Election News

The AICC general secretary has decided to launch a month- long Youth Congress membership drive to revive the party's fortunes in the state before the assembly polls, slated for October- November.

Rahul himself will tour the state towards the end of the month to rejuvenate the cadre and mobilise support of the youth.

Registration for the Indian Youth Congress will start on January 12. Forms are available online and anyone aged between 18 and 35 are eligible to register by producing their birth certificate and proof of residence.

However, all is not well within the party in the state. The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee ( BPCC) has been plagued by factionalism with a section of leaders lobbying for the removal of party president Anil Sharma.

With a litany of complaints against Sharma, the high command recently expanded the BPCC to trim his wings.

The new committee has as many as 397 members, including 125 executive members. The panel has a mix of the old guard and newcomers including 14 vicepresidents, one treasurer, 20 general secretaries, 69 secretaries and 60 organising secretaries.

But critics within the party fear the jumbo committee may create more problems than solving them.

source: India Today Clean-up job for Congress scions before Bihar polls

The Congress has already nominated Bharat Singh Beniwal, who will file his nomination papers tomorrow. The INLD is likely to field Abhey Singh Chautala, younger son of party supremo Om Prakash Chautala. He will file his papers on January 2.

However, the bypoll will be a battle between Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala.

Other parties of the state, whether they contest or not, are unlikely to affect the outcome of the byelection. Hooda needs to win the Ellenabad byelection to ensure that the Congress can manage to win a majority in the state assembly.

The Congress won 40 seats in the House of 90 and after "defection" of five MLAs belonging to the Haryana Janhit Congress to the ruling party, its strength reached up to 45.

Though Hooda has the support of the lone BSP MLA and seven Independents, all of whom have been accommodated in the government, the Congress needs to win the Ellenabad seat to reach the magical figure of 46.

On the other hand, Chautala's prestige is at stake as his party has lost the Ellenabad seat only once since 1977.

Source: The Tribune Ellenabad bypoll: It's Cong vs INLD

While the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) alliance has emerged with a tally of 25 of the state's 81 assembly seats, the NDA alliance of the BJP and the Janata Dal (United) has won 21.

A resurgent Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which had disassociated itself from its UPA allies and had gone it alone in the poll, won 18 seats -- one seat more than in the last polls of January 2005.

With both the Congress JVM(P) alliance and NDA falling way behind the requisite strength to form the government, JMM has emerged as the kingmaker. It is keeping its options open.

"I have the keys to government formation," an elated JMM chief Sibu Soren, 65, said.

His party leaders said in Ranchi that they would not bargain with any alliance for anything less than the chief minister's chair for Soren.
Congress Jharkhand-incharge, Keshav Rao said that being the largest alliance, they had the rightful claim to the CM's post, but added; they were ready for talks with their old UPA ally. The beleaguered BJP camp did not deny the possibilities of extending support to JMM for a non-Congress government formation.

"JMM is not an untouchable for us," former chief minister Arjun Munda of the BJP said.The JMM too made it clear it was ready to meet BJP halfway.

Former Chief Minister Madhu Koda's wife Geeta Koda won the Jagannathpur seat defeating her BJP rival by over 8000 votes. Dedicating the victory to her husband who is in jail on charges of amassing disproportionate assets, the 26 year-old said her priority would be to bring her husband back to his people.

It won 52 seats, while the Telugu Desam Party ( TDP) bounced back with 45 seats in the 150- member civic body.

The elections were held on November 23.

No party got an absolute majority in the GHMC, which went to polls for the first time after its formation in April 2007 following the merger of 11 municipalities and several gram panchayats into the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad ( MCH).

The Congress emerged as the single largest party in the GHMC. But the results were a setback as the party had won two Lok Sabha seats and 14 out of 24 assembly seats in the Greater Hyderabad limits.

In the GHMC elections, the Congress put up candidates in all 150 divisions, whereas the TDP contested in 141 seats.

The Majlis- e- Ittehadul Muslimeen ( MIM) retained its hold on Hyderabad, especially in the Muslim- dominated Old City, by winning 43 of the 70 seats it contested. The Congress and the TDP need to forge an alliance with the MIM if they want to capture the mayor and deputy mayor posts, elections for which are scheduled for December 4.

