the next day's schedule. After a quick dinner, he again meets supporters who have been waiting for him. It's 1.30 am when he wishes good night to all, but not before directing his team to be at hand at 6.30 am the next day.
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Fans launch animation movie, theme song on Modi
Ahmedabad, April 25 "We have released coffee table book, an animation film called 'Nation is in motion' and a life-size replica of Modi," Gujarat Gaurav Fan Club president Rajeev Chhajjer said. Established in 2005 to glorify the history and culture of Gujarat, the Gujarat Gaurav Fan Club, has begun canvassing for Modi. Chhajjer said if Modi becomes the PM, he would "eradicate all miseries" of this country. During the launch event, the club also showcased 121 books in different languages written about Narendra Modi or by him. The animation film's title which reflected Modi's first two characters 'NaMo' has projected him as a 'Superman' who saved people from every evil. The film shows Modi in a Superman costume saving people from the 2001 earthquake and ends with his larger than life image over the country where he is shown standing in front of India's map. The fan club has also claimed that the animation film has been created by first-time voters. Another city-based rock band 'Meghdhanusha' presented a theme song on Modi. The fan club also released pen drives with nine Modi speeches and ten thousand coffee table books based on events in the BJP leader's life. The fan club chairman denied any political association with the BJP. — PTI
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‘Kakajis’ take ‘poll break’ from studies to fire up campaigning
Muktsar, April 25 Called "kakaji" (an endearment for young men), this young brigade is entrusted with the responsibility of gathering supporters for candidates visiting the area, raising slogans in their favour, and, if required, acting as their muscle power. Majority of the candidates, too, admit that it would be difficult to galvanise supporters without the help of "kakas". On an "election break" from their studies, "kakajis" here have decided to go sober (at least partly) to be a part of the village life. For elections, they have shunned their designer jeans and shirts for the perfectly starched white kurta pyjamas. Their Endeavours, Fortuners and Innnovas are all parked back at home and it's the smaller Swift or Cruze that they drive around in the narrow, bumpy and dusty roads of villages. "Kaka" Sher Baj Singh, a BA first-year student who hails from Fattanwala village, says studies can wait for the time being. "Elections are a decisive time and as young voters, we are enthusiastic to participate in electioneering. Since it means gelling with the crowd, we have shunned the more-visible extravagancies and are humbly seeking votes," he says. Sher Baj Singh is one of this youth brigade. "Kaka jis" like him can be seen eagerly campaigning either for the Congress or the Akali candidates in the fray here. Jaskaran Singh, who is pursuing his PhD and hails from Bhagsar village, is busy organising election meetings. "We had to move out of our villages for higher education, but our families are affiliated to a particular political party. So, when the family and the party beckon, we are here to support them," he says. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has been riding on the support of the youngsters across India, seems to have failed in connecting with the local youth. The "kaka" brigade in this belt of Malwa region is traditionally divided into the Akali and the Congress supporters. "We don't get money to back political leaders. Rather, we spend from our pockets. Our daily fuel expenditure is more than Rs 1,500. On an average, we spend Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 a day to drum up support for the candidate our families back," says Amandeep Singh, who works in Mohali and has taken leave to be a part of the campaigning. Besides taking forward the family culture by participating in the political process, these "kakajis" nurture political ambitions. Satvir Singh from Abohar sees his participation in the election campaign management as a nursing ground for his political career.
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Sonia made no sacrifice by
relinquishing PM post: Rajnath
Lakhimpur, April 25 "By not accepting the PM post in 2004, Sonia made no sacrifice. From the book of former adviser to the PM Sanjaya Baru, 'The Accidental Prime Minister', it has been proved that the Central Government was being run from 10 Janpath (Gandhi's residence)," Rajnath said at an election rally at Aurangabad in the Dhauraha parliamentary constituency. Attacking the Opposition for dubbing his party non-secular, Singh said: "The BJP is blamed for dividing society. Soniaji does not know the history of the country. Its partition was not done by the BJP, but the Congress," he said. Dismissing reports of there being differences in the party over Narendra Modi's nomination as the PM candidate, Singh said the decision was taken after consulting "all senior leaders." "It is a party with an ideology in which Indian culture is reflected. Some people allege that there is a struggle within the BJP for PM post, but there is nothing like it. Decision to make Modi the PM candidate was taken after taking all senior leaders into confidence," he said. Singh said the Congress wanted to take the support of people by creating terror (about BJP). He said during the Congress government in the past 10 years, inflation had skyrocketed. "If anyone controlled price rise, it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government," he said. He accused the BSP and the SP of having a tacit understanding with the Congress. — PTI
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Modi nomination: Mayawati wants poll panel to take action against BJP
Lucknow, April 25 She alleged that the live telecast of what she described as a 'stage-managed' event was part of the BJP's attempt to influence the voters on Thursday and in the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing mediapersons here today, she said: "Modi's road show being shown live by the media was part of a well-planned political conspiracy in nexus with the corporate-backed media to influence the seats in Purvanchal by projecting the so-called public support in favour of Modi," alleged Mayawati. "I have information that most of the people on the streets of Varanasi during the road show were outsiders," said Mayawati. She said the SP and BJP might join hands to trigger off communal violence which would engender the electoral process. She urged the CEC to deploy Central forces outside temples, mosques and gurdwaras in Varanasi and Purvanchal.
