Bathinda, April 26
For the first time, the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency would go to polls as a de-reserved seat. This has resulted in the two main political rivals, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former CM Captain Amarinder Singh, staking claim over the constituency by fielding their scions for the most prestigious contest in Punjab.

Post delimitation, the neighbouring Faridkot constituency is now a reserved one and the Akalis have named the sitting Bathinda MP, Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, as its candidate from the seat. The Jat Sikh community dominates the Bathinda and Mansa districts that form the constituency. The candidates of the main parties, Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD) and Raninder Singh (Congress) belong to the Jat community.

The constituency has remained reserved since 1957 as a result of which no local candidate belonging to the general category was ever groomed.

The Dera Sacha Sauda factor is expected to play a crucial role, as the estimated number of voters belonging to the sect is about 80,000. The Dera support to the Congress during the Assembly elections in 2007 led to rout of the SAD in the Malwa belt.

Dissensions within the Congress might prove fatal in case the party does not take timely steps to mellow the dissidents. The seat has not remained stronghold of a single party and candidates belonging to different political parties have represented it from time to time. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress, SAD(M) and CPI have represented the seat in the past. During the past nine elections, the SAD has won five times (2004, 1998, 1996, 1984 and 1977), whereas the SAD(M) represented it in 1989.

In The Lok Sabha, the Congress has represented the seat only twice in 1991 and 1980. The CPI was winner in 1999 with the support of Congress.

However, the Congress swept eight of the nine Assembly seats in the Bathinda and Mansa districts during 2007 Asembly polls. The SAD managed to bag only one seat in Bathinda.

The latest delimitation has attached the SAD controlled Lambi assembly segment of the Muktsar district with the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, whereas the areas of influence of Congress in the Rampura belt have been detached from here and tagged with the Faridkot parliamentary constituency.

Faridkot, April 26
For the rank and file of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress, all roads seem to be leading to Bathinda. With candidates of both the prominent parties - Harsimrat Badal and Raninder Singh - locked in a do-or-die battle, which promises dollops of excitement, almost all prominent leaders from Faridkot have been camping in Bathinda these days.

Although party candidates - Paramjit Kaur Gursharan and Danny - maintain that the entire party set up of Faridkot was stationed there itself and working hard, several other leaders admit that senior and influential leaders prefer to be in Bathinda than Faridkot.

President of the Takht Patna Sahib and member of the SGPC Mahinder Singh Ramana, a committed Akali worker from Faridkot, said for almost three weeks, he had been stationed in Bathinda. 

“It does not mean that we are neglecting our own constituency, but yes, we are focusing on Bathinda as well. We are confident that Akalis will win most of the seats in Punjab. As far as Faridkot is concerned, we just need 4-5 days to visit villages,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Gurtej Singh Gill, former president of the Municipal Committee, Faridkot, said they were regularly visiting Bathinda as there it was a straight fight between the Chief Minister and the former Chief Minister.

“Many local leaders have been camping at Bathinda. However, several others have been put on duties in Faridkot so that our own constituency does not suffer. And we are hopeful to get the Faridkot seat,” claimed Gill.

Chandigarh, April 26
There was a time when the Left, especially the CPI, had a strong support base amongst the student community and farmers in Punjab. But over the years, its vote percentage has eroded drastically and today the CPI and the CPM are fighting lone battles in Punjab. There’s some broad understanding with the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) though.

This time, the CPI has fielded veteran leader and former legislator Hardev Arshi from Bathinda parliamentary segment and Kushal Bhaura, wife of former MP Bhan Singh Bhaura, from Faridkot (reserved), while the CPM is contesting only from Anandpur Sahib where Mahan Singh Rori isits nominee. As part of the third front, both parties are supporting the candidature of LBP president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia from Sangrur.

In the 2004 parliamentary polls, both parties had a combine vote share of 3.6 per cent. The BSP had a vote share of 7.7 per cent.

“Our Doaba base has vanished due to surrender by the cadre to caste-based politics of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),” says CPI national executive member Dr Joginder Dayal. CPM state secretary Charan Singh Virdee admits that the party used to earlier fight from Sangrur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur but had decided to concentrate only on Anandpur Sahib, which has four assembly segments of the old Hoshiarpur seat, this time. Sambhar says besides similar travails suffered by the CPI, the party suffered due to “organisational troubles.”

