Polls - Karnataka '08

[Guest]

<b>Cracks in Congress as aspirants vie for tickets</b> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr32008/district2008040360754.asp
Bangarpet:

<i>The Bethamangala Bangarpet has been turned into a reserve constituency after the delimitation exercise and there is a big tussle in the Congress for tickets to contest from this Assembly segment.</i>

With former legislator Kysamballi M Narayanswamy and CMC former president and present councillor K M Narayanswamy showing their strength to get the ticket, both of them submitted their applications to the election observers on Tuesday. Thus they also showed that all was not well within the party. The other aspirants included former legislator C Venkateshappa and leader JCB Naryanappa.

However, all the three have said that they will abide by the decision of the Congress high command.

While Narayanswamy who contested as a rebel Congress candidate in the 2004 elections and was pipped at the post came with a large group of supporters to meet the observers, the other aspirant Narayanswamy along with Sthree Shakti organisation workers and youth showed his strength while submitting his application.

When the supporters of both Narayanswamys’ lifted them on stage and started dancing there was some confusion.

District Congress committee president Bissegowda cooled down the workers and advised them to support the candidate chosen by the high command and work for his victory. Immediately he left the place.

With former legislator M Narayanswamy trying to enter the fray, the other strong contender K M Narayanswamy is a worried man, it is said.

According to party sources, KMN who has been doing a lot of groundwork by supporting the Sthree Shakti groups and the youth through financial aid and providing free drinking water, besides taking up several projects, was stunned to see a group of former legislators.

He is learnt to have threatened CMC president Shamshuddin for having sent his supporters to back M Narayanswamy. Irked by this attitude Shamshuddin is said to have complained to Bissegowda who pacified him.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>Whats the big hurry, wonders Cong; BJP glad</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr32008/national2008040260731.asp
New Delhi,

<i>We dont understand what is the great hurry as rolls for all districts are not yet published and (electoral) maps of seven districts are not ready, Prithviraj Chavan said.</i>

Even as the BJP welcomed the announcement of the Karnataka poll schedule,<b> the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress on Wednesday expressed its clear unhappiness over the Election Commission move questioning the need for the “great hurry” when the electoral rolls were not fully ready.</b> {Losers; already know that they are gonna lose}

“We don’t understand what is the great hurry as rolls for all districts are not yet published and (electoral) maps of seven districts are not ready,” Prithviraj Chavan, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, said immediately after the EC announcement.

“We don’t know when the final rolls will be published,” he said.  He also questioned the EC decision saying if the aim was to avoid the extension of President’s Rule in the State, that too would be negated as “anyway President’s Rule will have to be extended” as the new Assembly would not be constituted by May 19, the last day of the current spell.

<b>BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy saying, “We appreciate that the EC has announced timely polls in the State, which we have been demanding.”</b>

Alleging that the Congress had tried its best to delay polls in the State, Mr Rudy expressed confidence that his party would improve its standing and gain majority in the May elections.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>3-phase polls puzzle political parties</b>
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr320...08040360799.asp
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Bangalore:

<i>Karnataka is set to come under the stiffest security blanket for the three-phase Assembly elections spread over 15 days from May 10, as no other state is going to the polls around this time.</i>

For the 2004 Assembly election, 25 companies of Central Reserve Police Force was deployed. This time round, the number is expected to be much higher. The decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to conduct the election in three phases, instead of two, is itself an indication of a tighter security cover proposed for the exercise, said an Election Commission source.

Though the CEC, on the advice of the State administration, decides on the level of security, political parties and their leaders are puzzled.

Congress Coordination and Election Committee Chairman S M Krishna wondered about the three phases and said the election could have been held in a single phase as no other state is going to polls. Central troops could have been rushed to the State. Campaign Committee Chairman Siddaramaiah was none too perturbed and said, Gujarat with lesser number of Assembly seats than Karnataka also faced three-phase elections.

“This is the first time a three-phase poll is being held in the State. We will face it,” he said, sounding upbeat.

Many potential candidates, sick of waiting to know the poll dates and wishing to get it all over, took the three-part decision in their stride. Former Basavangudi MLA K Chandrashekar believes a spread out election facilitates more focussed canvassing by political parties and fair share of exposure for individual candidates. Better security also meant a more free and fair environment for the electors. However, any major event occurring between the phases, such as the death of a popular leader, could alter reality to a sympathy wave overnight, he noted.

