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Party position from 90 centres to be clear around noon today
Repolling in Ferozepur Jhirka peaceful, turnout 78%
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BJP hopes for best-ever performance
Completing KMP e-way a priority, says Gurjar
Probable winners order ‘ladoos’, others visit astrologers
Cong nominee in soup for disrupting poll
BJP upbeat, rivals wait and watch
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Party position from 90 centres to be clear around noon today
Chandigarh, October 18 Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad Saturday said leads would be available as early as 9 am, an hour after the start of counting, and a clear picture would emerge by 1 pm. Counting would be held in 90 centres at 57 sites in the state. There is an intense three-cornered contest between the Congress, which is the underdog, the BJP, which is like the new kid on the block, and the now revived INLD. They are fighting their own battles and their rivals in an election that will decide their future course and identity. The ruling Congress has gone in with its back to the wall, facing anti-incumbency after two consecutive terms. Add to that the “no-show” performance in the LS poll. The stakes are higher for CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had his way in ticket distribution. The outcome of the battle of the ballot will decide where ministers Randeep Singh Surjewala, Kiran Choudhry, Capt Ajay Yadav and others stand. The BJP, riding on Narendra Modi “wave”, contested the elections with an edge, but its stock dwindled with the announcement of candidates. Nearly half of the candidates are from the two rival parties, the Congress and the INLD, triggering strong protests from insiders, some of whom quit the party. A part of the “also rans” category till the elections, the BJP gambled big by going it alone. Facing a do-or-die situation, this election will make or break the BJP. If it cannot form the government now, it will not for a long time. The political future of its chief ministerial candidates, Ram Bilas Sharma, ML Khattar, Capt Abhimanyu, OP Dhankar and Birender Singh, is at stake. For the INLD, the contest is crucial since it will decide whether or not the first family of the party, the Chautalas, still hold sway among Jat voters, its traditional vote bank, after conviction in the teacher-recruitment scam. Party chief OP Chautala, out on bail, campaigned for the party. The results will decide whether or not he and his family can hold together its cadre and leaders. With son Abhay, daughter-in-law Naina Singh and grandson Dushyant contesting the poll, the family and the party cannot afford to do badly if they want to be in the reckoning. The results will seal the fate of the state’s one-man armies, the HJC headed by Kuldeep Bishnoi, Venod Sharma’s HJCP and Kanda’s HLP. Party position this morning
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Repolling in Ferozepur Jhirka peaceful, turnout 78%
Gurgoan, October 18 Polling was disrupted here on October 15 due to violence and reports of rampant bogus voting. It was alleged that the polling process was disrupted after supporters of Congress candidate Azaad Mohammad and those of an Independent candidate, Maman Khan, clashed and accused each other of bogus voting. It was also alleged that an altercation took place inside a polling booth during which some election officials were manhandled. Meanwhile, the state government had notified October 18 as a public holiday in all government, semi-government offices, educational institutions, boards and corporations of the state government falling under the Ferozepur Jhirka Assembly constituency. |
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Anti-incumbency factor to work in our favour, says INLD
Chandigarh, October 18 Though various exit polls have predicted a BJP victory, a resurgent INLD dismissed these polls claiming they had been wrong in the past too. “The INLD, riding on
the anti-incumbency wave against the Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, will form the state government with absolute majority,” INLD general secretary RS Choudhary told The Tribune. Besides anti-incumbency, the INLD is also
