Karnataka crisis: BJP MLAs are expected to arrive in Delhi

 Amid deepening political crisis in Karnataka, at least 60 BJP MLAs are expected to arrive in the national capital on Monday to meet the party high command demanding the reinstatement of BS Yeddyurappa as chief minister.

According to reports, the Yeddyurappa loyalists led by senior leader GS Basavaraj, will submit a memorandum to BJP President Nitin Gadkari seeking a legislature party meeting where Yeddyurappa would be elected as their leader and consequently be made the new chief minister.

In a bid to keep the group of BJP MLAs supporting Yeddyurappa intact, they are currently camping at a resort in the outskirts of Bangalore. This has been done to ensure that no BJP MLA is influenced by incumbent Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda or his close associates.

Meanwhile, 10 BJP MPs have also threatened to resign in support Yeddyurappa, if the party fails to put him back in the chief minister's chair.

Ruling BJP in Karnataka plunged into a political crisis after Yeddyurappa intensified his power struggle by claiming support of over half of party MLAs and demanded that the central leadership convene a legislature party meet within 48 hours.

The BJP has a strength of 120 legislators, including the Speaker, in the 224-member Assembly.

The BJP Karnataka strongman, who is keen on presenting the budget himself, has set the new deadline hoping to regain the lost chair, even as the state unit party president KS Eswarappa firmly ruled out change of guard.

The BJP high command has instead asked Yeddyurappa to clear himself of the various charges of corruption pending against him in courts before staking his claim for the chief minister’s post.

Yeddyurappa was forced to step down as chief minister in July 2011 after he was indicted in the Karnataka Lokayukta's report on illegal mining.

Amid the crisis, Chief Minister Gowda celebrated his 59th birthday on a low key and declared he would present the budget. Gowda, who called on Siddganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swamy at Tumkur to seek his blessings on his birthday, however, ducked a query on the leadership change demand by Yeddyurappa faction, remarking "it will be decided by central leadership".

Anna Hazare will start anti-Congress campaign for 2014 polls, Government's intention on Lokpal not clean

  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that today's Question Hour be suspended for a discussion on the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha. And Team Anna is once again keeping a close eye on the proceedings in Parliament. However, they are not too hopeful.

Anna Hazare believes that the government has no intention of passing a strong Lokpal Bill and he and his team are preparing for an-anti Congress movement for the 2014 elections.

"We won't approach the government again. We have been doing that for the last one year. Their intentions with the Lokpal is not clean. They have been fooling the people again and again. Why go to them once again? We are now preparing for 2014. The Parliament elections are going to happen. I am going to start travelling across the country within a month or two and would instigate people against the government," said Anna Hazare.

However, Anna's close aide Arvind Kejriwal believes that the Congress-led UPA may have learnt its lesson after the recently-concluded state elections.

"We hope that the government will learn its lesson from what happened in the elections in these five states. We hope that they would withdraw this bad and dangerous Lokpal Bill which would only increase corruption. We want them to prepare a good Lokpal Bill and get it passed as soon as possible," Mr Kejriwal said.

Yesterday, on day one of the Budget Session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked the Opposition to allow Parliament to function. But with BJP's plan set for the second day, it is on a collision course with the government, which wants to discuss the Bill only later in the session. With different agendas on the minds of the government and the Opposition, today's proceedings may well lead to a logjam, once again, due to the contentious Lokpal Bill.

Aggressive BJP to corner Govt over Lokpal Bill

The second day of Parliament’s Budget Session on Tuesday is expected to be stormy with the opposition BJP moving a motion for suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha for discussion on Lokpal Bill.

The Upper House was, meanwhile, adjourned till noon after opposition uproar over government's stand on atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils.

The DMK, AIADMK and Left parties had moved notices for suspension of the Question Hour to discuss atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils.

The motion concerning Lokpal Bill, moved by Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House Arun Jaitley, comes after the government stated that it plans to take up the Bill in the second part of the Budget Session beginning April 24.