The Election Commission itself is smug in the thought that it can ensure better fair play, including keeping tabs on campaign spending.

Expenditure observers will be deployed shortly, said a senior officer while admitting it is no secret that both political parties and candidates have mastered the art of ‘devolved spending’.

The gap between the first phase of poll and the counting of votes will be the longest this time but safe keeping of ballot boxes is not an issue as they will be stored in rooms sealed in the presence of political party representatives and Central Security Forces posted on guard. Candidates may also post their own security.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>90,000 bottles of ink and 65,000 EVMs</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr32008/state2008040360801.asp
Bangalore,

<i>The Office of Chief Electoral Officer (OCEO) has placed an indent for supply of indelible ink with the State-owned Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL).</i>

The MPVL has been asked to supply the ink by the end of this month. The OCEO placed the order a day after it published the final list of electoral rolls prepared as per the delimited assembly constituencies on March 29, official sources told Deccan Herald.

As per the new delimited assembly constituencies, there are 40,000 polling booths across the State. Besides, 5,000 axillary polling booths will be set up at the time of polling of votes.

Officials said the MPVL has been asked to supply around 90,000 veils (bottles) of indelible ink, two for every polling booth. Each veil contains 25 ml of ink. The indelible ink is marked on the forefinger of the voter’s left hand, after his or her franchise has been exercised.

Official sources said the OCEO has issued directions to all deputy commissioners of districts to keep the electronic voting machines (EVMs) ready in their respective jurisdictions.

“The OCEO already has 65,000 EVMs in all districts. Now DCs have been asked to ensure that the machines are in good condition,” sources said.

The actual requirement of EVMs is 45,000, including auxiliary polling booths. But the OCEO has 20,000 additional EVMs to meet any exigencies, sources said.

The State government on Wednesday released Rs 40 crore towards expenditure for the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in three phases next month, said State Chief Electoral Officer M N Vidyashankar.

He said the EC had sought a sum of Rs 55 crore. However, the government has released Rs 40 crore and promised to dispense the balance in a couple of days.
Vidyashankar He also said  the model code of conduct has came into effect and all DCs have to instructed to enforce it strictly.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Apr 3 2008, 10:06 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Apr 3 2008, 10:06 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Karnataka will have three-phased assembly elections on May 10, 16 and 22 that will require extension of the President's rule by a short spell.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why not to have earlier dates?[right][snapback]80305[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The voter rolls are being revised. This is the first time i have a chance to vote. My name has already been added. Waiting for my photo id to be issued. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Guest]

<b>BJP will come to power with majority: Jaitley</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr620...08040661291.asp
April 6, 2008
Bangalore : The Congress party has lost the elections in states that AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited before the polls, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Saturday, Mr Jaitley said that the Congress party disappeared from the places Rahul had toured earlier. “First he went to Uttar Pradesh and the Congress disappeared from the state. He moved to Gujarat, there too his party suffered defeat. In Karnataka also, the Congress will disappear after the elections,” he said, after inaugurating the poll-preparation workshop organised for party workers in the City.

He said the BJP will come to power in Karnataka with an overwhelming majority.

“ The Congress-led UPA government has failed to take steps to tackle increasing inflation. The country is facing severe shortage of food grains for the first time after the Green Revolution. Every corner of the country is becoming a hub of terrorist activities. The Sachar Committee has recommended religion-based reservation and communal budgeting, which irk the majority community of the country. The infighting among Congress leaders will not allow the party to give a strong fight to the BJP,” said Mr Jaitley.

He appealed to the party workers not to give room for any controversy in the State during the elections.

Lok Sabha member Ananth Kumar, in reaction to former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s comment alleging that MPs from the State are inactive, said that when Kumaraswamy was member of Parliament between 1996 and 1998, he never raised his voice for Karnataka. “I want to know from him (Kumaraswamy) for how many ‘seconds’ he has debated in the Parliament in favour of Karnataka”, he said.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said the party senior leaders have prepared the list of party candidates for almost 140 constituencies. The list will be made public after the party’s central committee of elections approves it, he added.

