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YouTube - Iran election. Riot in tehran streets after election day - 13/06/09

YouTube - Iran election. Riot in tehran streets after election day - 13/06/09: "Iran election. Riot in tehran streets after election day - 13/06/09 Meydane Vanak. 4pm 23 khordad"

eBay India: Book: Buddhism For Dummies (item 260419914726 end time 06-Jun-2009 21:26:19 IST)

eBay India: Book: Buddhism For Dummies (item 260419914726 end time 06-Jun-2009 21:26:19 IST): "From the outside, Buddhism seems like a bundle of contradictions wrapped inside a paradox. It is a religion without a god, a belief system without rules, and a faith that encourages its adherents to question everything, including its own teachings. You could spend a lifetime studying Buddhist texts and following its observances and still feel like you’ve only just barely scratched the surface. Yet, over the past 2500 years, this lovely religion that preaches compassion, generosity, tolerance, selflessness and self-awareness has commanded the fervent devotion of hundreds of millions of people around the world who believe it to be the true path to enlightenment."

Why do some people say the Bible is full of contradictions and others say there are none? - Yahoo! Answers

Why do some people say the Bible is full of contradictions and others say there are none? - Yahoo! Answers: "Why do some people say the Bible is full of contradictions and others say there are none?"

Why did the cow cross the road?: The contradictions of India

Why did the cow cross the road?: The contradictions of India: "The contradictions of India
I’ve been in India now for just about three weeks and have been struggling with how to describe it, except as enormous - with 1.2 billion people. The most accurate thing I can say is that for any generalization I want to make, the opposite can also be proven. A few truisms -- many things do not make sense, a lot of patience is required, getting things done is complicated, and the food is excellent. My apologies in advance for not being able to summarize my experiences better and rambling on and on."

Obamas get tips from Nancy Reagan... on hosting parties | Mail Online

Obamas get tips from Nancy Reagan... on hosting parties Mail Online: "Nancy Reagan, the ultra-conservative wife of former President Ronald Reagan, has been counselling the new First Family in the art of White House entertaining.Mrs Reagan, who was criticised during her reign at the White House for lavish parties and accepting £1.85million in gifts and loans of dresses and jewellery, has had a 45-minute conversation with Michelle Obama.Mrs Reagan"

North Korea Threat Makes for Strange Bedfellows // Current

North Korea Threat Makes for Strange Bedfellows // Current: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates Saturday began to lay the groundwork for building up U.S. and allied military defenses in East Asia should the Obama administration fail to convince China and Russia to join in a multilateral diplomatic response to North Korea's nuclear test."

What are the President's options?

What are the President's options?: "President Patil is all set for her first political test of neutrality. With a hung Parliament widely expected, she has three options:
Invite the single largest party
Invite the single largest pre-poll alliance
Invite the largest post-poll formation with letters of support
She has been studying what her predecessors did in similar situations."

The worst is still to follow

The election campaign saw promises made, candidates killed, alliances broken, allies switch sides, Left turning Right and Right going ultra-Right. The real issues which bother millions of Indians were pushed away in the dark. No one talked of health, education and poverty. No one wanted to discuss development. There were no takers for issues like female foeticide (sex ratio in some states have dropped to 800:1000), women's rights, farmers' debts, child labour, crimes against Dalits, corruption, civil rights or ecologically disastrous projects. Issues, if redressed, could change the way people lived in India. Probably, our politicians do not want to change the way our masses live. Not a sane voice was heard. In fact even humanitarian crises were addressed with an eye to votes (AIADMK and DMK did talk about the massacre of Tamils in Sri Lanka).
The worst is still to follow. Come May 16 and there will be an unabashed struggle to form the government. The true faces of those who talk about secularism, morality and issue-based support will be seen on every news channel. There will be horse trading, charges and counter-charges. Indian democracy will be in full glare for the world to see.

Three routes to Power

The various exit and post-poll projections bring out an extraordinary feature of the 15th general election. At least three very different kinds of governments are possible as we stand a few steps from the finishing line. While different projections vary on detail and break-ups, they agree on some basic points.
One, none of the major alliances is anywhere close to a majority. None can reach the majority mark by simply adding an ally or two; the new government has to be made up of many pieces. Two, it is difficult to say with certainty which of the two big alliances, or the two big parties, will finish ahead of its rival. The race appears too close to call even at this stage, given the limitations in the information at our command. On balance though, the UPA appears to have an edge over the NDA. Three, no government can be formed without involving either the Congress or the BJP. While different polls offer different estimates for these two, they agree that together, the two big parties will control nearly 300 seats. While we cannot rule out a non- Congress, non-BJP government, it will have to depend on either the Congress or the BJP for support.

