I N D I A     V O T E S

Farooq’s sister spices up straight contest
Srinagar, May 2
The prestigious constituency of Srinagar that goes to the polls in the fourth phase is all set for a direct fight between the National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah and PDP candidate Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. Though there are 15 candidates in the fray, the main contest is between the NC and the PDP, the two major regional political forces and arch-rivals.

Karnal’s concern: Crime
Karnal, May 2
Crime and the law and order situation is emerging as a poll issue in the Karnal parliamentary constituency as old sensitive cases, which led to public outburst, are back in focus haunting the vote-seekers, especially the ruling party candidates.

Sadhu boost for Lalu foes
Patna, May 2 RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s slogan to usurp Hastinapur (power in Delhi) from Pataliputra (his second constituency) does not seem to charm the electorate much in this newly carved constituency on the outskirts of Bihar’s state capital.

Ambala
Maya factor crucial
Ambala, May 2
The Ambala (reserved) parliamentary constituency is all set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP-INLD, Congress and the BSP. Since the 1952 Lok Sabha elections, the constituency has witnessed direct fight between the Congress and the Jan Sangh (now the BJP) except in 1998 when the BSP-INLD alliance won this seat. In all, the Congress has won eight times, BJP five and the BSP once.

LENS LOVE: These women were at a poll meeting in western UP and, on seeing a lensman, held on to their ghunghat even more firmly, but one of them chose to ignore the custom in that area. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Jhalawar
With ‘exit wounds’ still fresh, Raje’s extra careful this time
Jhalawar, May 2
With deplorable roads, no drinking water and lack of educational institutions, Jhalawar — the traditional constituency of former Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje — was once known as one of the most backward areas of Rajasthan. But not now.

Rajasthan
Jumbo scare for BJP, Cong
Jaipur, May 2
Even as the BSP has suffered a huge jolt with its all six MLAs switching sides and joining the ruling Congress, the party may play a spoilsport for the Congress as well as the BJP in as many as six Lok Sabha seats.

Close fight in Sonepat
Sonepat, May 2
The Lok Sabha elections here are going to be a multi-cornered contest among Jitender Singh Malik of the Congress, sitting MP Kishan Singh Sangwan of the BJP, Dev Raj Devan of the BSP, Umesh Sharma of the HJC and Sukhbir Farmana of the NCP.

Sikkim
CCTVs for EVM strongrooms
Gangttok, May 2
In the wake of Opposition Congress in Sikkim expressing fears of the possibility of EVMs being tampered with, the Election Commission on Saturday said stringent measures such as installment of CCTVs at strong rooms, have been put in place.

Summer Test: With the mercury soaring, the going is getting tougher for campaigners. While BJP chief Rajnath Singh (top) was seen preparing a headgear for himself in Ghaziabad, Congress president Sonia Gandhi relied on her pallu to battle the blistering heat at Nagaur in Rajasthan. Munnabhai was also sweating it out in Moradabad. — PTI

Farooq’s sister spices up straight contest
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 2
The prestigious constituency of Srinagar that goes to the polls in the fourth phase is all set for a direct fight between the National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah and PDP candidate Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. Though there are 15 candidates in the fray, the main contest is between the NC and the PDP, the two major regional political forces and arch-rivals. Interestingly, the presence of Farooq’s sister, Khalida Shah of the Awami National Conference, has also drawn attention of the political observers, even as it is believed that she would not prove a major threat to the ‘big two’.

While the parliamentary elections like the last Assembly polls in Kashmir Valley are being held under the shadow of separatist boycott campaign, the main contestants are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. All the major players are focusing on the resolution of the Kashmir issue and human rights violations. “Our agenda is the Indo-Pak amity with a final solution to Kashmir problem”, opines Farooq, adding that his party would strive for the grant of greater autonomy to the state, for which the party had passed a resolution in the State Assembly in 2000. He is also concerned about the development issues. The PDP, which had the self-rule formula as its main plank, has also been thriving on its “movement to press for reduction of troops and revocation of the special powers to security forces”.

On the other hand, Awami National Conference (ANC) believes that Congress-NC alliance is “unholy.” “They have come together to hoodwink and deceive the people of Kashmir.

We believe that only regional parties can provide a good political and administrative setup,” says ANC chief Khalida Shah. Srinagar has been represented by the NC candidates, including three generations of the Sheikh family, Begum Akbar Jehan, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah in all the elections except one since 1977. It was represented by a Congress member Ghulam Mohammad Mir in 1996 when the NC did not participate in
the elections.

