<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Advantage shifts to BJP in Delhi</b>
pioneer.com
Sidharth Mishra/Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi
For gaining seats in Punjab, the Congress has fumbled in its strategy in the battle for Delhi. From a win-all situation in Delhi, the Congress is now battling to save maximum number of seats in the Capital. While replacements have to be found for Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar on North-East and South Delhi seats respectively, panic has spread in the party, which has even led to the talk of reshuffling some of the existing candidates.
A final decision on candidates would be taken only after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit returns to the city as she is out campaigning in Uttar Pradesh. According to sources in Dikshit camp, a clear picture would emerge only on Saturday. Filing of nominations starts from Monday.
The problems for the Congress arise from the fact that both Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler were sitting MPs and seen as formidable candidates with ability to win. Their departure from the poll scene is set to demoralise party rank and file. It has also added to the worries of the Chief Minister, who would now have to work overtime to retain partyâs hold over the voters. In Tytler and Sajjan, she had two candidates who were capable of putting their poll machinery in place.
Post-delimitation, the party stands weakened in Chandni Chowk and New Delhi. <b>Kapil Sibal is rapidly losing ground in Chandni Chowk </b>Â <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> and it would not certainly be a repeat of 2003, when the BJP virtually gave him a walkover. In New Delhi, <b>Ajay Maken has been engaged in a pitch battle with BJP veteran Vijay Goel</b> <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> . In the reserved North-West Delhi too, there is a close battle on the cards. Given the situation, the withdrawal of Tytler and Sajjan Kumar from the contest has led to handing over advantage to the BJP.
The crisis management team in the Chief Ministerâs camp on Thursday maintained that there was a possibility of fielding a Vaish or a Muslim from the North-East seat. This could mean a ticket for two known Sheila followers â Narendra Nath or Chowdhary Mateen Ahmed, both MLAs for several terms. While there has been a talk of <b>shifting party candidate from West Delhi Mahabal Mishra to North-East, given the large concentration of Poorvanchal votes in the area</b>, Mishra himself is believed to have told the leadership that his campaign had gained momentum and would stick to the West Delhi seat.
For the South Delhi seat, ideally the party would like to replace Sajjan Kumar with another Jat leader. In that situation, Speaker of Delhi Vidhan Sabha Yoganand Shastri may get the nod. He represents Mehrauli in the Assembly, which is part of the South Delhi parliamentary constituency. There is also pressure to further assuage the Sikh feelings by fielding somebody from their community. In that case reputed lawyer <b>KTS Tulsi </b>may be considered but his would be a weak candidature. <b>Both Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler could also push for the candidature of their sons Jag Pravesh and Siddharth respectively</b>.
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Delhi fight will be interesting. As of now, BJP can win 4-5 seats. Sikhs will vote for BJP now, even Sheila Dixit tries her nose rubbing on floor in any Gurudwara.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Buta Singh gives Cong the jitters</b>
pioneer.com
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
The Rajasthan Congress leadership, which has set a target of winning all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State, is in a fix due to the growing resentment among the Sikh community members. Adding to the partyâs woes is former Union Minister and senior Congress leader <b>Buta Singh, who is threatening to contest the Lok Sabha election as an independent if the party denies him a ticket</b>.
The two districts â Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh â adjacent to Punjab have nearly 20 per cent Sikh-Punjabi population. Sikh organisations here have been protesting for the past two days against the CBI clean chit to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. The Sri Ganganagar Lok Sabha constituency is a reserved seat for SCs. <b>The BJP has fielded Nihal Chand Meghwal, who has won the last two Lok Sabha elections from here.</b>
In 1985, when militancy was at its peak in Punjab, Buta Singh moved to Rajasthan and contested the Lok Sabha election from Jalore, a SC (reserved) constituency close to Gujarat. Since then, he has won the seat four times. In the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, he contested as an independent after being denied a ticket and went on to become a Minister in the Vajpayee Government. After delimitation, Jalore has become a general seat.
Singh was eyeing the Sri Ganganagar seat, primarily because the area has a sizeable number of Sikh and Punjabi voters.<b> His candidature was supported by Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial head of Dera Sacha Sauda</b>, who belongs to this area. Buta Singh was confident of getting a ticket from here. However, the party preferred Bharat Meghwal who had contested this Lok Sabha seat in the last election.