pinning hopes on ‘sympathy’ in favour of its supremo OOP Chautala for alleged conspiracy in jailing him in the JBT teachers’ recruitment scam and micro-management of the polling booths by its aggressive cadre. The BJP, on the other hand, is banking heavily on the ‘Modi wave’ and influence of heavyweight turncoat candidates, who joined the party from other parties in the run-up to the elections. This coupled with the support of the influential Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, to the party just before the polls, and possible polarisation of the non-Jat and urban voters could be a game changer for the BJP in the caste-ridden state. Expressing confidence that the party would form government on its own, Ram Bilas Sharma, BJP chief, claimed “The Modi wave and anti-incumbency against the Hooda government are set to give BJP a decisive mandate in this election,” he asserted. Game changers For INLD
For BJP
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BJP hopes for best-ever performance
Panipat, October 18 Talking to The Tribune, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma, who campaigned in all nine Assembly segments falling under the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, the claimed BJP would win all four Assembly seats this time. He said Modi wave would pave way for an unprecedented victory of the BJP. When his attention was drawn towards the fact that the BJP failed to win even a single seat and lost its security deposit in three segments of the district in the 2009 elections, he said the situation was entirely different this time due to Modi wave. BJP contestant Rohita Rewri is locked in a triangular contest with Varinder Kumar Shah (Congress) and Neelam Madan (INLD) in Panipat City, whereas Mahipal Dhanda (BJP) facing tough contest from Nishan Singh Malik (INLD), Khushi Ram Jaglan (Congress), Independents Dhara Singh Rawal and Sanjay Kadian. Similarly, BJP candidate KL Panwar is locked in a triangular contest with Balwan Singh Valmiki (INLD) and Balbir Valmiki (Congress) in Israna (SC), whereas Shashikant Kaushik (BJP) is in fight with Dharam Singh Chhokhar (Congress), Ram Bhateri Rawal (INLD) and Ravinder Machrouli (Independent) in Samalkha in a multi-cornered contest. |
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Completing KMP e-way a priority, says Gurjar
Construction of the KMP Expressway started in July 2007 and it was planned to become operational by July 29, 2009 at a cost of Rs 17.6 billion. With many a cost overruns, it has reached just above the halfway mark. This July, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had asked the Haryana Government to resume work on the project in two months, failing which the ministry would get the remaining work executed through the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Talking to The Tribune, the mild-mannered and straightforward Faridabad MP expressed confidence that the BJP would get over 50 seats in the Assembly election. While sources in the party confirmed Gurjar was emerging a frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s job, especially since the party was veering towards a non-Jat to lead the state, should it get majority, Gurjar skirted the issue. When asked categorically whether or not he was in the race to be Chief Minister, Gurjar said the decision would be taken by the party’s Parliamentary Board. “I’m a party worker looking to strengthen the party in the state and will go with the leadership’s instructions and directions.” Sources said though Jat leader Captain Abhimanyu was also a strong contender, the party’s preference for a non-Jat CM would be in keeping the overwhelming support the party got from non-Jats. The party, which fielded 27 Jats, 19 of them with strong credentials, received a big chunk of votes of the dominant community, which accounts for more than one-fifth of the electorate. However, the party’s strong showing in a state where it has been a fringe player has been made possible because of the support from other communities. Reports said Dalits, who make up 20% of the electorate, voted overwhelmingly for saffron party candidates. Besides Dalits, the BJP also succeeded in enlisting significant support from upper castes such as Brahmins, Banias and Rajputs as well as non-Jat OBCs such as Ahirs (Yadavs), Gujjars and Sainis who, put together, represent almost half the electorate in the state.