“ We are yet to decide which party we will associate with,” MIM Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi said.

The BJP, which had held the deputy mayor’s post in the last MCH, had to contend with just five seats. Voters rejected actor- turned- politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party, the Lok Satta headed by former IAS officer N. Jayaprakash Narayan and the Left parties.

Although the Congress has so far done little to regain ground in the politically crucial state despite being in power at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi has now placed Uttar Pradesh on top of his agenda.

Sources said Rahul was in the process of dividing the state into 10 electoral zones, each with one All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer who will study every constituency in his area and report to the high command by October 2010.

The purpose is to identify the best potential candidates and issues in each region, as well as the party’s weaknesses and strengths which can then be addressed in advance. The Congress will then name its candidates for all the 402 seats at least a year before the 2012 Assembly polls.

The Congress, however, has witnessed fierce churning in the past on the issue of early announcement of candidates, and has invariably ended up releasing the list just days before the filing of nominations closed.

Source: The Telegraph Cong hits on revival plan in UP

Gandhi will be concentrating on Bihar after his success in UP, which includes his role in the victory of the party in the Firozabad Lok Sabha by-election, party sources said.

Due to Gandhi's efforts, the party had won 21 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in May and the tally has now increased to 22.

The feeling in the party is that if Congress could do well in UP, it could certainly do so in Bihar where the party has been out of power for the last almost 20 years.

Sources said that the party was unlikely to align with any party in the Bihar polls and would like to go it alone.

AICC secretary Jitendra Singh, who assists the AICC general secretary in managing IYC affairs, briefed a team of around 40 supervisors who will conduct the membership drive and the polls, along with IYC president Ashok Tanwar in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Congress sources said the party is upbeat and hopes to attract a large number of youngsters in UP following the increasing popularity of the Amethi MP among people in general.

This will help the Congress prepare ground-level cadre to mobilise support ahead of the crucial 2012 Assembly polls in the state which the Amethi MP has targeted following the 21 seats the party won in UP during the 2009 general elections.

UP chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati is concerned over the visits of the AICC general secretary to dalit households. She is also upset as the Congress has been gaining the main Opposition space in the state pushing the SP to the margins.

Following the membership drive, which has been started in the central zone, the local unit of IYC expects to have elected office bearers by December. Keeping in mind the size of the state, which has the largest number (80) of Lok Sabha seats, the state has been divided into four zones for better poll management.

"The response to democratisation of IYC has been very good. We hope UP will surpass our expectations," said AICC secretary Jitendra Singh. Mr Gandhi has given a time table to the IYC managers to complete the democratisation of the youth organisation.

So says the projection of analysts as counting of votes gathered steam on Thursday. The big question already - if the Congress is coming back in Maharashtra, who shall be the next chief minister?

The ruling combine seemed to be trailing the Shiv Sena and MNS in the city of Mumbai but was more than making up in Western Maharashtra

The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, which began the morning well, seemed to slip as more trends came in. And Raj Thackeray's MNS may not become the kingmaker some people thought it would, but it has certainly spoilt the Shiv Sena's chances.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress was ahead in all 10 seats for which trends were available, including a win in three seats. This included Tawang, which has been in the news recently for the Dalai Lama's visit.

Early trends in Haryana showed that the ruling Congress will have it less easy than it did in the Lok Sabha elections 2009. Expected to sweep Haryana, the Congress is struggling way below the half-way mark of 45. And the surprise package is Om Prakash Chautala's INLD, which, shed of its alliance with the BJP, is doing remarkably well.  

It needs to be emphasised that these are early days yet. Results are expected to be in by midday.

Party Heavyweights In Maharashtra

Considered the first crucial test of popularity for major political parties after the Lok Sabha polls, the elections in the three states were held on October 13.

The counting is taking place in various centres under the strict vigil of the officials of the Election Commission, which has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the exercise is carried out smoothly.

