By M H Ahssan
Do you know what IJP, BJRP, BRP, ABJS, ABRRP(P), AJBP, ANC, BCUF, LJNSP, LS, PPOI, MCPI(S), MRS, MUL, NIP, NTRTDP (LP), PP, PRBP, RMEP, RPC(S), RPI(A), SHS RPI (KH) stand for? These ever increasing tribe of unintelligible abbreviations are but registered political parties in Andhra Pradesh. If you have noticed the NTRTDP (LP) among the list, yes it is the one headed by Lakshmi Parvathi, wife of late N T Rama Rao who founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
As one would guess, all of them drew a blank in the 2004 elections in the state. But these ‘once-bitten, never-shy’ parties are gearing up once again for the polls in a never say die spirit. For starters, a party called the Pyramid Party of India (PPOI) has already filed nominations from various constituencies, including the Qutbullapur assembly and Secunderabad Lok Sabha seats.
According to the party’s general secretary Mega Murali, the party will contest 200 assembly and 40 Lok Sabha seats this time around compared to 90 assembly seats last time. But to get a PPOI ticket, the aspirants need to have a basic qualification: Be a strict vegetarian. “A non-vegetarian has the characteristics of a tiger or a lion, being violent and attacking others,” Murali said.
Interestingly, Murali’s wife Anuradha contested the Medchal assembly seat last time and got as many as 7,113 votes against T Devender Goud who was the TDP candidate. It is another matter that the PPOI’s candidate Ch Padmaja in the Khairatabad constituency did not get a single vote.
Interestingly, this time there are more parties in the electoral arena vying for space. A new party called the Trilinga Praja Pragati Party (TPPP) is planning to contest at least 15 seats, according to its leader Maharadhi. “The underprivileged should get the power to rule,” he quipped.
Another party called ‘Indira Rajiv Congress (Sacrifice for the nation) has been registered only at the state level so its leader Emangari Anjilayya is scouting for ‘alliances’. “I am already in talks with a party and if I am given a ticket, will contest under that party’s banner,” he said.
‘Alliances’ seems to be the success mantra for the small parties. For instance, the Samaikhya Andhra Samithi Party, the Shanti Bharat National Party have joined hands with the Samajwadi Party and the Great India Party to form what they are calling the ‘Samaikhya Andhra Kootami’. “We are expecting some more parties to join our Kutami,” said C D Subba Reddy, president, Shanti Bharat National Party, who contested on a Praja Party ticket from Markapuram constituency in Prakasam district.
One is naturally tempted to dismiss the small political parties as being too insignificant to make any difference during the elections. But here is one example that proves otherwise.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with its strength in the Telangana region hardly has any presence outside the region. But it did something strange in the last elections. It contested all the Lok Sabha seats in the state and damaged the fortunes of at least one TDP candidate.
Here’s the victim. The TDP candidate from Hindupur constituency B K Parthasarathi polled 4,17,904 votes while the Congress candidate who emerged winner got 4,19,744 votes. The margin was only 1,840 votes. And who played spoilsport for TDP? The TRS candidate B Surender Kumar who polled 16,907 votes. Moral of the story: Small parties can cause big damage. Is Mayawati trying to do that by fielding BSP candidates from each seat in AP?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Congress aims to cut allies to size
By M H Ahssan
Congress has for some time now suspected that the ‘social justice’ elements of the UPA may review their options after Lok Sabha elections, with an open mind on a ‘Third Front’, or may even erect a ginger group to dictate terms to Congress.
The party’s decision to chart an independent course from SP and RJD evolved from the view that the Yadav duo was trying to persuade it to contest on a small number of seats in UP and Bihar to maximise their own chances of winning a good tally. Congress strategy to contest against SP and RJD in full force seems aimed to reduce the regional satraps to the extent possible to weaken their post-poll bargaining muscle.
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad are faced with a strong challenge from Mayawati and Nitish Kumar, and Congress feels its decision to contest as an independent player would divide ‘secular votes’ and hurt the Yadavs more.
If the objective to hurt ‘secular’ allies seems cold and calculating, sources said it is because the leadership got a whiff of plans that allies swearing by Sonia Gandhi may not be as loyal after the elections.
An inkling of the alternative plans among the ‘social justice’ champions came during the railway budget speech when Lalu said that national parties, BJP or Congress, were passe and it was the time of regional parties.
Lalu’s words were not passed off as mere bluster aimed at domestic constituency of Bihar as it tied with the aggressive stance taken by SP leadership as well as by NCP all this with Left parties already screaming for a non-Congress ‘secular’ government.
While the strategy runs the risk of spoiling pro-UPA sentiment at the stroke of elections, sources said it was predicated regional parties would be open to joining the Congress-led coalition if the lead player of the UPA. It is felt that regional parties, like AIADMK and JD(U), have made up their mind to join the Centre irrespective of the main player, and Congress would have an edge in wooing such allies from outside the UPA if it emerged as the single-largest party with a decent enough tally. In the scenario, even deserters like PMK, MDMK, RJD and SP would come in.
Congress has for some time now suspected that the ‘social justice’ elements of the UPA may review their options after Lok Sabha elections, with an open mind on a ‘Third Front’, or may even erect a ginger group to dictate terms to Congress.
The party’s decision to chart an independent course from SP and RJD evolved from the view that the Yadav duo was trying to persuade it to contest on a small number of seats in UP and Bihar to maximise their own chances of winning a good tally. Congress strategy to contest against SP and RJD in full force seems aimed to reduce the regional satraps to the extent possible to weaken their post-poll bargaining muscle.
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad are faced with a strong challenge from Mayawati and Nitish Kumar, and Congress feels its decision to contest as an independent player would divide ‘secular votes’ and hurt the Yadavs more.