Following the controversy over Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singhâs dressing like the 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, the previous BJP Government banned his entry in the State in general and in Sri Ganganagar in particular. After this ban, violent clashes between Dera followers and Sikh activists of organisations close to the Akali Dal took place in Sri Ganganagar.
<b>The Dera chief is considered close to the Congress </b>and, in the last Assembly election in Punjab, he had asked his followers to vote for the partyâs candidates. After the change of guard in December last year, the <b>Gehlot Government lifted the ban on Babaâs entry. </b>He visited Sri Ganganagar and addressed several gatherings soon after. <b>Congress leaders are sure his appeal would help the party candidates</b>.
<b>But with the Sikhs already outraged over the Tytler issue, Dera followers have made a hasty retreat to avoid the wrath of Sikhs in this area.</b>Â <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> As the Congress has already fielded Sandhya Chaudhary from the Jalore constituency, Buta Singh is considering contesting as an independent from this seat.
His supporters feel that even though Jalore has now become a general seat, the constituency still has a sizeable number of Dalit voters.
In the last Lok Sabha election, <b>Buta Singh was defeated in Jalore by Shila Bangaru, wife of former Bharatiya Janata Party president Bangaru Laxman</b>. But this time, the BJP has fielded a new candidate, Devji Patel, keeping in view the presence of large number Gujaratis in the district.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Seeking caste votes</b>
pioneer.com
Union Minister and Congress candidate Kapil Sibal is in some kind of a double role these days. His present station could be aptly described as that of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. <b>While on the television he is at his secular best demolishing the Hindutva forces and presenting an agnostic picture of himself. While campaigning in the Chandni Chowk constituency itâs a different story all together. He is a devout Hindu. </b>Not taking any chances, the erudite lawyer is playing to the gallery to woo the voters at time even stooping to seek votes on caste considerations. <b>On Tuesday last, he was at a meeting of the Brahman Samaj at National Club in Chandni Chowk to celebrate Parshuram Jayanti. Of late Parshuram Jayanti celebrations has come to symbolise Brahmin consolidation. Donning Varun Gandhi-style striking vermillion tilak, Sibal showed solidarity with Samaj volunteers lest he lose their support</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Another shoe throwing incident has occured. This time a retired teacher decided to express his displeasure at Congress policies by hurling a shoe at Naveen Patnaik.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Says Sahu: "I am an ex-cop and I was taught to be honest. And I haven't forgotten it after becoming a politician." He was an <b>Indian Police Service officer from 1976 to 1997</b> -- a part of which he served in strife-torn Assam -- and takes pride in saying that he was <b>mentored by top cop K P S Gill</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am happy to report that my cousins father is standing for MP from Visakha on the BJP ticket. He was two term Chairman of the Bar council of India, Let us wish him well . He was a very successful Mayor of Visakha. If you know people in Visakha pl. ask them to vote and to turnout the vote. For cricket fans , he was also a cricketer
Dear all,
My father, Sri. D. V. Subba Rao is standing for the Member of Parliament seat from Visakhapatnam, in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Unfortunately, last week while campaigning he fell and broke his hip bone when a couple of boys approached him to play cricket. But, by godâs grace he is better now and is recuperating. It is his wish that his campaign runs smoothly without any interruptions. Please visit his website which gives a complete biography of his accomplishments and dreams and aspirations for Vizag:
It is my fatherâs dream and belief that politics can still be a clean place where educated, honest, hardworking men and women can represent the masses. Service to the people is his only nature, since I knew him. Please support him in his selfless mission by forwarding this email to your friends and family who are in Vizag and please ask them to vote. Thank you all for your support.
<!--emo&:thumbsup--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbup.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbup.gif' /><!--endemo--> Good Luck, Kaushal!
Sample a few statements he makes during the course of the interview:
* "The BJP will not oppose Sharad Pawar [Images] as the prime minister if he joins the National Democratic Alliance and post election seat mathematics works in his favour."
* "Advaniji paid a price for his statements made at the mausoleum of Mohammed Ali Jinnah."
* "Advaniji is my mentor; it does not mean that I'm his slave."