In a communication to Chief Electoral Officers of the three states, the EC has directed them to ensure that the result of round-wise counting of votes are immediately displayed prominently on block board inside the counting centre and announced through public address system.

The next round of counting should be taken up only after display of results of previous round on the black board, the EC directive said.

Party Heavyweights In Arunachal

Stakes are high in Maharashtra, where there are several chief ministerial aspirants. Rivals Shiv Sena and its offshoot MNS are fighting for the same political space and the ruling Congress-NCP combine is aiming a hat-trick. There are 1,820 independents, mostly party rebels, in fray.

Amravati constituency in Maharashtra has become the cynosure of all eyes as President Pratibha Patil's son Rajendra alias Raosaheb Shekhawat of Congress is pitted against party rebel Sunil Deshmukh in that seat.

The Congress has been ruling the state for the last 10 years in alliance with the NCP.

Exit polls by two television channels have projected that ruling Congress-NCP alliance would emerge victorious in Maharashtra assembly elections and one of them predicted Congress victory in Haryana polls.

In Haryana, Congress is seeking a second term in office on the plank of development. The opposition in the state is a house divided with BJP snapping tie up with Om Prakash Chautala's INLD and BSP coming out of an alliance with Haryana Janhit Congress.

Party Heavyweights In Haryana

Congress appears to be on a strong wicket in Arunachal Pradesh where Chief Minister Khandu Dorjee is among three party candidates elected unopposed.

The over month-long canvassing saw top leaders of Congress, BJP and other key players of regional parties hitting the campaign trail. The electioneering was occasionally marked by personal attacks.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertook whirlwind tours of the three states, where the party is making earnest efforts to retain power.

Senior BJP leaders L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu were the opposition stalwarts who campaigned vigorously. Advani raised the Ram temple issue while seeking votes.

Having replaced Vilasrao Deshmukh just after the Mumbai attacks November last, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is bracing to face his greatest political battle.

When the results of the assembly polls in Maharashtra are declared on October 22, Chavan hopes to lead the Congress-National Congress Party (NCP) combine to a third win since the alliance was born in 1999.

These are the first elections since the delimitation process, in which maps of the constituencies were redrawn on the basis of increase in population.

Apart from the Congress, defending its turf after the wins in 1999 and 2004, the polls are a make-or-break situation for a fragmented opposition too.

For the Shiv Sena, the main Opposition party, the elections are crucial. If the party fails to win, the party's executive president, Uddhav Thackeray, will lose more ground to cousin and political foe Raj.

No wonder ageing Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, 83, on Saturday lashed out against his estranged nephew during a campaign rally in Mumbai, even if it was via video-conference.

Source: Hindustan Times State polls: Exam Time for Congress

A senior Congress general secretary indicated the Central party’s backing for a prepoll pact with JMM, though no official talks are expected between the two sides until the elections are announced in the state. Jharkhand, which is currently under President’s rule, is likely to see polls only after Central rule ends in the state on 19 January, 2010. The Congress source also did not rule out a possible pact with RJD, which has become a pariah for Congress since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

For the record, however, the party maintained that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would take a call on the matter. “The high command will take a final view on the matter as there are two views in the party,” Congress general secretary in-charge of the state, K Kesava Rao, said.

Source: Economic Times AICC favours alliance with JMM for assembly polls

The returning officer of Sohna assembly-cum-SDM, Gurgaon south, K.K. Gupta issued notice to the erring candidates today while the returning officer of Gurgaon assembly-cum-SDM, Gurgaon north, Satender Duhan had issued notice to all the 16 candidates contesting from Gurgaon assembly on Monday.

Gupta had directed candidates to produce their election expenditure within two days otherwise action under Section 171 (1) of IPC would be initiated against them.

In Sohna assembly, seven candidates did not submit the expenditure details till October 5. They include Ramniwas of Lok Janshakti Party and six Independents—Usman, Dinesh Kumar, Nihal Singh, Bhoop Singh Raghav, Mahesh Singh Dayama and Sube Singh.

The Indian National Congress candidate Dharambir Singh had also been issued notice for non-submission of supporting document, though his representative had produced the register of election expenditure till September 30.