If the objective to hurt ‘secular’ allies seems cold and calculating, sources said it is because the leadership got a whiff of plans that allies swearing by Sonia Gandhi may not be as loyal after the elections.
An inkling of the alternative plans among the ‘social justice’ champions came during the railway budget speech when Lalu said that national parties, BJP or Congress, were passe and it was the time of regional parties.
Lalu’s words were not passed off as mere bluster aimed at domestic constituency of Bihar as it tied with the aggressive stance taken by SP leadership as well as by NCP all this with Left parties already screaming for a non-Congress ‘secular’ government.
While the strategy runs the risk of spoiling pro-UPA sentiment at the stroke of elections, sources said it was predicated regional parties would be open to joining the Congress-led coalition if the lead player of the UPA. It is felt that regional parties, like AIADMK and JD(U), have made up their mind to join the Centre irrespective of the main player, and Congress would have an edge in wooing such allies from outside the UPA if it emerged as the single-largest party with a decent enough tally. In the scenario, even deserters like PMK, MDMK, RJD and SP would come in.
Mega defence deals to swell poll war chests?
By M H Ahssan
There is something about mega defence deals and the general elections. If the previous NDA regime inked a flurry of arms deals in the run-up to the 2004 general elections, the UPA government is doing pretty much the same this time.
First, in January, the UPA government covertly signed the biggestever defence deal with US in the shape of the around $2.1 billion contract for eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft for the Navy.
Despite having A K Antony as defence minister, who promises “transparency’’ at the drop of a hat, the government kept this deal under wraps till it was first reported by HNN a few days later.
Then, towards end-February, the defence ministry secretly inked the largest-ever deal with Israel in the form of the huge Rs 10,000-crore joint project to develop MR-SAM (medium-range surface-to-air missile) systems for IAF.
A month later, the defence ministry is still tight-lipped about the exact contours of the project, which include a staggering Rs 600 crore as “business charges’’. “We have nothing to say,’’ said a defence ministry (MoD) spokesperson, questioned about the project on Friday.
That the armed forces desperately need reconnaissance aircraft for maritime snooping as well as MR-SAM systems to bolster the country’s air defence cover is not disputed. Neither is the fact that both the projects were in the pipeline for a couple of years.
But eyebrows are being raised about the “propriety’’ of such deals being signed — and that too in a thoroughly opaque manner, as if the MoD had something to hide — in the run-up to the April 16-May 13 general elections.
“Technically, both the deals were signed before the model code of conduct came into force on March 2. But yes, the government should have been more open about them,’’ admitted a senior official.
Murky wheeling and dealing, commissions and kickbacks, of course, have always been an integral part of the armament procurement process, with political parties often being accused of using defence deals to swell their election war chests.
The NDA regime, too, had sealed a spate of defence deals just before the 2004 elections. They included the $1.5 billion package deal for Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, the $1.1 billion one for three Israeli ‘Phalcon’ AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), and the Rs 8,000 crore project for 66 British Hawk AJTs (advanced jet trainers).
All these three deals, incidentally, have been facing some problems. While the Gorshkov contract is now being renegotiated, with Russia demanding an additional $2 billion, the delivery of the first Phalcon has been delayed by well over a year to May now.
MoD also recently floated a global tender for acquiring additional AJTs, virtually cancelling plans for a follow-on order for 40 more Hawks for IAF and 17 for Navy at a cost of around Rs 2,210 crore.
There is something about mega defence deals and the general elections. If the previous NDA regime inked a flurry of arms deals in the run-up to the 2004 general elections, the UPA government is doing pretty much the same this time.
First, in January, the UPA government covertly signed the biggestever defence deal with US in the shape of the around $2.1 billion contract for eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft for the Navy.
Despite having A K Antony as defence minister, who promises “transparency’’ at the drop of a hat, the government kept this deal under wraps till it was first reported by HNN a few days later.
Then, towards end-February, the defence ministry secretly inked the largest-ever deal with Israel in the form of the huge Rs 10,000-crore joint project to develop MR-SAM (medium-range surface-to-air missile) systems for IAF.
A month later, the defence ministry is still tight-lipped about the exact contours of the project, which include a staggering Rs 600 crore as “business charges’’. “We have nothing to say,’’ said a defence ministry (MoD) spokesperson, questioned about the project on Friday.
That the armed forces desperately need reconnaissance aircraft for maritime snooping as well as MR-SAM systems to bolster the country’s air defence cover is not disputed. Neither is the fact that both the projects were in the pipeline for a couple of years.
But eyebrows are being raised about the “propriety’’ of such deals being signed — and that too in a thoroughly opaque manner, as if the MoD had something to hide — in the run-up to the April 16-May 13 general elections.
“Technically, both the deals were signed before the model code of conduct came into force on March 2. But yes, the government should have been more open about them,’’ admitted a senior official.
Murky wheeling and dealing, commissions and kickbacks, of course, have always been an integral part of the armament procurement process, with political parties often being accused of using defence deals to swell their election war chests.
The NDA regime, too, had sealed a spate of defence deals just before the 2004 elections. They included the $1.5 billion package deal for Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, the $1.1 billion one for three Israeli ‘Phalcon’ AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), and the Rs 8,000 crore project for 66 British Hawk AJTs (advanced jet trainers).
All these three deals, incidentally, have been facing some problems. While the Gorshkov contract is now being renegotiated, with Russia demanding an additional $2 billion, the delivery of the first Phalcon has been delayed by well over a year to May now.
MoD also recently floated a global tender for acquiring additional AJTs, virtually cancelling plans for a follow-on order for 40 more Hawks for IAF and 17 for Navy at a cost of around Rs 2,210 crore.
