The Congress on Friday fielded actress Urmila Matondkar from Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency two days after she joined the party.

Matondkar had joined the Congress after meeting Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday and had later said that she was “here to stay”.

“The Congress central election committee has approved the candidature of Urmila Matondkar as party candidate to contest the ensuing general elections from Mumbai North parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra,” a party statement said.

After joining the party, Matondkar had said she felt the need to join the Congress party as the freedom to express was under attack in the country and there are numerous examples in this regard in the last five years.

She had said the Congress party has participated in the freedom struggle and it stood for freedom.

Agencies

Puducherry, Mar 29 : AICC Puducherry Secretary-in-charge Sanjay Dutt on Friday termed the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as a mandate between the ideologies of Mahatama Gandhi and Nathuram Godse with Congress representing the Gandhian thoughts and principles.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the lines are very clearly divided no matter how much Mr Modi try to divert attention by raising irrelevant issues to hide his failure in every field.
Reminding Mr Narendra Modi of his promise of delivering Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of every Indian, Dutt said “Rahul Gandhi had promised waiver of agricultural loans of farmers during the campaign in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly elections, and within ten days of coming into power he delivered his promise.”
Dutt accused Mr Modi of not fulfiling the promises he had made during 2014. “He promised of curbing terror attacks and still we are witnessing terror attacks in the country, he promised of stabilizing price rise and presently we are facing the highest rate inflation”, he said.

Dutt said Modi is ‘Chowkidar’ for only the likes of Ambani, Adani, Nirav Modi etc and it is very clear that the total policy was of ‘Loot, Jhoot and Scoot?. “How can a person escape from the country without the support of the government”, he said.
“It is clear that they left the country with the support of the government”, he said adding that before leaving all of them gave donations to BJP which is the part of loot officially and unofficially every one knows, he added.

Mentioning the new NYAY scheme Dutt said, “As far as the congress party is concerned it wanted to empower all the people of the country. Rahul Gandhi along with P Chidambaram had explained how the scheme is going to be implemented. All doubts were cleared press conference and now those raising doubts are against the poor.”

Panaji, March 29 (Nasheman News) People of Goa will vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming Lok Sabha polls as homage to late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who died on March 17, incumbent Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.

Speaking to the media after outgoing Lok Sabha MP and Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik filed his nomination papers for the North Goa seat, Sawant admitted that campaigning for the elections, in the absence of Parrikar, would be a difficult proposition. 

“Because of the work and development which Manohar Parrikar has carried out for so many years, people will vote for us as a homage to the late leader. Definitely, they will vote for us as a mark of respect and remembrance to him and help us win both (Lok Sabha) seats,” Sawant said.

He said the poll campaign would be “quite difficult” in Parrikar’s absence, but added that the body of work put in by him over the years as well as support from the allies, would see the party through in the polls.

“Without Parrikar, the campaigning is quite difficult for us, we know that. We are going into elections without Parrikar for the first time. But the people of Goa are with us. Alliance partners are with us.”

Sawant said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government had spent Rs 15,000 crore for infrastructure development in Goa, which includes highway expansion, an upcoming international airport and new bridges which would help the BJP win the Lok Sabha polls.

Sawant’s comment however, comes at a time when the Goa Chief Electoral Officer is probing a complaint against him for conducting a state-wide programme of distribution of Parrikar’s ashes, which were immersed in water bodies across Goa earlier this week.

The complaint filed by a city lawyer also quoted a part of Sawant’s speech where he reportedly said that in Parrikar’s absence, the late Chief Minister’s ashes will help fetch the BJP the winning votes in the forthcoming general elections as well as the by-polls to the three Assembly seats.

Bengaluru, Mar 29 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka has demanded the State Police to register criminal complaints against the JD(S) and the Congress leaders, who Yesterday allegedly threatened the IT officials with dire consequences for conducting raids on various business persons, civil contractors and those who were close to the leaders of the two parties.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, BJP State Spokesperson G Madhusudan charged that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his cabinet ministers, including Dr G Parameshwara, D K Shivakumar and others gathered near the IT office and criticised the IT authorities and used abusive languages. Chief Minister and his Cabinet Ministers organised public meeting without taking permission from the Election Commission.
While demanding the State police to register case against those who were present during the protest against the IT authorities, the BJP leader also urged Governor Vajubhai Vala to take serious note of Chief Minister’s attitude in coming out in the street and addressed the gathering in front of the IT office.
“It is highly unethical on the part of the Chief Minister and his cabinet members, joined hands to protect the tax evaders and corrupt elements in the society”, the BJP leader charged.
It may be recalled that both the Congress and the JD(S) leaders including Kumaraswamy and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwara had lead a protest rally
against the IT officials, for having conducted raids in multiple locations on Thursday, targeting the Congress and the JD(S) supporters.

The CM and several Congress leaders staged a protest outside the I-T Dept’s office on Thursday alleging that the BJP was misusing constitutional agencies for political gains.

On Thursday, the Income Tax officials went knocking on the doors of several influential politicians, businessmen and government officials in Karnataka. Late on Wednesday night, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy told the media that Income Tax officials would raid the homes of JD(S) leaders and their associates. Within a few hours, the I-T officials conducted search and survey operations across 28 locations in Bengaluru, Mandya, Hassan, Shivamogga and Kanakapura.