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Probable winners order ‘ladoos’, others visit astrologers
Jind, October 18 “I am confident that the INLD will win all five seats in Jind and we will form the next government with a majority. We have planned to celebrate the success of our party in a big way,” said INLD candidate from Jind City MLA Dr Harichand Middha. During a visit to various sweet shops in the city, huge orders to prepare ‘ladoos’, had already been placed by supporters of the INLD and BJP candidates. Though the owners of these shops refused to disclose the exact details, they confirmed that INLD and BJP leaders were making preparations for victory. “We have been asked to prepare large quantities of ‘ladoo’ till 9am on result day,” said Vijay Kumar, a local sweet shop owner. While political pundits are still to make clear cut judgements to predict the winner from the Uchana Kalan seat, supporters of BJP candidate Prem Lata Singh are confident of her victory. Some astrologers and priests of local temples disclosed they had been performing ‘havans’. INLD, BJP supporters order ‘ladoos’
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Cong nominee in soup for disrupting poll
Sonepat, October 18 On the complaint of duty magistrate Rajbir Singh, Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency-cum-Sonepat SDM Amit Khatri had written to the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Sonepat District Election Officer and Election Commission’s observer for the constituency to take note of the complaint. In his letter, the RO has stated that polling was disrupted by Kamla of the INC and her son at booth no.137, 138 and 139 of the polling station. The matter was further aggravated by INC candidate Devraj Dewan when he reached the spot and indulged in bulldozing of the duty magistrate. Submitting that the offences had been committed under Sections 131 (1B) and 132 (1) and other provisions of the Representation of People Act 1951 and other laws pertaining to elections, the RO has recommended action against the erring persons. |
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BJP upbeat, rivals wait and watch
Kurukshetra, October 18 An order of four quintals of ladoos has been placed by the district unit, crackers have been purchased and ‘dhol-nagadas’ have also been booked for the day. Congress leaders have already accepted their defeat while the INLD will be wiped out after the results.” He said the BJP would win all four — Thanesar, Pehowa, Shahabad and Ladwa — Assembly seats of Kurukshetra district. Leaders of other political parties dismissed the projection and said results would be completely different. |
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Karnal admn gets ready for counting day Karnal, October 18 Only those persons who have passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer (DEO) and IGP Karnal range Rajbir Deswal along with Superintendent of Police Abhishek Garg today reviewed the security arrangements. The counting of the Karnal Assembly segment will be held at DAV College, while that of the Nilokehri segment will take place at Dayal Singh College. In Gharaunda, counting will be held Karan Stadium. The votes of the Assandh Assembly segment will be counted at SBS Senior Secondary School, while those of the Indri segment will be counted at DAV Senior Secondary School. Security stepped up for D-Day in Kaithal The counting of votes of all four Assembly segments in the district will take place at the local RKSD College premises amid tight security. DC-cum-District Election Officer NK Solanki said 11 duty magistrates would be deployed during the counting of votes. Assembly of five or more persons within a radius of 300 m from the counting centres has been banned. SP Kuldeep Yadav said heavy police force comprising four DSPs, eight inspectors, 251 sub-inspectors and ASIs, 282 head constables, among others would be deployed at all counting centres. — OC
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Special helpline for N-E racist victims soon
Gurgaon, October 18 Emphasizing on zero tolerance against racism, the minister today met the two Naga boys who were brutally thrashed by group of youth in Sikanderpur two days ago. Out to review the law and order situation, he had an hour-long meeting with Gurgaon Police Commissioner Alok Mittal, Divisional Commissioner DPS Nagal and other senior officials. He said that he had already met PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue and they told him that the government was totally committed not prevent such incidents. “All efforts would be made by us to prevent further hate and racist attacks against the peoole from the N-E. Integrity and solidarity of the country was paramount and the people of the N-E have equal rights, he stressed. Rijiju expressed his satisfaction with the swift action taken by the police in this incident. |
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Train coach catches fire in Rewari
Rewari, October 18 The luggage compartment of the Nayabhuj-Bareilly train went up in flames when it left the Rewari station. No one was injured, but decorative items worth Rs 7 lakh were gutted. The authorities ordered a probe into the incident. Rewari Deputy Commissioner RC Verma said the incident took place at 2 pm. “Some commuters waiting for other trains on the platform noticed the flames and raised an alarm. A railway guard stopped the train by using the vacuum brake,” he said. “Passengers and officials used fire extinguishers and fire tenders were summoned. It took around half an hour to douse the flames,” he said. Rail traffic on the track was brought to a halt for around half an hour. The luggage bogie was detached and the train left around 2:40 pm, he added. “A preliminary investigation suggests short circuit as the reason. The sealed bogie was loaded with hosiery goods, mobile phone kits and electronic items worth Rs 7 lakh,” said Verma. He said the Chief Engineer (Railway) and a team of the bomb disposal squad was called from Gurgaon to find out the exact cause. |
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