Varun sent to 2-day judicial custody,
says he was framedA defiant Varun Gandhi was remanded to two days in judicial custody by a Pilibhit court on Saturday, after he courted arrest in front of thousands of his supporters, saying he was being 'framed'. Varun's lawyers had earlier moved a surrender plea in the court of the Chief Judicial magistrate in Pilibhit, following the rejection of his bail plea by the Allahabad High Court on Friday.
Varun reached Pilibhit earlier on Saturday morning, even as huge crowds of BJP workers clashed with the local police, trying to obstruct them from arresting their firebrand leader. Earlier, there was intense speculation that the Uttar Pradesh police might arrest Varun even before he surrenders at the Pilibhit court. Varun apparently took the decision to withdraw the anticipatory bail application from the Delhi High Court after the Allahabad High Court rejected his petition seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him for his alleged inflammatory speeches in Pilibhit.Last week, the Delhi High Court had granted Mr Gandhi interim anticipatory bail which will expire on Friday and the UP police will have no legal bar to arrest him.
Nano-politics against me,
said MamataDAYS after the high-profile launch of the world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, on Friday alleged that the event was timed with the Lok Sabha elections in mind and was a conspiracy against her.In a programme broadcast by a TV news channel, Banerjee said, "The launch of the Nano was timed keeping in view the approaching Lok Sabha elections. It was a conspiracy against me." Banerjee claim that Tata Motors had fled from Singur not because of her party's agitation against land acquisition, but because of the global meltdown.She also said Tata's purchase of Corus had brought down the share prices of the company. "Their plants in Jamshedpur are also not running through the week." Commenting on Ratan Tata's greeting 'good afternoon' during the Nano launch in Mumbai on March 23, Banerjee said: "He has his allegiance for a particular political party -- CPI-(M). So I will wish him good night. We will usher in a new and good morning."Earlier, Tata Motors wound up its Nano project from Singur, which was originally scheduled to roll out the cheapest car, last October, following sustained protests by the Trinamool-led farmers demanding return of 400 of the 997.11 acres acquired for the project. The agitators alleged that the 400 acres were forcibly taken by the government.
Godhra case:
Gujarat minister surrenders Gujarat minister for higher education, women and child welfare, Maya Kodnani, along with Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Jaideep Patel, whose bail in the Godhra riots case was cancelled by the Gujarat High Court on Friday, surrendered in front of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) court, in Gandhinagar, after their arrest became imminent.Earlier, the minister had sent in her resignation on Friday after the High Court took a strong view of her role in leading mobs during the 2002 sectarian violence, terminf it as 'nothing less than organised crime'. Justice DH Waghela, in his order, said: "Maya Kodnani was leading a mob but still did not control them (mob). This is nothing less than organised crime." He also rejected the petition of Kodnani's defence lawyer who sought more time for her to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.Earlier, the Special Investigative Team had approached the High Court seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Kodnani as she had not responded to its summons. Kodnani is accused of leading a rioting mob in Godhra on February 28, 2002. Over 100 people were killed in the riots there. Calling it a huge embarrassment for the BJP, Congress Spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, "I certainly hope that the law will take necessary action against the corrupt minister. She was embroiled and accused of monstrous crimes. Commenting on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, she said, "The time has come to show that he supports the law by taking necessary action against her." The investigating team, headed by the former CBI Director RK Raghavan, is re-investigating the case.
SP-RJD-LJP combo latest threat to Congress in N. India
The Congress is now paying up for ignoring a pre-poll alliance. In what could be the most serious challenge to Mrs Sonia Gandhi's say in post-poll government formation, three major Hindi belt leaders - Mulayam Singh yadav of the Samajwadi party, Lalu Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Jana Shakti party have decided to close ranks and contest the elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh together.At a press conference in New Delhi, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh declared, "We three are together. We will fight jointly in North India. We will not clash with each other in the two states having 120 Lok Sabha seats."LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan, said in Patna, that he had talked to SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD leader Lalu Prasad and the three parties would provide an alternative in the fight against 'communal forces'. While SP supremo Mulayam Singh did not make a formal announcement, he said Paswan had agreed to drop his plans to field former Prime Minister V P Singh's son, Ajeya Singh, from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress would now be up against three powerful regional groups, SP-RJD-LJP, in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It will also have to face the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) besides the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
CBI urges SC to debar Munnabhai from contesting
Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, who is trying to contest Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow on a Samajwadi Party ticket, is facing stiff resistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation, which opposed his appeal in Supreme Court on Thursday. In his plea, Mr. Dutt is seeking suspension of his conviction to enable him to contest elections.CBI sources said, Munnabhai is out on bail in the 1993 Bombay blast case in which he was found guilty. If he is allowed to contest it will set a bad precedent.After the fate of criminal turned politicians like Babloo Srivastava and Mukhtar Ansari was sealed, Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have now been pouring in to the Supreme court to bar Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt from contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.Noted social worker and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, filed a PIL in the Supreme Court on Thursday urging it to dismiss Dutt's plea to contest the LS elections. One more petition was filed on March 20 by an Aurangabad-based lawyer on the same issue.All the PILs take the same view that Sanjay Dutt has been convicted by the court, therefore he should not be allow to contest the elections.Sandeep Pandey, said, "When the court had denied permission to Babloo, Amarmani Tripathi and Mukhtar and even Shahabuddin then why should they allow Sanjay Dutt?"The Supreme Court's decision on Sanjay Dutt's appeal, which is expected in the next few days, will determine the political fate of the star-turned politician.
