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Haryana votes 2014
BJP chief plays Modi card; rips into Cong, INLD
Shah: Press lotus button to ensure growth
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Janata Dal (U) pledges support to INLD
Hooda slams Centre over low paddy price
Constituency watch: Tosham
Constituency watch: Sadhaura
AAP’s ‘Pol Khol’ campaign may spoil other parties’ chances
Kuldeep made Bhajan and me leave Cong: Ramji Lal
Poll barely creates a ripple among college students
MHA allocates 80 security cos for Haryana
Trendsetter in state politics, Ahirwal awaits mass leader
Acid test for Dushyant in Hisar
Rebels may play spoilsport in Jhajjar, Rewari
Congress forms district poll panels
Power-purchase pacts come to govt’s aid
Rewari to witness keen poll battle among veterans
Jolt for Cong in Faridabad as ex-minister joins INLD
District Women Cong chief joins BJP
Directions for arms deposit
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BJP rules out alliance with Chautalas
Amit Shah begins two-day visit with three rallies in Tohana, Loharu, Ambala Manish Sirhindi Tribune News Service
Ambala, September 29 Addressing a public rally in support of party candidate from the Ambala City seat Aseem Goyal, Shah said the party stood on firm ground at all 90 Assembly seats in the state. He said four months was no time to judge the performance of the Union Government, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was clear that the nation had gained international acceptability as a nation that was now being lead with a vision. Targeting the Congress, he said the party had left with a legacy of scams and corruption. Under the Congress, the GDP fell below 4.2 per cent and the countrymen faced price hike. He said internal and external security had touched a new low under the Congress. But after the BJP came to power, the Army was no longer reluctant to retaliate to the cross-border firing by Pakistan and the people and the bureaucracy had started showing trust in Prime Minister’s vision. Taking a dig at the Hooda government, he said the state’s development had been marred by “corruption and favouritism”. The masses were denied their rights, the agricultural growth went below 3 per cent and the cities remained bereft of development, he said. He said by calling off talks with Pakistan, Modi had sent a clear signal to the world that he kept the interest of the nation above all. He said unlike previous years, the world was now listening to what India had to say. Earlier, addressing the gathering, Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria said as per the reports, the BJP was all set to win 62 seats in the Assembly elections. Shah was accompanied by senior leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya and Dr Anil Jain. Former BJP MLAs from Ambala City along with ticket aspirant Jasbir Mallour were also present during the rally. Dushyant slams Shah’s ‘goonda raj’ remarks
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BJP chief plays Modi card; rips into Cong, INLD
Bhiwani, September 29 Addressing the first meeting in Dighawa village of Loharu constituency, Shah hit out at the Congress and the INLD stating while Chief Minister BS Hooda had been “dancing to the tunes of the party high command”, the Chautalas had “looted the state by unleashing a reign of terror” during their regime before the Congress came to power. “Hooda kept his job by keeping the party high command in good humour. Resultantly, land scams were perpetrated and poor farmers were looted to benefit builders,” Shah said, adding people should give the BJP a chance in the state. Playing the Modi card, he said Haryana had given seven MPs to the BJP in the Lok Sabha poll and voting for the party in the Assembly poll would help the PM restore India’s pride on the global stage. |
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Shah: Press lotus button to ensure growth
Tohana, September 29 He urged voters to help BJP make a “Congress-mukt Haryana”, as he said the state government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda “had divided the state on the basis of caste, districts and regions”. Holding Hooda responsible for the poor plight of farmers in the state, Shah said Haryana was at number one in agriculture growth when the Congress government took over 10 years ago, but now the state had slipped to number 14. He said Madhya Pradesh has acquired first position in the country in agricultural growth. “While farmers from Madhya Pradesh witnesses 100 per cent growth in 5 years and Gujarat farmers progressed by 100 per cent in 10 years, the condition of Haryana farmers have