Bengaluru, Apr 3 : BJP’s National President Amit Shah had drawn a huge crowd during his road show in the Banashankari in the Bengaluru.

The BJP president, who had arrived more than two hours late to attend the road show on Tuesday, was taken in an open jeep for over two kilometers and the party workers greeted him with cheerfulness all along the two sides of the road.

State party president B S Yeddyurappa, and the newly appointed Vice president of the state unit, Tejasvini Ananthkumar, party candidate, Tejasvi Surya, former Deputy Chief minister R Ashok and others were also accompanied the national president.

The BJP president however did not addressed the party workers, as he arrived late to the road show.

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 3 : In the backdrop of repeated instances of Maoist presence, security has been tightened in Wayanad where Congress President Rahul Gandhi is contesting the April 23 Lok Sabha election.

Rahul Gandhi will file his nominations papers from Wayanad on Thursday after a roadshow along with his sister Priyanka Vadra, who is also the AICC general secretary incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, sources said.

Due to health reasons, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will not be able to come to Wayanad to accompany Mr Gandhi during the filing of nomination papers.

Special Protection Group (SPG) camping in the constituency began search operations in sensitive areas following the arrival of Mr Gandhi, who enjoys the highest security cover in the country.

Mr Gandhi is expected to reach Kozhikode on Wednesday evening after attending election programmes in the North-Eastern state.

Senior Congress leader AK Antony, AICC general secretaries Oommen Chandy, KC Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, IUML leader Kunhalikutty, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran will accompany Mr Rahul who will participate in a series of party meetings during his visit to Kozhikode and Wayanad.

Out of the 10 companies of Central Paramilitary forces allotted to Kerala, one company of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel had already been deployed in Wayanad which recently witnessed an encounter with Maoists in Vythiri.

Meanwhile, Kerala Police has demanded 149 companies of paramilitary forces for the Lok Sabha election in the State.

Out of the 30 Maoists sighting reported from Wayanad, Kannur, Malappuram, Kozhikode rural and Palakkad during December-February period, eight were reported from Wayanad alone, sources added.

Agencies

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa’s recent comment on Muslims during the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections has triggered a controversy. 

Addressing members of the Kuruba and minority communities in Koppal on Monday, the senior BJP leader said the Congress only uses the Muslim community as a vote bank but doesn’t give tickets to them. He also added that the BJP isn’t giving tickets to Muslims as they don’t trust the party.

“We don’t give Muslims tickets because you don’t believe in us. Trust us and we will give you tickets and other things,” KS Eshwarappa said in Kannada. The former minister, who is known for his controversial statements, also belongs to the Kuruba backward caste. 

Responding to the leader’s comment, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi wrote on Twitter that a con job only works when the victims don’t know they’re being conned. 

This is not the first time a Karnataka BJP leader has faced the heat over comments ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Earlier in February, Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa triggered a controversy by politicising the IAF air strikes in Balakot. 

“The Indian Armed Forces proved their mettle by destroying the terrorists’ hideouts. The impact of this strike will help the BJP win more than 22 seats in the state,” he said. The opposition strongly criticised the former Karnataka CM for his remarks. Later, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told the media that the statement was his own opinion, not the BJP’s.

Karnataka will vote for 28 MPs in the upcoming general elections in two phases on April 18 and 23.

Agencies

New Delhi, Apr 2 : Promising that it will keep a vigilant eye on the security situation in the country,
the Congress on Tuesday said, if voted to power, it will establish the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) within three months and make NATGRID operational by December 2019.

”Congress had also proposed to establish the NCTC and NATGRID. The BJP government dismantled the preparatory work and wasted five years. NCTC was put in the cold storage and NATGRID is yet to be made operational. Congress promises that NCTC will be set up within three months and NATGRID will be made operational by December 2019,” the party said in its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Terming terrorism, infiltration of militants, Maoism or Naxalism and caste or communal violence as the most serious threats to internal security, the Congress said it believes that each of these four threats deserves a separate and distinct response.

”We promise an uncompromising approach and hard measures to put an end to terrorism and to the infiltration of militants. In the case of Maoism, the Congress will resolutely fight violent activities. At the same time,
Congress will address developmental challenges in the areas concerned, enlist the support of the people and win over the Maoist cadres,” the document said.
In the case of caste or communal violence, Congress will put down such violence with a firm hand using the police forces at its command, apprehend the instigators and bring them to justice. There will be no room for self-appointed vigilante groups and moral policing brigades.
”Congress will work with State Governments to increase the strength of State police forces, fill all vacancies, equip and train them, and deploy them impartially to maintain law and order and to detect and punish violators and instigators,” the manifesto promised.
The main opposition party further promised to take strong action with respect to crimes against women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. The law will be applied on the perpetrators without fear
or favour. They will not be allowed to walk on the streets with a sense of impunity.
”Congress will hold the District Administration responsible for riots, caste or communal violence,
large scale crimes against women, and for the widespread breakdown of law and order,” the manifesto said.