BJP's ill luck continues; Naqvi booked
The Bharatiya Janata party's troubles don't seem to be over yet. With the furore over Varun Gandhi's alleged hate speech in Pilibhit continuing to hit national headlines and Yogi Adityanath's speech also raising the eyeborws in political circles, it is now the turn of the party's vice-president, Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi', whose speech in Rampur has come under scrutiny.A criminal case has been filed against Naqvi and his supporters in the district court in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly barging into a police station and creating a chaos, police said.According to Inspector NK Tyagi, the incident took place after mob of around 100 angry BJP workers stormed the Patwai police station, blocked the road outside and locked the gate. Naqvi later arrived at the spot and made an inflammatory speech to the mob in the presence of the police. One of the vehicles used by the BJPO activists, was sezied by the police.The inspector added that a case had been lodged against Naqvi and his supporters under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), Sec 341 (wrongful restraint), Sec 342 (wrongful confinement) and Sec188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code. The BJP leader and his supporters have also been booked under Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.Referring to the incident, Rampur Superintendent of Police Jyoti arayan said that Naqvi and the BJP workers handed over a memorandum to the sub-divisional magistrate, alleging that the officer of the local police station had misbehaved with them and made ill comments against a legislator. An enquiry has been ordered into the complaint.
Congress holds urgent meeting to discuss allies
Rattled by a series of allies breaking away from the UPA, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, on Thursday, called an emergency meeting of senior party leaders to evaluate the party's chances of forming the next government in the Centre. Pranab Mukherjee and Digvijay Singh are among the prominent leaders to discuss the parties' ties with allies.Congress had recently lost some crucial allies with the PMK joining Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and the RJD and LJP ganging up against the Congress in Bihar, leaving only 3 seats for it in the bargain. The Congress, has since decided to go it alone in Bihar and has already declared a list of 37 candidates in the state.Congress had recently lost some crucial allies with the PMK joining Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and the RJD and LJP ganging up against the Congress in Bihar, leaving only 3 seats for it in the bargain. The Congress, has since decided to go it alone in Bihar and has already declared a list of 37 candidates in the state.Clearing speculations in the media, Ramadoss, clarified, saying the party would decide on Thursday about its poll alliance and remove all rumours of his stepping down.
Hate speech has made Varun BJP's star campaigner
Hindutva's new poster boy, Varun Gandhi', whose alleged hate speech in Pilibhit shot him into instant controversy and political stardom, is fast becoming the star capiagner for the party's state units. Several state units of the BJP are seeking his presence in election rallies to boost impact.Party insiders say his hate speech has paved the route through which he arrived on the saffron map of BJP. The party's rank and file is now desperately seeking Varun's attendance to drive home the aggressive stance that can overcome the UPA challenge. Seventy-odd MPs and leaders from 10 states have queued up before the BJP election office with one request - send Varun for campaigning. Demands are landing up from virtually every constituency."In the past few days, a section of the party feels that Varun Gandhi could be party's star campaigner," a state unit leader of the party in Uttar Pradesh said. Sources in the BJP confirmed that Gandhi did not figure in the first list of important campaigners earlier. However, post his alleged anti-Muslim remarks, his name has been included in the coveted list and his popularity graph is almost matching Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's.However, sources say, the BJP is still wary and the party is yet to clear demands of pitching Varun in its election rallies. But not everyone seems to agree. Varun Gandhi's 'charisma' is being questioned by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar. Commenting on the controversy, the chief minister had recently said, "People in public life must exercise restraint."According to party insiders, just one and a half months ago at the BJP national executive, Hindutva factor was missing from BJP's political resolution for the ensuing polls. Now the party is milking Varun's hate comments. A week in Indian politics, it is proved, is a long time. A saffron star has been born in just seven days. Sources says, Gandhi is in great demand in Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
Congress spokesperson faces arrest in Bihar
The Election Commission continued with its aggressive monitoring violations of the model code of conduct, directing the district authorities in Darbhanga to take action against Union Minister of State for Home and Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed, who had allegedly held a political meeting at Koeti High School on March 13 without seeking permission of the local administration. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Darbhanga, Mr Vijay Kumar Srivastav, on Wednesday, issued arrest warrant against Ahmed for violating the model code of conduct.Earlier, the Election Commission had on March 16 ordered shifting of the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Darbhanga district and suspended the Sub-Divisional Officer of the district for their alleged involvement in violation of the model code of conduct by Ahmed.The SDO was suspended since he had allowed the meeting to be held without having secured EC's permission. According to the sources, the DM and SP too were allegedly found complicit in the case, sources said.
Varun Gandhi to approach SC for relief BJP's controversy
child Varun Gandhi on Wednesday decided to approach the Supreme Court, after the Allahabad High Court dismissed his petition, asking for the quashing of an FIR filed by the Pilibhit district administration, under instructions from the Election Commission.The Allahabad High Court had maintained that there was no need to stay his arrest since the Delhi High Court has already given him anticipatory bail which will restrain police to arrest him till March 27. Since the FIR stands, and police could arrest him after 27th, he has now decided to go to the apex court for relief. Earlier, the Election Commission had found Varun guilty of delivering hate speeches in Pilibhit during his election rallies, and had advised the BJP not to field him as a candidate in the Lok Sabha polls.The BJP, however, has rejected the 'advice', instead terming the decision as biased. Varun has also slammed the EC for not giving him a fair hearing.In its order, a division bench comprising justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and S C Nigam said, "the petition stands dismissed".Now, after rejection of his plea, Varun Gandhi faces the possibility of being arrest if he visits Pilibhit anytime after March 27, to file his nomination papers.