Purandeswari faces uphill task
By Sai Kumar
Is Daggubati Purandeswari, aka ‘Chinnamma’, fighting a losing battle in Visakhapatnam? While Purandeswari is depending on history to bail her out in the prestigious Vizag LS constituency where non-locals have won comfortably in the past, she is up against a slew of factors which could lead to her downfall.
The fact that she was forced to enter the fray, much against her wish, from a constituency that boasts of nearly 80 per cent BC voters lends credence to the growing theory that state Congress satraps “fixed” her as they are unable to digest her growing clout in Delhi and AICC circles, more so with Madam Sonia Gandhi.
“Isn’t it very obvious that she is being made a scapegoat when she had a clear mandate in Narasaraopet, which was given to CM’s trusted lieutenant Balasoury? It’s a diabolic game played out by YSR to cut her to size,” a senior Congress leader said.
Yadavs, Thoorpu Kapus, Koppula Velamas, Gavaras and fishermen form a sizable BC electorate in Vizag whereas Kammas have a mere 8 per cent presence. “She will be swimming against the massive BC voter tide and it’s very unlikely she will come up trumps,” an analyst said. Also, Purandeswari, who is filing her nomination on March 30, has just 14 days at her disposal to win over the electorate. “Forget about campaigning, she has no clue about the LS boundaries and assembly segments. Her only saving grace could be Gajuwaka, which has over 40,000 Kamma voters,” a source said.
Purandeswari also has her task cut out since she’s up against TDP’s veteran leader MVVS Murthy, who is in the fray, and rebels in the form of two Congress sitting MLAs — Rangaraju and Karri Sitaram — who have openly declared that they would not campaign for a ‘non-local’.
Indications are rife that Vignan institute chairman L Rathaiah, a Kamma, who is likely to be PRP’s nominee, could eat into her votes. There are even reports that Chiranjeevi may field actor Krishnam Raju which could make it even tougher for her.
Sources said Purandeswari banked on Prakasam and Guntur districts which have sizable Kamma population. With Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and Magunta Srinivasula Reddy being firm on their Guntur and Ongole LS seats, she had only Narasaraopet, which was given to Balasoury on a platter. “Though Balasoury is a Kapu, his money power could swing voters in his favour in the Kamma-dominant Narasaraopet,” a source said.
“She can only take solace from the fact that many MPs who had won from Vizag were outsiders, yet the electorate had voted for them,” an analyst said. Among the MPs who had won from Vizag like Murthy (who won in 1999), Uma Gajapathiraju, T Subbarami Reddy and N Janardhan Reddy (all Congress) are non-locals. While Murthy is a native of Rajahmundry, both TSR and NJR hail from Nellore.
Is Daggubati Purandeswari, aka ‘Chinnamma’, fighting a losing battle in Visakhapatnam? While Purandeswari is depending on history to bail her out in the prestigious Vizag LS constituency where non-locals have won comfortably in the past, she is up against a slew of factors which could lead to her downfall.
The fact that she was forced to enter the fray, much against her wish, from a constituency that boasts of nearly 80 per cent BC voters lends credence to the growing theory that state Congress satraps “fixed” her as they are unable to digest her growing clout in Delhi and AICC circles, more so with Madam Sonia Gandhi.
“Isn’t it very obvious that she is being made a scapegoat when she had a clear mandate in Narasaraopet, which was given to CM’s trusted lieutenant Balasoury? It’s a diabolic game played out by YSR to cut her to size,” a senior Congress leader said.
Yadavs, Thoorpu Kapus, Koppula Velamas, Gavaras and fishermen form a sizable BC electorate in Vizag whereas Kammas have a mere 8 per cent presence. “She will be swimming against the massive BC voter tide and it’s very unlikely she will come up trumps,” an analyst said. Also, Purandeswari, who is filing her nomination on March 30, has just 14 days at her disposal to win over the electorate. “Forget about campaigning, she has no clue about the LS boundaries and assembly segments. Her only saving grace could be Gajuwaka, which has over 40,000 Kamma voters,” a source said.
Purandeswari also has her task cut out since she’s up against TDP’s veteran leader MVVS Murthy, who is in the fray, and rebels in the form of two Congress sitting MLAs — Rangaraju and Karri Sitaram — who have openly declared that they would not campaign for a ‘non-local’.
Indications are rife that Vignan institute chairman L Rathaiah, a Kamma, who is likely to be PRP’s nominee, could eat into her votes. There are even reports that Chiranjeevi may field actor Krishnam Raju which could make it even tougher for her.
Sources said Purandeswari banked on Prakasam and Guntur districts which have sizable Kamma population. With Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and Magunta Srinivasula Reddy being firm on their Guntur and Ongole LS seats, she had only Narasaraopet, which was given to Balasoury on a platter. “Though Balasoury is a Kapu, his money power could swing voters in his favour in the Kamma-dominant Narasaraopet,” a source said.
“She can only take solace from the fact that many MPs who had won from Vizag were outsiders, yet the electorate had voted for them,” an analyst said. Among the MPs who had won from Vizag like Murthy (who won in 1999), Uma Gajapathiraju, T Subbarami Reddy and N Janardhan Reddy (all Congress) are non-locals. While Murthy is a native of Rajahmundry, both TSR and NJR hail from Nellore.
FREEBIES POLL GALORE SKIPS ISSUES
By M H Ahssan
Free televisions from one party and free power from another to stir them to life. Cheap rice to fill stomachs and free Lord Balaji darshan to satiate the soul. Voters/votebanks labelled and wooed based on their caste identities. Election manifestos bursting with freebies and potential votebanks getting their ‘once-in-five-year’ attention. But for the average urban Hyderabadi, the ride home is getting bumpier and longer much like their nights, which they spend tossing and turning coping with unannounced power cuts. The candidate from their constituencies, however, is busy battling bigger battles— that of winning the hearts of people with sops, that would fade away sooner than the colour of party flags in the bright sun.