JHU calls for Asian Security system | Asian Tribune

JHU calls for Asian Security system Asian Tribune: "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier appealed to SAARC countries to help curb terrorism in the region. But the problem is, has India a clearly defined policy on this issue? Concerning terrorism in Sri Lanka, New Delhi’s dilemma is akin to a situation where the tail is wagging the dog, especially at election time. The tail needless to say is Tamil Nadu jingoism, which is like a beggar’s wound - never heals. A pro-LTTE mob attacks an Indian military convoy thinking that it is transporting weapons to Sri Lanka. But Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram tells NDTV television channel:
'We do not wish Prabhakaran ill.'
How come the Minister does not wish ill to a terrorist leader wanted by the Indian Government for plotting the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi? Perhaps the minister is pretending to be a Buddha or a Mahathma Gandhi. Chidambaram is more worried about China forging stronger ties with Sri Lanka through military and economic assistance than condemning Prabhakaran. The Indian Home Minister told Jeremy Page of the London Times. 'China is fishing in troubled waters.'"

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Sri Lanka impacts India elections

BBC NEWS South Asia Sri Lanka impacts India elections: "The continuing Sri Lankan crisis has become an election issue in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
There is frustration among some Tamils at the way the Indian government in Delhi has responded to the situation and the killing of so many civilians.
Tamil Nadu goes to the polls in the final round of the Indian general elections on Wednesday."

Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations: "Amid Death in Sri Lanka, UN Wedding in New York, Ban's Visit Delay Questioned
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS, May 11 -- As in Sri Lanka Saturday bombs rained down on the supposed Safe Zone, in New York UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon prepared to celebrate the wedding of his son, Ban Woo-hyun. The ceremony was kept secret. South Korean media quoted an unnamed Ban aide that “Ban may have thought that an ostentatious wedding party for his son would be inappropriate.”

Well, yes. Earlier in the week, in the run-up to what even the UN had predicted as a “bloodbath on the beach” in Northern Sri Lanka, Ban had been invited to visit the country. His spokesperson Michele Montas said that if Ban thought it would save civilian lives, he would go. Inner City Press, having been told by well-placed Security Council sources that Ban would not be going in the coming days for scheduling reasons, inquired into this at two separate UN noon briefings and otherwise."

Rights body to UN: Prosecute Rajapaksa - India - The Times of India

Rights body to UN: Prosecute Rajapaksa - India - The Times of India: "The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), a leading human rights group, has approached the UN Security Council with a plea to launch military intervention in the war in Sri Lanka in view of the threat to the lives of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils who face the prospect of being bombed to death or even die due to starvation and lack of medical care."

The Hindu Business Line : Lanka Tamils’ issue dominates TN campaign

The Hindu Business Line : Lanka Tamils’ issue dominates TN campaign: "Chennai: Curtains came down on Monday on the no-holds-barred campaign for the May 13 Lok Sabha poll in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Though it appeared to be a lacklustre campaign, in the absence of a clear political wave, there is no gainsaying the election was fiercely fought."

UN attacks Sri Lanka war

The UN condemned attacks in Sri Lanka as a "bloodbath" today as a doctor inside the no-fire zone estimated up to 1,400 people may have been killed in two days of air and artillery attacks.
Dr V Shanmugarajah said 381 bodies had been brought to the temporary hospital inside the government safe zone yesterday (above) and another 55 todaytoday. He said shells were still falling on the area in which civilians were sheltering. "Still the shelling continues and the fighting is going on," he said, adding that reports from survivors led him to believe a further 1,000 people could have died.
His report came as the UN said the bloodbath it had feared since the government launched its all-out campaign to destroy the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was now a reality. "We have been consistently warning against a bloodbath, and the large-scale killing of civilians, including more than 100 children this weekend, appears to show the bloodbath has become a reality," Gordon Weiss, a UN spokesman, said.

We will secure equal status for Sri Lankan Tamils: Sonia - Indiaelections2009 – News – MSN India - News

We will secure equal status for Sri Lankan Tamils: Sonia - Indiaelections2009 – News – MSN India - News: "We will secure equal status for Sri Lankan Tamils: Sonia
Chennai: Expressing anguish over the plight of the Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said here Sunday that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would work to secure equal status and equal rights for them.

'Our ultimate goal is to secure for Tamil people (in Sri Lanka) equal status and equal rights,' Gandhi said at an election rally where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi was also present."

Vijaykanth - the black MGR of Tamil Nadu politics - AOL India South Cinema - Story page

Vijaykanth - the black MGR of Tamil Nadu politics - AOL India South Cinema - Story page: "Tamil movie hero-turned-politician Vijaykanth is known to have performed stunts in films without a duplicate. In these Lok Sabha polls too, he and his party DMDK are going solo. And all eyes are on the 56-year-old man known as 'Karuppu (Black) MGR'.
Political circles are debating the impact of the 'V' (Vijaykant) factor on their fortunes. Balloting will be held for all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu May 13.
The DMDK is hoping to increase its vote share to 20 percent in this ballot, up from the 8.3 percent it got in the 2006 assembly elections, the DMDK's K. Pandiarajan told IANS.
Can Vijaykanth repeat what hero-turned-politician M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) achieved in the 1970s and 1980s?"