Starpower:
'Veer-Zaara' to campaign for Congress The Congress has lined up an entire star cast to add to its campaign glamour quotient for the ensuing general elections. Among others, it has roped in the Veer Zaara stars, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, to capign for it and attend some of its political rallies. Party sources indicate that the star pair would be able to draw a lot of crowds and also voter allegience.Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal, talking to mediapersons in Kanpur on Tuesday, said that famous Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Priety Zinta, Govinda and Nagma will campaign for the party and participate in rallies and road shows.Jaiswal said though Govinda was a Congress leader, Nagma had been an active worker and campaigned for the party in earlier elections.
Mayawati spreading B'day terror,
says Ajit Singh The Lok Sabha Elections is witnessing many candidates casting serious aspersions at each other. After the war of words between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP supremo LK Advani, it is now the turn of Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh, who has taken potshots at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, for intimidating the people for fund-raising during her birthday celebrations. According to Ajit Singh, people of Uttar Pradesh were fed up of Mayawati collecting funds from them for her birthday celebrations every year and wondered aloud what would happen if the she decided to tie the knot.Addressing an election rally in Mathura, he said, ''Arre thak jaoge kanyadan dal dal ke agar kal Behenji ne shaadi karne ki soch li to." He was campaigning for his son, Jayant Choudhary, who is contesting as the BJP-RLD candidate from Mathura. Referring to the annual grand celebrations of Mayawati's birthday in which she purportedly asks for huge donations from party workers and others, he added that people in the country were in constant fear of terrorism but the people of UP were scared of the birthday celebrations of their Chief Minister sahiba.
Blame game has begun,
Advani, Manmohan wage 'word war' The 15th Lok Sabha elections have finally started heating up with a caustic war of words that started with the formal launch of the Congress manifesto on Tuesday. With both Manmohan Singh and LK Advani casting serious aspersions on each other about their poltical track record, it is now expected to only get more vitriolic with both Prime Minister aspirants trying to play a game of political one-upmanship.Addressing an election rally in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district in Madhya Pradesh, Advani said, Manmohan Singh was the country's weakest prime minister. He was the Prime Minister but had no powers because he could only take decisions subject to permission from Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Responding to Advani's allegation that he was a weak PM, Manmohan Singh lashed back at the BJP leader, saying, "The actions of our government speak volumes about it." Taking the war of words into the BJP camp, Dr Singh attacked Advani, saying the Leader of the Opposition had played a prominent role in the destruction of the Babri Masjid. He added, when he(Advani) was Home Minister, Parliament was attacked and thousands were massacred in the Gujarat riots. The Red Fort was also attacked and the plane hijacked to Kandahar.
After Varun, now it's EC against Uddhav
THE Election Commission's tryst with hate speeches doesn't seem to end. Even as the Varun Gandhi controversy continues to grab national headlines, the poll panel is now training its guns on Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray.The district collector of Mumbai,on Monday, submitted a report against the Shiv Sena executive President for his allegedly objectionable comments against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Mumbai district collector I Z Kundan said that police will take the decision whether to take action or not. A video recording of the Uddhav's speech has been submitted to the police and to the poll panel, along with the report.Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe however said that they haden't received any formal notice from the Election Commission. There were reports that the district electoral office has begun proceedings against Uddhav under the Representation of People's Act, 1952. The EC had found Uddhav's speech against PM objectionable.The district electoral office began to look into the case on Saturday, a day after the Sena scion's address at a saffron conclave held at the Sun Mill compound, near Sewri. BJP president Rajnath Singh too was present at the jamboree.After viewing the CD of Uddhav's speech, the EC has come to the decision that the Shiv Sena Executive President has violated the model code of conduct.Acording to the party leader Gorhe, the Sena had earlier registered a formal complaint with Election Commission in Delhi against Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari for his 'provocative' remarks against Uddhav Thackeray.
Court summons Tharoor for insulting National Anthem
Former United Nations diplomat-turned Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor is now in the eye of a storm. The suave celebrity author, who is fighting the elections on a Congress ticket from Thiruvananthapuram, has invited public ire for "insulting the national anthem'".According to a complaint, Mr Tharoor had insulted the national anthem at a function, held on December 16 in Kochi by interrupting the singing of the national anthem and asking the audience to sing the national anthem in an American manner by placing the right palm over the heart.In this case, he was asked by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian K Kuriakose to appear before him on April 18 in connection with alleged insult of the national anthem by him.It is said the witnesses have given evidences that clearly indicate that the above argument carries weight and Tharoor's presence was necessary to resolve the question over whether a charge could be framed against him.
Mulayam accused of 'threatening' senior lady officer
Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has now landed himself in yet another controversy, this time for having 'threatened' a senior lady official. Mulayam, who managed to get a clean chit from the Election Commission recently after having caught on camera, distributing cash to party workers during a Holi get-together, got involved in a fresh trouble by passing several remarks against senior lady official during a public meeting in Mainpuri.Mr Yadav criticised the District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer for harassing the party workers and warned that because she is a woman, he was leaving her.Yadav alleged the way in which the DM was canceling arms licenses had created an atmosphere of terror in the district. SP workers have accused her of being partial and confiscating their gun licenses.He said, "This is also affecting my elections and it is not tolerable", he said. "She has lost her sense to discriminate between a criminal and a common man. She should get her head checked."He announced in the public that she should mend ways within a week or else he would register a complaint against her with the Election Commission. Following the SP chief's comment on the lady district magistrate, BJP's Prakash Javadekar said that the Election Commission cannot have dual standards against violations of the model code of conduct, and should take action. He added that EC was hyperactive against Varun's speech.Earlier, the EC had sent a notice to Mr Yadav in connection with distribution of money during a Holi in Etawah. But later, it had dropped the matter after being satisfied with his reply.