The BJP is however demanding a discussion on the issue today itself, saying it wants an “adequate reply” from the government.

Discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to Parliament is on the agenda for today.

The Lok Sabha had cleared the Lokpal Bill on December 27 in the extended Winter Session. However, the Bill couldn't be passed in the Rajya Sabha and both sides accused each other of choreographing chaos to scuttle the legislation.

In his customary eve-of-the-session media interaction, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had said that the government has "very little time" for legislative business in the first part of the session inspite of the fact that 39 bills are listed for consideration and passing, including the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, which has been approved by the Lok Sabha.

Soon after the BJP's threat to take up the Lokpal issue, Congress president Sonia Gandhi held consultations with her senior colleagues.

Those present included Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Bansal, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Political Secretary to Congress President Ahmad Patel.

Mukherjee also held a meeting with BJP leaders LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Yashwant Sinha.

BJP gets angry critique for UP performance from parent body RSS

The BJP described its miserable performance in Uttar Pradesh as a wasted opportunity. Its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), has a far more severe critique. In editorials in two different mouthpieces, the RSS said that "the lack of inspirational leadership" in Uttar Pradesh punished the BJP.

In the elections, whose results were declared on Tuesday, the BJP managed only 47 seats - four less than it won in the last state elections in 2007. Uttar Pradesh, desperate for a change, rejected the incumbent Mayawati in record numbers. But the BJP was not considered an option. Instead, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party made a triumphant return to power with a huge mandate.

The RSS said that the BJP was guilty of a disconnect with the people of the state, just like the Congress. "Core ideological issues, principled approach and credibility of leadership are needed to sway the voter. More than the party, the leader and more than the leader, his track record (performance) determines poll outcome these days," one of  its editorials said today.

The RSS also said that in UP, the party seemed to have a "bigger army of leaders than workers."

The RSS  says via its editorials that the BJP needs more leaders like Narendra Modi; the article praises the Chief Minister of Gujarat for his effective governance in his home state.

Mr Modi did not take part in the BJP's campaign in Uttar Pradesh. He was sulking because his bete noire, Sanjay Joshi, was given a major role in handling the party's affairs for the election. On record, the BJP has said that Mr Modi was preoccupied with his sadbhavana tour, a series of fasts across the state dedicated by Mr Modi to "communal harmony." The party has repeatedly been asked if Mr Modi, a charismatic campaigner, via his absence, hurt his party's chances. The BJP has said it will analyse and introspect the effect of Mr Modi's no-show.

The RSS' praise for Mr Modi comes as the party has been reiterating that he is among a group of six contenders for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections, scheduled for 2014. After the recent state elections, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said both her party and she anticipate early elections.

Mr Modi's ambitions for a transfer to the national political league are well known. However, the riots in Gujarat in 2002, the worst in independent India, have cast him as a leader who failed to protect his people. A series of court cases are determining whether Mr Modi can be held complicit for the riots. So far, he has not been indicted or held responsible by a special investigation team appointed by the Supreme Court.

Election results: Majority eludes Congress, BJP in Uttarakhand

After a hung verdict, both Congress and BJP have staked claim to form the government in Uttarakhand. Both the parties have called their wining candidates to capital Dehra Dun for the legislative party meeting today. The Congress has emerged as the single largest party in the state with 32 seats, ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a notch in the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly.

The Congress leaders in Uttarakhand have left for Delhi to discuss strategy with their senior leaders. These leaders met the Governor late night but BJP is also not ready to leave the claim.

"We should be invited to form the government and asked to prove majority on the floor of the House where we should be able to prove majority," said BC Khanduri, the incumbent Chief Minister.

But the real power lies with four independent MLAs - Dinesh Dhanai from Tehri, Harish Durgapal from Lalkuwa, Mantri Prasad Naithani, an independent MLA from Deoprayag, and Pritam Singh Panwar, from the Uttrakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) - who are now much in demand.

The first three are ex-Congress MLAs who had quit this year when denied tickets by the party. The UKD had supported the BJP government in 2007, but subsequently split before this election. It too can play a crucial role.