* "To date (as on April 9) there are 60 per cent chances that I will win the Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency. If I say there are 100 per cent chances I will be deceiving myself. Till yesterday my chances were only 50 per cent."
For every statement he makes he is asked if he was on the record. He smiles at you and says disarmingly: "Yes, I'm dangerously honest." Indeed.
Says Sahu: "I am an ex-cop and I was taught to be honest. And I haven't forgotten it after becoming a politician." He was an Indian Police Service officer from 1976 to 1997 -- a part of which he served in strife-torn Assam -- and takes pride in saying that he was mentored by top cop K P S Gill.
04-11-2009, 04:18 PM (This post was last modified: 04-11-2009, 04:32 PM by Husky.)
^ Important request in Kaushal's post, two up.
<!--QuoteBegin-Capt M Kumar+Apr 10 2009, 11:37 PM-->QUOTE(Capt M Kumar @ Apr 10 2009, 11:37 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Says Sahu: "I am an ex-cop and I was taught to be honest. And I haven't forgotten it after becoming a politician." He was an Indian Police Service officer from 1976 to 1997 -- a part of which he served in strife-torn Assam -- and takes pride in saying that he was mentored by top cop K P S Gill.
http://election.rediff.com/special/2009/ap...pawar-as-pm.htm
[right][snapback]96287[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->That's hyper-cute Ashok Sahu (there's a pic at the rediff link), the Hindu Hero working to get justice in the case of the christoterrorist murder of Swami Lakshmanananda and the other victims of the christoterrorism in Orissa.
Hero <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Samajwadi Party vows action against English language, computers</b> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who unveiled his party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls in Lucknow on Saturday, said the party is against English medium education and the use of computers and will work to ensure that they are curbed if a government is formed with its support.
"The use of computers in offices is creating unemployment problems. Our party feels that if work can be done by a person using hands there is no need to deploy machines," Mulayam Singh said at a press conference after unveiling the manifesto.
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<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo--> The BJP manifesto differs from the new orthodoxy in two significant ways. First, the role of the State in the economy has been narrowed down to two specific areas. There is, of course, the heavy investments in infrastructure â the building of roads, the upgrading of ports and airports and investments in low-cost housing. Along with this, the State has been entrusted to ensure cheap food to those citizens who need it the most and special facilities for the advancement of women.
There is a fundamental difference between this and the Congress emphasis on the NREGA. The NREGA scheme was a flawed exercise in welfare precisely because it channelled Government expenditure into earthworks and non-asset building projects. The money the UPA Government diverted from infrastructure projects has resulted in the creation of nothing tangible.
The second feature of the BJP manifesto which is a radical break from the past is the commitment to a low tax and low interest regime.
<b>UPA to get 203 seats, NDA 191: Survey</b>
None of the existing alliances will get majority on its in Lok Sabha poll but United Progressive Alliance is likely to emerge on top getting 203 seats with Congress party securing 155 seats and National Democratic Alliance finishing second with 191, says a Star News-Nielsen opinion poll.
The UPA and NDA will be followed by Third Front (104 seats) and Fourth Front cornering 39 seats, predicts the survey, which was conducted across the country from March 26 to April 3 covering 50,400 voters, the second Star News-Nielsen said.
The first opinion poll by Star News-Nielsen projected UPA would lead with 257 seats in alliance with SP, RJD, LJP while NDA was projected to get 184 seats, the Third Front (96 seats) while six seats were likely to go to others.
Among UPA, Congress will secure 155 seats followed by DMK (15), Trinamool Congress (13), NCP (11) and JMM, NC and MUL with two seats each while AMIMIM, KEC(M) and RPI(A) will get one seats each, says the second survey.
Among NDA alliances, BJP is projected to corner 147 seats, JD(U) to get 22, Shiv Sena [Images] (nine), Akali Dal (5), AGP (4), RLD (3) and INLD to get one seat.
BSP will lead the Third Front with 26 seats, followed by CPI-M (25) TDP (13, BJD and AIADMK (nine seats each) while other parties in the coalition are predicted to win total 23 seats. The Third Front is expected to get 104 seats.