Ramadoss may resign after PMK ties up with Jaya
Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss is all set to resign after his party, the PMK decided to break away from the UPA and join hands with AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha. Seat-sharing talks between the PMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu broke down on Monday. According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.Ramadoss, along with the Minister of State for Railways R Velu, are scheduled to meet PM Manmohan Singh and the Congress high command.PMK sources said that the party has struck a deal with AIADMK chief Jayalalitha, but an official announcement will only be made after the general body meet on Thursday.
After Varun, now it's EC against Uddhav
The Election Commission's tryst with hate speeches doesn't seem to end. Even as the Varun Gandhi controversy continues to grab national headlines, the poll panel is now training its guns on Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray.The district collector of Mumbai,on Monday, submitted a report against the Shiv Sena executive President for his allegedly objectionable comments against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Mumbai district collector I Z Kundan said that police will take the decision whether to take action or not. A video recording of the Uddhav's speech has been submitted to the police and to the poll panel, along with the report.Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe however said that they haden't received any formal notice from the Election Commission. There were reports that the district electoral office has begun proceedings against Uddhav under the Representation of People's Act, 1952. The EC had found Uddhav's speech against PM objectionable.The district electoral office began to look into the case on Saturday, a day after the Sena scion's address at a saffron conclave held at the Sun Mill compound, near Sewri. BJP president Rajnath Singh too was present at the jamboree.After viewing the CD of Uddhav's speech, the EC has come to the decision that the Shiv Sena Executive President has violated the model code of conduct.Acording to the party leader Gorhe, the Sena had earlier registered a formal complaint with Election Commission in Delhi against Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari for his 'provocative' remarks against Uddhav Thackeray.
Court summons Tharoor for insulting National Anthem
Former United Nations diplomat-turned Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor is now in the eye of a storm. The suave celebrity author, who is fighting the elections on a Congress ticket from Thiruvananthapuram, has invited public ire for "insulting the national anthem'".According to a complaint, Mr Tharoor had insulted the national anthem at a function, held on December 16 in Kochi by interrupting the singing of the national anthem and asking the audience to sing the national anthem in an American manner by placing the right palm over the heart.In this case, he was asked by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian K Kuriakose to appear before him on April 18 in connection with alleged insult of the national anthem by him.It is said the witnesses have given evidences that clearly indicate that the above argument carries weight and Tharoor's presence was necessary to resolve the question over whether a charge could be framed against him.
Mulayam accused of 'threatening' senior lady officer
Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has now landed himself in yet another controversy, this time for having 'threatened' a senior lady official. Mulayam, who managed to get a clean chit from the Election Commission recently after having caught on camera, distributing cash to party workers during a Holi get-together, got involved in a fresh trouble by passing several remarks against senior lady official during a public meeting in Mainpuri.Mr Yadav criticised the District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer for harassing the party workers and warned that because she is a woman, he was leaving her.Yadav alleged the way in which the DM was canceling arms licenses had created an atmosphere of terror in the district. SP workers have accused her of being partial and confiscating their gun licenses.He said, "This is also affecting my elections and it is not tolerable", he said. "She has lost her sense to discriminate between a criminal and a common man. She should get her head checked."He announced in the public that she should mend ways within a week or else he would register a complaint against her with the Election Commission. Following the SP chief's comment on the lady district magistrate, BJP's Prakash Javadekar said that the Election Commission cannot have dual standards against violations of the model code of conduct, and should take action. He added that EC was hyperactive against Varun's speech.Earlier, the EC had sent a notice to Mr Yadav in connection with distribution of money during a Holi in Etawah. But later, it had dropped the matter after being satisfied with his reply.
Ramadoss may resign after PMK ties up with Jaya
Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss is all set to resign after his party, the PMK decided to break away from the UPA and join hands with AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha. Seat-sharing talks between the PMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu broke down on Monday. According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.Ramadoss, along with the Minister of State for Railways R Velu, are scheduled to meet PM Manmohan Singh and the Congress high command.PMK sources said that the party has struck a deal with AIADMK chief Jayalalitha, but an official announcement will only be made after the general body meet on Thursday.
Varun should read Gita properly :
Priyanka Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said that the inflammatory comments made by Varun Gandhi goes totally against the principles of the Gandhi family. She feel so bad to see him saying all these things on television. Speaking to reporters against her cousin Varun, she said that he should read and understand Gita (Bhagvad Gita) properly. Priyanka Gandhi will attend many closed-door meetings at various places in Rae Bareli (Sonia Gandhi's parliamentary constituency) and neighbouring Amethi ( Rahul Gandhi's constituency) and interact with all workers.
