Congress leaves nothing to chance
From U.K. Bhanot
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA: There are no noisy campaigns. No wave. Candidates are conscious of the Election Commission’s instructions to keep expenditure under check.

With support from old and new Congress leaders the resource-rich Congress candidate, Mr Om Parkash Jindal, seems to be gaining ground.

Visits to his election camps show the massive manpower which has now been pressed into service to contact each and every voter in the constituency which will make it quite difficult for the other main contender from this constituency, Ms Kailasho Devi Saini of the Indian National Lok Dal, to feel complacent. Ms Saini had won the seat with the largest margin of 1.41 lakh votes in the state in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Jindal’s four sons are his campaign managers. Although Mr Jindal does not have many national level leaders to woo voters on his behalf, Mrs Sonia’s visit to this religious town may have a positive effect on the traditional Congress vote in the region. This traditional vote bank is by no means small as Mr Kuldip Sharma, Mr Chiranji Lal’s son, had got 1.91 lakh votes from the constituency last year. It will certainly carry an advantage for the Congress candidate this time too.

A number of old and popular figures campaigning for the Congress in the area include Mr Banarasi Dass Gupta, former Chief Minister, Mr H.S. Chatha, former Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Mr harpal Singh, former Agriculture Minister, Mr Jagdeep Singh Cheema, who was a candidate for this parliamentary seat in 1996 when Mr Jindal had won, Mr Kharaiti Lal Sharma, former minister. Mr Tara Singh, former MP, Mr Nirmal Singh, who till recently was with Mr Bansi Lal, Mr Shyam Singh Rana of the Samajwadi Janata Party, who was a candidate in the last Lok Sabha elections and had got more than 40,000 votes, Dr Harnam Singh, former MLA of the CPI, Mr Sharvan Kumar, President of BSP’s district unit and Jathedar Kuldip Singh, a Tohra loyalist, are actively participating in the Congress campaign. The Congress has made gains among the Scheduled Castes and the Backward Classes with BSP aid.

Although it is not clear how much dent it will make, the Hindu sentiment has been affected by the renaming of Kurukshetra University as Guru Gobind Singh Kurukshetra University.

There are of course some among the bania community who feel that Mr Jindal had ignored them.

Ms Kailasho Devi Saini, enjoys the support of eight out of nine MLAs in the constituency — Mr Vaid Kapoor Chand (Shahabad-BJP), Mrs Kamla Varma (Yamunanagar-BJP), Mr Banta Ram (Radaur-INLD), Mr Ram Pal Majra (Pai-INLD), Mr Charan Dass Shorewala (Kaithal-earlier INLD, then HVP and now again INLD), Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu (Pehowa-INLD) and Mr Ashok Kumar Arora (Thanesar) who has now resigned from the party.

The Congress had only one MLA, Mr Dilu Ram (Guhla), from this Lok Sabha constituency.

Some of these non-Congress MLAs have become liabilities as they are unable to canvass (except for, Mr Arora who is the Speaker) for the party candidate because of their bad image or other local level matters.

But having the vote banks of eight MLAs is no small gain for the INLD candidate whose supporters mainly publicise her being locally available to the voters, and the State Government’s strength behind her as she now belongs to the ruling party in the state. The change in the name of Kurukshetra University is being seen as a move by Mr Chautala to win over Sikh votes which will be Ms Saini’s gain.

There are people who think that the BJP and the INLD make a good combination to corner urban and rural votes. In 1991, the BJP had contested 89 seats and got only 11.2 per cent votes and the Samata Party (now INLD) had got 18 per cent votes in the Vidhan Sabha elections. With these two coming together, they make a winning total. Now eight of nine MLAs on her side, Ms Saini’s supporters are confident that she will increase her last Lok Sabha’s margin. There are many urban and rural people who may vote for Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

While her supporters denied her hand in the alleged ‘benami’ land deals. They have nothing much to say that how her MP’s Area Development Fund was utilised. Both the two candidates, reportedly have two Independents each (earlier described as covering candidates) for help in using vehicles and adjusting expenditure.