<b>MAHADEV JOINS BJP
Former minister and Congress leader M Mahadev, popularly known as Benki Mahadev, officially joined the BJP on Saturday.</b>

Arun Jaitley, BJP leader in-charge of elections in Karnataka, welcomed him into the party. Speaking to presspersons, Mahadev said that he decided to quit the Congress as he was upset with the recent turn of events.

<b>“I was working for the Congress for the last 40 years. I stood by the party even at its most difficult times. But now I see that only those who have recently joined the party are given importance,” he said.</b>

Mahadev said the JD(S), Samajwadi Party, BSP and BJP approached him with invitations to join their party, but he decided to join the BJP as it was a party with national status. <b>Replying to a question, he said former JD(S) leader Siddaramaiah’s entry into the Congress is also one of the reasons for his decision to quit the party.</b> See Siddaramaiah's entry is creating serious problems for senior congress leaders. They have no option but to quit.

BJP state president Sadananda Gowda said the party’s hold in the Mysore region has gone up with Mahadev’s entry. Former JD(S) leader Muniyappa Muddappa, former union minister Ratnamala Savanur, ex-MLC C Ramesh and others joined the party.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>BJP workshop to equip workers for Assembly polls</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr62008/state2008040661292.asp

April 6, 2008
Bangalore : The BJP on Saturday, conducted a day-long workshop on poll-preparations for its party workers.

Party workers from different assembly segments were divided into groups with specific responsibilities. The groups included a media cell, advocates’ wing, campaign committee, resource mobilising team, tour committee, office management committee, accounts committee and many more.

The party held workshops for members of each committee at different places. BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Prakash Javedkar addressed the party workers of media committee.

Members of the media cell prepared a press note on BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s address at the inauguration of the workshop. Party spokesperson S Suresh Kumar had already briefed them to take down points to prepare a note on his speech.

Later, workshop, members were taught about preparing press notes, organising press conferences and other related functions.

Party workers were provided with a booklet containing detailed information on the poll preparation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>BJP-JD(U) likely to tie up for elections</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr620...08040661290.asp
April 6, 2008
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to forge an electoral tie-up with the Janata Dal (United) for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka, notwithstanding the state units desire to go it alone for the polls.

With the JD(U) leadership pushing the BJP national leadership for an alliance in the State, the party has been left without much choice but to agree for an understanding.

The number of seats which the BJP will offer the ally has not been worked but would be known shortly, BJP sources said.

However, speaking to Deccan Herald, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said nothing has been worked out yet. “Talks are continuing,” he added.

The JD(U) has been demanding the tie-up citing the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar, where it supported the BJP and helped the latter’s candidate win in a close finish.  The party leadership says there was an understanding at that time, that BJP will support the JD(U) in Karnataka.

However, with the State unit strongly opposed to tie-ups with any party, let alone the JD(U), the central leadership of the BJP was in a tricky position over the issue.

However, the leadership was this evening said to have convinced the State  unit into having an understanding.
The two parties had an alliance in the 2004 Assembly polls – JD(U) contested 25 seats, winning five of them. The other partner AIADMK, had bagged two.

JD(U) weakened
The contention of the state leadership is that JD(U) has been considerably weakened after the last polls. Most of its leaders, barring president B Somashekar, have left the party, the last being Basavaraj Bommai, son of former chief minister S R Bommai. Also, the State party wants to contest as many seats as possible to increase its tally.

As for the AIADMK, it is unlikely that there will be a tie-up given the  repeated inter-state tension between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>JD(S) men assault media men for exposing largesse</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr620...08040661283.asp
April 6, 2008
Mysore : JD(S) members and supporters of K R Nagar constituency aspirant Sa Ra Mahesh launched an attack on media persons in the city on Saturday for having caught them distributing sarees on camera.

Despite the election code of conduct being in force, beneficiaries of saree distribution had lined up in huge numbers at the residence of Sa Ra Mahesh, former Mysore Urban Development Authority Chairman, since Saturday morning on Sita Vilas road.

Part of the house where the distribution was held, was covered with Zinc sheets. Reporters who went in to catch a glimpse, including Ravikumar of Prajavani, Harsha and Raveesh of a private channel, Nesara Kadanakuppe of Kannada Prabha, Kiran Kumar of Mysore Mitra and Jayanth of Doordarshan were attacked after being locked inside. Men rained blows and instigated women as well to manhandle the reporters. A camera belonging to private channel has been reduced to rubble in the melee.