BJP dares EC diktat, sticks with Varun's candidature
A defiant BJP on Monday stuck to its guns and declared that Varun Gandhi would remain its candidate from Pilibhit in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Coming down heavily on the EC "recommendation", the party has alleged that the poll panel's directive could be due to the Chief Election Commissioner-designate Navin Chawla's proximity to the Congress. The BJP leadership is of the view that debarring candidate does not fall within the purview of the Election Commission's mandate, and expressed confidence that Varun's candidature would not be held hostage by petty politicking. Senior BJP leader Balbir Punj said that there were candidates with criminal charges in other parties also. Then why had the exception been made in Varun Gandhi's case.Allaying all fears of the BJP dropping Varun as a candidate, party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar has said, "Yes, Varun is still our official candidate." He added that it is not the EC's job to say who should be candidate and who should not be. EC is not the forensic lab to tell whether the tape is authentic or not. Earlier, Varun had stirred up a controversy by allegedly delivering a vitriolic speech in Pilibhit targetting minority communities, has been strongly pulled up by the Election Commission. The poll panel had also asked the Bharatiya Janata Party not to make him its official candidate in the ensuying elections.The decision which came after a lot of deliberations, found Varun guilty of violating the spirit of election laws and also destroying the conscience of the nation. An EC statement said it was not convinced by Varun Gandhi's contention that the tapes containing his speech were doctored.The Commission has now decided to work closely with the Pilibhit district administration to follow up on the criminal case filed against Varun. In the event of the case not producing speedy results, the poll panel is also toying with the idea of approaching the Allahabad High Court to ban Varun from contesting elections. Calling upon the BJP to dump the youngest scion of the Gandhi family to escape censure, the Election Commission warned the party that any attempt by the party to nominate Varun will be seen as it being party to Varun's hate agenda.
Don't play politics with IPL, says Chidambaram
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, has hit back at the BCCI and the BJP for politicising the issue of hosting IPL matches in India during the ensuing general elections. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Chidambaram said the IPL was a wise combination of sport and business and we should not add politics to it. Lambasting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's statement that the IPL shifting out of India signifies a national shame, the minister said, "What is national shame? People of India think Gujarat riots of 2002 were a national shame."A day after the BCCI announced that the second season of the IPL was being shifted overseas because of security issues in India, Chidambaram said that while he had no comment on that decision, he had read a number of statements which obliquely criticised the Central government. Answering BJP leader Arjun Jaitley's comment that the decision to move the IPL abroad will convey a negative message to the world, Chidambaram said, "I know that Mr Jaitley has a penchant for exaggeration, but because he also wears the cap of the president of the DDCA, he seems to have gone overboard this time."Earlier, after weeks of speculation and a ding-dong battle involving the Union home ministry, state governments and the IPL organisers, a solution finally emerged on Sunday morning, when BCCI president told a crowded press conference in Mumbai that owing to government pressure, the glamorous Season 2 of the Indian Premier League would now be held overseas.While the venue was to be finalised, the issue of general elections, along with some state assemblies going to the polls became too sensitive an issue for the government to take any chances, given the high security risk involved.IPL commissioner Lalit Modi termed the decision as the most unfortunate decision of his life, almost all franchise owners, including Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Mallya, Nita Ambani and Preity Zinta expressed happiness that the IPL controversy had finally been resolved. They also agreed that the general elections were anyway more important for the nation and hence its security could never be undermined in preference to a cricket tournament. According to Lalit Modi, all the matches will be held on the same schedule. Taking a dig at the UPA regime at the Centre, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, said it was sad that a government was supposed to take care of the security of 1 billion Indians, cannot guarantee the security of 11 cricket players. Offering to host all IPL matches with a "guarantee of security" in Gujarat, the firebrand BJP leader lamented that with the moving of IPL abroad, India's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 would also have a question mark against it.
Chiranjeevi may contest 3 seats in show of strength
Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi, who formed his Praja Rajyam party with much fanfare ihn 2008, has hinted that he may contest from three constituencies of Andra Pradesh, making it a grand show of strength in front of the electorate. Talking to reporters, he said that he might contest from one assembly seat each in Andhra, Rayalseema and Telanagana regions.He will be repeating history, if the PRP president does that. N T Rama Rao, founder of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), used to contest from three constituencies to drive home the point that his popularity spans the entire state.He made a confirmation that he would contest from a seat in his native West Godavari district and Tirupati in Rayalseema. He also said that he will choose Nalgonda in Telangana, if he would find possibility of contesting from a third constituency. Chiranjeevi alleged that the Congress party had not done justice to backward classes in allotment of party tickets. He also pointed out that Congress fielded only 66 candidates from backward classes though there were 109. This shows the insincerity of Congress in ensuring social justice.
Paswan's LJP to contest 15 LS seats in UP
Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janashakti Party, has decided to cast its net beyond the borders of Bihar. It is likely to field 15 candidates in Uttar Pradesh.LJP spokesperson for UP, Rajkumar Ojha, said that the party has already announced its candidates from five Lok Sabha constituencies of Jaunpur, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Etah and Khalilabad. To answer whether the party will go out all alone in the polls in UP, Ojha said that the possibility of contesting under the banner 'National Dalit Front' (NDF) has not been ruled out and will soon take a decision on this.According to a senior LJP leader, if their party contest the election under the banner of NDF, they might fight on at least 20-30 seats in UP.Led by Ramvilas Paswan, the National Dalit Front (NDF) was formed in 2008 to make a dent on Mayawati's Dalit vote bank. This front comprises of LJP, Indian Justice Parties (Udit Raj) and Republican Party of India (A) led by Ramdas Athavale.