And then there is Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Though routed in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, it holds the key to the government formation in the hill state where it bagged three seats, losing four from its 2007 tally of seven.

The BJP got 31, three down from last time, while others, including independents, together won four seats. Their support along with the BSP will decide who will lead the next government in the state.

"I would like to have more numbers, at least 37. We will speak to them and see what they want and if they can be accommodated," said Mr Khanduri.

The major setback for the ruling BJP was the loss of Mr Khanduri, who had led the poll campaign with a slogan of "Khanduri hain zaroori". He was defeated by Congress' SS Negi in Kotdwar constituency by over 4,500 votes.

A retired Army officer, Mr Khanduri was re-appointed chief minister of Uttarakhand last September following corruption charges against his predecessor Ramesh Pokhriyal. A known Khanduri bete noire, Mr Pokhriyal, however, won from the Doiwala constituency defeating Congress' Heera Singh Bisht by 1,272 votes.

Meanwhile, the Congress too expressed confidence that they would form the new government.

"The Congress is forming the party on its own, or with a little support," said Vijay Bahuguna, Congress MP from Tehri who yesterday staked claim to form the next government in the state. The Governor is yet to take a decision.

Yesterday, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had said that "there are some undecided people", indicating that his party would be talking to smaller parties to seek their support.

Mr Khanduri's magic may not have won him his seat, but has kept the BJP in the game. While the Congress met the Governor to assert their position, a lot will depend on which party manages to persuade the remaining MLAs to shore up their numbers.

UP Polls Results Live: SP may fall short of majority

Winds of change are blowing with full gusto in Uttar Pradesh, the results of Assembly elections 2012 indicate. The biggest gainer is the Samajwadi Party as it is steadily emerging as the single largest party. The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party is a distant second while the Congress and the BJP are engaged in a neck-to-neck race for the third spot, as per the latest trends.

Riding on the cycle, the Mulayam Singh-led party is leading in 173 of the 397 seats – total 403 - for which trends were available till 10.26 am. The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party is ahead in 98 seats while the BJP is ahead in 56 seats.

The Congress, for which the elections have been a high-profile affair after Rahul Gandhi himself steered the poll campaign, is leading in 56 seats as well. Others are ahead in only 14 seats.

Among the prominent SP candidates are Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother Shivpal Singh Yadav, Brahmashankar Tripathi, Abhay Singh, Mata Prasad and Veer Singh.

From the BJP who are on course to victory include Kalraj Mishra, Avadhesh Kumar, Daddan Mishra, Devendra Singh, Mahesh Kumar Sharma, Nawab Singh Nagar and Ramapati Shastri.

However, UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi is trailing from Lucknow.

Besides UP counting of votes is underway in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

The first results are expected in an hour and all the final results by evening.

The results will decide the fate of candidates in a total of 690 assembly seats -- 403 in UP, 117 seats in Punjab, 70 in Uttarakhand, 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa.

The elections, which have taken place in the middle of the last Lok Sabha election in 2009 and the next in 2014, are being considered some sort of "semi final" for the UPA and NDA.

While the Congress facing one controversy after another is looking forward to salvage its image, the opposition combine treats it as an occasion to pitch for a larger claim in 2014. The main opposition BJP is also confident that it will retain power in Uttarakhand and Punjab and put up a good show in Goa and Uttar Pradesh.

Polling begins in Goa today

Voting began this morning in Goa to elect a new 40-member Assembly amidst tight security.

The polling started at 7 AM.

A total of 10.25 lakh voters, spread over two districts - North Goa and South Goa - are will exercise their franchise at 1,612 polling booths, which will be manned by 10,644 security personnel, officials said.

The fate of 215 candidates, including nine women and 74 independents would be decided. Two major alliances - ruling Congress-NCP alliance and Opposition BJP-MGP combination - are the main contenders for power in the tiny coastal state.

For the first time in Goa, the Election Commission (EC) has introduced a monitoring system wherein photographs and fingerprints of all voters will be captured on computers.