Driving into Ferozepur this time is a little different from my experience 12 years back. The town, though, has road dividers now, the familiar empty spaces indicate “commercial development” is yet to arrive. After entering the cantonment, I proceed towards the PWD guesthouse.

Mostly reporters have their way when it comes to hotel bookings, but here the caretakers, it seems, respect only the ‘flag’ or the red light. I am “in” after 15 minutes of frantic phone calls. However, the place of stay turns out to be less than ordinary. The tapestry of the chairs is soiled with a succession of greasy hands and spills; there is ‘bhujiya’ on what was once a white sheet and the air conditioner has its connections ripped off.

The next day begins with a morning walk. Aquick breakfast and I am into the din of electioneering, trying to catch up with the Congress candidate Jagmeet Brar, who is on a road show. We miss Jagmeet in the rush but happen to meet Dhana Ram from Abohar, who readily tells us he has been brought to the road show form his distant village. “How else could I have come?” he asks.

Ferozepur is divided into two areas --- cantonment and city --- and the residents of both zones are a harried lot. The city population feel the cantonment is more peaceful. The latter feel they are being smothered by a century old zoning laws. Everywhere there is talk of the “glorious” past of the city and it seems the people here have little to look forward to.

Seventy-three years old Bhim Sen Gupta, who retired from the State Bank of India, says there were two casting industries in the city before partition. The old still pine for opening of the Hussainiwala border with Pakistan, he says..

The youth, however, look towards Chandigarh, Amritsar and , Ludhiana saying anything is better than being stuck in this “dead city”. Nineteen-year-old Khushboo Arora works as a radio jockey in Amritsar.

Her father Dr Vikas Arora says the city is failing to meet the aspirations of the young who are seeking greener pastures elsewhere.Meanwhile, the politicians prefer to sit in their old English bungalows and preside over their darbars. However, it’s at the Cantonment’s most famous ‘adda’ --- Ramu halwai’s shop --- the common man’s problems come ot the fore. “How do I get a no objection certificate (NOC) for commercial activity in the cantonment,” asks Satish, a local. 

Bhopal, April 26
Uma Bharti, who was hell-bent to ensure BJP's defeat in assembly polls four months back, is nowhere to be seen in the state this time.

On the eve of the November 2008 assembly polls, she had declared: "If BJP returns to power, I will quit politics for good and go to Kedarnath for meditation."

Her dream was shattered when the BJP secured an impressive victory in the assembly polls, wining 143 out of 230 seats. The most humiliating thing for her was that she too lost the election in Tikamgarh ? her home turf.Instead of going to Kedarnath in Uttrakhand, Uma Bharti is nowadays busy campaigning outside Madhya Pradesh. Guess for whom? ? For the BJP, the same party which she had quit after she felt humiliated. 

And she is asking votes to make L. K. Advani the next Prime Minister ? the man whom she hated till recently. It was the Uma Bharti's wave in the 2003 assembly elections that helped BJP win 171 out of 230 seats.

She was made the chief minister but after eight months she stepped down following a court summon against her in the national flag controversy in Karnataka. Once the issue was settled, instead of putting me back on the CM's 'gaddi', BJP's top leaders conspired to throw me out of the party,? she had alleged. But clearly it is not yet time for her retreat to the mountains.

Bhopal, April 26
Hindi and Urdu poets are suddenly in great demand for the election campaign. These poets are coming quite handy in attacking their clients’ rivals. They are also reciting couplets to praise the candidates hiring them.In many states, a war of words between top guns of different parties and rival candidates has landed them in trouble.

In some instances, the police registered criminal cases against those who could not control their tongues and their "foul words" and unparliamentary language upset the rivals.

So, the answer is: rope in poets and qawwals who can get away by saying anything in the name of their "kavita," "shairo-shairi," "ghazal" and "qawwali." There is after all, a saying that “Jehan na pahunche Ravi (sun), wahan pahunche kavi.” (Where Sun can’t reach, a poet can reach in his imagination.)

Madhya Pradesh’s Manzar Bhopali and Rahat Indori are the most sought after Urdu poets by candidates of various parties in this state, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, especially in Muslim-dominated areas.

Manzar Bhopali is going to bat for former Indian cricket captain Azharuddin in Moradabad (UP). Bhopali has just returned from Andhra Pradesh, where he campaigned for the Congress candidate, Madhu Goud.“Azharuddin sahib,” according to Bhopali, “has organised many mushairas and public meetings in Moradabad where I will be reciting couplets to raise his poll prospects.