deteriorated due to Hooda government’s indifference towards their plight,” the BJP chief said. He alleged that the Congress in Haryana had also plundered agriculture land of farmers on cheaper rates to make its favourites and “Delhi ke damad” (an obvious reference to Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra) multi-millionaires. Calling the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government “a government of scams”, Shah alleged that the list of scams committed by this government was endless. Accusing Hooda of committing a sin by speaking plain lies before his people on the issue of basmati prices, Shah said the state government was fleecing farmers by charging 4% cess from them. Coming down on the INLD, Shah said when he came to Haryana for the first time, people told him that one party plundered public wealth while the other beat them up too besides looting the state. He said the BJP had prepared a blueprint to improve the condition of farmers in the country, but that would be possible only if a BJP government was in Haryana. |
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Janata Dal (U) pledges support to INLD
New Delhi, September 29 JD (U) president Sharad Yadav, said: “In an effort to unite the disintegrated Janata Dal Parivar, it has been decided by the JD (U) and the INLD to go together in the coming Assembly elections in Haryana.” “JD (U) and INLD have good political relations since late Chaudhary Devi Lal’s time. Our endeavour is to re-unite in the same way as was in the past in view of the present political situation in the country,” he added. Without naming the resurgent BJP, Yadav said: “We have understood the political challenges that have emerged recently can be faced only when the old Janata Parivar comes together immediately, otherwise it will be too late.” According to him, the INLD has assured that should it form government the JD (U) would be part of it. According to observers, the INLD’s move to reach out to the JD (U) stems from its present compulsion. Haryana is heading towards multi-cornered electoral contest. While the BJP is considered to be traditionally strong among non-Jats and the urban middle class, it poses a threat to it with regard non-Jat and middle class constituents, the Congress under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda won over sizeable chunk of its traditional support base: the Jats and the peasantry. The INLD hopes to garner more votes, especially in the Ahirwal belt of Haryana, through Yadav who was a trusted political ally of the Devi Lal. |
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Cong Panipat City candidate ‘violates’ model code
Panipat, September 29 The electioneering vehicle of Shah was parked on the premises of a government building where local offices of the Haryana Agro and Fire Brigade are located. Several hoardings and other electioneering material was put up on various sides of his vehicle, which carried photographs of various Congress leaders, including party’s national president Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Ganhi, state in charge Salman Khurshid, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Varinder Kumar Shah. Meanwhile, rehriwalas around the Haryana Agro office said, “This vehicle has been parked here during nights for the last several days.” While Shah could not be contacted for getting his version despite repeated attempts, Panipat Deputy Commissioner-cum-district election officer (DEO) Ajit Balaji Joshi said, “Proper action will be taken against the candidate as per the guidelines of the Election Commission (EC) as using any government building for electioneering or parking such vehicle on the premises of a government building amounts to violation of model election code of conduct.” “A notice of code violation will be sent to him after getting photographs of the parked electioneering vehicle on the premises of the government building,” he added. Son of late Congress MLA Hakumat Rai Shah and brother of sitting MLA from Panipat city Balbir Pal Shah, Varinder is trying his luck for the first time in the elections. Varinder is facing multi-cornered contest with BJP candidate Rohita Rewri and INLD candidate Neelam
Narang. Notice to Cong, BJP candidates
Ladwa: Taking cognizance of the poll code violation,
Ladwa returning officer and Additional Kurukshetra ADC Prabhjot Singh on Monday put BJP candidate Pawan Kumar and Congress candidate Kailasho Saini on notice. They have been served notice for placing
hoardings at unauthorised places. |
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Hooda slams Centre over low paddy price