The EC has identified 180 polling booths as sensitive where additional forces will be deployed.

In the 2007 Assembly polls, Congress had won 16 seats and formed the Government with the help of NCP (3), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (2) and some Independents.

BJP had won 14 seats.

This time, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa's oldest regional outfit, has withdrawn from the Congress-led alliance and joined hands with Opposition BJP.

NRHM scam: UP health official found dead

The NRHM scam in Uttar Pradesh has turned murkier with another health official found dead under mysterious circumstances, the fifth victim in the last one year after the alleged bungling of over Rs.10,000 crore of central funds surfaced.

UP police found the body of Mahendra Sharma, an accountant, lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries on his head and face, from the Pasgawan health centre area in Lakhimpur Kheri district last evening.

52-year-old Sharma has been reported missing since February 7, police said.

The CBI, which is probing the scam, has asked the state police to beef up security of witnesses and suspects.

In 2010-11, two senior doctors associated with the health department were murdered within months of each other. Another official was found dead in a Lucknow jail. In January, a UP Jal Nigam officer allegedly committed suicide because he was being investigated in connection with the scam.

As the news of Sharma's death spread, Congress and BJP slammed the Mayawati government, accusing it of actively colluding in the "massive bungling".

Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi accused the Mayawati government of misuse of funds meant for improvement of health facilities in the state.

BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said, "the larger issue is the liability of Mayawati herself as the chief minister and the earlier regime of Mulayam Singh Yadav because the entire scam was spread over last about 7-8 years."

Family members of the accountant have accused health department officials of harassment.

Mithilesh Sharma, the wife of the deceased, said that frequent transfers of her husband had depressed him. She also accused health officials of withholding his salary.

Mithilesh alleged that after solemnising their daughter's marriage on November 21 last, when Sharma reported for duty in Pasgawan, he was told about his another transfer.

Meanhwile, the CBI in New Delhi denied having questioned Sharma in connection with the probe.

"CBI has neither questioned nor summoned this person. CBI is in close touch with local police regarding safety concerns of potential witnesses, suspects, etc," a CBI spokesperson said here.

UP polls: Voting starts on dull note, 10 percent polling till 9 AM

Polling for the sixth phase of UP assembly elections covering 68 seats spread over 13 districts started on a dull note today with about 10 per cent of the over 2.17 crore voters exercising their franchise in the first two hours.

"Polling started at 7 AM and 9.73 per cent votes were polled in the first two hours," Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said.

Maximum 14 per cent votes were polled in Hathras district. Among other districts, 11.7 per cent votes were polled in Saharanpur, 10 per cent in Meerut, 10.7 per cent in Agra, 11.71 per cent in Aligarh, 9.2 per cent in Bulandshahr and 9 per cent in Prabuddha Nagar.

Polling in Noida, Dadri and Jewar assembly seats in Gautam Budhh Nagar was going on peacefully.

In Bhatta Parsaul, which was the centre of the land acquisition row, farmers were seen coming out to vote.

Their leader Manvir Singh Tevatia, who had spearheaded the farmers' agitation, was fighting election from jail. The area falls under Jewar Assembly seat. Congress has fielded Dhirendra Singh from Jewar. He was the man on whose bike Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had reached Bhatta Parsaul last year.

In Chief Minister Mayawati's native Badalpur village, farmers had lined up to cast their vote. BSP has fielded Satvir Gujjar sitting MLA from here while Congress has fielded Samir Bhatti.

Bhatti had once served as MLA from Dadri and his father Mahinder Singh Bhatti was twice MLA from here.BJP has fielded Nawab Singh Nagar, who was twice elected MLA from here in the past. Samajwadi Party has fielded Raj Kumar Bhatti as candidate.

In Noida, which has become an assembly seat for the first time, residents seemed enthusiastic. Earlier Noida was part of Dadri assembly seat and rural voters used to decide the winning pattern here.