Members of District Journalists Association sat on a dharna in front of Sa Ra Mahesh’s house and condemned the ‘goonda’ behaviour of JD(S), who had attacked one section of the media even during ‘Jaitra Yatre’.

President Shivakumar and Chief Secretary Prabhurajan and others submitted a plea to Deputy Commissioner regarding the incident. They sought his intervention in the matter, to make election reportage safe and impartial. Manivannan, who gave patient hearing to the matter, said he would conduct an enquiry into the matter and encouraged media to continue with impartial reporting. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

Lot of alignment, Any info on ground reality?
Kar. rural and urban vote differently. Gowda still may have shot in rural caste based area.

[Guest]

^ Gowda's base is in his native Hassan which is being eaten by congress. One of his brother is now in congress. His JD(S) had mostly support in southern part of karnataka. Gowda is vokkaliga but now caste may not play an important part. One of his senior partymen patil, an lingayat, has left JD(S) which will certainly affect his Lingayat vote. Most of North Karnataka (rural-urban) vote for BJP.

[Guest]

<b>Why Karnataka holds the key</b> -T V R Shenoy

[shamu]

BJP should impart rigorous training (on nationalism, ideology and desciplined politics) to new entrants to the party to ensure that they don't become aaya-ram, gaya-rams. It should create an assimilative power so that after the going through the training these MLAs/MPs start thinking like other BJP leaders. Otherwise, these people will be in BJP as if they are in a political transit camp.

[Guest]

Great analysis by off-stumped: SM Krishna’s Anti-Terrorism Record

[Guest]

Here you go again -
<b>K'taka: Cong promises free colour TVs, 25 kg rice at Rs 2 for BPL families</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Free colour TVs  and 25 kg of rice at Rs 2 for families living below the poverty line � that is what the Congress manifesto promises before the assembly elections in Karnataka.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Those who are below poverty line, do they need TV?
they need job training and job

[Guest]

How many people in Talib-Nadu who were promised TVs by Karunanidhi last year go it? And what brand was it?

Since nothing can/will be done by election commission to reign in such populastic pandering during election season, one might as well buy stocks of the company that'll be providing these free TVs and hope to cash in.

And Karnataka with it's worst record of providing electricity, the TV might as well be the on operating on <i>gobar</i> gas since there's no shortage of politicans who verbally deliver <i>gobar</i> gas for free.

[Guest]

I am waiting when American politicians will start giving TV. I need one before Feb digital nonsense. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> Here everyday DNC Dean ask money for election. <!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo-->

I think voters had become quite smart, those old days of desi thara had gone, now voters expect color TV. Next they will ask Car.

In Jalandhar, Congress Candidate Henry distributed woolen blankets, sarees, suit piece.... Voters after taking gifts from Henry, voted for BJP candidate. Next day those blankets were on sale 20% discount in open market. After result they went to Henry house to give him box of Ladoos <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Guest]

The surveys have started. We have to see how the media will spin. It is important that we need to collect these news and do analysis to connect the dots. The Surveys as a means of campaign was used extensively during Gujarat election.
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http://archive.gulfnews.com/world/India/10204625.html

<b>Survey predicts better BJP tally in Karnataka poll </b>

By Ajay Jha, Chief Correspondent
Published: April 11, 2008, 01:24

New Delhi: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is buoyant about its prospects in the assembly elections in Karnataka.

An internal survey conducted by a professional agency on behalf of the party has predicted that BJP will increase its strength in the new assembly considerably and reach closer on the magic figure of 112 on its own in the 224-member assembly.

While it predicts a significant decline in the total number of seats for the rival Congress party, the Janata Dal (Secular) of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda may also suffer reverses and may just about manage to avoid an embarrassment by returning with reduced numbers.

The survey results were made available to the central election committee of the party that is in the process of finalising the list of its candidates for the first of the three-phased polling in the state for 89 seats.

The survey has further said that a tie-up with the Janata Dal (United) will help the BJP, although the state unit of the BJP is opposed to it as they want to go it alone in the state.