Urban voters, battling the stigma of being the non-voting class, say this is the most “populist election’’ ever. “While urban voters were never the focus, earlier the elections were less populist,’’ says Anuradha Gudur, programming head with a television channel. She says that from water shortage to a serious drainage problem in many urban parts of the city, there are many concerns which do not figure anywhere in the clutter of promises being made by candidates.
Sandeep Agarwal, owner of a supermarket chain, says he feels disappointed to see that there is no focus or even clarity on urban issues. “The twoday power cut for industries is affecting business of people like me as our suppliers are unable to deliver goods on time. As a Hyderabadi, I would like to get these issues sorted out,’’ he says.
Citizens like Prakash Sagar, an advertising professional, say that issues such as fighting it out with auto drivers for not using the meter could be a daily feature in the lives of many people but are clearly of no importance or significance to any candidate.
Voters note that in the last election it was only Congress that was wooing voters with sops and a complacent TDP hopeful of an easy comeback was refraining from it. Having learnt its lesson the hard way, TDP has promised colour televisions, 20 kg free rice to BPL families and even pensions. Congress, on its part increased per head quota of subsidised rice by 2 kg apart from promising “assured power supply’’ in its manifesto.
That schemes such as those of subsidised rice have led to hoarding and black marketing are issues predictably ignored.
But what has irked many thinking individuals is the war-like posture parties are taking and the complete lack of objectivity in debates.
That the parties’ criticism of each other is limited to a satire on the sops the rival party is giving and not about loopholes in a long-term visionary plan, is telling.
Citizen activist VBJ Chelikani Rao says that even televised debates with citizens like him revolve around either being “for’’ or “against’’ a certain party. “You cannot have an objective view,’’ he says, questioning how any of the prevailing rhetoric would improve the “quality of people’’. “Are we becoming any wiser with this experience? Are we solving the problems (that affect us),” he questions, adding that if this election is another occasion to beat up each other, the debate would never get alleviated.
The disappointment among activists such as Rao who are keeping a hawk’s eye on how the election is conducted is obvious even as citizens such as Gudur say “crucial issues are never discussed’’. Some citizens like Ramnagar resident Margaret Roberts, say they have no reason to cast their vote since they do not figure in the scheme of things of any party.
Free televisions from one party and free power from another to stir them to life. Cheap rice to fill stomachs and free Lord Balaji darshan to satiate the soul. Voters/votebanks labelled and wooed based on their caste identities. Election manifestos bursting with freebies and potential votebanks getting their ‘once-in-five-year’ attention. But for the average urban Hyderabadi, the ride home is getting bumpier and longer much like their nights, which they spend tossing and turning coping with unannounced power cuts. The candidate from their constituencies, however, is busy battling bigger battles— that of winning the hearts of people with sops, that would fade away sooner than the colour of party flags in the bright sun.
Urban voters, battling the stigma of being the non-voting class, say this is the most “populist election’’ ever. “While urban voters were never the focus, earlier the elections were less populist,’’ says Anuradha Gudur, programming head with a television channel. She says that from water shortage to a serious drainage problem in many urban parts of the city, there are many concerns which do not figure anywhere in the clutter of promises being made by candidates.
Sandeep Agarwal, owner of a supermarket chain, says he feels disappointed to see that there is no focus or even clarity on urban issues. “The twoday power cut for industries is affecting business of people like me as our suppliers are unable to deliver goods on time. As a Hyderabadi, I would like to get these issues sorted out,’’ he says.
Citizens like Prakash Sagar, an advertising professional, say that issues such as fighting it out with auto drivers for not using the meter could be a daily feature in the lives of many people but are clearly of no importance or significance to any candidate.
Voters note that in the last election it was only Congress that was wooing voters with sops and a complacent TDP hopeful of an easy comeback was refraining from it. Having learnt its lesson the hard way, TDP has promised colour televisions, 20 kg free rice to BPL families and even pensions. Congress, on its part increased per head quota of subsidised rice by 2 kg apart from promising “assured power supply’’ in its manifesto.
That schemes such as those of subsidised rice have led to hoarding and black marketing are issues predictably ignored.
But what has irked many thinking individuals is the war-like posture parties are taking and the complete lack of objectivity in debates.
That the parties’ criticism of each other is limited to a satire on the sops the rival party is giving and not about loopholes in a long-term visionary plan, is telling.
Citizen activist VBJ Chelikani Rao says that even televised debates with citizens like him revolve around either being “for’’ or “against’’ a certain party. “You cannot have an objective view,’’ he says, questioning how any of the prevailing rhetoric would improve the “quality of people’’. “Are we becoming any wiser with this experience? Are we solving the problems (that affect us),” he questions, adding that if this election is another occasion to beat up each other, the debate would never get alleviated.
The disappointment among activists such as Rao who are keeping a hawk’s eye on how the election is conducted is obvious even as citizens such as Gudur say “crucial issues are never discussed’’. Some citizens like Ramnagar resident Margaret Roberts, say they have no reason to cast their vote since they do not figure in the scheme of things of any party.
TRS candidate claims he paid Rs 10 cr for Sec’bad LS seat
By Ayaan Khan
In a telling example of the depths to which Indian politics has plunged to, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) candidate from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency S Venkat Reddy claimed that he secured the seat by paying Rs 10 crore to the party leaders.