UPA collapses in Bihar,
Cong to field 37 candidatesBihar's election landscape is becoming very competitive. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) it seems has almost collapsed in the state with the Congress declaring its intentions of fielding as many as 37 candidates for the state.The party decided to mount the offensive after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan offered just three seats to the Congress. "Congress has decided to contest on 37 seats in Bihar. Coalition dharma has been violated and we are upset with this. We have no alliance with Laloo as of now," Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde, who heads the Screening Committee for vetting party candidates from the state, said.RJD got the lion's share on 40 seats and will put up candidates in 25 seats while Paswan's party will be contesting on 12 seats. Meanwhile, former RJD leader Sadhu Anirudh Prasad Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday morning.Earlier, Laloo denied any tension between the RJD-LJP combine and the Congress, saying the parties were loyal to UPA. "No confusion is there. We are discussing with everybody. Our alliance is UPA, and we want to contest election together." Prasad said he was not willing to forge an alliance with the Communist parties who had quit the ruling coalition over the nuclear deal with the US. Communists are our permanent friends.
IPL 'almost' cleared, may be crunched to 27 daysNEW DELHI:
The Season 2 of the much-hyped multi-million dollar of the Indian Premier League has finally come out of the general election shadow, the tournament may now be crunched within a window of 27 days. Most state governments have now cleared the IPL's revised schedule, which went through three iterations, because its dates were clashing with the general elections. Maharashtra is the only state which has given conditional clearance.Friday night saw most states giving their go ahead to the series, even offering state security for the matches an issue of contention between IPL and the Home Ministry, while State governments also tended to side with the Centre on issues of providing paramilitary forces during matches.Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor says the city police are ready to provide security as long as matches do not coincide with polling days.He has also requested the cricketers stay at the Cricket Club of India instead of five-star hotels.However, the state seems divided on the issue with Director-General of Police (Elections) Suprakash Chakravarty saying that the IPL should be held only after elections are over. The top cop has sought postponement of the IPL to sometime in May, or after the three-phased elections in the state are completed. "There is no point in putting any extra strain on the police and security forces, which shall be fully occupied with the election duties," Chakravarty said.However, the tournament, which showcases a breathtaking curtailed version of the game, still runs the risk of being further truncated, with the Centre unwilling to budge on security concerns and states cautious about underwriting policing. According to informed sources, the high-profile tournament may well be cut to less than a month with matches being held during a 27-day window in May, by when two of the five phases of polls would be over.
George, Digvijay may fight as independents
TOP JD(U) leaders and prominent members of the National Democratic Alliance, George Fernandes and Digvijay Singh, may defy their party's decision not to give them election tickets this year. Both have expressed their intentions to contest as independents from their respective constituencies. According to party sources, there is considerable opinion within the JD(U) that 79-year-old leader is not fit enough to take on the rough and tumble of election this time. But, Fernandes, unshakeable as he is, thinks otherwise. Fernandes said that if not as a JD(U) candidate, then he will fight as an independent from his constituency Muzaffarpur in Bihar.Another prominent leader and the former minister of state for external affairs, Digvijay Singh, is likely to fight as an independent candidate after reports that the party has decided not to give him a ticket from his Baka constituency.
BSP's candidate Kushwaha charged with model code of conduct
BSP's candidate from the prestigious Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, RS Kushwaha, has been charged with violating the model code of conduct by the Election Commission for using mikes without its permission.Police inspector BR Mishra said that a case was registered against Kushwaha on Friday evening, for defying the model code of conduct for using mikes and loudspeakers without the necessary permission to address an election meeting in Mirzapur Aehari village in Rae Bareli.Kushwaha held the meeting without the permission of the district authorities and refused to call off the rally when he was told to do so by the police, said the police officer.The District police chief said that an inquiry has been initiated against Kushwaha following the directives of sub-divisional magistrate Chitralekha Singh. The report will soon be sent to the state Election Commission after which proper action would be taken against him.
Delhi HC grants anticipatory bail to Varun (19th March, 2009)NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday granted anticipatory baiI to Varun Gandhi till March 27, which restrains the police from arresting him in the Pilibhit hate speech controversy. Varun has got bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000.Earlier on Friday morning, Varun's lawyers visited Election Commission's office to submit his reply on making communal statements. Varun was not physically present at the time of filing the reply. The reply was filed before the Election Commission by his lawyers.In his reply to the Election Commission, Varun Gandhi maintained that the CD said to contain his inflammatory speech is doctored, according to sources.Varun had time till 11:00am today to file his reply to the EC, as the 48-hour deadline set by the EC to issue a reply to the charges of making communal statements comes to an end. Officials from Uttar Pradesh on Friday visited the residence of BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi and handed over a copy of the CD containing his hate speech in Pilibhit, PTI reported.The officials, who were accompanied by a team from Delhi Police, handed over the CD at the residence of his mother and former union minister Maneka Gandhi here, where 29-year-old Varun stays. The UP officials told reporters that they were on poll duty, but declined to give any details.The Delhi Police team, however, did not enter the residential premises. Varun's office, when contacted, said the officials had come to hand over a CD to the BJP candidate. Varun had on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
Cong hits back at Laloo, to contest 26 seats in Bihar (19th March, 2009)
