New Delhi: The high-stake Delhi mayoral polls scheduled to take place next week, seem to heading for a two-way contest between the ruling BJP and Congress, even as the saffron party exuded confidence of repeating its electoral triumph for the top municipal posts.

Candidates from both the parties are set to file nominations for the polls, while the Aam Aadmi Party, which staged a stunning comeback to power in last Delhi Assembly polls, has so far not figured on this polling arena.

The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated in 2012 into — North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations (NDMC, EDMC and SDMC).

The elections, slated to be held on April 24 will elect new mayors, deputy mayors and members of the standing committees of the three civic bodies. Today is the last date to file nominations.

All three corporations are BJP-led and the party had swept the mayoral polls last year.

“BJP and Congress candidates are both scheduled to file nominations today for the three posts at the north corporation. The final list of candidates would become clear by evening,” a senior official of the NDMC said.

The two big parties are also set to enter into a contest in the EDMC as well, which last year elected its youngest mayor Meenakshi.

Meanwhile, party functionaries at AAP, however, have said that the new political party is not contesting the mayoral polls.

“We are fighting the mayoral polls with confidence and fielding candidates We are fighting the mayoral polls with confidence and fielding candidates for the mayor, deputy mayors and members of the standing committee posts,” Delhi BJP Chief and councillor Satish Upadhyay said.

Upadhyay, former chairman of the SDMC’s Standing Committee exuded confidence on BJP’s performance in this poll.

The five-year tenure for the Mayor post sees five single- year terms on a rotation basis, with the first year being reserved for women, the second open category, third for reserved category, and the remaining two also being in open category, Director (Press & Information), NDMC, Yogendra Singh Mann said.

The last mayoral poll won by BJP saw, Yogender Chandolia, Khushi Ram and Meenakshi winning the post of mayors for NDMC, SDMC and EDMC respectively.
PTI

Congress on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks in Canada about the “mess” left behind by others, saying they were in “poor taste” coming on foreign soil and show that he still carries the “hangover of the election campaign”.

“The prime minister’s statement on foreign soil, both in Germany and Canada, has been in poor taste. It is clear that (Modi) carries a hangover of the 2014 election campaign.

“He is talking on foreign soil to malign his predecessors and the present opposition. No prime minister of India in its history has ever done so,” said Congress spokesman Anand Sharma.

Charging that Modi had painted a picture which suggested that the country was known only for corruption and scams before he came to office, Sharma said the prime minister had “lowered the dignity” of his office.

Sharma, a former Commerce Minister in the UPA government, said Modi needs to be reminded that he inherited a strong economy and a vibrant India. He also claimed that the country’s GDP had quadrupled under the Congress-led government.

“The last government had left a foreign exchange reserve of USD 310 billion and the country’s exports had gone up to USD 315 billion. Throughout the period of the financial crisis, India remained one of the most-favoured destinations for foreign investors.

“If Modi thinks that the world is recognising India’s potential, strength and demography for the first time, then he is either ill-informed or being delusional.

“By such remarks, he is denying the achievements of the Indian people. He has insulted those who made the country what it is today. With Modi’s government completing 11 months in office, it’s time that he gave an account of the lofty promises and dreams he sold to the people,” he said.

Contending that development was the only answer to India’s problems, Modi today said in Toronto that he would clean up the “mess” created by others and change the country’s image from one where it is identified with “scams” to that of a “skilled” nation.

Taking an apparent dig at the previous governments, Modi said, “Jinko gandagi karni thi, woh gandagi kar ke chaley gaye, par hum safai karenge (Those who had to create a mess, they have done so and left. We will clean it up).”

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh and party spokesman Sanjay Jha, too, targeted the Prime Minister through posts on twitter.com.

“When a Head of State visits abroad he represents the whole Nation. Modi’s speech is divisive, defamatory, malicious and not based on facts,” tweeted Singh.

Jha said that Modi was making India a laughing stock through his “pathetic diatribes” against political opponents.

“PM Modi through his pathetic diatribes against political opponents abroad is making India into a laughing stock. Doing an IPO, Sir???” Jha said on the micro-blogging website.

New Delhi: A day after the rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faction led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan stopped sort of splitting the party by floating a new group, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party will meet on Wednesday amidst indications of strong action against the dissident leaders.

The panel is expected to refer the case of Yadav and Bhushan to the disciplinary committee of the party’s Delhi unit after the duo organised Swaraj Samvad convention at Gurgaon.

Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is scheduled to meet this evening at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Interestingly, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan will also hold a press conference at 4 pm today.

The senior part leaders had already warned of taking serious action against those attending the Swaraj Samvad convention.

Yesterday, in the convention, the leaders announced floating of a new group and also lashed out at the party leadership, questioning inner party democracy and transparency in the party.

The party is also expected to crack the whip on Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha, who were ousted from the party along with Yadav and Bhushan

Speaking to reporters, AAP leader Ashutosh had said the party will “soon” sit down to discuss the developments at the dissident-led convention and take an “appropriate” decision in this regard.

On Monday, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh too had warned of action against those attenting the meeting, saying the PAC will decide on their fate.

“Today’s developments clearly indicate that they (rebels) have decided to break the party. Now they will perhaps decide what future course they should chart out,” Ashutosh said.

Shiva Sena Candidate, Trupti Sawant won the Bandra East by elections by 52,711 to her rival candidate Narayan Rane of Congress who got 33,703 votes for the Maharashtra Assembly. Bypoll was necessitated in the Bandra East constituency following the death of Shiv Sena MLA Bala Sawant, husband of Mrs Trupti Sawant.

A week ago Real News had already predicted Shiva Sena’s victory on the basis of all round survey done. Narayan Rane with a long political history of almost 32 years faced a major setback in a small constituency like Bandra East. When Rane was interviewed by Real News of India he had stated that his party chose him to stand for the by elections when asked why he chose such a small sized constituency.

The public of Bandra East just could not relate to his candidacy. He was too big a heavy weight. However Bala Swawant’s excellent public relations with the public was the real factor of Shiva Sena’s victory.

Massive victory celebrations were seen outside Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s residence ‘Matoshree’ as party workers waived the saffron flag and shouted party slogans. They also busted fire crackers and distributed sweets among people.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was forced to quit two months ago after falling out with the JD(U) leadership, Monday said he was likely to float a political party and ruled out any pre-poll alliance for the state Assembly elections, due this year.

While making it clear that he will not under any circumstances join the formation led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Manjhi said he was “not averse” to giving or taking support from the BJP if the situation warranted.

Discounting chances of his entering into a pre-poll alliance with any party, Manjhi said at a meet-the-press here that he may even contest the Bihar polls alone.

“We have formed a social organisation called Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), which is holding a big public rally on April 20 in Patna to decide the future course of action. About five lakh people are likely to attend it and if the response is good, I may form a new party and contest elections on my own,” Manjhi said.

However, he did not dismiss either offering support or taking support from the BJP to form the next government, but was averse to striking a deal with any formation having Nitish and Lalu.

The new alliance of Lalu, Nitish and Mulayam Singh is short of any ideology, he said, alleging them as “opportunists”.

“Nitish had termed Lalu’s rule as ‘jungle raj’ and Lalu, while accusing Nitish of sending him to jail, had once vowed to be a saviour of Dalits like me…yet he betrayed me,” Manjhi alleged.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manjhi said he is a person with secular credentials.

“Modi cannot be called communal. I find nothing wrong with his secular credentials since he has pledged trying to take along all sections of people with him,” he said.

Manjhi, who was expelled from the JD (U) before he resigned as the chief minister ahead of the crucial trust vote in the state Assembly, had claimed that he formed the new front to ‘expose’ Nitish and the party.

He was later declared as an unattached member in the Bihar Assembly.

Manjhi also came out in defence of Modi vis-à-vis delivery of promises and secularism.

Talking to media persons in ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Nagpur Union of Working Journalists, here Monday, Manjhi said, “It is true that different people are talking different things like voting rights of Muslims be taken away, Article 370 be scrapped, common civil code be implemented and Ram temple be built. But Modi’s recent statements and position has shown clear departure (“fluctuation”) which is reassuring” Manjhi said.

The vacant MLA seat after the demise of sitting MLA Bala Sawant will to polls on April 11th. On the last round up of campaigning each party has intensified its respective rallies.
The Congress was supported by heavyweight NCP Leader Sharad Pawar. Shiva Sena pulled in Devendra Fandavis and other ministers.
MIM has brought its senior leaders at its last attempt to woo voters.

However the local people of Bandra East do not see much hope from anyone of them. Sanjay Rane is too big a leader to be understood by the slum dwellers. The Muslim community do not relate much to MIM.

Shiva Sena candidate Mrs Bala Sawant does have the experience in Politics. Shiva Sena is completely banking on the sympathy vote. The deceased Bala Sawant was a well respected and loved leader by the people. He adddressed to local problems and nver let down anybody who cam to him for help.