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Cong pins hopes on
tribal, Muslim votes
Himmatnagar, April 25 The BJP has again fielded a Muslim candidate against him to cut into his minority votes, a factor that contributed to his defeat in 2009. The Vaghela camp is cautious this time to see the 73-year-old leader through. Vaghela spent the prime years of his political life in the BJP, but quit the party on differences with Narendra Modi in 1998. He later joined the Congress. In the 2009 elections, Vaghela, who then was the Union Textiles Minister, was defeated in the neighbouring Panchamahals constituency, by a narrow margin of 2,081 votes. Besides other factors, the presence of an Independent candidate, Abdul Latif Abdul Karim, who hails from Madhya Pradesh but was fielded by the BJP for the seat, contributed to his defeat as he managed to secure more than 24,000 minority votes. This time too, another Abdul Karim, brother of his rival in the Panchamahals seat, is in the fray from the Sabarkantha seat. However, Vaghela says efforts are on to ensure that Muslims vote in his favour. The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Vaghela said he was “comfortable” in Sabarkantha and was 100 per cent confident of his victory. Cong-BJP secret alliance
It is widely rumoured that the Congress and the BJP have entered into a ‘secret alliance’ under which the Congress has agreed to ensure veteran leader LK Advani’s victory in Gandhinagar in exchange for a safe passage to Vaghela in Sabarkantha. This is visible as the BJP has fielded a ‘weak’ candidate against Vaghela and the Congress has done the same in Gandhinagar against Advani. No ‘Modi wave’ visible
Dismissing the ‘Modi wave’, Vaghela said: “The Congress stands a good chance in many segments of Gujarat. Modi is going to develop India on the Gujarat model, but I cannot see any development in Sabarkantha. There is not a single industry and farmers are not getting electricity to irrigate their fields.” BJP leader Prithviraj Patel, however, says: “Sabarkantha is facing a few problems, but we have told the voters that the lack of development was due to the Centre’s step-motherly treatment to Gujarat. Vote for the BJP and all your problems will be solved.” Patel says: “If the BJP could defeat Madhusudan Mistry, who was regarded as tribals’ messiah, Vaghela should be an easier task.” In the 2009 elections, Vaghela’s close aide and the AICC general secretary, Mistry, who this time is contesting against Modi in Vadodara, had lost the Sabarkantha seat by a margin of 17,000 votes, though he won the seat in 2004 by 39,000 votes. Two-time member of the Lok Sabha from Kapadvanj constituency, Vaghela had to shift to Panchamahals in 2009 post delimitation. He had contested from Panchamahals twice, which was Godhra before the delimitation, as a BJP nominee. He won the seat in 1991 but lost in the next election by a narrow margin of 1,000 votes as the Sangh Parivar was against following his rebellion against the then Keshubhai Patel ministry in the state. Tribal votes
While the BJP is banking on Patel and OBC votes, Vaghela believes that the tribal voters, who had deserted the Congress after the 2002 communal riots, will vote for him. The Congress won six of the seven Assembly segments in Sabarkantha in the 2012. Assembly segments
Himatnagar, Idar, Khedbrahma, Bhiloda, Modasa, Bayad, Prantij. Victorious candidates Year Candidate Party 1951 Gulzarilal Nanda Congress 1957 Gulzarilal Nanda Congress 1962 Gulzarilal Nanda Congress 1967 CC Desai Congress 1971 CC Desai Congress 1977 H.M. Patel Janata Party 1980 Shantubhai Patel Congress 1984 HM Patel JNP 1989 Maganbhai Patel Janata Dal 1991 Arvind Trivedi BJP 1996 Nisha Chaudhary Congress 1998 Nisha Chaudhary Congress 1999 Nisha Chaudhary Congress 2004 Madhusudan Mistry Congress 2009 Mahendrasinh Chauhan BJP
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Decent turnout in Muslim areas of Mumbai
Mumbai, April 25 Social workers from the community, who have been working in Muslim localities in Mumbai, were tapped by the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Aam Aadmi Party. With not enough people showing up in the morning at most polling booths, these activists went door-to-door persuading people to vote. “People do not want Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister, but they are not happy with the Congress either,” says Sajid Shaikh, an activist from Malvani in North Mumbai. With not enough many showing up at polling stations till noon, Shaikh and others in the area went around asking people to come out and vote. Shaikh refused to say if he was working for any candidate, but Sanjay Nirupam, sitting Member of Parliament from Mumbai North, has been active in the area. Decent turnouts were reported from Muslim-dominated areas such as Mumbra, Bhiwandi, Jogeshwari, Behrampada in Bandra and Vikhroli Parksite after 3 pm. Long queues were seen at most places after 6 pm and officials had to extend polling by an hour.