THE CONGRESS on Thursday answered Lalo Prasad Yadav's aggressive decision to grant it only three seats in Bihar, but announcing the induction of Laloo's controversial brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav into the party and announcing that it would be fielding candidates in more than 26 seats in the state.Apart from Sadhu Yadav, the Congress also brought into its fold, RJD MP from Banka Girdhari Yadav, and senior party leader and former union minister Ramai Ram.The RJD leaders joined the party in the presence of senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde, AICC in-charge of Bihar, Iqbal Singh and Bihar PCC President Anil Sharma.Problems for Laloo's RJD started after the seat-sharing announcement by RJD and LJP for Bihar was announced two days back, which saw Congress being given just three Lok Sabha seats. Sources say that Sadhu Yadav and Ramai Ram revolted and met Shinde along with another senior leader Jai Narayan Nishad who later joined JD-U in Bihar.Congress had been riding piggyback on RJD in Bihar for the past ten years and was given just four seats even in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress gets 26 seats in Bihar after taking Sadhu (20th March, 2009)Following the RJD's decision of seat-sharing for Lok Sabha poll in Bihar, Congress on Thursday 19th March, announced that the party would be contesting more than 26 seats in the state by allowing Lalu's controversial brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav to join the party. Other RJD leaders who joined Congress are senior party leader and former union minister Ramai Ram and RJD MP from Banka Girdhari Yadav. These leaders joined the party in the presence of senior Congress leader Sushil kumar Shinde, AICC in-charge of Bihar, Bihar PCC President Anil Sharma and Iqbal Singh.After the seat-sharing announcement by RJD and LJP for Bihar, Congress being given just three Lok Sabha seats, Sadhu Yadav and Ramai Ram had revolted and met Shinde. He was accompained by another senior leader Jai Narayan Nishad who later joined JD-U in Bihar. LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan has claimed he has no role in the development. For the last 10 years, Congress was heavily backed by RJD in Bihar but was given just four seats even in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
Varun Gandhhi is in more trouble (19th March, 2009)
An FIR has been filed against Varun Gandhi on Tuesday, 17th March, for making a hate speech targetting Muslims on 6th March in his campaigning rally. Two more cases have been filed against the young BJP candidate from Pilibhit. After the EC ordered the registration of a criminal case against him, he had applied for anticipatory bail. Meanwhile, Mr. Gandhi must reply to the show-cause notice issued to him by the three-member EC by 11:00 am tomorrow on March 20.At this time, the BJP party has already distanced itself from Varun’s speech. Party sources said that his remarks do not carry the party's official approval. At the time of making the speech, he was not even allotted the party symbol. On the other hand, Varun denied making such speech. He said the speech being heard on the CD has been tempered with and it is not his voice. He said his peech favored the Hindus, which is why some politicians are targeting him.The EC has also sought forensic analysis of the tapes of Varun's speech. The commission has also ordered video tracking of all functions and rallies attended by him.Former attorney general Soli Sorabjee said that the speaker's intention does not matter. In such a case the law would take its own course. Sorbjee said that if he had made the speech, and if his words have the effect of creating ill feelings between the two communities, then he has committed the offence.
The RJD-LJP seat-sharing deal in Bihar has made the Congress unhappy (18th March, 2009)It is shocking for the congress party when their long time loyal partners, railway minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad and steel minister and LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan have opted for 37 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar among them leaving with a measly three for the ruling party. The RJD and the LDP are the key UPA allies and hence this seat-sharing deal in Bihar is a major blow to the Congress. Lalu on Tuseday (17th March'09), together with Ram Vilas Paswan said in a press conference , "We want to make it clear we are with UPA. We are doing this because we aim to make a secular government to fight communal forces." LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan too said that their aim is to defeat the communal forces. Lalu also said that RJD will contest 25 seats and LJP will contest 12 seats in Bihar. However, the Congress, which is also a part of the deal, is unhappy with just three seats left for the party. The party said that it will contest on more.
JMM to contest Lok sabha polls with UPA (17th March, 2009)Teklal Mahto, the MP of JMM from Giridih said that the party had no difference with UPA and would contest coming Lok Sabha polls in alliance with UPA and its allies in Jharkhand. He further said that JMM would contest the forthcoming election unitedly with UPA. JMM MP added, We had contested the last election together and won 13 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.Paying direct attention to the attitude of Congress since Shibu Soren, the JMM Chief, lost Tamar by election, Mahto said that they were in continuous touch with the party-in-charge of Congress in the state.The dream of separate Jharkhand state remained unfulfilled as the whole control of the state has fell in wrong hands, Mahto said while addressing a meeting. Earlier, JMM leaders showed their anger over the attitude of Congress since Soren's defeat in the election and said that the party was set to contest of Lok Sabha polls alone if Congress failed to respond positively.
Mumbai has 25 lakh registered voters (16th March, 2009)
According to a senior officer, around 25.90 lacs voters have been registered in the twin Lok Sabha in Mumbai. The District Collector, I. Kundan told reporters that a total of 2,59,0693 voters have been registered in the South Mumbai and South Central Mumbai constituencies.The Collector further said that over 13,000 polling personnel would be deployed in the two constituencies. With the announcement of election schedule and the enforcement of code of conduct, about 1,512 banners and cutouts have been removed, so far, said the District Collector.
Women voters hold key in Kangra (14th March, 2009)Polling for the last phase in Himachal Pradesh would be held on May 13. Women hold the key to success in Kangra, the largest Lok Sabha constituency of the state. Mr. K.K. Pant, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-returning officer told, that out of the total 11,78,130 voters in Kangra, the number of women voters are 5,89,158 while that of male is 5,88,972. The constituency comprises of total 17 assembly seats that are spread in Kangra and Chamba district. The two major parties fighting head-to-head for the seat are BJP and Congress. MP Chander Kumar of Congress and BJP MLA Rajan Sushant are likely to vie for the seat, though official declaration of candidates of the two parties is yet to be made. Kangra is the home constituency of former union minister and ex-CM of BJP Shanta Kumar.