BJP had emerged the surprised single largest party in the hung assembly elected in 2004 by winning 79 seats. The Congress party that had won 65 seats and the JD (S), which had won 58 seats, joined hands to form the coalition government. The government lasted for barely two years. The assembly was dissolved after two rounds of president's rule and failure of three governments, the last being headed by the BJP that ruled for less than two weeks.

<b>Krishna factor</b>

Interestingly, the survey is clear that the Congress party's move to bring back former chief minister S.M. Krishna making him resign as governor of Maharashtra may not bring the desired results since Krishna did not get enough time to set the house in order.

It says that despite the Congress party trying to breach into its Lingayat vote bank, BJP would continue to enjoy support of the influential community that forms 18 per cent of the total voters in the state.

[ramana]

X-Posted...

<!--QuoteBegin-"R Vaidya"+-->QUOTE("R Vaidya")<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->IMO there will be a huge sympathy wave or there must be something fundamentally wrong in the undercurrents of Kar society, which I believe aint true.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It is one thing to wish for an event and another to make that as forecast.
In K'taka there are 234 seats and in all four major groupings [ and in most five] will fight it out--Congress/BJP/JDS/BSP/SP and may be JDU in a few. Normally it is 55 to 60 percent voting. This imply if one party gets 18 to 20 percent voting then they can succed most of the times. Last elections more than fifty seats had around 1000 vote margins. JDS wants to have an alliance of Gowdas and Muslims and in nearly 100 contituencies they are nearly 20 percent. <b>If out of this hundred say in 30 to 35 they win then they will be again balancing force.</b> Communists are not as of now going full hog with JDS--communists even though miniscule can influence Muslim thinking after the Iraq/Iran/nuclear deal issues.
BJP also should not stress on Lingayat factor since other castes can gang up against them--In K'taka [ even in TN] one party should not be too much identified with one caste
Interesting times are ahead both at K'taka and at the Centre with Mayavathi playing similar balancing role. Incidentally Re-diff is the only paper which carried an article predicting Mayavathi getting more than 205 seats before last UP assembly elections. _- I am not particularly a fan of that portal--
rvaidya<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
<b>JD(U) snaps ties with BJP in Karnataka </b>
 

Bangalore, April 22: The Janata Dal(U), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has decided to break with the coalition in Karnataka and contest 50 constituencies during the forthcoming Assembly elections.  The national general secretary of the party, Mr  Shambhu Srivastav, said the party could not accept the “big brother attitude” of the BJP and therefore his party had decided to sever ties with it. “It was a blessing in disguise. In retrospect, we do not feel bad because the BJP has given tickets to those who are into mining and land mafia. This goes against the JD(U)’s principles,” he said.

Senior party leader Dr M.P. Nadagouda said, “The BJP was adamant on sharing seats, therefore we decided to come out of the alliance and contest the state Assembly polls on our own.” The JD(U) had a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in the 2004 elections and won five seats. However, two of the members later left the party and joined the Janata Dal(S).

When the  JD(U) national president, Mr Sharad Yadav, held talks with his BJP counterpart Mr Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, the BJP offered only six seats. Back in Karnataka, the JD(U) state unit president, Mr B. Somashekhar, held three rounds of talks with the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Mr  B.S. Yeddyurappa.

“Mr Yeddyurappa agreed to offer six seats and subsequently went up to eight. The constituencies he offered include Holenarasipura, Ramanagara and Haliyal which the JD(U) cannot win. Therefore, we decided to contest alone,” Dr Nadagouda explained.  The party released its first list of 20 candidates on Tuesday.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Jaffer quits K'taka Cong as grandson denied ticket  </b> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
PT Bopanna | Bangalore
In a major setback to the Congress, former Railway Minister and veteran Congress leader CK Jaffer Sharief has decided to quit the party protesting against denial of party ticket to his grandson to contest in next month's election to the Karnataka Assembly.

Reportedly, Sharief has sent his resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The former Railway Minister, a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, is also chairman of the party's election manifesto committee for the Assembly election.

In a bid to quell situation the Congress high command sent party general secretary Digvijay Singh and party's Karnataka in-charge Prithviraj Chavan to hold negotiations with him.