Bengaluru, Apr 2 : To attract more number of women voters to turn-up at the polling stations, the Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has planned to open as many as 250 all-women polling booths in 24 Assembly segments in the metropolis that comes under three Lok Sabha segments.
Speaking after demonstrating the model of the all-women booth in the city, here on Tuesday BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said, “the motive behind the programme was to attract more number of women voter to the polling stations”.
He said that such polling booths will be established where number of women voters are more in any locality in the city.
Informing that these all-women booths, would be manned by only women staff he said
“It would encourage the women voter to visit the polling booths and cast their votes”.
The BBMP commissioner however said that “The men voters also can exercise their constitutional right if they got registered their names in the voters list, comes under the polling station”.

New Delhi, Apr 2 : Ahead of the first phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections on April 11, the Congress party will on Tuesday release its manifesto for the elections, which is expected to unveil the party’s roadmap on jobs creation, tackling agrarian crisis and boosting the education, health sectors and vision on how to further strengthen the economic growth of the country.
The highlight of the party’s manifesto, to be released by Congress president Rahul Gandhi here at the party headquarters, will be the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme under which the party has promised to deposit Rs 72,000 per annum in accounts of poorest 20 per cent families of the country if it comes to power in the Lok Sabha elections.
On March 25, the Congress, while announcing the Minimum income guarantee scheme, proclaimed that Rs 72,000 a year would be given to poorest 20 per cent families in the country, if the party comes to power in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The money will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of these families, Mr Gandhi said at a news conference here after consultations of the Congress Working Committee which discussed the party manifesto for the 2019 elections for the House of the People.
”Under the Minimum income guarantee, Congress will give Rs 72,000 per annum to the the poorest 20 per cent families if the party comes to power,” Mr Gandhi said.
The scheme will ensure a family has a minimum income of Rs 12,000 in a month.
The scheme of the Congress is in a counter to the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s income plan for farmers at Rs 6,000 per year.
In the run up to the release of the party manifesto, the Congress president has also made a series of promises for the youth and small businessmen.
He has announced a host of incentives for youngsters who want to start their own businesses including easy availability of bank credit.
The Congress president has also announced that the party will fill all Government vacancies by March 2020 if it comes to power.
The Congress president has also promised that if elected to power, his party would move to directly elected mayors with five year terms and elected councils to improve the quality of life in cities.
The party is likely to promise a complete loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh in the manifesto.
The manifesto has been prepared in consultation with people from different segments of life.

Agencies

New Delhi, Apr 2 : A day after former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sparked off a major row demanding revival of the post of ‘Prime Minister in Kashmir’, cricketer-turned-BJP leader Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday said in such an eventuality, he wants to walk on ‘oceans’.

“Omar Abdullah wants a separate PM for J&K and I want to walk on oceans! Omar Abdullah wants a separate PM for J&K & I want pigs to fly!,” Mr Gambhir tweeted.

He also said more than a separate Prime Minister, Mr Abdullah will need “some sleep followed by a strong coffee”.

“If he still does not understand then a green Pakistani passport,” he said.

In a tweet, Mr Abdullah on Monday defended his remarks and said – “It’s not what JKNC wants sir, it’s what the terms of accession guaranteed J&K, it’s what the Constitution of India (the same Constitution you take an oath to uphold) guaranteed J&K. All we ask is what the Constitution gave to J&K”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an election rally at Hyderabad on Monday – ?Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that”.

The Prime Minister also tweeted and said it was ‘shameful’ that National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has sought to revive the demand for post of ‘Prime Minister in Kashmir’.

“National Conference wants 2 PMs, 1 in Kashmir & 1 for rest of India. Does Mamata Didi agree? Does U-Turn Babu agree? Does Pawar Sahab agree? Does former PM Deve Gowda Ji agree? Shame on the Opposition,” Prime Minister tweeted.

He also said – “Till Modi is there, no one can divide India” and tagged the video of his speech at Hyderabad.

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 2 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Kerala on Wednesday to file his nomination papers for Wayanad Lok Sabha seat on Thursday.

Mr Gandhi will reach Kozhikode on Wednesday evening and file his nomination on April 4, party sources here said.