Local issues dominate
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH: Local issues continue to matter as electioneering for the lone, but prestigious Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat has picked up momentum to enter the decisive round.

Leaving nothing to chance, almost all candidates have come out with their election manifestos along with promises for the electorate. Understandably, these promises made on the eve of the elections, cover almost each and every local issue — from retaining Chandigarh as a Union Territory to repair of roads, disposal of garbage, rehabilitation of slum dwellers and extension of “lal dora”.

Interestingly, the electorate here has always been returning MP of the ruling party or alliance at the Centre. The only exception being 1967 when Mr Siri Chand Goel of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was elected while the Congress formed the government at the Centre.

Like the previous two elections, the candidates have been emphasising on door-to-door canvassing, corner meetings, besides late evening rallies in busy sectors, colonies and villages where they harp on local issues and dole out promises.

While in urban areas, the focus has been mainly on improving roads, more parking areas, amendments to building and other bylaws, no municipal taxes, strengthening of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, better working conditions for employees, the focus shifts on rehabilitation schemes in labour colonies and slum areas. The candidates have been promising roads, water and power connections, proper sanitation, regular ration cards and other civic amenities for colonies, besides promising pucca houses.

In villages, the candidates have been talking about enhancement in compensation for land acquired on the Delhi pattern, allotment of one plot from the acquired land to the owner concerned; extension of “lal dora” and provision of water, power and sewerage connection to houses constructed outside “lal doras”, besides regularisation of all such structures. Whom they ultimately pick will be known only on September 5 when they, for the first time, make use of the electronic voting machines to decide the fate of the 16 candidates, including three women.

Interestingly, no national-level party has ever put up a woman candidate from here and no woman candidate has ever finished among the top three from one of the most literate and modern parliamentary constituency.

Compared to previous elections, the fervour of a triangular contest is missing. Instead, it is going to be a tough time for both Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal and Mr Krishan Lal Sharma. All will depend upon who is able to get the migrant vote on his side. If one is to go by party flags and buntings in colonies and rural areas, one gets the impression of a tough close fight.

The urban vote, as usual is silent, except for those who are committed to one party or the other. The polling in some thickly populated sectors, especially Phase II sectors may be substantial compared to Phase I sectors.

Of the 16 candidates in the fray this time, besides three from national parties — Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal (Congress), Mr Krishan Lal Sharma (BJP) and Mr Mata Ram Dhiman (BSP) — three others are from registered parties — Mr Dilbagh Singh Saini (Ajeya Bharat), Ms Bimla Sapna (Bahujan Samaj Party-Ambedkar) and Mr Manphool Singh (Samajwadi Party). The remaining 10 candidates — Mr Inderjit Gupta, Mr Kartar Singh Hothi, Mr Gurnam Singh Sidhu, Ms Gurvinder Kaur Sodhi, Ms Palac Shri, Mr S.M. Bhatti, Mr Ravi Parkash Kansal, Mr Rajinder Srivastav, Mr Rampal Hans and Colonel Harsharan Singh — are all Independents.

‘Hindu rashtra BJP aim’
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA: The former CPI General Secretary, Mr Sat Pal Dang, says the BJP is trying to communalise the armed forces with the objective of setting up a “Hindu rashtra”.

In an exclusive interview with TNS here, Mr Dang pointed out that depicting of photos of chiefs of different wings of the armed forces at Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s rallies, distribution of lotus-shaped “rakhis” to jawans and distribution of religious literature at the Military Base Hospital, New Delhi by BJP and VHP activists recently had revealed the party’s designs.

He said if the BJP continued to persue its agenda of “Hindu rashtra” it would not be able to stop the creation of “Khalistan” in Punjab and the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. In the past, facts had been changed in history text books by many states ruled by the BJP to ‘Hinduise’ the Indian society.