Sharief's grandson was denied ticket to contest from Bangalore following party's <b>'no tickets to MPs and relatives' policy</b>. The party decided not to field relatives of Congress leaders, unless they had a base in the constituency. However, the <b>Congress had given ticket to Sharief's son-in-law and former MLA Syed Yasin. </b>

Sharief, who had represented the Bangalore north Lok Sabha constituency without a break for over two decades, was routed in the 2004 election by BJP's HT Sangliana, former Bangalore Police Commissioner.
......
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They should give tickets to every member of his family. atleast 40% reservation.

[acharya]

RS okays extension of President's Rule in Karnataka

New Delhi (PTI): The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved extension of President's Rule in Karnataka for six months from May 20.

Moving a Statutory Resolution in this regard, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said extension of the President's Rule had become necessary as the Assembly poll process could not be completed before May 19, the day the Central rule expires.

Karnataka was brought under President's Rule on November 20 following political instability and the Election Commission has announced a three-phase polling on May 10, May 16 and May 22. Counting is slated for May 25.

[Guest]

<b>BJP rejects opinion poll predicting Cong win in K'taka</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday described the <b>Deccan Herald-CNN-IBN</b> pre-poll survey, which gave an edge to the Congress in the forthcoming Karnataka polls, as 'off the mark and totally away from reality'.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Same pollsters who did Gujarat and Punjab.

[Guest]

<b>Karnataka Polls - CNN-IBN’s Comedy Circus</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It suffices to say that before any opinion poll from the media can be taken with any seriousness or credibility, the incompetent pollsters must explain how it is that their sampling is different and more representative than all previous attempts.

This question is particularly relevant in Karnataka for this is the first election with a completely altered electoral map thanks to delimitation. There  is no way any pollster can come up with a representative sample based on past polling history. It would require a careful piece by piece analysis and extensive inteviewing to determine what constitutes a representative sample set.

But then our incompetent pollster dont really believe in being held accountable.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Congress to withdraw nominee to support SP </b>
Pioneer.com
PT Bopanna | Bangalore
In a move to ensure a direct contest between Samajwadi Party nominee S Bangarappa and BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, State Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge on Thursday said the party was planning to withdraw its candidate from Shikaripura in election to the Karnataka Assembly.

The JD(S) has already announced his party's support for candidature of State Samajwadi Party president S Bangarappa.

<b>The Congress, which had fielded a 'weak' candidate in Shikaripura, now wants to withdraw its candidate to force Yeddyurappa to concentrate all his energies on retaining his seat rather than allowing him to tour the State extensively.</b>

<b>Yeddyurappa has already declared that he would not fight from a second constituency, come what may.</b>

Fielding questions from mediapersons at a function to release the Congress manifesto, Kharge clarified that he had nothing personal against Yeddyurappa, but the party was planning to withdraw the candidate to ensure defeat for the BJP in the elections.

<b>If the Congress finally decides to pull out its candidate, it would be simply Yeddyurappa versus Bangarappa. It would be a formidable fight between the two stalwarts. Incidentally, former Chief Minister Bangarappa has never lost a single Assembly election in Shimoga</b>. However, he is not in the pink of his health and suspected to be suffering from renal failure and this might limit him from undertaking extensive campaign.

Earlier releasing the Congress manifesto for the Assembly election, chairman of the Manifesto Committee <b>CK Jaffer Sharief announced that free power would be supplied to irrigation pumpsets up to 10 HP of farmers</b>.

He reiterated the earlier announcement <b>of free colour television set for every below poverty line family. To woo the minority votes, Sharief announced the implementation of the Sachar Committee Report on minority welfare</b>.
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[Capt M Kumar]

<!--QuoteBegin-acharya+Apr 30 2008, 08:55 AM-->QUOTE(acharya @ Apr 30 2008, 08:55 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->RS okays extension of President's Rule in Karnataka

New Delhi (PTI): The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved extension of President's Rule in Karnataka for six months from May 20.[COLOR=red]
(What is this; this yr or last yr.?)
Moving a Statutory Resolution in this regard, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said extension of the President's Rule had become necessary as the Assembly poll process could not be completed before May 19, the day the Central rule expires.