Mahesh Sharma is BJP candidate from Noida while VS Chauhan is Congress candidate. Om Dutt Sharma is BSP candidate while Sunil Choudhary is the SP candidate.

Polling is underway in assembly seats in Saharanpur, Prabuddha Nagar, Meerut, Bagpath, Ghaziabad, Panchsheel Nagar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura, Mahamayanagar and Agra.

More than 2.17 crore voters are expected to cast their votes to decide the fate of 1103 candidates, including 86 women.

The CEO said that polling was being held at 22,137 polling stations at 12181 centres, of which 3188 centres and 4892 stations have been marked as sensitive.

To keep a tight vigil on polling process, 1015 video cameras and 2353 digital cameras have been installed. In the 2007 assembly polls, 46.58 per cent votes were polled for 67 seats of which BSP got 35, BJP 12, RLD 10, SP 3, Congress 2 and others 5.

All the political parties including Congress, SP, BSP, BJP and RLD have done hectic campaigning in the Jat land of the state.

This phase would test the popularity of Congress' alliance with Ajit Singh led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) which has stronghold in the western region of the state.

UP polls: Rahul, BJP President Gadkari head to Kanpur

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who has been campaigning hard for the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls is scheduled to hold a rally in Kanpur on today.

The Congress MP will have a busy day as roadshow and various meetings are included in his schedule.

Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said, "Rahul Gandhi's campaign programme in Kanpur is confirmed. He will takeout a roadshow in support of the party candidates."

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari will also be seen today in Kanpur where he is scheduled to address people in support of his party candidates.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will be campaigning in Auraiya district in Uttar Pradesh today.

Kanpur will go to polls on February 23, the fifth phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh.

Mulayam may support Congress to oust BJP

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today said that he is willing to support the Congress in Uttar Pradesh after polls if he sees the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming to power.

"There is a wave in favour of SP, which is going to form the next government in the state...If I see BJP coming to power, our party can support Congress in the state to prevent communal forces," Mr Yadav told an election rally at Hamirpur.

The Congress, though, appeared lukewarm in its response to the SP's offer. The question is "premature and unnecessary at this point of time", party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told reporters in reply to a volley of questions on the issue at the AICC briefing here.

Noting that the Congress' attitude on the issue was going to be "wait and watch", she said that "there has been no pre-poll pact between Congress and the Samajwadi Party. We have not arrived at post poll scenario as yet. We still have most phases of the polling left."

"I have no authority to rule it in or rule it out", she said but insisted that party leaders including Sonia Gandhi have made the party's stand against any alliance clear.

On whether Mr Yadav's offer was a virtual admission that his party was not getting majority on its own, she said it seems so.

The Congress is keeping its cards close to its chest on the issue of alliances in UP as it does not want to give an impression that it is a 'B team' of any other party.

Asked by a reporter if the Congress would like to go with Mulayam or Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati in the post-poll scenario, Chowdhury sarcastically replied, "When the time will come, the party will consult you."

UP assembly polls: 20 percent turnout in four hours

Balloting proceeded briskly and steadily on today with more than 20 percent of the 1.77 crore voters exercising their franchise in the first four hours of the third round of the Uttar Pradesh elections in 56 assembly constituencies.

Till 11 am, 20.51 percent of the electorate had turned up to vote, officials said. Polling started at 7 am.

Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said he was confident that polling would go far higher than the 42.6 percent turnout in the last assembly elections in 2007.

Among the districts going to the polls on Wednesday are the high profile Amethi (re-christened as Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar), the parliamentary seat of Congress star campaigner Rahul Gandhi. Elections are also being held in the other Gandhi family bastion Sultanpur as well the traditional Nehru-Gandhi home Allahabad.

Among the other districts going to the polls are Varanasi, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi (renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar), Kaushambhi, Sonbhadra and Chandauli - most of which are situated along the banks of the Ganga river.

The fate of 1,018 candidates for the 56 seats is being determined by 1.77 crore voters at 18,374 polling stations, where 31,400 electronic voting machines are in place.

