The Samajwadi Party patriarch won Mainpuri with huge margins in 1996, 2004, 2009, and 2014. Samajwadi Party has won the seat eight times, including bypolls, in a row since 1996. BJP could never win the seat.

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, accompanied by his son Akhilesh Yadav, filed his nomination from Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri on Monday afternoon for the Lok Sabha elections.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, the 79-year-old founder of SP, ruled himself out of the prime ministerial race. When asked who is the PM candidate of the SP-BSP alliance, he said, “It will be decided after the polls”.

On the eve of Mulayam filing his nomination, Akhilesh Yadav in Saifai had said that Mulayam will win by the biggest margin of votes in the country.

Relations between Mulayam Yadav and Akhilesh have been frosty ever since the son took control of the party more than two years ago. Mulayam didn’t campaign for SP in the 2017 assembly polls and often admonishes Akhilesh in public. Last month, Mulayam appeared to criticise Akhilesh for delay in naming candidates for the parliamentary polls and also questioned his alliance with Mayawati’s BSP.

Congress as well as the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) of Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Yadav are not fielding any candidate against the SP founder in Mainpuri. The BSP is fighting the elections together with SP, while BJP is yet to decide on a candidate against Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Mulayam Yadav won Mainpuri with huge margins in 1996, 2004, 2009, and 2014. Samajwadi Party has won the seat eight times, including bypolls, in a row since 1996. BJP could never win the seat.

Mainpuri is going to polls in the third phase, the notification for which was issued on March 28. The last date for filing nominations is April 4. So far, Mulayam Singh Yadav has been the only candidate who has filed nomination for the seat. The constituency largely has rural voters, with over 35% Yadavs.

Mulayam Yadav, who had been UP chief minister thrice, is still called ‘Mukhya Mantri’ by many in Mainpuri. He nurtured the constituency well and his ancestral village is part of this constituency. The village has a medical college, a medical research institute, an international cricket stadium, international all-weather swimming pool, two more stadia, airstrip, and more. During his term as UP chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav added the Agra-Lucknow Expressway to the list. The expressway passes through Mainpuri.

In 2009, Mulayam polled 3,92,308 votes (56.44%) and the first runner-up, BSP’s Vinay Shakya, was way behind with 31% vote share. Even during the Modi wave in 2014, when the BJP won 71 seats, Mulayam Singh Yadav won sailed through in Mainpuri. In fact, his vote share rose further. In 2014, Mulayam bagged 5,95,918 votes (60%) and his nearest rival, BJP’s Shatrughan Singh Chauhan, got only 23.14% vote share.

Samajwadi Party leaders say that because of BSP being an ally, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s vote share would go up further. If we combine the vote share of SP-BSP of 2014, it comes to a whopping 74%.

The constituency is now waiting for April 19, when Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh will hold a joint rally for Mulayam’s victory.

Apart from Mainpuri, Mulayam Singh Yadav had won parliamentary polls from Sambhal, Kannauj, and Azamgarh. In Mainpuri, he won four times (1996, 2004, 2009, and 2014); Sambhal twice (1998 and 1999); Kannauj once (1999), and Azamgarh once (2014). Twice he contested and won on two seats: In 1999 on Sambhal and Kannauj (later vacated); and in 2014: Mainpuri (later vacated) and Azamgarh.

Agencies

New Delhi, Mar 30 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said while a big political row was sparked off in Karnataka over Income Tax raids, the fact of the matter was only the ?Nephew? of a Minister was searched.
The BJP senior leader accused the opposition, including the Congress and JD-S in Karnataka and Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal of paying ”lip sympathy for federalism” and destroying it whenever the opportunity arises.

”Federalism is not merely the Rights of the States. Indian federalism entails India as a ?Union of States?. The Rights of the Union are equally important,” Mr Jaitley said in his blog.

On March 28 in Bengaluru, JD(S) and Congress leaders, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Ministers of the State, assembled outside the Income Tax Office to protest against income tax searches alleging that ministers had been searched.
The best evidence they could provide for was that the ?Nephew? of a Minister was searched.

The tax authorities in Bengaluru had issued a press statement which categorically said that no MP, MLA, Minister was searched.

Mr Jaitley said the search was not against any politician or even political workers. The search was only against Contractors and Engineers of the PWD Department of the State.

He said the disproportionality of the reaction of the Congress and the JD-S ”raises a needle of suspicion”.