Karnataka was brought under President's Rule on November 20 following political instability and the Election Commission has announced a three-phase polling on May 10, May 16 and May 22. Counting is slated for May 25.
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Chawla wanted late Karnataka polls, CEC said no, that’s what some parties want
Suman K Jha
Posted online: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 0024 hrs Print Email

New Delhi, May 6: With the first phase of elections in Karnataka less than a week away, it now emerges that there was a deep divide in the Election Commission over the poll dates. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami has put on record that his colleague and Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, by asking for deferring the polls, was pitching for dates that “some of the political parties have been asking for.”

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Elections News Online Vote Political Government

Over-ruling Chawla, the CEC said that if elections were not held before the end of May — the end of six months of President’s Rule — the EC would invite “severe criticism” of the Supreme Court. Chawla argued for delaying elections until August — the Congress had made the same demand — which was strongly rebutted by Gopalaswami in an internal note, accessed by The Indian Express.

When contacted, Gopalaswami said he had nothing to add “to what he had already said.” Chawla couldn’t be reached for comment despite several attempts.

Incidentally, the BJP was for early elections, the CPM wanted it “at the earliest,” while the BSP and the CPI pushed for postponement.

According to EC records, the CEC made a point-by-point rebuttal of Chawla’s arguments favouring an August election.

“During the discussion (on March 14, 2008) he (Chawla) was for a 15-day extension of the President’s Rule, meaning thereby that the elections can be completed by mid-June. However, now he indicates that the Commission would be well advised to treat August 2008 as the earliest month for conducting Assembly elections in Karnataka...This really means October-November 2008 (due to the rains in the intervening period) which is exactly what some of the political parties have been asking for,” wrote Gopalaswami in the 39-page “opinion” dated March 20, 2008.

This was the very day that the EC announced the election dates for Karnataka beginning May 10 and ending May 22.

The Congress cited “complaints of bogus and missing voters in the voters’ list” apart from the “delimitation exercise” in support for deferring the election dates, making the BJP claim that its principal rival wanted to blunt the “sympathy factor edge” for its chief ministerial candidate B S Yedyurappa.

The Karnataka Congress opposed a May poll citing mistakes in electoral rolls but the only “specific complaint” to have reached the EC was from a former Congress MLA of Malleswaram (in Bengaluru) M R Seetharam, who alleged that the “draft voters’ list of 2008 had 29,751 new voters while 16,831 voters from the earlier list had been deleted”.

Chawla found this to be a legitimate complaint. The CEC expressed his surprise. “...Chawla seems to have been taken in by this complaint so as to remark in obvious support of the complaint of large-scale errors in the roll. An 11% change over four years works out to an average of 2.75 % per annum, which in a city like Bengaluru would come as no surprise.”

Chawla also found merit in BSP and Congress claims that “all voters would not be able to vote in eight hours in polling stations with voter strength of 4,000-5,000, much above the maximum of 1,400-1,600 limit”. Said Chawla: “The Commission would not be in a position to take steps to establish the requisite administrative machinery to meet such an exigency of severely enhanced number of voters per polling booth.”

This prompted Gopalaswami to note: “I am at a loss to know how he could come to such an a priori conclusion... The issue was discussed in the March 4 meeting with district electoral officers, and they have been permitted to go for auxiliary booths in the same premises or additional booths in a new location.”

Chawla also agreed with political parties’ view that the low coverage of voters with electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) was a “severe challenge” for holding free and fair elections in the state. The CEC reminded his colleague that “in Assam not even one single EPIC was distributed yet the Commission conducted an election which was free from complaints”. He added that while an EPIC maximization programme was underway, “the Commission itself approves the use of alternative documents.”

The two EC colleagues also sparred over the Rule 24 of Registration of Electors’ Rules 1960 that says “in case of delimitation of constituencies, if the EC needs to urgently prepare the rolls of the existing constituencies, it should put together rolls of existing constituencies or parts thereof as are comprised within the constituency, and by appropriate renumbering and recompilation”.

Chawla said that the rule was a constitutional convention and not a mandate, and that the EC “had eight months to comply with newly delimited constituencies”. Gopalaswami however said that the Commission had completed preparation of electoral rolls in a shorter time in the state than envisaged earlier.

“The failure of the Commission to conduct and complete elections to the Karnataka Assembly before the expiry of six months, which would be end-May, 2008, would, in my view invite severe criticism of the (Supreme) Court, as, the consequence of such a failure would be an extension of the President’s Rule in Karnataka,” he added.