Taraori (Karnal), September 29 “The government is not serious about the farmers’ demands. I am disheartened and want to sit on
dharna, but I cannot do so as the chief minister,” he said. The rally was organised in support of Gian
Sahota, the party’s Nilokehri candidate. “Last year during the regime of UPA-2, the rate of 1509, a variety of paddy, was between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,500 a quintal, but this year it has crashed to around Rs 2,200 per quintal. The same is the case with cotton. Last year, it was priced between Rs 4,800 and Rs 6,000 a quintal. Now, it is selling at around Rs 4,200 per quintal. The government should resolve the matter of pricing,” said
Hooda. He said both the INLD and the BJP government had not taken steps in favour of farmers whereas the Congress had taken several steps, including waiving off loans of the farmers, during his regime. Taking a jibe at ex-chief minister and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala’s
oath-in-Tihar remark, Hooda said, “How can Chautala become chief minister without being an MLA? He is making fool of the people by saying so.” He gave the example of former Tamil Nadu chief minister
Jayalalithaa. “She (Jaya) is now in jail and had to resign from her post after the conviction. The law is equal for everyone.” The chief minister called upon the workers to vote for party candidate Gian Sahota and work hard to ensure his victory. Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Jagdish Singh Jhinda also appealed to the public to vote for
Sahota. Pointing out the issue of Minority Commission, Jhinda said only the Congress constituted the commission and had appointed Trilochan Singh, who hails from
Karnal, as its head. Kaithal: Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda addressed a meeting of farmers and traders in support of Congress candidate Dillu Ram in Cheeka today. Attacking the BJP and INLD leadership, he appealed to voters to take revenge for the Kaithal insult (the CM was booed at an event he attended with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a month ago). “It was the insult of 2.50 crore
Haryanavis. I was present there only as your representative and Chief Minister,” he said. |
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Ban on mining may prove Kiran’s undoing
Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service
Tosham, September 29 Bansi Lal's bête noire Dharambir Singh, who defeated Shruti on a BJP ticket, is also leaving no stones unturned to give another political blow to her. However, she has been banking on the family legacy and the development works being carried out in the constituency during her stint as a minister.
Apart from her legacy, there are two important issues which are likely to dominate the polls this time. Firstly, the mining in the Aravali ranges that fall in this segment and another is the problem of water logging in the absence of proper drainage in Tosham town. Mining was a huge employment generating sector in this region. But the SC ban on mining in 2009 rendered thousands of workers unemployed while adversely affecting the livelihood of scores of others," informed Azad Singh, who runs a tea stall in Khanak village on the Hisar road. He said that there are around 300 crushing units which employed around 15,000 persons directly. Similarly, the earnings of employees also supported the subsidiary occupations like shops, transporters etc. "We have been taking up the issue with the government which failed to protect our interest. Many political parties have been supporting our demand and even Kiran Chaudhary sided with us but could do little to allow mining in the region", he added. The problem of water-logging in Tosham town too is turning out to be a serious issue with the residents alleging that sewerage system is virtually non-existent. "The entire town is submerged following a brief spell of rains as there is no outlet for water. The newly laid elevated road and transformation of a natural water body into a lake for beautification of the town has compounded the problem, "rued another resident.
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Development suffers despite Cong MLA
Shiv Kumar Sharma
Sadhaura, September 29 Represented by MLA Rajpal Bhukri, hardly any development has taken place here in the past five years. With over 95 per cent rural populace, the constituency has only one private college at Sadhaura town. A majority of the students have to travel to Jagadhri or Yamunanagar covering a distance of 70 - 80 km each day. Successive governments have failed to get a government college opened here even after 48 years of the creation of Haryana.