“And, as the IPL cricket competition is on in South Africa, I will also be reciting some poetry to talk about this great game and Azharuddin’s contribution to it,” says Bhopali. Another famous poet Rahat Indori is also busy finalising his tour to attend mushairas in Uttar Pradesh. So is Hindi poet Baba Hindustani.

Other poets who are being sought out for election campaign are: Badr Wasti, Mehdi Jafri, Majid Deobandi, Jauhar Kanpuri, Jamil Khairabadi, Munawwar Rana, Meraj Faizabadi and Nadeem Nayyar. Most of them are campaigning for the Congress, Samajwadi and other parties. In the past, Bashir Badr was roped in by the BJP for a "poetic campaign."

Dhar (MP), April 26
The echo of a slap on the face of a tribal woman by a woman minister here can still 
be heard. Dhar hit the headlines last year as the headquarters of a fundamentalist and terrorist organization, SIMI.

But the slapping incident has also buried the controversy related to ‘Bhojshala’ which both Hindus and Muslims claim to be their religious property, triggering several communal riots. This is said to be the centre of literary discussions during Raja Bhoj’s regime.

There used to be a beautiful statue of the Goddess of knowledge - Saraswati - here. It is now lying in a British museum.

The continuation of the slap’s echo is not a good sign for the BJP as Mukam Singh Kirade (39), husband of the woman minister in question, Ranjana Baghel, is the party’s candidate in this reserved (ST) constituency. Ranjana is the minister for women and child development. She is going round denying the slapping incident. But no one believes her.

It is said that Ranjana slapped the woman when she complained about non-implementation of a government welfare scheme. It had led to strong protests and demonstrations by women activists here and in the state capital.

The slapping incident has emerged as the main election issue. The Congress candidate, two-time Member of Parliament, Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi ((45), is trying to take advantage of this interesting turn of event. Women are very upset with Ranjana.

Not many people in this tribal dominated area of the Malwa region know her husband, whose entry in politics has been very recent - thanks to his minister wife. He quit a government job to plunge into politics.

An apex industrial body has for the first time in this major industrial city joined the chorus urging the electorate to vote and not shirk its electoral responsibility. ‘Line lagao’ is the theme of a three-minute documentary being telecasted in cinema halls and on local TV networks as part of a region-wide publicity campaign launched almost a fortnight ago.

This includes radio programmes and the distribution of leaflets for which the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has budgeted Rs 12 lakh.

“Our central message is that it is your duty and responsibility to cast your vote and be responsible for the government that is elected,” says SGCCI Secretary AjoyBhattacharya.With a population dominated by youth (78 per cent), Surat is perhaps the country’s youngest city and also boasts of the highest household income at Rs 4.56 lakh, says Bhattacharya.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the Surat constituency recorded the highest voting percentage (56.69) compared to the state average of just 45.16 per cent.

A BJP stronghold for the last decade and a half, Surat is witnessing a contest between three candidates, all of whom are first time Lok Sabha contestants and have one thing in common: the BJP.

Owing to differences with Narendra Modi, sitting BJP MP Kashiram Rana has not been given the ticket. Instead, Darshnaben Vikrambhai Jardosh, city mayor and Brahmin by caste, has been given the ticket in this constituency where mainly Saurashtra Patels and non-Gujaratis from northern India combine to constitute about 80 per cent of the electorate.

Thus, with locals accounting for only 20 per cent of the electorate, Surat is truly a city of migrants.

But Jardosh faces stiff opposition from two bullish ex-BJP leaders who will be happy to see her defeated. One is three-time ex-BJP MLA Dhirubhai Gajera, a diamond merchant fighting on the Congress ticket, who incidentally lost in the 2007 assembly elections. The second is Fakirsinh Chauhan from the Mahagujarat Janata Party (MJP), a breakaway faction of the state BJP that is contesting 17 seats in the state.

Although Chauhan, a Saurashtrian Patel considered locally to be a former BJP strongman, is unlikely to win, he has the potential of weaning off a considerable number of BJP voters. Political observers say that Kashiram Rana, a well-known figure, is likely to work against the BJP’s interest making him another “spoiler”.

The other determinant is the lack of availability of the two lakh diamond workers who have been laid off, most of whom have left Surat and relocated to their native places in Saurashtra and northern Gujarat.