Congress Senior leaders including AICC General secretaries Oommen Chandy, KC Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, IUML leader Kunhalikutty, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran will also accompany the AICC President during his visit to Kozhikode and Wayanad.

Agencies

Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh has accused an EC official of ‘tampering’ with the process of scrutinising Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s nomination papers.

On Sunday, independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh accused Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and the district administration of working in favour of the former’s son and JD(S)’s Mandya candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy. Two days after Nikhil filed his nomination on March 25, Sumalatha’s polling agent MA Madan Kumar submitted an objection – a written complaint – to the Returning Officer (RO) and Mandya Deputy Commissioner N Manjushree and general observer Ranjeet Kumar J, pointing out the discrepancies in his nomination papers. According to norms, the RO is supposed to pass an order on such an objection. However, Sumalatha said no orders have been passed in this regard.

Since the scrutiny of nominations began on March 27, several controversial questions regarding Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s nomination have been raised. Now, a series of allegations and counter-allegations have resulted in massive speculations that Nikhil’s nomination may be rejected.

Were there technical errors in Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s nomination papers? Did the Returning Officer (RO) of Mandya and the Election Commission officials tamper with the process of scrutinising his nomination papers?

The last date for filing nomination papers for Lok Sabha elections, or making any changes to it, was March 26 for the first phase of polling in Karnataka.

A day before, on March 25, amidst much fanfare, Nikhil Kumaraswamy submitted his nomination papers to the Deputy Commissioner of Mandya, N Manjushree, at 2.43 pm.

On March 27, the Returning Officer, who is also the Mandya Deputy Commissioner (DC), took up the scrutiny of all nomination papers filed for the Mandya segment. This was done in the presence of election general observers Ranjeeth Kumar J and Rani Nagar at 11.50 am.

On March 27, Manjushree stated that Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s nomination papers were in order.

However, Sumalatha’s polling agent MA Madan Kumar claimed otherwise. On the same day, he submitted a written complaint to Manjushree and Ranjeeth, claiming that the four sets of nomination papers filed by Nikhil Kumaraswamy on March 25 were not in order. Madan stated that Nikhil had not filled in all the columns on his Form 26 (election affidavit).

Madan Kumar then stated that CCTV footage from the DC’s office will show that two days after the last date for filing nominations was over, Nikhil Kumaraswamy submitted a fresh Form 26 on March 27 at 10.20 am.

“Nikhil submitted fresh papers an hour before the scrutiny process begins. I complained to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on March 27, stating that the RO (Manjushree) accepted the nomination papers despite the objection I filed,” Madan told media.

Sumalatha too stepped up the attack against the RO. During an election rally on March 28, Sumalatha accused Manjushree of violating the rules to help Nikhil. She claimed that JD(S) leaders in Mandya, including CM HD Kumaraswamy, were pressurising Manjushree.

On March 29, Manjushree held a press conference in Mandya to counter Sumalatha’s allegations. She said she had followed due process and had not indulged in any illegal activity.

According to Madan, the CCTV footage at Manjushree’s office had recorded Nikhil filing his nomination again, which is against the rules.

“After Manjushree’s press conference, I released a video of the scrutiny of nomination papers. The footage that the DC office gave us as proof that nothing was done wrong was tampered with. You can see the date stamps for yourself and find what went wrong,” Madan added.

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, Sanjiv Kumar to look into the matter. Sanjiv Kumar held talks with officials of the Mandya district administration. Sanjiv Kumar later told the media that since the nomination papers were accepted by the RO, the EC could not intervene in the issue.

On Sunday, Sumalatha accused general observer Ranjeeth Kumar of colluding with the JD(S).  Then, the Mysuru regional commissioner, TK Anil Kumar, was brought in by the ECI to conduct a probe into the accusations of procedural lapses by the Mandya Deputy Commissioner Manjushree.

According to an Election Commission officer, the last date for scrutinising nomination papers for phase 2 of the elections was on March 29 and hence, it is unlikely that Nikhil’s nomination would be rejected now. “Sumalatha can approach the court but she has indicated that she will not do so,” the EC official added.

Meanwhile, Mysuru regional commissioner TK Anil Kumar, acting on a direction from the Election Commission of India, has initiated an inquiry into Sumalatha’s charges. Madan stated that he has recorded the claims of both parties.

“He took my statement and also Manjushree’s and said he would submit the report to the ECI. I have also spoken about how the DC office tampered with the CCTV footage and I have submitted a copy of it to Anil Kumar. He said he will submit it to the ECI and that we would have to wait till EC makes a decision,” Madan added.

Agencies