As per local residents Shiva Sena is the strongest contender.

Lucknow: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today said the party vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on a sabbatical, will take part in the agitational programme on Land Acquisition Bill on April 19.

“The issue concerning the land acquisition is not temporary and I believe when Rahul Gandhi returns he will take part in the April 19 Kisan andolan,” Ramesh said here.

Ramesh said he was sure that later an agitation will be launched all over the country in favour of farmers under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul is on a sabbatical for more than a month and is expected to be back within two weeks. “The view of the party is that till the 2013 legislation is not implemented, the Opposition to the present format will continue both in and outside the Parliament,” he said.

“SP, BSP, CPI(M), CPI and other parties are with the Congress on this issue,” he added.

Earlier, Congress leader Digvijay Singh yesterday had said that Rahul Gandhi will address Kisan Rally of the party on April 19.

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad on Sunday said the merger of six Janata Parivar parties to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already “happened” and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav would make a formal announcement. “The merger of six Janata Parivar parties has already happened.
It’s final and formal announcement will be done by Mulayam Singh Yadav. We all will come under one flag and one symbol to counter the BJP which has cheated the country,” Prasad said. The RJD chief was speaking to media persons after the day-long national executive meeting of his party got over at a posh hotel in the state capital. Over 250 representatives from 21 states, including leaders like Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Abdul

Bari Siddiqui, MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, Bihar RJD president Ram Chandra Purve and others were present on the occasion. Speaking further on the merger, Prasad said there should be no doubts regarding the merger henceforth and indicated that other “secular” parties may too be invited to join the new entity that emerges out of it. “Merger means merger. There should be no doubts about it. Only one symbol and not other shall remain because different symbols will create confusion among the public.

We will also ask other secular parties to join the new party to combat communalism,” he added. The six Janata Parivar parties which are in the process of merging together to taken on BJP and its allied parties, are RJD, SP, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar led Janata Dal (United), former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda led Janata Dal (Secular), Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP).

New Delhi: JD(U) president Sharad Yadav on Saturday attacked the NDA government over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on addressing farmers’ woes, alleging that they are only “selling dreams” and have “no policy or programme”

Policy is more important than intention. All governments have an intention to do public good. The issue is that whether the government has some policy and programmes to fulfill it not. This government has no road map, no policy and programme. Mere intention will not do any good to farmers,” Yadav told PTI.

He was reacting to the Prime Minister’s remarks yesterday attacking opposition for “spreading lies” that the government was working against the interests of the farming community.

Facing attack over the new Land Acquisition Bill, Modi had contended that he had lived among the farmers and he could understand their plight and was working with “good intention” to address their woes.

The Prime Minister said this yesterday speaking at a public meeting in Bengaluru.

Retorting, Yadav said,”what is the worth of intention if it is not backed by concrete policy and programmes. Results when come only when policy and intent both combine. This government completely lacks on policy front. The government had promised to create two crores of employment. It sold many such dreams. But none of them were fulfilled.”

He said that instead of talking of “intent alone”, the government should come out with a clear road map and spell out is policy prescription to remove poverty, create employment and provide succour to farmers.

Last month, Yadav coordinated a march of odd a dozen opposition parties from Parliament to President House against the new land law alleging that the NDA government’s measure was “anti farmer and pro corporate”.

The JD-U President was earlier the NDA convenor when his party and BJP were together before parting ways in June 2013 over Modi’s elevation within his party before Lok Sabha polls.

PTI

Bengaluru, Apr 4 (PTI) Marginalised BJP veteran L K Advani did not address the Nation Executive meeting, a permanent feature in such meets, reflecting the current power equation in the ruling party.

There was no word from the party on why he did not address the meeting which concluded today but there was speculation that he was not keen on it as he was asked to get the speech vetted due to apprehension in the top rungs that he may strike a jarring note.

Advani, who has seen a gradual marginalisation in the party, was present during the two-day conclave. He had skipped attending the Goa meet in 2013 in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was anointed the campaign committee head.

“Internal decision-making is something we don’t discuss with the media. How we settle the programme of the party, I am sure even in the world of RTI and transparency, we can’t share it with you,” senior party leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on being asked for the reasons behind Advani not addressing the meet.

Playing down the issue during his briefing after the national executive meeting concluded, he said Advani was a senior leader and “he can, anytime he wishes, guide the party in any forum”.