Their absence on the polling day could add to a reduced margin of victory for the winning candidate.

Indian Diamond Institute Chairman Chandrakant Sanghavi says the diamond workers who have left “will contribute to the BJP’s loss.”Optimism for the BJP’s chances, however, comes from surprise quarters —- Sadik Patel, a staunch Congressman who is the president of Ward 13 and resident of the Muslim-dominated Rander colony.

“Even if a donkey contests elections on the BJP ticket, it will win. Such is the hold of the BJP here”, he says with a laugh. 

Kanpur, April 26
The Union minister of state for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal’s bid to score a hat trick could come a cropper because of the last-minute entry of Samajwadi Party in the fray. What would have been a straight contest between Jaiswal and BJP’s Satish Mahana, five-times MLA from Kanpur Cantonment making his maiden bid to get into the Lok Sabha has become complicated with both SP and BSP throwing their hats in the ring.

Last time, Jaiswal had narrowly won the seat by a margin of 5,368 votes defeating his BJP rival SD Pachauri. This time Pachauri is not in the race and the influential SP candidate Haji Mushtaq Solanki, who had secured more than 1.50 lakh votes, is dead. Jaiswal is banking heavily on the support of Muslims who form around 19 per cent of the voters here.

A 65-year-old business tycoon and trusted lieutenant of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the SP candidate Surendra Mohan Agarwal, appears to be the natural choice of the business community. He was the first runner-up in the 1998 Lok Sabha election.

However, what turned to Jaiswal’s advantage was an equally last minute decision of the BSP to dump its youthful candidate Saleem Ahmad who had been nurturing the constituency for the last two years in favour of 68-year old Sukhda Misra. 

A BJP turncoat, she has been MLA for four terms, became an MP in 1998 and was minister in the BJP state governments in the state twice. In February Misra switched loyalties from BJP to BSP and was straightaway declared the party?s Kanpur candidate much to the embarrassment of Saleem Ahmad. 

While he reconciled to the decision and extended full support to the new candidate, his supporters and the Muslim community in general see this move of Mayawati as an affront to the Muslim sentiments.

As the Muslims are also angry with the SP for aligning with former BJP chief minister Kalyan Singh, they do not consider the party?s candidate as their natural choice. They do not even perceive its candidate Agarwal of being in a position of giving a befitting fight to BJP?s Satish Mahana. As such they are most likely to vote for Jaiswal this time.

The man on the street is happy with the roads and over-bridges that Jaiswal has managed to bring. They also thank him for putting the city on the air map. What they do not forget to mention is the fact that despite being a central minister, Jaiswal spent virtually every week-end in the city and was accessible to the citizens. 

Ambala, April 26
Though sitting MP Kumari Selja is hopeful of repeating her record win in the Ambala parliamentary constituency (Reserved), she is facing stiff competition from former BJP MP Rattan Lal Kataria, who is backed by the INLD vote bank and also by BSP candidate Chanderpal.

HJC candidate Dalbir Singh is also expected to bag votes, though he does not pose a major threat. In all seven candidates are contesting from this constituency.

The anti-incumbency factor may play against Selja, who was voted to power by more than 4.15 lakh voters here in 2004. She had then contested the elections from Ambala for the first time, leaving her trusted seat Sirsa. 

Though the Congress has been voted to power from here more times than any other party, a new face Selja had won the “hearts”, say many. This time around, however, the voters are not so sure and accuse her of ignoring the constituency.

Her closeness to Sonia Gandhi also helped her in 2004. Kataria of the BJP had won the seat once earlier in 1999. That time, too, he was backed by the INLD.

The demographical change in the Ambala reserved constituency will also play a role in the election. The Ambala parliamentary constituency now comprises Kalka, Panchkula, Naraingarh, Ambala cantonment, Ambala city, Mullana (SC), Sadhaura (SC), Jagadhri and Yamunanagar assembly constituencies.

The Yamunanagar assembly constituency that was earlier a part of the Kurukshetra parliamentary constituency has been added to the Ambala constituency. Yamunanagar was also considered to be the stronghold of Kurukshetra Congress sitting MP Naveen Jindal. Political pandits are of the view that Jindal has lost a strong vote bank from Yamunanagar.

Vasai: After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remarks that independents were “spoilers”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today appealed to the people not to vote for such candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Do not vote here and there. Do not vote for independents,” Sonia said while addressing an election rally here.