”There is a lurking suspicion due to the disproportionality of the reaction that the protestors were more concerned with regard to the ?substance? of the search. Did they have a vicarious pecuniary interest in the substance?

”Is it a case where the PWD Department pays the Contractors, the Engineers being the collecting agents and the principals of the agents turn protestors? ” he said.

The BJP leader said security of India, sovereignty, dealing with terrorism, managing the borders, Custom Check Points, Income Tax enforcement are all amongst the several Constitutional powers of the Union.

If the States stand in way of any of them it is guilty of breaching federal norms, he pointed out.

Referring to Bengal Police intimidating customs officers for checking bags of wife of Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee, Mr Jaitley said ”Can a State barge its Police into the Customs area and direct the Customs as to what is to be done? This would be a threat to federalism.”

He said many states have stopped giving Police security to Income Tax authorities when they conduct their operations.

”Alternatively when State Police is asked for, the information is leaked out to the political Government and it reaches the targets of the operations. Tax authorities increasingly have to rely on Central Forces,” he said.

In the Kashmir Valley recently, searches have conducted under the Governor’s Rule after 17 years, Mr Jaitley said, adding that these taxes are meant for the welfare of the poor.

”The above illustrates a text book method of the UPA on 2 fronts: use Government money, round trip it through Contractors and beneficiaries and enrich themselves. The second is lip sympathy for federalism and destroy it whenever the opportunity arises,” he said, adding that this is a very transparent self goal.

[Nasheman news] Hyderabad Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, the Congress party candidate from Telangana’s Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, has declared family assets worth Rs 895 crore, making him the richest politician in both the Telugu states.

Vishweshwar Reddy owns movable assets of Rs 223 crore, while the movable assets of his wife K. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals stood at Rs 613 crore. The movable assets of their dependent son were nearly Rs 20 crore.

However, none of the family members own a car or any other motor vehicle.

Vishweshwar Reddy also has immovable assets of Rs 36 crore while the same of his wife are valued at Rs 1.81 crore.

The engineer-turned-politician submitted an affidavit declaring his and family assets while filing nomination on Friday.

In 2014, he declared family assets of over Rs 528 crore.

He had then contested and won as a Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) candidate. He joined the Congress on the eve of the Assembly elections last December.

Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Minister P. Narayana, who owns the Narayana Group of institutions, also declared family assets of Rs 667 crore on Friday while filing nomination for the state Assembly from Nellore constituency.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu declared family assets worth Rs 574 crore while YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and his wife own assets over Rs 500 crore.

Bengaluru, March 18,(Nasheman News): Karnataka’s ruling coalition allies Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) hope to “outsmart” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by jointly contesting the 28 Lok Sabha seats across the state in April, a party official said.

“With the JD-S and Congress contesting together, there will be no splitting of secular votes in the state. The seat-sharing pact well positions our parties to outsmart the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections,” JD-S spokesman and a former Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ramesh Babu told IANS.

The vision of the coalition allies was to combine their forces to keep the BJP out of winning the majority seats, he added.

The ruling parties committed to a pre-poll alliance for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state, to be held in two phases on April 18 and 23, with eight seats for the JD-S and 20 for the Congress.

Admitting that JD-S and Congress, which bitterly fought against each other in the May 2018 Assembly elections, had differences in a few constituencies, Babu said the parties were working to strengthen their unity.

“We fought the Assembly elections as rivals, particularly in the old Mysuru region, where both parties have significant strength. So, it is natural for differences to exist. The parties’ leaders are working to resolve the differences right down to the worker level,” the JD-S spokesman said.

The Congress party also believes that if the coalition partners stay united and end their “bickering”, they can “comfortably” win the Lok Sabha elections.

“If the JD-S and Congress stay united, they can project the failures of BJP at the Centre like the issue of unemployment. We can comfortably win the Lok Sabha elections if the parties avoid bickering,” Congress state unit Vice President B.K. Chandrashekar told media.

The BJP was far less likely to benefit due to the “charm” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ensuing general elections, the Congress leader said.

“The Modi factor did not work for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Assembly elections in 2018 either, and it just about saved them in Gujarat Assembly elections in 2017. It is far less likely to work for the BJP in Karnataka during the general elections,” Chandrashekar explained.

The JD-S and Congress leaders expect the Rs 48,000-crore farm loan waiver announced by the coalition government of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to have a positive impact on the poll outcome.

“Farm loan waiver is a palliative to farmers. If we didn’t waive the loans, the indefinite suffering of farmers will continue,” the Congress leader added.