Source: The Tribune Gurgaon, Sohna candidates get notices
on poll expenses

• 25 kg wheat, rice at Rs 3 per kg to BPL families

A loan waiver scheme for non-farmer loanees, setting up of a farmers’ commission, construction of 2 lakh cheap houses for the urban poor were among the promises the Congress party made to the Haryana electorate.

Releasing the party manifesto for the assembly elections, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and AICC in charge Prithviraj Chavan today claimed it to be a vision document with “very achievable” targets.

“This is our vision document which brings out the works done during the five year rule and gives details of the development plan for the next five years since we are sure to come back to power,” Hooda said.

Though he admitted that the manifesto was a continuation of works which had already begun, he was quick to point out that doubling the growth in agriculture to 4 per cent, giving 25 kg wheat and rice at Rs 3 per kg to BPL families on the central government policy, pulses and oils at subsidised rates were among many a new things listed by the Congress.

Source: The Tribune Congress Release The Party Manifesto For The Assembly Elections In Haryana

Two sitting MLA’s, Raj Rani Poonam from Assandh and Dr Krishna Pandit from Yamunanagar, have been dropped. Ramesh Chaudhary and Devendra Chawla have replaced them, respectively.

Interestingly, two former INLD leaders Sampat Singh and Sushil Indora have been nominated from Nalwa and Kalanwali seats respectively. A former BJP member Ram Kumar Gautam has been adjusted at Narnaund seat.

The pending seats are Badhra, Mahendragarh, Sohna, Faridabad NIT and Nangal Chaudhary.

Other names declared today are: Kalayat — Tejinder Pal Mann; Israna — Balbir Singh Balmiki; Safidon — Ram Kishan Bairagi; Narwana — Ram Phal Lot; Ratia — Jarnail Singh; Rania —Ranjit Singh; Ellnabad — Bharat Singh Beniwal; Hansi — Chhatra Pal Singh; Dadri — Nirpender Singh Sangwan; Narnaul — Sanjay Singh Yadav; Bawal — Shakuntla Bagwaria and Tigaon — Lalit Nagar.

It is understood that the party high command has asked Gehlot to spend maximum time in this neighbouring State, which the party is eyeing to win for the second time.

Though his campaign programme is not finalised, the Rajasthan Chief Minister would go for extensive electioneering in those areas which are adjacent to Rajasthan.

The districts of Sirsa, Mahendergarh and Rewari, have the common border with Rajasthan. In the Lok Sabha election, Gehlot had campaigned in these areas and party leaders, particularly, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, felt that Gehlot’s campaigning had paid a rich dividend to the party. Gehlot enjoys close rapport with Hooda.

Other than Gehlot, some Jat leaders of the party in Rajasthan would also be sent to Haryana, keeping in view the dominant position of Jats there, according to State party leaders.

Meanwhile, the BJP is also working out to send its workers there from the Sri Ganganagar, Hanumagarh, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Alwar and Bharatpur, which are close to Haryana. People from these areas are having close family relations in the adjoining parts of Haryana. Party leaders are of the view that by sending workers from here would help the party candidates to organise their election campaign more effectively.

The deal, which was finalised after a great deal of wrangling on both sides, will be backed by joint campaign and manifesto, with the chiefs of the two parties — Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar— set to address rallies together. The two sides have also reached a decision on the specific seats that each side will fight.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao Thakre, and senior NCP leader and Union minister Praful Patel, who made the announcement in the Capital, made a strong pitch for the third front parties, including RPI which is an ally in the current alliance government in the state, for join the fight against “communal forces”.

The announcement now clears the way for the two parties to declare their candidates.

Explaining the delay in the announcement of the alliance, Mr Patel said due to delimitation it was necessary for the parties to undertake an extensive review of all seats. Talking of the 10-year-old Congress-NCP alliance, Mr Patel talked of continuing the “good work” done by the alliance government in the future. “We will be able to give a good government. Last time also we fought together. We will soon announce our programmes and policies we promise to deliver,” Mr Patel said.

Source: Economic Times Maharashtra Seat-Share: It’s Official Now: 174 for Congress, 114 for NCP