The biggest sufferers are girls as their parents hesitate to send them so far for getting educated. People have been demanding the opening of a college at Bilaspur town, so that the promising students are not deprived of higher education. The main roads including Jagadhri to Naraingarh via Bilaspur and Sadhaura, Pabni road and Kala Amb to Dosarka road via Sadhaura were strengthened and are in good condition. However, a majority of link roads are in dilapidated condition. They are potholed adding to the misery of the commuters. The public transport service is also irregular. Daily commuters, mainly students and employees have to wait for hours daily to reach their destinations. Private buses too do not ply on many routes. The healthcare facilities are poor with the community health centers (CHCs) at Bilaspur, Sadhaura and Mustafabad not equipped with essential medical equipment and staff. The CHC's have become referral centres with people preferring to take the ailing direct to the hospitals of Jagadhri or Yamunanagar. However, the residents here are grateful to Bhukri since Bilaspur was declared a sub-division due to his efforts. If he had not pursued the issue, Chhachhrauli in Jagadhri constituency would have got this status. Following this development, a court was also set up here. This has eased a number of problems being faced by the people of the area. Now, they don't have to go Jagadhri or Yamunanagar for their court related cases and the works related to the SDM office. Bhukri made efforts to get a new building for the Mini-Secretariat, but not to avail. Even basic amenities are like a dream for the people of this area. Fed up with the indifferent attitude of the local administration and the state government, the residents here have several times demanded to merge their area with neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. With no industry, the area is totally dependent on farming sector which mostly depends on rain water.
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campaign trail Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service
Badli/Jhajjar, September 29 Team Dhankar has chalked out a schedule to reach out to all 102 villages falling under his constituency. He covers six to eight villages everyday. But before moving to villages, he makes it a point to meet some voters of his constituency who are settled in Jhajjar town. It’s around noon and the stage is all set for a public meeting featuring Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Krishan Pal Gurjar at Sikanderpur village in Jhajjar district. He is coming to seek votes for Dhankar. The atmosphere gets charged up as the cavalcade of Gurjar, Dhankar and other party leaders and their followers reaches the venue. People from the gathering raise slogans as the leaders move to the dais. Once on stage, the visiting leaders are honoured. Some residents also offer cash to Dhankar for contesting the polls. Then begins the speeches. The speakers present Dhankar as a teetotaler with a clean image and proximity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of his over-enthusiastic supporters also project him as Haryana’s next Chief Minister. Finally, Dhankar rises to address the gathering and lambasts Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for letting the Reliance group have nearly 8,000 acres of agricultural land in the constituency without paying any stamp duty. “Why so much generosity?” he questions as the crowd bursts into peals of laughter. He also alleges step-motherly treatment with the Jhajjar area. Inviting Gurjar to the specific pocket has a clear focus. Sikanderpur and the adjoining cluster of villages has a sizeable population of Gurjars. The union minister seeks the people’s support for Dhankar, indicating that he would be at the helm of state affairs. After the programme, Gurjar leaves while Dhankhar and his men go to attend some tea get-togethers arranged by local residents. Following that, the cavalcade moves to the next destination, Pelpa village. “The major issues in the area are an acute shortage of drinking water, unemployment and rising crime. Local people are also infuriated at the way their land was taken away by the Reliance group in the name of developing a special economic zone (SEZ), which remains a non-starter,” Dhankar told The Tribune on the way to the village. A group of youths greets the cavalcade at the road leading to Pelpa village. After attending a couple of tea programmes, the cavalcade proceeds to the village chaupal, where a gathering of villagers awaits the leaders. After the exchange of pleasantries, the speeches laced with dreams of a rosy future are delivered. On the way out, the BJP leader seeks the blessings of elders and interacts with village youths. He is slated to attend several other tea programmes at the houses of his supporters before moving to the next village.