This assertion— in full public view— came when he was confronted by rival candidates at the Telangana Bhavan who wanted to know how he managed the seat. The confrontation came soon after the fourth list of the TRS was announced on Friday. On hearing this, a failed aspirant S Rambabu and his men beat up Venkat and chased him out of the party office. Venkat is said to have suffered severe leg injuries.
Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat covers the better part of metro Hyderabad (including Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills) and has been allotted to the TRS by the grand alliance of TDP, CPM, CPI and the TRS. Analysts wondered how much Venkat would actually spend on electioneering, if he was willing to cough up Rs 10 crore to obtain the ticket. TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao was not available for comments. Analysts also asked if TDP, CPM and CPI would also like to carry the ‘moral burden’ of fielding such a man for a contest for the nation’s highest law making body.
Nothing much is known about Venkat Reddy’s antecedents, but sources said that he is a builder who had made a pile in the economic boom of 2005-07.
Venkat Reddy’s public confession is perhaps the first open indication of the money play in the elections. Sources at Telangana Bhavan said that one aspirant for the Serilingampally assembly seat (covering the IT district of Hi-Tech city and Gachibowli) which is yet to be announced by the TRS has allegedly paid the party leaders Rs 7 crore for securing the seat.
Pandemonium broke out at the TRS headquarters after the fourth list of candidates for the Lok Sabha and assembly seats were announced on Friday. Supporters of N Venkatesharlu who did not secure the Bhupalapalle assembly seat held TRS MP B Vinod Kumar responsible for his failed attempt and ransacked the MP’s house - 150 km away -in Warangal district and damaged the furniture.
The allotment of the Zaheerabad LS seat (that is in Greater Hyderabad’s adjoining district) to Syed Yusuf Ali, who had quit the TDP to join the TRS recently, triggered protests from followers of local leaders. Similarly, followers of S Laxma Reddy and P Raghupathi Rao, who were seeking tickets from Jadcherla and Gajwel assembly seats respectively, held protest demonstrations against denial of seats to their leaders.
Meanwhile, the TRS has named KCR’s son Taraka Rama Rao as its candidate for the Sircilla Assembly seat.
In a telling example of the depths to which Indian politics has plunged to, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) candidate from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency S Venkat Reddy claimed that he secured the seat by paying Rs 10 crore to the party leaders.
This assertion— in full public view— came when he was confronted by rival candidates at the Telangana Bhavan who wanted to know how he managed the seat. The confrontation came soon after the fourth list of the TRS was announced on Friday. On hearing this, a failed aspirant S Rambabu and his men beat up Venkat and chased him out of the party office. Venkat is said to have suffered severe leg injuries.
Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat covers the better part of metro Hyderabad (including Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills) and has been allotted to the TRS by the grand alliance of TDP, CPM, CPI and the TRS. Analysts wondered how much Venkat would actually spend on electioneering, if he was willing to cough up Rs 10 crore to obtain the ticket. TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao was not available for comments. Analysts also asked if TDP, CPM and CPI would also like to carry the ‘moral burden’ of fielding such a man for a contest for the nation’s highest law making body.
Nothing much is known about Venkat Reddy’s antecedents, but sources said that he is a builder who had made a pile in the economic boom of 2005-07.
Venkat Reddy’s public confession is perhaps the first open indication of the money play in the elections. Sources at Telangana Bhavan said that one aspirant for the Serilingampally assembly seat (covering the IT district of Hi-Tech city and Gachibowli) which is yet to be announced by the TRS has allegedly paid the party leaders Rs 7 crore for securing the seat.
Pandemonium broke out at the TRS headquarters after the fourth list of candidates for the Lok Sabha and assembly seats were announced on Friday. Supporters of N Venkatesharlu who did not secure the Bhupalapalle assembly seat held TRS MP B Vinod Kumar responsible for his failed attempt and ransacked the MP’s house - 150 km away -in Warangal district and damaged the furniture.
The allotment of the Zaheerabad LS seat (that is in Greater Hyderabad’s adjoining district) to Syed Yusuf Ali, who had quit the TDP to join the TRS recently, triggered protests from followers of local leaders. Similarly, followers of S Laxma Reddy and P Raghupathi Rao, who were seeking tickets from Jadcherla and Gajwel assembly seats respectively, held protest demonstrations against denial of seats to their leaders.
Meanwhile, the TRS has named KCR’s son Taraka Rama Rao as its candidate for the Sircilla Assembly seat.
Face the Elections: Power bigger than ideology
By M H Ahssan
As the race for the 15th Lok Sabha gains momentum, political posturing, too, is picking pace. Allies of the two major national parties – Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – have been bargaining hard and some of then have even walked out of the alliances.
While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has shrunk from a 23-party coalition to just six now, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance is in no better shape. After the seat sharing fiasco in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Congress has decided to go alone in the two states even as the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Jan Shakti Party and Samajwadi Party on Thursday decided fight the elections as one block.
In more bad news for the Congress, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss's party, the Pattali Makal Katchi (PMK) with six Lok Sabha seats, has switched sides once again. PMK will contest the elections in partnership with J Jayalalithaa's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
With new alliance being formed every day, CNN-IBN’s Face the Elections debated: Alliance mela: Do the 2009 elections show an end of ideology?
The panelists included Congress leader and Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal and BJP MP and Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad and the debate was moderated by Senior Editor Sagarika Ghose.
At the start of the programme 81 per cent agreed while 19 per cent disagreed that the 2009 elections show an end of ideology
The Congress, which was sitting pretty just a few days ago, is now left with allies who are either fickle (Mamata Banerjee) or eyeing the top job (Shard Pawar) or are losing support (M Karunanidhi).
Kapil Sibal did not agree and instead claimed that it is the BJP which should be worried about allies deserting it.