Long queues were reported from most of the places, including Amethi, where people were seen making a beeline for polling booths well before 7 am.

The voter turnout was, however, stated to be relatively low in some areas as Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra, bordering Madhya Pradesh, where Maoists have a considerable presence.

Besides Maoists, the presence of a number of candidates with criminal backgrounds has prompted the Election Commission to deploy additional police force in the sensitive areas.

Nearly 31 percent of candidates fielded by political parties for the third phase have criminal cases pending against them.

According to a report of the National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms, no political party has refrained from fielding those with criminal antecedents.

Samajwadi Party (SP) tops the list with 24 of its 48 nominees having several criminal cases pending against them. The Congress party has 14 of 48, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 13 of 47, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 12 of 49, Janata Dal-United six of 24, Bundelkhand Congress four of 13, Peace Party two of 12 and Apna Dal has one out of six who have criminal background.

The seven-phase elections began Feb 8 and end March 3. The votes will be counted March 6.

BJP to release UP election manifesto today

BJP's election manifesto for Uttar Pradesh, with focus on education, health, employment and law and order will be released today.

"The manifesto will also give due consideration to problems of farmers, dalits, backwards, poor and unemployed youths," BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said here yesterday.

The party, which has already released its vision document, for all round development of the state will release its manifesto tomorrow in presence of senior leaders of the party, including national vice-presidents Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Kalraj Mishra, Uma Bharati, general secretary Narendra Singh Tomar and state president Surya Pratap Shahi, he said.

Union ministers Salman Khurshid, Beni Prasad Verma and UPPC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi would also release vision document of Congress today.

   

Uma Bharati: Maya, Mulayam, Rahul should fear me

A ‘Phoenix’, always rises from the ashes, is the most apt description for the well known firebrand saffron leader Uma Bharati. She has been chosen as the face of BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. In a candid chat with news Swati Chaturvedi on her programme Kahiye Janab, BJP’s star campaigner in Uttar Pradesh, Uma Bharati talks about the “merciless government” of Mayawati, increasing crime graph in the state and her intentions to serve the people of UP and lots more.

Swati: You have started a new journey in politics. Congress labelled you as ‘Pootna’ and later you said that you are like Rahul’s ‘aunt’. So what’s your say about your ‘nephew’?

Uma: When Nitin Gadkari announced my name as the BJP candidate from Charkari Assembly seat, I was very hurt by Rahul Gandhi’s reaction. It was a personal attack.

Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi had once called me as his younger sister when I was a Parliamentarian. Recalling this incident, I never imagined that Rahul would allow the use of such indecent language against me. He should remember the culture of the family from which he belongs to. So I cleared the air by calling a press conference.

Poverty and backwardness in UP are at its extreme. The condition of Amethi and Raebareli is very bad and same is the condition of any of the VVIP constituencies. In such a state, if the leaders get personal and furnish war of words, then what will happen of the development of the state? So it was necessary to end this war of words.

Swati: In various election campaigns, Congress is attacking Mayawati’s government and vice-versa but BJP is nowhere in the scene. What is your say?

Uma: If you look in a broader perspective, BJP is the number one party in Uttar Pradesh. As in every village of UP you can find two party worker of BJP, whereas there are many villages where there is not even a single party worker from BSP or SP. The density of population also affects the voters’ turnout. This time we have taken special care on distribution of tickets so that BJP gets maximum number of votes.

Swati: According to analysis BJP stands last in the race of 2012 Assembly elections in UP. Please explain?

Uma: Without taking the name of the magazine, I would like to recall what it wrote after doing a pre poll survey in UP. It said “BJP will evolve in Uttar Pradesh in a surprising manner”.

In my opinion Congress are hand in glove with both SP and BSP in UP. That’s precisely the reason for the party to act selectively like CBI being used. Actually, Congress, BSP and SP have joined hands against BJP.

Swati: So can I say that I am speaking with the next Chief Minister of UP?