Mr Dang, who has retired from electoral politics, said the Vishv Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal and the RSS which “controlled” the BJP were trying to “finish” the minorities in the country. He pointed out at the attacks on Christians and Muslims in various parts of the country during the rule of the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre to prove his point.

He alleged to achieve the goal of ‘Hindu rashtra’ activists of the VHP, the RSS, the BD and BJP were undermining the dignity of offices of the office of the President of India and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

Mr Dang alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had tried to foster disunity among the armed forces by raising the issue of recruitment quota for different states in the forces.

Mr Dang pointed out that Mr Badal and Mr Vajpayee had reached an agreement to set up a “Panthic” government in Punjab.

Hence secular forces which wanted to keep the country united should come on a common platform to fight the communal forces trying to set up a theocratic state.

HP staff may keep ‘neutral’
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA: Unlike the previous elections the highly politicised factions of non-gazetted employees are not likely to come openly in favour or against the two main political contenders in the state.

Electioneering has begun but the usual statements of support by various employees groups during the run up to the poll are missing.

In the last election, Mr Gopal Das Verma, the then president of the all powerful state Non-Gazetted Services Federation had declared even before the announcement of the poll that his organisation would oppose Mr Sukh Ram, HVC supremo, and Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Chief Minister. It is another matter that both leaders won their seats with impressive margins.

Similarly, the Himachal Employees Confederation, a breakaway faction of the federation, came out in support of the BJP.

The situation has undergone a sea change since. The federation has been further split with Mr Ganga Singh, who enjoys the patronage of the Dhumal government, taking over as president of what he claims to be the “real” employees body.

Mr Verma, a confidant of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has been trying to buy peace with the Dhumal government. He says the present government has not victimised any employees’ leader.

With the pro-Congress faction of the federation headed by Mr Verma adopting a neutral posture, the pro-BJP confederation is not likely to campaign openly. The Ganga Singh faction, which has just emerged on the scene, is expected to stand by the government.

Parties promise development
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA: Even as the electioneering for the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll has entered the last phase, the contestants in this reserved constituency have been promising everything to the electorate to woo them.

Though there are seven candidates in the fray, the real fight has emerged among three contestants, including sitting MP and SAD-BJP alliance candidate, Mr Chitan Singh Samao, Congress, CPI and CPM-alliance candidate, Mr Bhan Singh Bhora and SHSAD-BSP-alliance candidate, Mr Gurdeep Singh Deep.

All three main contenders have pledged for the all-round development of the area.

Mr Samao said if elected again to the Lok Sabha, he would make every effort to get the railway over-bridge constructed which connects Bathinda town with the trans-railway colonies where more than 33 per cent of the city population lives.

He added that he would press the railway authorities to double the Bathinda-Jakhal railway track and to increase the present quota of reservation in various trains originating or passing through different railway stations of his parliamentary constituency spread over Bathinda and Mansa district.

He said he would bring industrial projects, especially the agro-based units in the area, to increase the employment opportunity for local youths.

Mr Bhora, who was elected from this constituency in 1971 with the support of the Congress, said he would provide basic amenities and spread education in urban and rural areas. He added that he would also make efforts to get the over-bridge over the railway lines in Mansa and Bathinda towns sanctioned from the central government.

He added that he would also press the central government for introducing the crop insurance scheme for the farmers and farm labourers. He said more faster trains would be introduced in this part of Punjab.

Mr Gurdeep Singh Deep, SHSAD-BSP candidate said he would spend most of his time to solve the day-to-day problems of the people and would make efforts for opening up of new schools, colleges, technical institutes and computer centres in the area.

He said employment-oriented industry would be encouraged in the area, and dignity and human rights of the people would be respected and protected.

Mr Bhan Singh, an Independent, has promised that all farmers would be made free from the debt trap. The other three Independents, including Mr Gurdeb Singh, Mr Deva Ram and Mr Radhey Sham, have also made poll promises to the electorate.