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campaign trail
Nizamabad (Telangana), April 25 Her claim to fame is her work in reviving traditional art forms, culture and festivals of Telangana through an NGO — Telangana Jagruthi — she founded in 2006. It serves as a cultural arm of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), a political party launched in 2001 by her father K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), who is widely seen as the architect of the Telangana statehood movement. Unlike conventional politicians, Kavitha is candid about dynasty politics. “It is not fair if I do not get an opportunity just because I am the daughter of KCR. What is wrong with family rule? If I do not perform well, people will not vote for me. Judge me on the basis of my work and commitment,” she tells this correspondent during her campaigning in the district. The TRS has been drawing flak from its rivals for promoting family rule. Four members of the KCR’s family, including his son KT Rama Rao, nephew T Harish Rao and Kavitha, are in the poll fray. KCR himself is contesting election from the Medak Lok Sabha and Gajwel Assembly seats. A computer science engineer, Kavitha returned from the United States in 2004, joined the Telangana agitation that her father had revived and carved out a niche for herself by focusing on the cultural and literary aspects of the movement. Over the past few years, she has become a household name in Telangana for her work in reviving Telangana festivals, particularly “Bathukamma” celebrated during Dassehra. A rabble-rousing speaker in the mould of her father, Kavitha connects with people, particularly the youth, with her punch dialogues highlighting the “exploitation and cultural invasion” of the region by “Andhra rulers”. “The TRS is the voice of the people of Telangana. We have finally achieved the goal of the separate Telangana state. But, the job is only half done. For reconstruction of the new state, we need to lay a strong foundation and that is possible only if the TRS is voted to power,” she says. Kavitha is locked in a triangular contest in this constituency, a hotbed of Telangana agitation. A two-time Congress MP Madhu Yashki Goud is eying a a hat-trick while sitting BJP MLA from the district E Lakshminarayana is looking for his elevation to the Lok Sabha as a candidate of the TDP-BJP combine. With a total electorate of 14.41 lakh, Nizamabad has a significant chunk of Muslim voters, accounting for nearly 2 lakh. The Congress candidate is banking on the perceived consolidation of minority votes in favour of the Congress to block Narendra Modi from becoming the Prime Minister. The BJP candidate is hoping to capitalise on the Modi factor, particularly in the urban. However, Kavitha dismisses these calculations and asserts that the people of the constituency are keen on giving the TRS an opportunity to rebuild the new state. “The BJP cadre is unhappy with the party’s alliance with the TDP, which is seen as an enemy of the Telangana cause. They are voting for us. Muslims are also with us because it is the question of Telangana’s pride and identity,” she says. Kavitha is banking on a string of populist promises that her party has made in its manifesto, including free education from KG to PG, housing for weaker sections, jobs to local youth and 12 per cent reservation for Muslims in education and employment. “We in the TRS have a clear-cut agenda for rapid development of the new state. If we cannot fulfil our promises in the next five years, I will not come to you again for votes,” Kavitha assures. “I am the daughter-in-law of Nizamabad. That is why, I chose to contest from here and bring good name to the land of my in-laws,” she tells the crowd, evoking applause. The plight of Gulf-returnees is a major campaign issue in the constituency. A large number of people from Nizamabad, mostly semi-skilled labourers, migrate to the Gulf countries but are forced to return due to exploitation. “If our party is voted to power, we will help Gulf returnees by providing loans ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to help them set up small and medium business enterprises,” Kavitha said. The TRS has also promised to set up a dedicated ministry for the welfare of Non-Resident Indians on the lines of the Kerala government.