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End era of corruption by showing door to Cong: Gurjar
Jhajjar, September 29 He also charged the INLD with promoting criminal activities whenever it ruled the state in the past. Gurjar was addressing a gathering during a “Gurjar Sammelan” at Sikanderpur village here today. He also sought votes for BJP nominee from Badli Om Prakash Dhankar on the occasion. Taking a jab at INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala, who announced to take oath of chief ministership from Tihar jail if the INLD comes to power, Gurjar said Chautala should also make it clear whether Tihar inmates would be the members of his dream Cabinet. Addressing the people, Dhankar said: “Now you have to decide whether the state requires corrupt and crime promoting governments like the Congress and the INLD or a clean regime of the BJP, which will ensure good governance by keeping corrupt, criminal and other anti-social elements at bay.” |
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AAP’s ‘Pol Khol’ campaign may spoil other parties’ chances
Kurukshetra, September 29 Setting a target of organising seven-eight corner meetings in a day, two teams comprising four to five members each have been campaigning in the Thanesar Assembly constituency. Similar campaigns are on in Pehowa, Ladwa and Shahabad constituencies of Kurukshetra district. Mewa said, “Clear instructions have been given to the workers to campaign against corrupt candidates and launch an awareness drive. We will ask the people to go for honest candidates and if they don’t find any candidate worth voting, then go for NOTA.” A fall in the workers’ strength in AAP is also evident in the district after its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. During the Lok Sabha poll, the party had about 2,100 active workers, but the strength has dropped to over 400 now. Arvind Kumar, another AAP worker, said, “A large number of AAP workers, who had vested interests, shifted their loyalties to other parties after the decision of not contesting the Assembly elections was taken. But the craze has not faded. People are still approaching us and two got inducted today itself.” Arya said, “The party will appeal to the Election Commission to issue a notification that a leader can’t change the party in three years prior to the elections.” |
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Kuldeep made Bhajan and me leave Cong: Ramji Lal
Addressing his supporters here today, Lal, who resigned as state vice president of HJC after Bishnoi fielded his elder brother Chander Mohan from the Nalwa Assembly segment, he said “Bhajan Lal and me did not want to quit the Congress. But Lal was left with no choice. Kuldeep made us quit the party against our wishes”, he said. He was one of the aspirants for the HJC ticket from Nalwa. After the meeting, he formed a committee of 11 supporters to discuss the further strategy and said that he would take a decision as per the wishes of his supporters. He stated that the ticket was not a big issue for him but he was feeling insulted and cheated. “Bishnoi told me that I would be fielded from Nalwa. I started my preparations for contesting the polls but he ditched me,” he alleged. Sources said that Bishnoi had been trying to placate the veteran leader and had visited him last night. “They talked and Kuldeep requested Lal not to desert him at this crucial moment. But he seems non-committal”, said a source. Significantly, rival parties, including the INLD, the Congress and the BJP have been trying to lure him realising his role in the polls. A number of local INLD and BJP leaders and sympathisers attended his meeting today to keep a close tab on his moves, the sources said. |
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Poll barely creates a ripple among college students