Large ballot paper in Bhiwani

CHANDIGARH, Sept 1 (UNI) — Voters will have to contend with large-size ballot papers in the Bhiwani parliamentary constituency of Haryana where the highest number of 29 candidates are contesting this time, compared to 20 candidates in the 1998 Lok Sabha poll.

At the other extreme, the smallest ballot paper will be for the Sonepat and Sirsa (reserved) constituencies from where six contestants each have joined the battle for ballot.

The Bhiwani constituency has earned the dubious distinction of having the highest number of 24 Independents.

Mr Ajay Chautala, son of Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal supremo Om Prakash Chautala and Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) General Secretary Surender Singh, son of former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, have locked horns for the Bhiwani seat.

Mr Surender Singh was a member of the dissolved Lok Sabha. He had defeated Mr Ajay Chautala by more than 9,700 votes in the 1998 mid-term Lok Sabha poll.

Donning political mantle
From Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH: Though Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mrs Maneka Gandhi, Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Mrs Balbir Kaur Khalsa, Mrs Prabhjot Kaur, Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra and Mrs Sudha Yadav belong to different political parties but unfortunately they have one thing in common.

They entered the electoral battle after the death of their husbands. Mrs Sonia Gandhi, after lying low for sometime after the death of Rajiv Gandhi, accepted the presidentship of the Congress. She is contesting from Amethi and Bellary.

Likewise, Mrs Maneka Gandhi, who remained active on environmental front for some years after the death of Sanjay Gandhi, was first time elected from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and is seeking reelection from the same seat.

Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, who is seeking reelection from the Ropar reserve constituency, came into the electoral politics after the death of her husband Rajinder Singh Dhaliwal, who was a PWD minister in the Barnala government. Mrs Balbir Kaur Khalsa is wife of late Basant Singh Khalsa, who was Education Minister in the Barnala Government. Mr Khalsa, who belonged to the Tohra camp in the Shiromani Akali Dal, died in an accident about three years ago. This time Mr Tohra gave his party’s ticket to Mrs Khalsa from the Ropar constituency. Mr Khalsa was elected from the constituency before Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal in 1996. It is first election contest of Mrs Khalsa.

Mrs Prabhjot Kaur is wife of late Darbara Singh, Governor of Rajasthan. Darbara Singh had made a “sacrifice” by leaving the Jalandhar seat for Mr I.K. Gujral in 1996. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had got him appointed as Governor of Rajasthan. He died following a heart attack a few days after Pokhran blast. Mr Badal gave ticket to her on from the Jalandhar seat. She is fighting elections for the first time.

Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra is a wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist, who was believed to be done to death by the police. She is contesting the election for the first time as a candidate of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal.

Mrs Sudha Yadav, a BJP candidate from Mahendragarh in Haryana, is wife of late Deputy Commandant of the BSF Sukhbir Singh Yadav, the BJP gave ticket to her as he died fighting Pakistani intruders in Kargil.

Take the case of Mrs Meira Kumar. A daughter of Jagjivan Ram, she is contesting from the Karol Bagh reserve constituency in Delhi against BJP’s Anita Arya. She came into the politics after the death of his father.

Ms Selja, who last time contested from Sirsa on the Congress ticket this time preferred to stay away from the election field, is a daughter of late Mr Dalbir Singh, a Congress leader.

Mrs Jaswant Kaur, wife of late Beant Singh, former Punjab Chief Minister, had contested last time. This time she made an unsuccessful effort to secure the Congress ticket for her daughter Gurkanwal Kaur from the Ludhiana seat.

There are only a few women who made their career in politics on their own. Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is one of them. Though Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder joined politics due to her husband P.S. Bhinder’s closeness to Sanjay Gandhi but she succeeded to establish herself on her own and got elected from Gurdaspur for five successive times. She is again contesting from the same seat against Mr Vinod Khanna, who defeated her for the first time in the last Lok Sabha election.