The BJP, on the other hand, mocked the JD-S and Congress seat-sharing pact as “superficial”.

“The seat-sharing agreement is only on paper and is a superficial one. The two parties fought against each other in the Assembly elections in 2018. Their workers still can’t stand one another and are spewing venom against each other,” BJP state unit spokesman G. Madhusudhan told IANS.

The infighting between the two parties will only help BJP win more votes, he added.

“We are sure to gain more votes due to the positive work that has been done by the Modi government and also from the congenial atmosphere in the country after the recent air strikes against Pakistan in retaliation to the (February 14) Pulwama attack,” the BJP leader asserted.

The “patriotic” atmosphere that prevails after the air strikes would favour the right-wing party across the country, the spokesman assessed.

While the BJP was aiming to win at least 20 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies, the coalition parties were together aiming to win in 22 seats.

Nasheman News : The Indian High Commission in New Zealand on Sunday confirmed that five Indians were killed in the Christchurch terror attack that claimed 50 lives.

“With a very heavy heart we share the news of loss of precious lives of our five nationals — Maheboob Khokhar, Ramiz Vora, Asif Vora, Ansi Alibava and Ozair Kadir — in the ghastly terror attack,” the Indian Mission tweeted. 

“Our helpline numbers (021803899 and 021850033) will remain available round the clock to assist families as we together cope with our shared grief,” it said.

It also stated a dedicated page to expedite visa for family members of the victims has been set up by the New Zealand immigration office.

Fifty people were killed in shootings at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Avenue Masjid in the city on Friday after 28-year-old Australian national Brenton Tarrant opened indiscriminate firings. 

The BJP in Karnataka has won more than half of the state’s 28 Lok Sabha seats in the last three general elections. In 2014, the party won 17 and this time round, state party president and former chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, said that the BJP will do even better. 

Speaking to media in Bengaluru on Wednesday he said, “This time PM Modi will come back to power. We are going to win more than 275 seats. In Karnataka, minimum we are going to win 22 seats. We have already toured the entire state. The condition is very favourable for the BJP because of the Congress and JDS, and PM Modi’s achievement in the last 4 years and 9 months.”

While on the campaign trail in north Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa had said that if the BJP won more than 22 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, the party would also form the government in the state soon after. But he was more reticent on that issue this time. He said, “I don’t want to say anything on that now. Our first target is to win at least 22 Lok Sabha seats and we want to make Modi ji Prime Minister.”

Mr Yeddyurappa said the challenges faced by the ruling coalition partners in Karnataka – the Congress and the JDS – when it came to seat sharing, would only benefit the BJP. “They are fighting each other. That will be helpful to us.” 

JDS leader and former prime minister Deve Gowda has made it clear that he would like two of his grandsons to contest – Nikhil, the actor son of chief minister, HD Kumaraswamy and Prajwal, the son of HD Revanna, a minister in the Karnataka cabinet. But Mr Yeddyurappa, who has political ambitions for his own sons, chose to be cautious in his reply to the question on the Gowda grandsons possibly being given tickets from Mandya and Hassan respectively. “I don’t have to react. We are going to put very strong candidates everywhere,” he said. 

There has been speculation that the BJP would give the Mandya ticket to Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of the late Kannada superstar, Ambareesh, who had been a Congress politician. With the Congress giving the Mandya ticket to its coalition partner – the JDS, Sumalatha Ambareesh has indicated that she would still contest, as an Independent, if necessary. Mr Yeddyurappa told NDTV, “We have not yet decided; our national leaders will take a decision. On Friday I will go to Delhi and discuss. We don’t know whether she will contest or not.

But he did say that Tejaswini, the wife of late BJP leader, Ananth Kumar, would contest the South Bengaluru seat her husband had represented without a break from 1996 onwards. “Tejaswini is going to contest.” He also confirmed that Umesh Jadhav, till recently a Congress lawmaker, would also be given a BJP ticket. “100% he is going to contest.” Mr Jadhav is likely to contest in Kalaburagi in north Karnataka – the seat currently held by Congress veteran, Mallikarjun Kharge. When NDTV asked Yeddyurappa, his response to the allegations by the Congress that Mr Jadhav had sold himself to the BJP, Mr Yeddyurappa just laughed and said, “Nonsense!”

Agencies

By : Faizan Rizwan

With the Loksabha election round the corner and all major and minor political parties are gearing up for the election. Secular Democratic Congress a new political party launched last October is all set to field candidates in all the 28 Loksabha seats in Karnataka.