Uma: I am not at all an aspirant for the post of CM. I just want to become the ‘Chaukidar’ of the state and put UP back on the developmental track. When it comes to fighting polls on the backdrop of development, I’m the pioneer in it. In Madhya Pradesh, I was the first leader whose poll issues were electricity, road and water.

Swati: Keeping senior leaders like Vinay Katiyar and Rajnath Singh at bay, Nitin Gadkari has chosen you as the BJP candidate from Charkari assembly and still you don’t want the CM’s chair. If you are fighting elections then why don’t you want to stay with the voters?

Uma: If my party has chosen me for this task then I will definitely do it. I will rigorously work for the development of the state.

Swati: Nitish Kumar is the face of BJP in Bihar, Narendra Modi in Gujarat, Shivraj Singh in MP. So don’t you think voters of UP must also get to see the face of their leader here?

Uma: In my opinion every leader should get a chance to become CM. The age-long dynastic rule within BSP, SP and Congress must be broken. This nepotism gives birth to the psychology that the picture of CM candidates in various elections should be clear. Dynasty rule is a burden on the democracy.

Swati: If you have left the ambition to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh then which factor is motivating you to fight the elections?

Uma: I want to eliminate poverty, corruption and hunger from the state. People of UP should choose MLAs and then they must choose a CM amongst them.

Swati: Was there any pressure on you to fight the UP elections?

Uma: I faced many problems after I quit BJP and understood that I may be a big name but without BJP I am nothing. I learnt a lesson that in a separate party, I would be facing lot of troubles and won’t be able to contribute to the society in a generous way.

BJP is a big platform for me. My ideologies will get fulfilled only within the party, nor outside or with any other party. So, I decided while re-entering the BJP that I will work on the path of my ideology whether I have to fight elections or not. Which post I should be given in the party will be the prerogative of party President.

Swati: Where lies your heart, in Uttar Pradesh or in Madhya Pradesh?

Uma: While talking to you, my heart is with ‘Ganges’, which flows from UP to Uttarakhnad to Bihar to West Bengal. For now I have slowed down my ‘Ganga andolan’ but will not allow anyone to do politics on it.

Swati: Inside BJP there are many who fear you. Since you are not confining yourself to UP and eyeing for a larger role, where do you find yourself standing in the national politics?

Uma: I am not dangerous… so no one has to fear me. But through your show I want make it clear that Mayawati, Mulayam Singh and Rahul Gandhi should be scared of me. I could be a danger to them.

Swati: Any message for Digvijay Singh?

Uma: Digvijay Singhji had challenged me and had told me that if he loses the MP elections then he will quit politics and promised to retreat to Himalayas, so please tell him to keep his words.

Swati: You made corruption as the main poll plank. BJP stood with Anna on the issue of Lokpal. But in a sudden turn of event your party had inducted Babu Singh Kuswaha?

Uma:This is an internal matter of the party on which I don’t want to comment.

Swati: Lastly what’s your say on Mayawati’s governance in Uttar Pradesh so far?

Uma: Mayawati is never available for the masses. Her government has been the most insensitive government so far. Corruption and crime is on peak under her rule. To support my concerns, I would like to give some examples:

A 14-year-old girl, Sonam belonging to a minority community was raped inside the police station and was murdered later. The case was further made worsen when the postmortem report said that it was a case of suicide. In another case, a Dalit young man named Vipin was shot by the cops, inside the police station. Shiru Nisad, belonging to a backward community was also tortured by the police.

So, the ‘elephant’ has smashed everyone in the state. Mayawati’s government is merciless. I simply wonder how a female can be so insensitive and cruel.

Advani demanded to Govt: Explain inaction on black money

 Senior BJP leader LK Advani, who moved an adjournment motion on black money issue in the Lok Sabha on today, said that the government should elucidate the steps being taken to bring back money stashed illegally in foreign accounts.

Starting the debate, Advani demanded the government should ensure that black money stashed abroad should be brought back and also explain what action is being taken against those who have opened such accounts.