Sparks will fly in Sivakasi
Vaiko takes on Justice Ramaswamy

SIVAKASI: The firecracker town of Sivakasi is all set to witness a straight clash between the DMK backed-Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko and a political greenhorn and former Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramaswamy, who is the AIADMK nominee.

Mr Vaiko, who had supported the Vajpayee government from outside, is seeking to retain his seat with an added advantage of backing from his parent party, the DMK, from which he had parted ways six years ago. Both the DMK and the MDMK are now part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu.

In 1998, Mr Vaiko had won the seat with a margin of over 1.3 lakh votes, with the help of the AIADMK with which his party had an alliance. This time, the situation has radically changed.

Pitted against him is Justice Ramaswamy, the only judge who faced impeachment in Parliament on corruption charges and has no past record of public service. This is bound to help Mr Vaiko, although the fact that the "Two Leaves" election symbol of the AIADMK is normally the only factor guiding the AIADMK vote bank and not the public image of a candidate, cannot be wished away.

However, an unexpected rebellion in the AIADMK camp could add in a third angle to this contest. Powerful Srivilliputhur legislator ThamaraIkani has challenged Ms Jayalalitha during her campaign tour and is fighting the elections as an Independent. He could weaken Justice Ramaswamy’s standing as he is widely respected in his assembly segment by all sections.

Hailing from the Nadar community which controls most of the matches, printing and fireworks industries in the Sivakasi belt, Mr Thamaraikani’s potential for taking a large chunk of the otherwise AIADMK vote cannot be underestimated, according to a cross section of the voters. Though the fight is mainly between Mr Vaiko and Justice Ramaswamy the ex-AIADMK man could act as a spoiler for the former judge.

The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) leading the third front has put up Mr Gunasekaran, also a Nadar. But considering the TMC’s near lack of cadre base in the constituency, his fight is only symbolic but can potentially divide the Nadar votes.

Mr Vaiko is leaving nothing to chance. He has brought in union Home Minister L.K. Advani and Chief Minister and DMK President M. Karunanidhi for campaigning. Ms Jayalalitha is the star vote catcher for Justice Ramaswamy. Her public meeting at Sivakasi scheduled for August 16 was aborted apparently because of the poor crowd turnout and a tiff with Mr Thamaraikani that day. She, however, addressed a meeting the next day, which was largely attended.

Mr Thamaraikani, who was the leader of the three-member AIADMK group in the state assembly, was subsequently expelled from the party for the second time.

Mr Vaiko’s campaign is on expected lines: help restore a strong and stable Vajpayee government at the Centre which was unseated by the "corrupt AIADMK", Ms Jayalalitha, on the other hand, condemns the Vajpayee government for attempting to protect the DMK government even while surviving on the support of her party. She also raises the issue of Kargil and the government’s failures in preventing the infiltration there.

The constituency, which is going to the polls on September 5, has an electorate of 12, 58, 160 comprising more women than men (622561 men and 635599 women). A large women voter base is seen as favourable to the AIADMK as women constituted the main support base of the party founder and late matinee idol M.G. Ramachandran. Many a woman still adores MGR and his "Two Leaves" election symbol.

Mr Vaiko is said to enjoy the support of key business leaders in the constituency who can also influence the voting pattern of their work force.

Telugu speaking Naidus constitute the largest community in the constituency which both Vaiko and Justice Ramaswamy belong. Justice Ramaswamy is not identified with the community as he has lived outside Tamil Nadu for long.

Nadars are the next major community followed by Dalits of various hues owing allegiance to different Dalit organisations. Some of these could be cornered by the TMC nominee as the TMC front comprises many Dalit outfits.

The constituency also has a sizable Muslim population who have of late become stridently anti-DMK, to Mr Vaiko’s disadvantage, Thevars, who from another major community, are generally seen as supporting the AIADMK.

The caste loyalties, however, had been insignificant in the 1996 elections when the AIADMK was routed.