“I think the Opposition should be more worried than us because at least those we are fighting in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have publicly stated that they will continue with the UPA. Ultimately they will be with us. So I don’t think we have lost anything. It is the NDA which has lost because from 23 coalition partners they have been reduced to six. We are not worried and frankly we have had an additional alliance with Mamata in West Bengal. So we have not lost anybody other than the PMK. I am sure the PMK is like a stream out of river and it will join the river back after the elections,” claimed Sibal.
Congress seems confident of getting the support of many parties who have left it as they have already backed Manmohan Singh’s candidature as for the post of prime minister. However, in the NDA not many want LK Advani as the prime minister. After Biju Janata Dal (BJD) walked out of the NDA in Orissa, the only major alliance partner is the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar. So Bihar must deliver for the NDA even as there have been miniscule gains in Haryana with the Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Lok Dal (NLD) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam.
Prasad began by giving a breakdown of the UPA partners claiming the Congress-led front was steadily losing ground.
“I can understand that Kapil has to undertake some self-consolation as it is a bad time for Congress. The UPA which was an opportunist amalgamation created in 2004 has disintegrated completely before the 2009 elections. Congress was give just nine seats in Uttar Pradesh (six) and Bihar (three) combined out of the 120 seats. In entire Eastern India they have just Mamata who is in alliance but not an ally. In North India they have no alliance; in West they have Sharad Pawar who is not an ally because of his prime ministerial ambition. In South except for Karunanidhi they have no alliance,” Prasad said
“As far as NDA is concerned, JD (U) is with us, Akali Dal is with us, Shiv Sena is with us, Chautala and AGP have joined us. UPA’s PM candidate is still uncertain but here it is Advani,” added Prasad.
The Congress has also been accused of not treating its alliance partners as equals. Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday in an election rally in Puducherry said that it would be “detrimental for Congress to fight elections with allies like RJD and Samajwadi Party in Bihar and UP”. So should words like detrimental be used for key allies like the RJD, and should not the Congress be more equal with its allies?
Sibal retorted by saying that the Congress is a national party and always cannot bow down to its alliance partners.
“It is misrepresentation of what Rahul said. In Bihar we fought four seats last time and won three. This time with any reference to us we were handed just three seats. If a regional party in Bihar wants to make sure that the national party has no presence in the state it means they want to pressurise the national party after the elections for many things. If we continue to accept what our allies are saying then we will become extinct in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi is absolutely right that to retain our presence as national party we need to fight more seats in Bihar,” argued Sibal.
Sibal continued saying the only way for Congress to rebuild itself was to contest more seats.
“If we fight just three seats if Bihar, there is no way we can build our party structure in Bihar. If we fight in only three seats and not in 37 or 40 seats, the Congress workers will be taken over by the RJD, Paswan’s party or to Nitish Kumar. Rahul Gandhi is absolutely right that we want to build in states where the regional parties want to throw us out,” said Sibal.
On the other hand the NDA , too, does not seem to be in better shape. The NDA was a 13-party alliance in 1998 and in 1999 it had 23 parties with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the leader. Now the BJP does not have a Vajpayee-like persona who can keep together ideologically disparate groups. BJP’s communal tag is driving away allies. The absence of a consensus–building figure like Vajpayee seems to the BJP’s biggest problem.
Prasad countered by arguing that Advani has the support of all NDA partners.
“Vajpayeeji’s blessings are always there and he has blessed Advaniji. Advaniji today is the declared and unquestionable prime ministerial candidate of the BJP and the NDA. NDA is intact and stands for new India. But Congress is being decimated. Congress is being marginalised and allies are deserting it. Congress is not a bankable cheque as far as allies are concerned. It is not in the DNA of the Congress to accommodate allies,” said Prasad.
Sibal shot back at Prasad saying it is the BJP that will struggle to keep its partners in days to come
“Prasad says Congress is not a bankable cheque. But look at the NDA. Out of 23 partners they are now left with just six. But he still calls the BJP bankable. The fact is even today Mulayam Singh, Amar Singh and Lok Jan Shakti Party say they have faith in the UPA and will continue to be with the Congress. Despite the fact that we are fighting against each other, they trust us. They are not leaving us. All secular parties will get together to fight communal forces. When the elections results come out, the six parties left with the BJP will also run away. Advaniji will continue to be the prime minister-in-waiting,” he said.
BJP built its alliance on the anti-Congress agenda. But it is proving to be a very weak force now. Perhaps only the Telugu Desam Party will never join the Congress but other parties may have no problems in supporting the UPA. Parties who have minority votes have problems with BJP. Only the Shiv Sena and the Akalis look like never leaving the BJP.
Prasad countered by saying, “AGP and Chautala’s party have joined us. The UPA came to power in 2004 and since then except for Assam, Rajasthan and Delhi the Congress has lost all state elections. Anti-Congress agenda is not dead. Naveen Patnaik, Chandrababu Naidu and AIADMK are anti-Congress. If Kapil Sibal is so sure that they will fight against each other and come together after the elections then they are fooling the people of the country. Only NDA can deliver.”
Sibal concluded by taking a dig at the NDA.
“The NDA today has 172 seats. How they will deliver and when they will deliver? Maybe they will have to wait till 2018 if at all they have a chance,” he said.
As the race for the 15th Lok Sabha gains momentum, political posturing, too, is picking pace. Allies of the two major national parties – Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – have been bargaining hard and some of then have even walked out of the alliances.While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has shrunk from a 23-party coalition to just six now, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance is in no better shape. After the seat sharing fiasco in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Congress has decided to go alone in the two states even as the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Jan Shakti Party and Samajwadi Party on Thursday decided fight the elections as one block.