Speaking to Nasheman News  the state SDC President Shri  R A Janab said that SDC would be contesting all the 28 Lok Sabha seats and that the party has been growing  from strength to strength since last october . Many leader from various parties  are joining SDC.

Our Party SDC all in be giving opportunity to second line leaders, who have been denied tickets since the major parties are looking after the welfare of their kith and kin only.

SDC will give seats to non corrupt  persons with no criminal background                                      

We will also give more that 40% seats to women and  if our party comes to power. we will give 1 BHK flat  to the needy and also will look after the medical. Education needs of the people  and will also protect the formers interst and look after their issues.

 we will fight for 33% reservation for women  and bring transperency in Government work.

All those who intersted to join SDC may contact  Mr R A Janab -9341909024

Nasheman News :  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would participate in the protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to this port city on Friday.

In a teleconference with TDP leaders, Naidu said the party would support the protest called by Prateekya Hoda Sadhana Samiti Joint Action Committee over the Centre not conferring special category status on the state and not fulfilling other promises made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The JAC, which comprises various like-minded parties and groups fighting for special category status to the state, has said that Modi has no moral right to visit the state without fulfilling the commitments.

Political parties, people’s organisations and trade unions which are not part of JAC have also called for the protest against Modi’s visit. They include the Congress, Jana Sena and the Left parties.

Modi will address a public meeting at Visakhapatnam. Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha on Wednesday held a meeting with top officials in state capital Amaravati to review the arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit.

Modi had faced black-flag protests during his visit to the state’s Guntur on February 10. Addressing a public meeting, he made a scathing attack on Naidu. 

Meanwhile, the TDP chief alleged that main opposition YSR Congress Party was busy in mobilising people for Modi’s public meeting. He reiterated that YSR Congress is hand-in-glove with Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

Simultaneous elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha are due in April-May.

Nasheman News : Pakistan claimed on Wednesday that it has captured two Indian pilots, one of whom was identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The identity of the other is not known.

Though India is yet to confirm the development, informed sources said Abhinandan is in the ranks of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is a son of a retired Air Marshal. A Su-30 pilot, Abhinandan was commissioned in 2004. 

A video of the captured pilot was shown on Pakistani news channels. Its veracity is yet to be established.

The other pilot is said to be in hospital.

An earlier tweet by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, said: “In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), IAF crossed LoC. 

“PAF (Pakistan Air Force) shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K (Pakistan administered Kashmir)… One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground.”

Jammu and Kashmir police sources had said earlier three PAF F-16 fighter jets violated the Indian airspace in Nowshera sector but were pushed back by the Indian side. 

In his first public address after the air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 26 said the country is in safe hands and nothing is above the nation.

The prime minister also said that he will not let the country down.

“I want to assure the people that the country is in safe hands. There is nothing above the nation,” he said addressing a public meeting here.

“My soul says today is the day to reiterate what I had expressed in 2014. I swear by my land I won’t let my country be destroyed. I will not let the country stop. I will not let the country bow down. I pledge to the motherland that I will not let her head down,” he said.

The prime minister, however, did not make a direct reference to the strikes.

In a swift and precise air strike following the Pulwama attack, India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp in Pakistan early February 26, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders.

The operation, described as a non-military, preemptive strike, was welcomed by the entire political spectrum and military experts who had been advocating retribution after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama claimed by JeM.

Addressing the rally, the prime minister said he was able to work because the party is above individuals and the country was above the party.

“Pradhan sevak is able to work because party is bigger than individuals and country is bigger than the party. We are working with the feeling to serve the people of the country,” Modi said.

He said with the sentiment of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and Jai Vigyan’, the country was progressing ahead.

Referring to the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, Modi said that first installment of Rs 2000 was directly transferred to bank accounts of farmers.

Attacking the Congress government in the state, he said unfortunately not a single farmer from Churu was among the beneficiaries as the Rajasthan government was stopping the benefits that Centre wants to pass on to them.

“Rajasthan has not provided list of farmers for the scheme launched by the Centre. Welfare of poor and farmers is the priority of our government but it is sad that schemes meant for them are subjected to politics,” he said.

Modi said welfare of farmers was among priorities of the government but it hurts when schemes related to them is subjected to politics.

He said the government was working on ‘Sabka sath sabka vikas’ model.1.5 crore house have been constructed for poor in the last four years and more than 7 lakh houses have been constructed for poor in Rajasthan.

Agencies