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campaign trail At 79, the former CM treks difficult terrains of Chamba to drum up support Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Chamba, April 25 Accompanied by Rajiv Bharadwaj, vice-president of the state unit of the party and in charge of the Kangra parliamentary constituency, he plans a schedule for the next day. Rigorous campaigning throughout the day does not seem to have taken a toll on the 79-year-old BJP veteran. Calm and composed as ever, he appears to be thrilled by the promising response he is receiving from the people of the constituency. Next day, after addressing a press conference at Iravati hotel, where he is staying, Shanta leaves for remote Tisa area of Chamba district around 10 am. Besides Bharadwaj, only a trusted security guard sits in the Ford Endeavour, owned by Shanta’s son, as a Bolero with the rest of his security personnel follows him. En route, the leader halts to pay obeisance at a roadside temple. Before proceeding to the workers’ meeting venue at Bhanjraru, the headquarters of Tisa subdivision, Shanta meets RSS leader Pawan Rana at a rest house in Tisa over a cup of tea. As the SUVs enter the narrow lanes of Bhanjraru town, Shanta is greeted by party workers by raising slogans in his favour. After being garlanded, he moves towards a tent where BJP workers from all over the Churah Assembly constituency had gathered. After Hans Raj, BJP MLA from Churah, appealed party workers to work hard for Shanta, Rana took over the stage to talk about polling booths and election procedures. A few annoyed workers complained that they were better aware of the area than the RSS leader who had come from Shimla. Shanta talked about the national issues and appealed the party workers to concentrate on the issues of corruption and price rise that took place in the past five-year rule of the UPA government. About the black money stashed in foreign banks, he said: “When I took part in the UN convention against corruption during my tenure as an MP, I was surprised to know that the Swiss Government was willing to support the governments that wanted to take back stolen money stashed in Swiss Banks.” Shanta said he wrote to the Prime Minister to take steps to bring back the Indian black money stashed in Swiss banks, but in vain. Shanta also urged his supporters to dissuade from levelling personal allegations on local issues and concentrate on national issues during campaigning. Thereafter, he leaves for Surgani, where stays at night before proceeding towards Bhatiyat area of Chamba.
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Sanjay Jha has proved himself to be a despicable rascal and dirty liar. Ask him to quote the exact passage . Otherwise in Court he has to. — Subramanian Swamy True guarantor of seculrsm r leaders committd to Constitutn, gud & clean govrnce - nt thse who use it as vote gthrng slogan 2 covr crrptn — Rajeev Chandrasekhar BJP- Modi Wave now a Tsunami ! Tsunami destroys doesn’t build ! —digvijaya singh We have never seen such a weak& corrupt Govt. like UPA. Punjab should bless NDA, which will give stability & progress — Narendra Modi Advocating/encouraging communalism & parochialism in private or public cannot be condoned. That,it prevails in political discourse,is sad. — Gul Panag Ever saw them marching with multitude of this proportion? In a wasteland of seclusion, smug about screen presence Modi-baiters losing pulse. —ShivrajSingh Chouhan
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Poll violence in WB: 3 dead, 576 injured Mistry gets notice for
derogatory remarks
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Over the last few days, the Congress campaign seems to have got a new direction with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra giving a fresh impetus to the party’s all-out strategic attack against the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa is locked in a straight fight with Bollywood actor and BJP candidate Vinod Khanna in the Gurdaspur constituency.
BJP president Rajnath Singh today said Sonia Gandhi did not make any sacrifice by relinquishing the post of Prime Minister in 2004 as Sanjaya Baru's book had proved that she was the one actually running the government.
Lucknow, April 25
Congress stalwart Shankersinh Vaghela may have changed his seat to tribal-dominated Sabarkantha, but the situation for the former Gujarat CM is no different this time. There is again a talk about a “secret alliance” between him and his arch rival — BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi.