In more bad news for the Congress, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss's party, the Pattali Makal Katchi (PMK) with six Lok Sabha seats, has switched sides once again. PMK will contest the elections in partnership with J Jayalalithaa's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
With new alliance being formed every day, CNN-IBN’s Face the Elections debated: Alliance mela: Do the 2009 elections show an end of ideology?
The panelists included Congress leader and Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal and BJP MP and Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad and the debate was moderated by Senior Editor Sagarika Ghose.
At the start of the programme 81 per cent agreed while 19 per cent disagreed that the 2009 elections show an end of ideology
The Congress, which was sitting pretty just a few days ago, is now left with allies who are either fickle (Mamata Banerjee) or eyeing the top job (Shard Pawar) or are losing support (M Karunanidhi).
Kapil Sibal did not agree and instead claimed that it is the BJP which should be worried about allies deserting it.
“I think the Opposition should be more worried than us because at least those we are fighting in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have publicly stated that they will continue with the UPA. Ultimately they will be with us. So I don’t think we have lost anything. It is the NDA which has lost because from 23 coalition partners they have been reduced to six. We are not worried and frankly we have had an additional alliance with Mamata in West Bengal. So we have not lost anybody other than the PMK. I am sure the PMK is like a stream out of river and it will join the river back after the elections,” claimed Sibal.
Congress seems confident of getting the support of many parties who have left it as they have already backed Manmohan Singh’s candidature as for the post of prime minister. However, in the NDA not many want LK Advani as the prime minister. After Biju Janata Dal (BJD) walked out of the NDA in Orissa, the only major alliance partner is the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar. So Bihar must deliver for the NDA even as there have been miniscule gains in Haryana with the Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Lok Dal (NLD) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam.
Prasad began by giving a breakdown of the UPA partners claiming the Congress-led front was steadily losing ground.
“I can understand that Kapil has to undertake some self-consolation as it is a bad time for Congress. The UPA which was an opportunist amalgamation created in 2004 has disintegrated completely before the 2009 elections. Congress was give just nine seats in Uttar Pradesh (six) and Bihar (three) combined out of the 120 seats. In entire Eastern India they have just Mamata who is in alliance but not an ally. In North India they have no alliance; in West they have Sharad Pawar who is not an ally because of his prime ministerial ambition. In South except for Karunanidhi they have no alliance,” Prasad said
“As far as NDA is concerned, JD (U) is with us, Akali Dal is with us, Shiv Sena is with us, Chautala and AGP have joined us. UPA’s PM candidate is still uncertain but here it is Advani,” added Prasad.
The Congress has also been accused of not treating its alliance partners as equals. Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday in an election rally in Puducherry said that it would be “detrimental for Congress to fight elections with allies like RJD and Samajwadi Party in Bihar and UP”. So should words like detrimental be used for key allies like the RJD, and should not the Congress be more equal with its allies?
Sibal retorted by saying that the Congress is a national party and always cannot bow down to its alliance partners.
“It is misrepresentation of what Rahul said. In Bihar we fought four seats last time and won three. This time with any reference to us we were handed just three seats. If a regional party in Bihar wants to make sure that the national party has no presence in the state it means they want to pressurise the national party after the elections for many things. If we continue to accept what our allies are saying then we will become extinct in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi is absolutely right that to retain our presence as national party we need to fight more seats in Bihar,” argued Sibal.
Sibal continued saying the only way for Congress to rebuild itself was to contest more seats.
“If we fight just three seats if Bihar, there is no way we can build our party structure in Bihar. If we fight in only three seats and not in 37 or 40 seats, the Congress workers will be taken over by the RJD, Paswan’s party or to Nitish Kumar. Rahul Gandhi is absolutely right that we want to build in states where the regional parties want to throw us out,” said Sibal.
On the other hand the NDA , too, does not seem to be in better shape. The NDA was a 13-party alliance in 1998 and in 1999 it had 23 parties with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the leader. Now the BJP does not have a Vajpayee-like persona who can keep together ideologically disparate groups. BJP’s communal tag is driving away allies. The absence of a consensus–building figure like Vajpayee seems to the BJP’s biggest problem.
Prasad countered by arguing that Advani has the support of all NDA partners.
“Vajpayeeji’s blessings are always there and he has blessed Advaniji. Advaniji today is the declared and unquestionable prime ministerial candidate of the BJP and the NDA. NDA is intact and stands for new India. But Congress is being decimated. Congress is being marginalised and allies are deserting it. Congress is not a bankable cheque as far as allies are concerned. It is not in the DNA of the Congress to accommodate allies,” said Prasad.
Sibal shot back at Prasad saying it is the BJP that will struggle to keep its partners in days to come
“Prasad says Congress is not a bankable cheque. But look at the NDA. Out of 23 partners they are now left with just six. But he still calls the BJP bankable. The fact is even today Mulayam Singh, Amar Singh and Lok Jan Shakti Party say they have faith in the UPA and will continue to be with the Congress. Despite the fact that we are fighting against each other, they trust us. They are not leaving us. All secular parties will get together to fight communal forces. When the elections results come out, the six parties left with the BJP will also run away. Advaniji will continue to be the prime minister-in-waiting,” he said.
BJP built its alliance on the anti-Congress agenda. But it is proving to be a very weak force now. Perhaps only the Telugu Desam Party will never join the Congress but other parties may have no problems in supporting the UPA. Parties who have minority votes have problems with BJP. Only the Shiv Sena and the Akalis look like never leaving the BJP.
Prasad countered by saying, “AGP and Chautala’s party have joined us. The UPA came to power in 2004 and since then except for Assam, Rajasthan and Delhi the Congress has lost all state elections. Anti-Congress agenda is not dead. Naveen Patnaik, Chandrababu Naidu and AIADMK are anti-Congress. If Kapil Sibal is so sure that they will fight against each other and come together after the elections then they are fooling the people of the country. Only NDA can deliver.”