Mr Vaiko has grown in national stature in the past 18 months and stands in good stead to represent the constituency again barring last minute upsets.

He, however, had the disadvantage of delayed seat sharing agreements with the DMK leadership. A lot will also depend on how strongly and sincerely workers of his parent party work for him.

He also has the distinction of being one of the three targets for defeat by Ms Jayalalitha. — UNI

Tribal taboos hit campaign
From Shubhabrata Bhattacharya
Tribune News Service

ROHIRA (Sirohi): Armed CRPF personnel are patrolling this village in the tribal belt of south Rajasthan following an attack on Jain temples by superstition-driven tribals last Saturday. The police had to open fire to quell the mob, which ransacked a local temple and vandalised the deity.

The attack was the result of an age-old superstition among tribals here that if Jain munis observe the “Chaumasa” (the four months of rainy season, when Jain and Hindu sadhus do not move outdoors) then as a result of their prayers, aimed at benefitting the local “sahukars” (moneylenders and traders) rains are “stopped” (“Baarish ko baandh dete hain”).

Rainfall has been low in this region this year. The situation is such that the municipal authorities in the nearby Mount Abu tourist resort are debating if they should evacuate the town, for the first time after a gap of 43 years, due to water shortage.

Farmers, mostly tribals, are badly hit. They, therefore, are easy prey to the propaganda against Jain munis. Lack of rain means farmers having to queue up for loans from “sahukars”. It also gives added value to the grains stored in the traders’ godowns.

The attack on Saturday was preceded by the tribals’ sounding a clarion call on their traditional drums. Even today, satellites and internet notwithstanding, tribals communicate by relaying messages on drums. “Gehria dhol” — a sort of “SOS message” — was sounded on Friday night as a result of a decision taken by some elements of a tribal organisation called the Anoop Mandal — followers of a nineteenth century sage, Anoopdas Sadh, at a meeting in the tehsil headquarters of Pindwara a day earlier.

The members of the Anoop Mandal are vegetarians, teetotallers (rare among tribals) and believe in the Hindu-Muslim amity. The attack on Saturday is being attributed to some “extreme” elements. By and large the leaders of the community have been taken aback by the outrage.

Superstition prevailed not only because of the state of the crops. The industrial recession has caused stocks to pile up in local cement plants. Bags of cement are stored in the open air. The owners of these mills also being followers of the Jain munis observing “Chaumasa” here, added fuel to the rumour mill. It was said rains were being “stopped” to save the bags of cement from being destroyed.

Tribals form a solid vote bank for the Congress candidate, Mr Buta Singh. He has demanded a judicial inquiry. The state Home Minister has visited the village.

Meanwhile, the onslaught of superstition threatens a poll boycott by some tribals. And that is not good news for the Congress in Rajasthan.

Jat, Muslim votes crucial
From K. G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KAIRANA (Muzaffarnagar):This constituency, sprawling along the banks of the Yamuna, is likely to face a tough contest between the BJP and the Lok Dal of Mr Ajit Singh. The constituency, which had returned the BJP candidate, Mr Virender Verma, former Governor of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh seems to have become a slippery ground for the BJP as the Lok Dal has nominated a formidable candidate from here.

Mr Ajit Singh, after its electoral understanding with the Congress, has put up Mr Amir Alam Khan, President of the Uttar Pradesh Suni Wakf Board, as the Lok Dal candidate. Mr Khan was earlier elected on the Samajwadi Party ticket from the Thana Bhawan constituency. His shift from the Samajwadi Party to the Lok Dal is liekely to cost Mr Mulayam Singh’s party dear.

Kairana is a prosperous town with a rich agricultural base. The nearby town of Shamli which falls in this constituency boasts of a number of sugar mills. In fact the Kairana constituency constitutes the main sugar belt of not only Muzaffarnagar, but India as well.

