Nagma to showcase Congress

Now the Congress high command has brought  a new strategy onto play, that is to start campaigning with cine and cricket stars. In Telangana region the Congress seems not to be as strong as expected after the bifurcation of the state. So, the high command has decided to launch stars into the election campaign in Telangana region so as to influence  the voters.  The expected stars were Nagma, one of the sizzling heroine in Tollywood and Azharuddin, the star cricket player who hails from Hyderabad. The two stars are expected to reach Hyderabad and campaign in support of Congress party. Nagma is not willing to campaign anywhere because of the misbehaviour of people with her in the previous campaigning sessions. But the high command has forced her to be a part of it because Nagma has a good following in the Tollywood industry. Even Azharuddin who has been a star cricketer can be influential in getting the Muslim vote bank to a certain extent the  high command thought. So, let's watch what would happen. Can they be influential to get votes to Congress? Comment your opinion below.   

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Congress retains power in Mizoram

The Congress, after the drubbing in four states, powered to a two thirds majority in the Mizoram Assembly elections snapping up 27 of the 40 seats, while the opposition MNF secured four.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, all set for a fifth term, won from both Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats he had contested.

In Serchhip, Thanhawla who was elected to the Assembly for a record ninth time since 1978, won by a margin of 734 votes defeating his nearest MNF rival Lalramzauva, who got 4,985 votes in a four—cornered contest.

In Hrangturzo, the Chief Minister defeated his Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) rival Lalthansanga by 1,638 votes.

Of the eleven ministers who contested, nine have won. R. Lalzirliana (Home), J. H. Rothuama (Cooperation), P.C. Zoram Sangliana (Transport), H. Rohluna (Forests), Lalrinliana Sailo (Health), Lalsawta (Education), Zodintluanga (Sports), P.C. Lalthanliana (Social Welfare) and Veterinary Minister Nihar Kanti Chakma emerged victorious.

Assembly Speaker R. Romawia won from the prestigious Aizawl North—I seat.

Tourism Minister S Hiato, however, lost to the MNF’s K Beichhua in Saiha.

Congress also bagged the Tuivawl, South Tuipui, Lunglei South, Palak, Champhai North, Lawngtlai West, Tuirial, Tawi and Tuichawng seats.

On the poll outcome, Lal Thanhawla said contrary to anti-incumbency playing a crucial role after completion of a five-year term, in Mizoram “pro-incumbency worked in favour of Congress".

“I am going to form the next government in the state,” he said.

The opposition MNF bagged the Saiha, Tuikum and Lawngtlai East seats.

Barring MNF, the two other constituents of the MPC and Maraland Democratic Front of the Mizoram Democratic Alliance, were yet to open their account.

A prominent loser was opposition Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) chief Lalduhawma, who lost both from Aizawl West—I and Kolasib. The party had two seats in the outgoing House.

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Assembly results effect: Rahul Gandhi promises radical changes in Congress

romising to embed the voice of the people and making it the central issue, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi promised radical changes in the party that would signal a paradigm shift to a level that cannot be imagined.

Short of saying he will tear and throw away the traditional way of approaching polls, he admitted that the Congress worked in a 'traditional’ way while the Aam Aadmi heard the voice of the people.

“We need to learn from the Aam Aadmi party,” he told presspersons on the Assembly elections.

This is what he said:

The Congress party has the ability to transform itself, we will work hard to live upto your expectations.

We as a party have to talk less about good governance, have to give place to common man in our structures.

Need to move further than good governance, need to move to a place that gives serious space to the common man in our structures.

The AAP got common people involved, we are going to learn from that and involve people more.

Modi is leader of BJP. Congress has a vision of this country, BJP has another perspective, our job is to push our perspective.

Earlier, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the party will announce a prime ministerial candidate at a suitable time. She said the Congress accepts the verdict of the people in all humility. “We are disappointed with the verdict, it calls for deep introspection. We congratulate our opponents”.

On the General elections, she said those elections are quite different. In the state polls, the focus is on personalities of state.

“We will take necessary steps to correct our mistakes and our way of functioning,” she added. 

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Election results 2013: BJP to retain power in MP, scores a landslide win in Rajasthan

The BJP on Sunday appeared heading towards a record third straight win in Madhya Pradesh and and has returned to power with a landslide victory in Rajasthan.

The party is leading in 152 of 228 seats from where trends are available in Madhya Pradesh, while in Rajasthan, it won two seats and was leading in 144 out of 199 seats.

In Madhya Pradesh, Congress is way behind with its candidates leading in 67 places, while BSP is leading in five seats and others four.

Madhya Pradesh has a 230-member assembly where BJP held 143 seats in the last elections and Congress 71.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is ahead of his Congress opponents from both Budhni and Vidisha seats.

Though several senior ministers including Babulal Gaur, Kailash Vijaywargiya, Vijay Shah, Uma Shankar Gupta, Jagdish Devda and Archana Chitnis are leading, public relations and culture minister Laxmikant Sharma and Anoop Mishra are trailing.

Gaur, a former chief minister, contesting from Govindpura for a record 10th time, is leading by 11782 votes over Govind Goyal of Congress, while Kailash Vijawargiya is ahead at Mhow against Antar Singh Darbar of Congress by 2889 votes.

Ministers Narottam Mishra is leading from Datia, Tukoji Rao Pawar from Dewas, Archana Chitnis from Burhanpur, and Gopal Bhargava from Rehli.

Their colleagues Laxmikant Sharma and Anoop Mishra, a newphew of BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, are, however, trailing their Congress rivals at Sironj and Bhitarwar respectively.