Interacting with The Tribune today, the students in MRM University on the city premises, most of the students were of the opinion that they were still under the impact of the Lok Sabha elections when Narendra Modi emerged as an icon. “We do not see such kind of tempo among the students in these Assembly elections,” they remarked. Anshuka, a computer science student, praised Bhupinder Singh Hooda for setting up Rajiv Gandhi Education City near Rai to meet the requirements of higher education. “But even after so many years, the campus wears a deserted look,” she said. Bhavana, an MBA student, pointed out that party leaders make a lot of promises to motivate the voters, but the welfare of the youth and women empowerment needed more attention. She said the Modi factor would work to some extent, but not like the Lok Sabha elections. Her opinion was supported by Tushan, a student of computer science, saying the Modi wave will work for the youth. In reply to a question about holding the students’ union elections, a majority of them said they were against it. “We come to the institute to study, not to play politics,” he said. As most of the students of Ashoka University on the city premises are not the residents of Haryana, they were not much aware of the political equations in the ensuing Assembly elections. However, they stressed that creating job opportunities should be the top priority of any party that comes to power. |
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MHA allocates 80 security cos for Haryana
Chandigarh, September 29 Sources said this was a provisional figure and the demand for forces was likely to go up once inputs on security matters from the district level are analysed after the pre-poll administrative procedures and the identification of sensitive areas. The combined strength of 80 companies would be about 10,000 troops. These are being drawn from various CAPFs like the CRPF, BSF, ITBP and India Reserve Battalions. SB Kajal, Inspector-General North-West Sector, CRPF, has been nominated as the co-ordinator for deployment of CAPFs in Haryana. Sources said the deployment of CAPFs would be done in two phases next month and these would be inducted several days ahead of the poll to enable them to familiarise themselves with the local environment and carry out area-domination exercises. Besides general surveillance and guard duties, CAPFs would also be involved in manning check-posts and carry out search operations. |
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Trendsetter in state politics, Ahirwal awaits mass leader
Rewari, September 29 Though several legislators of Ahirwal, a bastion of the Ahir community, have been part of the subsequent state governments formed after Haryana attained statehood in 1966, the region still lacks a mass leader to transform Ahirwal into a centre of political power. Most of the elected public representatives of this region confined themselves to enjoy the power and their political status in the state governments, but did not make any serious endeavour to establish them as mass leaders. Notwithstanding, impact of political equations in Ahirwal on the state politics cannot be ruled out, as it has played a crucial role in forming and toppling the state governments. “Whether it was 1967 when first Haryana Chief Minister Bhagwat Dayal Sharma had to leave his post merely after five months or 1999 when then Chief Minister Ch Bansi Lal lost the power, both the times Ahirwal’s legislators were at the helm of the state politics, who changed the political scene entirely,” said Satish Tyagi, a political analyst.In 1967, Rao Birender became the second Chief Minister of Haryana and Om Prakash Chautala held the rein of the state in 1999 following the support of HVP’s rebels and BJP’s legislators, he said. “Besides this turmoil, Ahirwal’s political equations also caused turbulence during Ch Devi Lal’s rule in 1977 and 1987 due to different reasons. Recently, Capt Ajay Yadav had also put the Hooda government in trouble by resigning from the post of minister. However, he later persuaded to rollback his decision,” said Tyagi. Raghu Yadav, a former MLA, opines, “Ahirwal has always been a trendsetter for the state politics since the inception of Haryana because such political party has usually succeeded to form the state government, whose majority of candidates romp home in the region. The Congress, Janta Party, Lokdal, Haryana Vikas Party and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed to form the state government merely in the situation when they obtained a good support from Ahirwal’s MLAs.” Praveen Yadav, a political analyst, opines, “Ahirwal plays a second fiddle to the state government, as the representation of this region has always been part of every government formed by different parties in the past. However, it could not attain such a position to lead the state politics due to its fewer numerical strength in terms of number games.” As far as changing political scenario of Ahirwal after joining of the BJP by Rao Inderjit Singh is concerned, the possibility of decline in the performance of the Congress cannot be ruled in ensuing state Assembly elections as Rao Inderjit has a political base in all Assembly segments of Ahirwal. |