Karnal’s concern: Crime
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Karnal, May 2
Crime and the law and order situation is emerging as a poll issue in the Karnal parliamentary constituency as old sensitive cases, which led to public outburst, are back in focus haunting the vote-seekers, especially the ruling party candidates.

Congress MP Arvind Sharma had a taste of the public ire when he visited the Gharaunda area where Ariapura villagers confronted him and did not allow him to enter the village. The villagers were annoyed over “inaction” of the police in tracing a girl, allegedly abducted on March 30.

The villagers blocked the road on April 14 and threw stones on the police, injuring an ASI. The angry villagers had cautioned leaders against coming to the village for votes.

The mysterious death of a prisoner, Gurnam Singh, in a jail about a month ago also snowballed into a major issue and hundreds of villagers from Dachar in the Nissing area converged on Karnal, demanding the registration of a murder case against DSP Som Nath Bazigar.

The villagers said Gurnam Singh, who was booked in a petty offence under the Excise Act, was arrested on April 6 and beaten to death in the jail. In another incident in Dhanoli village last month, one person was killed and three were injured when the police allegedly resorted to firing to quell protesters blocking the Assandh-Safidon road.

Sadhu boost for Lalu foes
Sanjay Singh
Tribune News Service

Patna, May 2
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s slogan to usurp Hastinapur (power in Delhi) from Pataliputra (his second constituency) does not seem to charm the electorate much in this newly carved constituency on the outskirts of Bihar’s state capital.

Apparently aware of his “shaky” position in the Saran Lok Sabha constituency that went to the polls during the first phase itself, the Railway Minister has launched an intensive campaign in Pataliputra, the second constituency from where he is a candidate.

This constituency will go to the polls on May 7. The way he and his wife Rabri Devi and also his party leaders are stomping the length and breadth of this constituency, it appears that the RJD strongman does not want to leave anything to chance.

Interestingly, those queering the pitch for Lalu are none else but his one-time trusted lieutenants, Ranjan Yadav (now JD-U candidate) and Vijay Singh Yadav, the Congress nominee.

The two-term member of the Rajya Sabha from the RJD Ranjan was considered to be the second most powerful leader in the party after Lalu for about 12 years. Lalu relied on this Patna University Professor of Geology so much so that people started calling Ranjan a friend , philosopher and guide of the RJD chief.

The friendship between the two distanced Lalu from many of his close associates in the party.

But now this friend-turned-foe of Lalu spits venom against the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief.

It is also an irony that Ranjan is now solidly banking upon Nitish Kumar and his party for his electoral prospects in his battle against Lalu.

Congress nominee Vijay Singh Yadav was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from the RJD and till recently he relished being called “Hanuman” (most trusted disciple) of Lalu. Because of his handle-bar moustache, Lalu had named him the “Veerappan of Bihar”. Prior to joining hands with Lalu, Vijay was in the BJP and was also elected an MLA from Danapur in 1996 on the BJP symbol. But Lalu’s “Veerappan” now calls him a “fair-weather friend” and outsider in the Pataliputra constituency.

Having a large presence of voters from the Yadav caste (around 3.60 lakh), this prestigious Lok Sabha seat is poised for a keen battle among the three Yadav leaders. The United Left Block has fielded Rameshwar Prasad, a non-Yadav, from here. But his support base is likely to be restricted to the cadre votes of the Left parties.

Apart from the rapid shift of Muslim votes towards the Congress, what has been causing anxious moments to Lalu Yadav is the open revolt of his favourite “saala” (brother-in-law), Sadhu Yadav. Sadhu, now a Congress leader, has also launched an equally intensive campaign against his “jeeja” in Pataliputra. He has been touring the Yadav-dominated villages seeking votes for the Congress nominee — Vijay Singh Yadav.

However, he refrains from making any personal attack on his “jeeja” or sister. On their part both Lalu and Rabri Devi had made personal attacks on Sadhu while campaigning against him in his constituency — Paschim Champaran.

However, Sadhu has been telling his caste men that Lalu’s contract with his people to rule for 20 years had expired now. It was time the Yadavs looked towards young and capable leaders from their caste.

Praising Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh as serious and responsible leaders, Sadhu does not forget to tell the voters that his “jeeja” always lacked these qualities. “But he used to provide good entertainment to Parliament”, 
he says.

Besides fighting his one-time trusted friends and also family members like Sadhu Yadav, Lalu is also facing difficulties in dispelling rumours that he was on a sticky wicket in Saran and that is why he was moving from village to village in Pataliputra.