The constituency is dominated by Jats, Gurjars and Muslims. In the UP Assembly, it is represented by Mr Hukam Singh of the BJP who is Food and Civil Supplies Minister in the Kalyan Singh government. Mr Hukam Singh wields considerable influence among the three main castes here. In the nearby town of Shamli, the bania community is dominant. During the 1996 poll, Munnawar Hussain won from this segment on the Samajwadi Party ticket. But he was defeated during the 1998 poll and was elected to the Rajya Sabha.

The Kairana seat is likely to witness a four cornered contest among the Lok Dal, the Samajwadi Party, the BJP and the BSP.

The BJP seems to be fighting a grim battle. Instead of nominating its sitting MP, Mr Virender Verma, the BJP has given the ticket to Lieut Gen (Retd) Niranjan Singh.

Mr Verma has represented this area as a legislator and member of Parliament. A one-time political protege of the late Charan Singh, Mr Verma has influence among the Jat voters. The denial of ticket to him has naturally upset his supporters, especially the Jats.

Mr Verma has a soft corner for the Samajwadi Party candidate, Mr Harender Malik, who is a relative even though he has publicly declared that he will campaign for Mr Niranjan Singh.

The Lok Dal nominee represents the Thana Bhawan constituency in the state assembly. He has been an activist of the Samajwadi Party in the area for a long time. He therefore, is expected to make a dent in the votebank of the Samajwadi Party. Moreover, thus far he is the only Muslim in the fray.

The Muslim voters have been gradually drifting away from the Samajwadi Party. At one time, the Muslims looked upon Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav as their “messiah”. This situation no longer exists. Mr Mulayam Singh has also lost support among the Jats.

This slot has been filled by Mr Ajit Singh. Voters, especially Jats and Muslims, have begun reposing confidence in Mr Ajit Singh, the real heir of the legacy of Chaudhary Charan Singh.

In the past, the Jat voters used to be divided between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP. But persistent efforts made by Mr Ajit Singh has brought in a radical change in the attitude of the Jat voter.

The Jat votes hold the balance in this constituency. If these are divided between the BJP and the Lok Dal, the chances of Mr Niranjan Singh will suffer. If the Jats decide to go encase with the BJP as in the past, the BJP may swim through.

The BSP too has changed its candidate. It has now nominated Mr Ram Kishan. But the party has support among the Gurjars only. Even the Backward Classes appear un-convinced of the BSP stand.

AP voters say no to ‘khalnayaks’

HYDERABAD, Sept 1 (PTI) — Even as political parties blame each other for nurturing criminal elements in their ranks, a cross-section of voters in Andhra Pradesh has come out with a list of “potential candidates with criminal record” and warned parties against fielding them in the coming poll.

The unique exercise, seeking public view on the antecedents of political aspirants in their respective areas, was undertaken by a voluntary organisation “Lok Satta” headed by former IAS officer Dr N. Jayaprakash Narayan who quit his job two years ago to work for “democratic reforms”.

Over 2,000 people across the state have responded to the appeal, given through the print and electronic media, and named 50 potential candidates with a criminal past.

The Lok Satta has constituted a high-powered committee, comprising eminent citizens including former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court a Lakshman Rao, retired civil servants K.R. Venugopal and Narendra Luther and some retired judges to screen and examine the details sent by the people.

The objective of the exercise is to involve people in purging politics of criminal elements and ushering in political and democratic reform.

Quote... unquote

How much money do you need to purchase 50,000 pairs of snow-boot? Had we not enough money for that?

— Manmohan Singh on the accusation that he curtailed defence expenditure

The NDA partners and poll campaigners should desist from saying anything that is gender insensitive and lowers the standard of campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.

— Atal Behari Vajpayee on transgression of standards of decent and dignified electioneering

These statements have proved beyond doubt that the BJP and its allies do not respect women and cannot tolerate a woman progressing in politics.

— Sonia Gandhi on the reported remarks of the Union Ministers Pramod Mahajan and George Fernandes against her.