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Acid test for Dushyant in Hisar
The INLD will go to the polls with two of its top leaders — former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala — missing from action. With Abhay Chautala leading the party, Dushyant will be the second most sought-after campaigner. He, however, faces the litmus test in Hisar district, as he will be responsible for the party’s performance in his parliamentary segment. The Hisar Lok Sabha seat has nine Assembly segments, comprising seven in Hisar district and one each in Bhiwani and Jind districts. Dushyant secured a lead over Bishnoi in Narnaund and Uklana Assembly segments in Hisar district, and Uchana Kalan in Jind. The INLD managed to cut down the margin of lead of the HJC in other segments in Hisar district — Nalwa, Barwala and Adampur falling. But the fact that Bishnoi led in six segments — Adampur, Barwala, Nalwa, Hisar, Hansi and Bawani Khera (Bhiwani) — has put the INLD in a difficult spot. This has made Dushyant’s task difficult in his parliamentary segment. Though the party has smartly played the caste card in the ticket allotment, the INLD MP has to put in extra effort to gain ground. Dushyant has been on the campaign trail without a break. He has been proactive during sessions in Parliament where he raised issues concerning his segment. INLD gambles
The INLD has gambled by fielding the INLD MP from Uchana Kalan in Jind district. He is pitted against, among others, Congress turncoat Birender Singh’s wife Prem Lala, the BJP candidate. Dushyant will prove a formidable rival to Birender. It will be battle for Jat supremacy at the Jat-dominating segment of Uchana Kalan. How they fared Vote share of Dushyant Chautala and Kuldeep Bishnoi in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll in Hisar parliamentary segment In Hisar district
Outside Hisar district
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Rebels may play spoilsport in Jhajjar, Rewari
Jhajjar/Rewari, September 29 Congress rebel Amrita Kala Takania, whose candidature was cancelled by the party a day after the announcement, has filed her nomination papers as an Independent from Bawal (Rewari). BJP rebel Neelam Bhagwaria, daughter of former minister Shakuntla Bhagwaria, has also decided to try her fortune independently after being denied the party ticket. Neelam may pose trouble to BJP candidate Banwari Lal as her mother has a political base in the constituency. Four-time former MLA Shakuntla had also romped home as an Independent from Bawal in the 2004 Assembly poll. In Jhajjar, Congress rebels, Chatar Singh from Beri and Kuldeep Vatsa from Badli, INLD turncoat Nafe Singh Rathi, who joined the BJP in the hope of getting the party ticket, from Bahadurgarh, and INLD rebel Kaptan Singh from Jhajjar have also filed their nomination papers as Independent candidates. Two-time MLA Nafe Singh Rathi may dent the INLD vote bank in Bahadurgarh as he has contested four Assembly elections on the INLD ticket. He joined the BJP last month after being denied the INLD ticket. Congress rebel Chatar Singh has set alarm bell ringing for sitting Congress MLA and party nominee Raghuvir Kadian from the Beri constituency. Chatar had last time also contested the poll independently and gave a stiff fight to Kadian. He lost the election merely by 5,176 votes. Solitary reapers
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Congress forms district poll panels
Chandigarh, September 29 Among the chairmen are Om Prakash Devinagar (Panchkula), Arjun Lal Kalra (Ambala), Shyam Sunder Batra (Yamunanagar), Satvinder Timmy (Kurukshetra), Kaviraj Sharma (Kaithal), Meena Mandal (Karnal), Bijender Kadian (Panipat), Anil Thakkar (Sonepat), Kamal Sharma (Jind), Tek Chand Midha (Fatehabad), Kuldeep Gadhrana (Sirsa), Thakur Lal Singh (Bhiwani), Chanderkala (Mahendragarh), Heera Lal (Rewari), Jaideep Dhankar (Rohtak), Satish Chikara (Jhajjar), Satish Kumar Grover (Gurgaon), Mehtab Ahmed (Mewat), Harender Pal Rana (Palwal) & Sumit Gaur (Faridabad).