Sibal concluded by taking a dig at the NDA.
“The NDA today has 172 seats. How they will deliver and when they will deliver? Maybe they will have to wait till 2018 if at all they have a chance,” he said.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
UGADI - Telugu New Year
By M H Ahssan
The New year festival or Ugadi comes close on the heels of Holi. While the strong colors of Holi start fading away, the freshness of spring lingers on with sprightliness all around. The flame of the forest (trees with bright red flowers that blossom during holi) are in full bloom signifying an affluent season.It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaitra suddha padhyami or the Ugadi day. Also the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya's calculations proclaimed the Ugadi day from the sunrise on as the beginning of the new year, new month and new day.
The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants (barren until now) acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. Spring is considered the first season of the year hence also heralding a new year and a new beginning. The vibrancy of life and verdent fields, meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and well-being.
With the coming of Ugadi, the naturally perfumed jasmines (mallepulu) spread a sweet fragrance which is perhaps unmatched by any other in nature's own creation! While large garlands of jasmine are offered to Gods in homes and temples, jasmine flowers woven in clusters adorn the braids of women.
Predictions of the Year: Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. It is a day when mantras are chanted and predictions made for the new year. Traditionally, the panchangasravanam or listening to the yearly calendar was done at the temples or at the Town square but with the onset of modern technology, one can get to hear the priest-scholar on television sets right in one's living room.
It is a season for raw mangoes spreading its aroma in the air and the fully blossomed neem tree that makes the air healthy. Also, jaggery made with fresh crop of sugarcane adds a renewed flavor to the typical dishes associated with Ugadi. "Ugadi pachchadi" is one such dish that has become synonymous with Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tanarind which truly reflect life - a combination of sweet, sour and bitter tastes!
Preparing for the Occasion: Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of excitement.
Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervor in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. While it is called Ugadi in A.P. and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadava". On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. It is said that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes. As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway signifying a good crop and general well-being.
It is noteworthy that we use mango leaves and coconuts (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods. People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colorful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the new year. They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.
The celebration of Ugadi is marked by religious zeal and social merriment. Special dishes are prepared for the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as "pulihora", "bobbatlu" and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called "puliogure" and "holige". The Maharashtrians make "puran poli" or sweet rotis.
Season For Pickles: With the raw mango available in abundance only during the two months (of April/May), people in Andhra Pradesh make good use of mangoes to last them until the next season. They pickle the mangoes with salt, powdered mustard and powdered dry red chilli and a lot of oil to float over the mangoes. This preparation is called "avakai" and lasts for a whole year.
Mangoes and summer season go hand in hand. Ugadi thus marks the beginning of the hot season which coincides with the school vacations. For the young ones, therefore, Ugadi is characterised by new clothes, sumptuous food and revelling. The air is filled with joy, enthusiasm and gaiety. Some people participate in social community gatherings and enjoy a tranquil evening with devotional songs (bhajans).
The New year festival or Ugadi comes close on the heels of Holi. While the strong colors of Holi start fading away, the freshness of spring lingers on with sprightliness all around. The flame of the forest (trees with bright red flowers that blossom during holi) are in full bloom signifying an affluent season.It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaitra suddha padhyami or the Ugadi day. Also the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya's calculations proclaimed the Ugadi day from the sunrise on as the beginning of the new year, new month and new day.
The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants (barren until now) acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. Spring is considered the first season of the year hence also heralding a new year and a new beginning. The vibrancy of life and verdent fields, meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and well-being.
With the coming of Ugadi, the naturally perfumed jasmines (mallepulu) spread a sweet fragrance which is perhaps unmatched by any other in nature's own creation! While large garlands of jasmine are offered to Gods in homes and temples, jasmine flowers woven in clusters adorn the braids of women.
Predictions of the Year: Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. It is a day when mantras are chanted and predictions made for the new year. Traditionally, the panchangasravanam or listening to the yearly calendar was done at the temples or at the Town square but with the onset of modern technology, one can get to hear the priest-scholar on television sets right in one's living room.
It is a season for raw mangoes spreading its aroma in the air and the fully blossomed neem tree that makes the air healthy. Also, jaggery made with fresh crop of sugarcane adds a renewed flavor to the typical dishes associated with Ugadi. "Ugadi pachchadi" is one such dish that has become synonymous with Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tanarind which truly reflect life - a combination of sweet, sour and bitter tastes!
Preparing for the Occasion: Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of excitement.
Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervor in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. While it is called Ugadi in A.P. and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadava". On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. It is said that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes. As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway signifying a good crop and general well-being.
It is noteworthy that we use mango leaves and coconuts (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods. People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colorful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the new year. They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.
The celebration of Ugadi is marked by religious zeal and social merriment. Special dishes are prepared for the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as "pulihora", "bobbatlu" and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called "puliogure" and "holige". The Maharashtrians make "puran poli" or sweet rotis.
Season For Pickles: With the raw mango available in abundance only during the two months (of April/May), people in Andhra Pradesh make good use of mangoes to last them until the next season. They pickle the mangoes with salt, powdered mustard and powdered dry red chilli and a lot of oil to float over the mangoes. This preparation is called "avakai" and lasts for a whole year.
Mangoes and summer season go hand in hand. Ugadi thus marks the beginning of the hot season which coincides with the school vacations. For the young ones, therefore, Ugadi is characterised by new clothes, sumptuous food and revelling. The air is filled with joy, enthusiasm and gaiety. Some people participate in social community gatherings and enjoy a tranquil evening with devotional songs (bhajans).
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