He (Sharad Pawar) marries, divorces, remarries and again divorces.

— Pramod Mahajan on Sharad Pawar changing parties as often as Elizabeth Taylor changes her husbands.

At this stage, that question does not merit an answer.

— Atal Behari Vajpayee on whether he would ditch his allies if his party won a majority

How many languages will my mother learn?

— Priyanka Gandhi, asked whether Sonia will learn Kannada

Only my ashes will go back.

— Sonia Gandhi at an election meeting in Bellary promising to live and die for India.

Any citizen of India can occupy any public post. By saying that Sonia Gandhi cannot occupy a public post, the Prime Minister has violated his oath to the Constitution.

— Kapil Sibal, AICC (I) spokesman, reacting to Atal Behari Vajpayee’s remark that Sonia Gandhi cannot occupy any public post because of her foreign origin.

Both country-made liquor as well as the IMFL brands are mixed with water before they reach jhuggi residents.

— a party worker in New Delhi on the need to keep the election expenses down as the number of jhuggis are rising every year

Abhi to meri umar hi kya hai ( I am hardly old as yet)

— the 80-plus Atmaram Patel, the Congress candidate from Mehsana in Gujarat, on whether he is too old to contest.

(Compiled by Mukul Bansal)

Nutshell

Cong patch-up

JALANDHAR (UNI): The Congress campaign for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat got a shot in the arm when senior party leaders dismayed over denial of the ticket to them joined electioneering for party candidate Balbir Singh following meetings with PPCC President Capt Amarinder Singh here on Tuesday night. Announcing resolution of “small differences and misunderstandings” at a press conference here, AICC observer for Jalandhar Virender Kataria said the “patch-up” was achieved at a meeting.

Dry days ordered

SRINAGAR (TNS): The Excise Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir, has ordered that dry day shall be observed in the state in connection with the holding of ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha. According to an official spokesman, dry days will be observed in the Srinagar and Ladakh parliamentary constituencies from September 3 to 6 and October 5 to 7, in the Udhampur and Jammu parliamentary constituencies, from September 9 to 12 and October 5 to 7 and in the Baramulla and Anantnag constituencies from September 16 to 19 and October 5 to 7.

Third front

JALANDHAR (FOC): The Sikh Youth Federation has decided to support four candidates of the third front in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. Mr Narinder Singh Khalsa, President of the federation, said here on Wednesday that the federation had decided to support Mr Simranjit Singh Mann from Sangrur, Capt Harcharan Singh Rode from Faridkot, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalsa, from Tarn Taran and Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala from Jalandhar.

“Sensitive” booths

MALERKOTLA (FOC): There are 541 “sensitive” polling stations out of a total of 1301 in the Sangrur parliamentary constituencies, according to Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Returning Officer, Sangrur. A police officer of the rank of DSP will in charge in each assembly segment. A police controlroom has been set up at Sangrur which will work round the clock.

EC observers

BANGALORE (PTI): The Election Commission (EC) has appointed two additional observers for the Bellary Lok Sabha constituency where Congress President Sonia Gandhi is pitted against BJP’s Sushma Swaraj in a fierce electoral battle. Announcing this here, Chief Electoral Officer S.K. Hajra said Mr S.L. Srivastava and Mr A. Sharma were the new observers. The Election Commission had appointed three observers earlier.

Mulayam Singh

MORADABAD (PTI): Samajwadi Party (SP) President Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday filed his papers for the Sambhal Lok Sabha seat. Party general secretary Amar Singh and a large number of party workers and supporters were present. Another SP nominee Shafiqur-Rehman Burq filed his nomination for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat.

P.A. Sangma

SHILLONG (PTI): Mr Purno A. Sangma, NCP General Secretary, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the Tura parliamentary seat in Meghalaya, election office sources said. Mr Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker, has won the seat for five terms on the Congress ticket. He won the last Lok Sabha poll by a margin of 1,84,790 votes.