The Congress-JD(S) coalition has dubbed the raids as a political move by the BJP, which was indulging in “revenge politics” in order to “scare away” opposition parties. In order to express their outrage, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress legislative party chief Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao, Deputy CM Dr G Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar held a protest outside the Income Tax Department’s office in Bengaluru.

Dubbing the DG and IG of the Income Tax Department of Goa and Karnataka — Balakrishna as a BJP stooge, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy alleged that the chief of the I-T Department was corrupt.

“The director who is here is not an honest officer. I know how many flats he owns in Mumbai and how he misused his power for personal gains. I am asking him not to be BJP’s agent… The leaders at the Centre have held backroom talks with him and promised him governorship after retirement,” Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy alleged.

Kumaraswamy also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah were using the state machinery and constitutional institutions to target opposition parties. Kumaraswamy also alleged that PM Modi and Amit Shah were on their way to change the Constitution of India.

“Ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, Narendra Modi has been misusing constitutional agencies. They are on their way to change the Constitution of India framed by Ambedkar and establish a dictatorship. We are not against Income Tax raids. We are against the fact that the purpose of the raids is to target opposition parties. That is what we are protesting,” Kumaraswamy added.

Speaking to the media during the protest, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned why the CRPF was brought in for the raids and why the state police force was not intimated about the I-T Department’s search operation.

“When I-T raids are conducted, the state police protection is requested. Why was CRPF brought in? The country’s institutions are under threat. When a month ago, BJP leaders tried to bribe legislators with crores of rupees, did the I-T officers take note of it? Were they sleeping? Has it not come to their notice? Why have they not questioned how these leaders are getting the money to offer bribes? How many BJP leaders’ homes have been raided? A local BJP leader sends lists to Amit Shah. That list is forwarded to the I-T department, which conducts raids,” Siddaramaiah added.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy also stated that the EC had seized Rs 2 crore in Shivamogga last week and had handed over the case to the I-T Department, which has not announced the leaders who were being investigated. Hinting that the money belonged to a BJP leader, Kumaraswamy said, “In Hosanagar, election officers seized Rs 2 crore cash and handed over the case to the Income Tax Department. Why have you not publicised whose money it was? EC seized Rs 1.5 crore near Vidhana Soudha last week right. Why is I-T Dept not investigating whose money it was? They are indulging in petty politics to cow down the opposition parties.” 

Recalling the illegal mining scam involving Janardhana Reddy and BJP leaders, which had shaken the state in 2011, Kumaraswamy said that “time and again” BJP leaders have “indulged in corrupt practices”. “Everyone knows how corrupt BJP leaders in the state are. We all know how the BJP looted the state. They flew in officials in airplanes and booked 300 Ola cabs for them to conduct raids. The media is saying that Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is scared. My door is always open. Send anyone. I will welcome them,” Kumaraswamy added.

Agencies

By: Rizwan Asad

38 year old Rizwan Arshad, who has been chosen as the Congress candidate for Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, is confident of emerging victorious in the forthcoming elections. Pitted against stiff competition with the likes of two-time MP PC Mohan of the BJP and new entrant actor turned politician Prakash Raj, Rizwan Arshad’s confidence stems from the fact that he has youth on his side and his learnings from his previous rendezvous with elections from the same constituency. With around 21 lakh voters poised to cast their vote in Bangalore Central constituency, the youth in the constituency is set to double this year. Rizwan is counting on his connect with this section of voters, given that he will be able to make a connect with them. The fact that he is the President of the Youth Congress only works towards his advantage. One of the strategies of the Congress Party is to lay impetus on youth and  Rizwan Arshad is seen as a young leader, who will appeal to a large number of  first time voters and youth in general. The other advantage working Rizwan’s way is that he is an educated leader who has a very good relationship across communities.

https://youtu.be/Ho9jPr9Hu9k

Rizwan has the backing of several senior leaders in the Congress including four out of five MLAs and twenty six out of thirty corporators of the Bangalore Central Constituency. A lot of his local backing is coming from the development works that Arshad has carried out in the constituencies representing Bangalore Central.  Developmental works include road laying, sewage pipes laying, new bus routes to ease public transportation woes etc. Voters are looking to their MP to get support in terms of employment opportunities, healthcare centers, drinking water supply, roads, public transport, street lighting and easing traffic congestion. Among his priorities, Rizwan is keen to address these issues if voted to power. Often in the past, funds that have been allocated by the Centre for development work in the constituency has been returned without being utilized. His aim is to fully utlilse Central funds for the constituency that has been allocated for development for the betterment of the constituency and the social and economic upliftment of the people.
Rizwan Arshad remains unfazed with his rivals. According to him, Prakash Raj is a first time candidate with limited appeal focused mainly at his fans. P C Mohan of the BJP has won the seat for the past two elections, but has failed to create a direct connect with the people of the constituency. There has also been a feel in a section of BJP supporters that there needs to be an alternate to PC Mohan. Locals have been reeling under various issues including lack of safety for women, public toilets, parking, street lights, drinking water, recurring street fights, waste management etc.
Bangalore Central was won by the BJP in 2009 and since then the Congress has not been able to set a foothold there, despite having a stronghold in five of the eight Assembly constituencies. There are surveys that indicate that Bangalore Central will be a keenly contested seat and there is a general consensus among the public about the need for change. Victory for the Congress Party would however still depend on how Rizwan Arshad goes about his election campaigning with interactions with members of the constituency that will create a sense of proximity and confidence in voters.