The constituents of Fourth Front are projected to corner total 39 seats of which 28 will be contributed by SP, six by RJD, four by LJSP and one by Praja Rajyam, according to the survey. http://election.rediff.com/report/2009/apr...-191-survey.htm
<b>SC to hear Varun's plea against slapping of NSA tomorrow</b>
pioneer.com
PTI | New Delhi
The Supreme Court will hear on Monday a petition filed by BJP candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi challenging the slapping of National Security Act (NSA) by the Uttar Pradesh Government against him for his alleged hate speeches.
The matter will be heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, which on April 2 had issued notices to the State Government and the District Magistrate of Pilibhit on the allegation by Varun that NSA was invoked against him with a political motive to sabotage his electoral debut.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Brahmins return to prominence
pioneer.com
Biswajeet Banerjee | Maharajganj
Brahmins are the flavour of this Lok Sabha election in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where this upper caste has emerged as the king-maker. Political parties have suddenly turned their eyes on Brahmins as their saviours.
Any dhoti-kurta clad person with a vermilion âtikaâ on his forehead or a âchotiâ has become a revered figure. <b>Mishras, Sharmas, Dubeys, Tripathis, Chaturvedis and Pandeys are as important as Siddiquis, Ansaris, Khans, Rizvis, Bashars and Sayyeds of this region</b>.
<b>The arithmetic suggests that of the 16 constituencies that would vote on April 16, the party whom Brahmins would support en masse would win. âThis is no exaggeration. It is a political reality now. If you want to win an election, get Brahmin votes because their votes can make all the difference</b>,â KR Singh, a teacher in Gorakhpur University, told The Pioneer. He said Brahmins have emerged as a major vote bank. There are at least six constituencies in eastern UP where Brahmin votes would be a deciding factor, Singh added.
Mishra Lassi Shop at the Maharajganj bus stop is the hub of political activity. âThe BSP has not done anything for Brahmins. The Dalit-Brahmin solidarity is only on papers. Chief Minister Mayawati has opened the Government exchequer for Dalits but has not taken any decision to help the poor Brahmins,â said Amit Mishra, a shop owner.
As the discussion continues, some passersby join in.<b> âI am told that statues of those Dalit leaders have been put up in Lucknow who openly castigated Brahmins,â</b> Sudhir Pandey, an advocate, said.
One of the BSP sympathisers objects, saying, âBut there are at least a dozen Brahmin Ministers in Mayawatiâs Cabinet.â Others object and a head count of Brahmin Ministers starts as more people join the debate.
Ever since the Mayawati-led BSP rode to power capitalising on Dalit-Brahmin solidarity, Brahmins have been much sought after. Mayawatiâs formula of Dalit-Brahmin synergy is being given a practical shape in this election.
To replicate the Assembly success, BSPâs Brahmin face Satish Chandra Mishra toured the Brahmin-dominated regions and held Brahmin âbhaichara sammelansâ. Three of such meetings were held between January and February in eastern Uttar Pradesh alone.
If Mayawati reminds the Brahmins about the respect her party has bestowed upon them, Samajwadi Party chief <b>Mulayam Singh Yadav talks about the âapmaanâ (insult) Brahmins have suffered in Maya raj. âBrahmins, the repositories of knowledge, have been reduced to a vote bank,â </b>Mulayam said at a rally the other day on the outskirts of Gorakhpur.
<b>BJPâs Kalraj Mishra is talking about the âswabhimaanâ of Brahmins and reminding them of the BSPâs slogan: âTilak, tarazu aur Talwar, maaro inko joote chaar.â </b>
âPost-Mandal, it is for the first time that Brahmins are in such a demand,â Pramod Mishra, a retired teacher in Nichlol in Maharajganj district, said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> But there are few misuses their powers to gain even cheap popularity. I think the present Chief Minister Madam Mayavathi ji is one of them. In my opinion, she unintelligently applied the ferocious Missile NSA on a LITTLE KID like varun Gandhi. She could have called him, slapped on his cheek and tell him to go and drink milk. It is the best way to strike down his childish oratory. Instead, she used a Brahamastra on him and further unwisely supporting her action. Such persons who are lack of Rajaneeti (master in politics) are very dangerous to the PRIMINISTERIAL CHAIR. I am not against Mayavati, but unhappy to see her unwise and untimely actions.
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> As the Congress has already fielded Sandhya Chaudhary from the Jalore constituency, Buta Singh is considering contesting as an independent from this seat. 
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&