Former Union minister Suresh Pachouri of the Congress is trailing his BJP opponent and sitting MLA Surendra Patwa by 10,000 votes at Bhojpur.

However, the leader of opposition in the state assembly, Ajay Singh is leading by a margin of 6120 votes from his traditional Churhat constituency.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh's son Jaivardhan Singh, who is making his electoral debut, is leading over his BJP rival Radheshyam Dhakad at Raghogarh.

In Rajasthsan, the ruling Congress was ahead in 28 seats.

National People's Party candidates were leading in nine seats whereas independent candidates were leading in 8 seats each, according to latest trends.

Candidates of other parties were leading in three seats. BSP candidates were ahead in three seats.

BJP candidate Samaram Grasiya s Pindwara-Abu seat of Sirohi district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Gangaben Grasiya by a margin of 30855 votes.

Another BJP candidate Gurjant Singh won from Sadulshahar seat of Ganganagar district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Jagdish Chander by a margin of 4808 votes.

With trends indicating a clean sweep for the BJP, celebrations broke out in the party office with workers congratulating each other.

"We are confident that the party will come to power with clear majority and it will be a thumping victory," said a party worker outside the BJP office.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot was leading in his Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur district by a margin of 4,619 votes against his BJP rival Shambhu Singh Khetasar.

BJP state president Vasundhara Raje was leading from her home constituency of Jhalarapatan in Jhalawar district by a margin of 3,923 votes against her nearest rival of Congress Meenakshi Chandrawat.

Discus thrower and Commonwealth Games medallist Krishna Poonia (Cong) is trailing behind her BJP rival Kamla Kaswan on Sadulpur constituency in Churu district.Kaswan is leading by a margin of 22088 votes after ten rounds of counting.

NPP's general secretary and sitting independent MLA Golma Devi is also trailing by 2339 votes from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh seat after first round against Congress and BJP candidates.

Former royal Diya Kumari of BJP is trailing by 6957 votes from Sawaimadhopur seat against Congress and BJP rivals.

Kiran Maheshwari of BJP is leading by a margin of 21372 votes on Rajsamand seat against Congress candidate Hari Singh Rathore.

National People's Party convenor and Lok Sabha Kirori Lal Meena is leading by a margin of 1,675 in Lalsot constituency against Congress and BJP candidates.

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SARCASTIC JC TAKES A DIG AT SONIA ON TELANGANA

Former minister and prominent leader of Congress party from Rayalaseema JC Diwakar Reddy, who has been letting the rumour mills work overtime on his possible shift of loyalties to TDP, was so sarcastic in defying the ‘unjust’ decision of his party president Sonia Gandhi on the State bifurcation.

While speaking to the press persons on his arrival to Hyderabad on Saturday, JC categorically said there is nothing to expect anything logical and just in the ongoing process of carving out Telangana.
“Everything related to this State division is left to Sonia Gandhi. Every move is made on her behest and there is nothing to expect any kind of legalities and fairness. No constitutional body including GoM, or non-constitutional force has any say on it,” he told reporters in a voice of despair.
“Amma is everything and her decision on whatever issue is sacrosanct and irrevocable too,” he said.
He found no point in staying in Hyderabad, though it is made common capital. According to him, Seemandhras would be at receiving end in common capital. He referred to the assertions of his party’s veteran leader from Telangana and MLC KR Amos, who said the Seemandhras should be the tenants and should pay rentals and taxes for using offices in the common capital, Hyderabad.
“Why to stay back here for 10 years while paying taxes to Telangana government? Seemandhras should shift to the new capital after getting it ready by three months,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said that he would meet the Congress president over the demand of Rayala Telangana, if she gives appointment.Sarcastic JC takes a dig at Sonia on Telangana.

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Jagan wants minimum five

The reported entry into YSRCP by ex-Congress minister Dharmana Prasad Rao is being postponed till there are at least minimum of five bigwigs from both Congress and TDP. This seems to be the new strategy adopted by Jagan for his party. Right from the beginning, Jagan had been concentrating more on roping in leaders from these two parties and though there were concerns whether there has been any time devoted to build the cadre, the party nevertheless used these fence sitters as trump card. After Jagan coming out on bail, except for Vishwaroop from Congress, there has been no significant jumps from TDP or Congress and now sources say his party members are in touch with few TDP and Congress MLA’s and are working aggressively to make a grand show soon. Jagan feels that though a so called wave hasn’t happened for him due to CM Kiran, nevertheless the party feels it needs to give an impression as if everything is on track and in this regard Jagan is awaiting the entry of high profile five leaders for the minimum. 

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Naidu alleges YSR Congress-Congress match-fixing

Hours after YS Jaganmohan Reddy was granted bail in the disproportionate case, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday alleged a “match-fixing” between YSR Congress and Congress.
“The way bail was granted to him and the manner in which the charge sheet against him was diluted only show that there is a clear understanding between YSR Congress and Congress,” he told reporters here.
He claimed the CBI described before the Supreme Court the disproportionate assets case against Jagan as a major case of crime. “This only shows that Congress is trying to influence parties in Andhra Pradesh. On the one hand they are delaying a decision on the future of Andhra Pradesh for the past four years, and on the other they are trying to influence parties,” Naidu said.
He also criticised Digvijay Singh for his remarks that Congress was open to TRS merging with it. “Is it justified,” he quipped.
He accused UPA government for the various scams and said his party will make it a “national issue”.
Naidu skirted posers on the possibility of TDP joining NDA. Asked why Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi praised him in Hyderabad, he said Modi praised TDP founder NT Rama Rao. “Everybody praises NT Rama Rao,” he said.

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