— TNS |
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Power-purchase pacts come to govt’s aid
Ambala, September 29 The PPAs signed with the private as well as government-owned thermal energy generation firms, bailed out the Hooda government of the accusation of inadequate power supply over the last few years. This year the restricted maximum power demand in state crossed 9,000 MW and maximum power supplied in a day exceeded 1,900 lakh units. This was achieved on the basis of record power purchased from different sources. However, the core issues troubling the state power sector have remained unaddressed under the Hooda government, which can have long term adverse effects on this vital sector. The problem areas
The state power sector has been facing the problem of over dependence on private companies to meet the state’s demands. Increasing aggregate transmission and commercial (AT&C) losses, lack of political will to curb power theft and the ever increasing financial liabilities of the power companies are other causes of concern. Despite accepting the Union government’s performance linked financial restructuring plan (FRP), the financial health of the state distribution companies did not improve on account of political interference. The power utilities had to resort to fresh loans even to meet operational expenses. The recent snapping of power supply, 1,424 MW by Adani, made the authorities rethink against over dependence on private generation companies, which exploited loopholes in the PPAs to achieve their profit motive. The transmission and commercial (AT&C) losses passed the 60% mark in some of the politically sensitive areas of the state affecting the financial health of the power corporation, which reflected poorly on the state government. These losses ranged from 29.46% to 40% in urban areas, while these exceeded by 60% at many rural domestic feeders. The losses rose despite heavy capital investment made to reduce them, which ran into hundreds of crores. The advantages
The government inherited the problem of power shortage as no previous government took effective steps to increase the generation capacity, which was 2,187.7 MW. |
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Rewari to witness keen poll battle among veterans
Six-time legislator Capt Ajay Yadav is again contesting the election on the Congress ticket and the BJP has fielded Randhir Kapriwaas, who will face the poll battle for the fifth time, while the INLD has nominated its state spokesman, Satish Yadav, who has also contested the last Assembly election. Besides, the HJC has relied upon its state general secretary and former MLA Raghu Yadav, while local leader Vijay Somani has once again jumped into the fray independently. Somani has so far unsuccessfully contested three Assembly elections from Rewari. He had given a stiff fight to Capt Yadav in 2000 when he lost to the latter by merely 4,924 votes. Significantly, all these candidates, except Raghu Yadav, were in the battle ground in the last election held in 2009 when Capt Yadav romped home victorious by defeating his nearest rival Satish Yadav by 13,288 votes. BJP nominee Randhir Kaprivaas was on the third slot followed by BSP candidate Vijay Somani in the polls. Raghu Yadav, who is also known as Jalyudh Nayak, will first time take on Capt Yadav as he kept himself away from Rewari after resigning from the post of MLA in 1989 following differences with then Chief Minister Devi Lal. This resignation had paved the way for Capt’s entry in the electoral politics as he clinched victory in the byelection on the Congress ticket. Capt is seeking another chance to carry on the momentum of development in Rewari. |
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Jolt for Cong in Faridabad as ex-minister joins INLD
Faridabad, September 29 Chaudhary, who began his political career in the early eighties, is a three-time MLA. He was elected for the first time from Faridabad in 1982. He won the seat as the Congress candidate in 1991 and became minister in the state cabinet. He was elected MLA from Faridabad (NIT) in 2005 for the third time and inducted as minister in the Congress government in 2007-08. Though he was fielded again from NIT by the Congress in 2009, he lost to Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, an Independent. Chaudhary, who had held a meeting prior to allocation of tickets by the party, had said he could quit the Congress if denied ticket. The INLD earlier received a shot in the arm with the joining of Chander Bhatia, another known Punjabi leader in the city. |
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District Women Cong chief joins BJP
Mahendragarh, September 29 Chander Kalan announced her decision during a women’s sammelan organised by the saffron party in Mahendragarh last evening. She said the Congress was ignoring its dedicated and grassroots workers who had no other option but to quit the party. Welcoming the women leader in the party, BJP state chief Ram Bilas Sharma said women had to face humiliation in Hooda-led Congress government as it did not take any vital step to ensure women’s safety. “Women’s security is a major cause of concern in the state. Women fear to step out from their houses due to the deteriorating law and order situation,” said Ram Bilas. He called upon the women voters to root the Congress out from the state for not extending due respect to women. Ram Bilas’ wife Bimla Devi also lambasted the Congress government for allegedly not ensuring the security and safety of women in the state. |
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Sonepat, September 29 Taking serious notice of it, the police today issued strict directions to all the SHOs to ensure that all licensed arms should be deposited without any delay. The SHOs have been asked to initiate legal action against those not depositing their arms. If any license holder wants to keep their arms on logical grounds, they have to take prior permission from DSP Darshan Lal Malik up till October 2, the police added. — OC
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Hisar, September 29
Sonepat, September 29
Hisar, September 29
Rewari, September 29