Jaya said that she never invited Cong for alliance (13th March, 2009)AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, rejecting suggestions that she was wooing the Congress, claimed that she had never invited Congress to join her party. Jayalalitha told that she had suggested it against getting stuck in the DMK quick sand. Days after both the Congress and DMK swore by their alliance, she said that she has not asked Congress to join hands with AIADMK for the Lok Sabha Polls. She anly advised them not to get stuck in DMK quick sand because of our past relationship. The recent remarks of Jailalitha, asking Congress to snap tie with DMK and recalling the past relation of her party's with it, were being seen as an effort towards revival of their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls.She further said that this will be realized by the Congress only after the polls. Jailalitha claimed that people would vote against the DMK-Congress front in the coming polls. AIADMK leader Jailalitha also denied the charge by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that she did her best to give publicity to the reported views of some Congress workers favoring an alliance with her party.Party members of AIADMK accused Karunanidhi of lending 'a deaf ear to Congress' demand for action against pro-LTTE elements. They termed the arrests of film director Seeman and Kolathur Mani of PDK as an "eye wash".
Delhi to have over 90,000 poll officials (12th March, 2009)
For proper conduct of Lok Sabha Elections in seven constituencies in the national capital, over 90,000 officials from Delhi Government, local bodies, PSUs and Central Government will be put up on duty.Satbir Silas Bedi, the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, held a meeting of nodal officers of all the departments, PSUs and local bodies where the required staff for election duty will be drawn. In this meeting, Bedi directed the nodal officers to give relevant information about officials who will be put on poll duty so that they could be segregated constituency wise. A declaration was made by the officials that nobody will be put on poll duty in his or her assembly constituency. He further mentioned that officials put on poll duty in the Parliamentary Constituency of their residence will be issued Election Duty Certificate (EDC) for casting their votes while Postal Ballots will be issued to those who will be posted in Parliamentary Constituency other than their residence.The nodal officers are also directed by the Chief Electoral Officer to identify the officers who are not registered in the electoral roll of their residence.
Tripura budget session shortened for polls (09th March, 2009) In view of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections slated for April 23 in Tripura, the budget session of the state legislative assembly has been shortened by about 14 days. Speaker Ramendra Debnath said to the House that this decision was made by the business advisory committee at its meeting following an unanimous recommendation. The budget session was to end on March 26 but it will now over on March 12. On 5th of March, a resolution has been moved, by the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Ratan Lal Nath, to cut short the session. This resolution was further supported by the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarker. According to Sarker, there was no other alternative, but to curtail the assembly session as the party leaders have to go for poll campaigning.
Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal joins NDA for Lok Sabha polls (07th March, 2009)
Ajit Singh-led RLD joined the NDA fold for forthcoming lok sabha elections. Ajit Singh, son of former Prime Minister and socialist leader Charan Singh, announced that the "formidable alliance" would help towards a bringing change in government in the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh. Ajit Singh said "With this addition, we are sure to bring an end to the suffering of the common man under the five-year-long UPA ruleâ€. Senior BJP leader L K Advani remarked “It is also a step towards ending the SP and BSP misrule of Uttar Pradeshâ€. The joining of the party RLD with BJP is expected to give the main opposition a major boost in Uttar Pradesh, western part. BJP chief Rajnath Singh is a candidate from Ghaziabad in the region. NDA acting convenor and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said "With RLD joining us, NDA has become the biggest and the most credible platform for the farmers and other sections of the society. Ajit Singh's joining would further strengthen the pro-people alliance in the country". BJP chief Rajnath Singh also commented that this joining is a manifestation of the continuous expanding base of the NDA. This was a clear sign of continuous increase in popularity of the NDA alliance with the people. Ajit Singh, said the alliance would mark a change in the politics of Uttar Pradesh and the country. However both the parties did not disclose the seat-sharing formula.
Jai Ho: Politicians New Slogan (06th March, 2009)
The new buzzword in town is 'Jai Ho elections' . The word 'Jai Ho' has gained much popularity after the winning of oscars. Infact Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a rickshaw ride on March 5th to see Slumdog Millionaire. Every political party is trying to make 'Jai Ho' the theme slogan. The Congress has already bought the rights to the song Jai Ho. The BJP has also used the song in its campaign and they are not happy about the fact that the Congress has bought the copy rights. BJP campaign committee member Atul Shah said that the Congress has divided artists on party lines by buying the song rights. According to him the song does not belong to anyone. It is a song for the entire country and anyone should be able to use the song. This comes days after BJP leader Narendra Modi took a dig at the Congress, and gave the congress the credit for the movie sarcastically. But the Congress slammed the BJP instead. Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Hussain Dalvai said "The BJP are used to stealing. This is what they do".Meanwhile CPM candidate from Kolkata North constituency has grabbed Jai Ho as his election slogan. He said that his voters have already put up the banners across town and there can't be copyright violation over the words.This is not the first time that film music and songs have been used in several campaigns. But yes , probably this is for the first time, a song has created grounds for a political battle.
Samajwadi Party unhappy with Congress's Lok Sabha list in UP (05th March, 2009)
It seems that the SP Party is not happy with the List of 24 candidates for Lok Sabha Polls in Uttar Pradesh, released by the Congress. The party claimed that it is under pressure from its rank and file to field its own nominees against them. SP Uttar Pradesh unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav said " We are under pressure from party workers against leaving the sitting seats. A final decision is to be taken by the party chief," In response to a question on the future of the SP-Congress alliance, Shivpal Singh said, "It continues from our side." Shivpal Singh is the younger brother of Mulayam Singh. There is likelihood of friendly fights in at least 8 LS constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, striking back at the SP which unilaterally announced 62 nominees so far. Two rebel SP leaders, Raj Babbar and Beni Prasad Verma, figure in the Congress list.