“Why is the government not proactive on black money? Why has the government delayed action on black money? We demand that the government present a white paper on the issue,” he said.

Referring to certain estimates, Advani said that Rs 25 lakh crore of Indian black money is stashed in Swiss banks while pointing out that high tax is leading to generation of black money.

The former deputy prime minister cornered the government over reports about France having given names of 600-700 Indian nationals who have illegal accounts and demanded that the government reveal the names and act upon the guilty.

“Don’t protect anyone who is on the list and I demand that the government reveal the complete list today itself,” he said.

“If the government doesn’t tell us the names, then it may so happen that Julian Assange may reveal it through WikiLeaks. It is humiliating if we were to know the details from WikiLeaks,” he added.

He also sought to draw the House’s attention towards various stringent observations made by the Supreme Court including the one in which it termed India as a ‘soft state’ for its inability to act against black money hoarders.

The BJP has been pressing for the motion since the Winter Session of Parliament began over two weeks ago in the backdrop of LK Advani's yatra against black money and corruption.

BJP MPs have also given declarations to the presiding officers of two Houses saying they do not have any illegal money stashed abroad.

Importantly, the motion will be without the sense of government censure and that voting is likely on a neutral motion.

Protest against Centre’s decision to allow FDI

The nationwide shutdown (Bharat Bandh) called by millions of traders to protest against Centre’s decision to allow foreign direct equity into the retail market has hit normal life with major shops remaining closed and business activities put to halt.

Reports, Thursday, claimed that nearly five crore traders have taken the fight against government’s retail FDI move to streets.

According to reports, all major trade unions across the country are supporting today’s bandh forcing all medium-small commercial complexes and retail stores to keep their shutter down.

Traders in several states including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Uttarakhand and others are holding protests in their local markets. They are also demonstrations in front of foreign stores.

Big markets like Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Chawri Bazar, Kashmere Gate, Tilak Nagar, Rohini, Krishna Nagar and Greater Kailash M Block remained closed while Sarojini Nagar and INA markets functioned as usual.

Neighbourhood shops were also open even as the one-day protest received support from political parties like BJP and Left parties.

BJP joined the traders' protest by organising marches and burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in at least 20 locations of the city.

Confederation of All India Traders' (CAIT) Delhi unit president Narender Madan said a large number of traders have kept their shops shut to participate in the all-India bandh.

In view of today’s shutdown, several foreign retail giants such as Bharti-Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour have decided to either keep their stores closed or beefed up the security of their stores.

A large number of private security guards have been deployed to vigorously check customers and vehicles entering their premises.

The government has recently triggered a political storm by allowing its decision to allow 51% foreign investment in the multi-brand retail sector, but has since faced stringent criticism as protests have swelled from opposition parties and some of its own allies.

It has prompted anti-Congress forces to join hands to train their guns, against the Congress and especially against AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

The main opposition party BJP and the Left have declared their full-hearted support to the call for today’s Bharat Bandh announced by various traders’ organisations.

BJP-ruled State Chief Ministers have announced that they will not follow the Centre in allowing the FDI into the multi-brand sector. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was the first to declare that he would ensure that the retailers and farmers do not suffer due to the FDI policy of the Centre and therefore would not allow the FDI entry in the retail sector in his state.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati has alleged that FDI decision was taken to help Rahul’s friends. “Rahul Gandhi has always stayed abroad and earlier he used to get his foreign friends to stay in the houses of poor people in Uttar Pradesh, make fun of poverty and now they are getting foreign companies into India,” Mayawati stated.

The war over allowing FDI in multi-brand retail escalated with the opposition BJP squarely rejecting the government's plea for toning down its adjournment motion.

The issue also led to the adjournment of both Houses of Parliament for the seventh straight day, without transacting any business. The entire opposition has demanded rollback of the controversial decision.

The government is trying to mollify its allies and bring them onboard as far as the decision on FDI is concerned, before it makes any concessions to the Opposition which has stalled Parliament on the issue.

Meanwhile, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma is set to brief Congress MPs on the issue today.