Ambala
Maya factor crucial
Amrita Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Jhalawar
With ‘exit wounds’ still fresh, Raje’s extra careful this time
Girja Shankar Kaura
Tribune News Service

Rajasthan
Jumbo scare for BJP, Cong
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Close fight in Sonepat
Manish Sirhindi
Tribune News Service

Sonepat, May 2
The Lok Sabha elections here are going to be a multi-cornered contest among Jitender Singh Malik of the Congress, sitting MP Kishan Singh Sangwan of the BJP, Dev Raj Devan of the BSP, Umesh Sharma of the HJC and Sukhbir Farmana of the NCP.

Sangwan is seeking re-election from this seat for the fourth consecutive term. He had bagged the Sonepat seat on the INLD ticket in the mid-term poll held in 1998 by defeating Dr Arvind Sharma, who had contested as a Shiv Sena candidate. The seat was retained by Sangwan in 1999 and 2004 as a BJP nominee. Congress nominee Mailk is contesting his first Lok Sabha elections from here. He belongs to an influential political family as his father Rajinder Singh Malik was a two-time MLA from the Ghanaur Assembly constituency.

NCP’s Farmana is at present MLA from the Kharkhoda constituency. He was aspiring for the Congress ticket to contest the last assembly elections, but when he was denied the ticket, he contested on the NCP ticket and won the election in 2005. This is his first attempt for the Lok Sabha.

Dewan, who is in the election fray on the BSP ticket, had won two assembly elections as an Independent candidate in 1996 and 2000 from the Sonepat assembly constituency. This time round, he is the richest candidate, who is contesting from Sonepat, with assets worth Rs 16 crore. Sharma of the HJC, former member of the AICC, has so far not contested any election.

Sikkim
CCTVs for EVM strongrooms

Pollscape

Economy class

Politicians are adopting new ways and means to woo the voters and ensure their victory in the ongoing general election. The latest campaign tool is a cycle rickshaw. Ghanshyam Tiwari, BJP candidate from Jaipur parliamentary constituency in Rajasthan, along with his supporters is using rickshaw for his poll campaign instead of motor vehicles to reach out to the people and project a pro-poor image amongst people. Rickshaw is also being used to send a message to the people about the escalating costs of fuel during the Congress-led UPA regime. “In order to cut costs on using petrol and diesel and give employment to the rickshaw pullers, we have prepared 32 rickshaws and four rickshaws would be sent to all eight Vidhan Sabha constituencies,” said Kalicharan Sarraf, member of Legislative Assembly and a BJP leader. Rickshaw pullers have welcomed the use of the vehicle for campaigning as it means a permanent source of income till the campaigning is on. — ANI

Monkey business

Monkeys may be a major menace for the citizens of Agra but the candidates seeking votes are wary of taking them on as they feel their action could offend those who see the animals as holy. State forest department officials and local NGOs estimate there are about 20,000 monkeys in the Agra region. The aggressive animals have been attacking residents, especially women and children. In the last six months there have been three deaths due to attacks by simian herds. But when voters ask the candidates for the Agra Lok Sabha seat - where balloting is scheduled May 7 - what the would-be MP will do to curb the monkey menace, all of them turn hesitant. — IANS

Poll Buzz

18 officers booked

MUZAFFARNAGAR (UP): The police on Saturday registered cases against 18 presiding officers for dereliction of election duties before the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections here. These officers were found absent during EVM training, Additional District Magistrate DK Singh said. — PTI

Lunch trouble

MUZAFFARNAGAR (UP): A case has been registered against BSP candidate from Bijnore constituency Shahid Siddqui for allegedly distributing lunch packets in an election meeting at Miwa village in Meerut district, the police said on Saturday. The police said the case was registered against Siddiqui, MLA Yogesh Verma, Block Pramukh of Hastinapur, Jagbir Singh of Bharat Vir Gram Pradhan and 25 others. — PTI

Repoll ordered

KOLKATA: The Election Commission on Saturday ordered repoll in six booths - two each in Jhargram, Bishnupur and Darjeeling Lok Sabha seats on Sunday, but did not accede to the demand by Opposition parties for repoll in the Keshpur Assembly segment where widespread rigging was alleged. — PTI

Voter’s guide

Will expenditure on travel incurred by star campaigners of a party be treated as expenditure incurred by a candidate of that party?

Expenditure on travel in respect of the star campaigners of a party, whose list is to be submitted to the EC for availing the benefit, is exempt. In case of failure to do so, such expenditure shall be treated as expenditure incurred by the candidate concerned of that party.

Pollspeak