Tamil Nadu » India Elections 2009 : Lok Sabha Elections 2009 Results, MP Elections 2009, General Elections 2009, General Elections India, LK Advani, Sonia Gandhi,Indian Elections,Election,India General Elections Results 2009,Congr

Tamil Nadu » India Elections 2009 : Lok Sabha Elections 2009 Results, MP Elections 2009, General Elections 2009, General Elections India, LK Advani, Sonia Gandhi,Indian Elections,Election,India General Elections Results 2009,Congr: "It is going to be tough decision to elect their MPs.
Both DMK and ADMK are not much favoured parties among common people. But people does have a choice to elect someone other than from DMK,ADMK,CPI etc., People dont believe Vijaykanth. Hence the success of DMK and ADMK alliance will most depend on how they organise to bring the voters to polling booth. Considering various factors, it will be 60:40 for DMK and ADMK ie 24seats for DMK combine and 16 for ADMK"

Democracy corrupted, voters sell their vote in India

Democracy corrupted, voters sell their vote in India: "New Delhi: They may be among India's best performing states, but when it comes to elections, a very large number of voters in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu take bribes to vote. So says the Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies.
Similar bribery is also endemic in areas of influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the study indicates. States ruled by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) fare slightly better.
However, similar corruption is least in states governed by the Left, says the survey conducted among 41,000 voters in 19 states and billed as the first-ever empirical study on cash for votes.
The bribe taking voters also come from all sections of society: urban and rural, the poor and not-so-poor, as well as the educated and the barely literate, says CMS."

VOTEINDIA

VOTEINDIA: "Come elections, we see the same old story - booth capturing, poll violence, vote buying, muscle power, communal polarization, vote bank politics…


Post elections, power may change hands, but the system remains scarily indifferent. Corruption, red tape, government apathy, criminalization of politics and a lack of governance and accountability exclude the possibility of real change.


It's time we stopped being silent spectators.
It's time we ensured that candidates with criminal records do not get elected.
It's time we made our vote count."

Can Independents win votes?

What is wrong with parties?
If you are passionate about your ideals and want to make a difference in politics, then why not join a party and have a genuine chance of realising your ambition?
“One of my major issues is that all parties take in criminals and all of them take as bedfellows whose ideologies are completely contradictory to what they profess,” said Sarabhai, who has challenged BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani in Gandhinagar.
Sanyal is pitted against Congress leader Milind Deora and Shiv Sena politician Mohan Ravale. Does she really have a chance against these organised parties?
“I think my chances are quite high. My issues are about Mumbai. I am not standing against Milind Deora or Mohan Ravale. I am standing for Mumbai. If their party system is strong what have they delivered for Mumbai, that is the question,” said Sanyal.
“I do not feel fazed by the fact that I am an Independent–what I am independent from is the apathy of politics, the criminalisation of politics and from the corruption we see all around us.”

Sarathbabu.E - Independant Candidate, South Chennai

Sarathbabu. E,
Independent Candidate, South Chennai
Thank you very much for attending the Press Meet amidst your busy schedule. Indeed your presence means a lot for me and it would accelerate my future plans and actions.
India, one of the world’s largest and youngest democratic nations which predominantly depend upon the policy makers for its development, is facing turmoil in these modern days. It seems India would easily be the only nation where we have 1000 political parties with 10,000 ideologies and 10 lakhs aspirants aiming for Prime ministerial post. Isn’t it an inappropriate thing to expect these people to work for the welfare of our country? Can we call ourselves unfortunate if we get carried away by the promises of our politicians? We can do better than blaming them for our suffering. We don’t need any new ideology to architect a new India. What we need is a single minded pursuit for excellence in all aspects of the growth of our country.
Our honourable former president, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has visualized a road map for the development of India as a better society. With the inputs from TIFAC (Technology, Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council) he scripted what the policy makers are expected to do in all relevant sectors. If we follow his sermon of “dreaming, transforming dreams to thoughts and thoughts into actions”, crores and crores of our people would be benefitted. In other words, it is high time that all of us not just aspire for developmental politics but witness it for real. We need educated and selfless youth to drive this country to the next developmental phase. Instead of looking at politics as someone else’s job and act as if we just have to enjoy luxuries of a comfortable life, the youth with dynamic personalities should come forward with courage and get into active politics.
As I am insisting on ‘WE’ and ‘ALL’, I will need to take the initiative first. I would like to take the road map defined by our noble leaders. I strongly believe that I would be able to make the difference with my efforts. I am not entering politics to earn name or fame as I already that with what I have done. Then why am I entering politics? I am entering politics because to make my society a much better place for my fellow human beings. Only with this selfless attitude, I am aspiring to be a part of legislative body. I wish to do politics the way it was intended to be done. With equal pride and humility I wish to assure you, that my victory will be definitely looked upon by honest people and common people as their victory. It would unleash new energy from the youth and educated people who will help our country grow further. Let us all take a vow to teach the political parties that it is time to focus on growth and development. It is the youth’s turn this time to make the positive difference we deserve.
With this note, I request all South Chennai constituency voters to vote without bias for any party, caste or religion and elect the candidate who they think would definitely do what they deserve and the country needs.
JAI HIND

Whom to vote?

Are people making up their minds?
All political parties have done their best to exploit Problems of Srilankan tamils
Hypocracy has been the name of the Game...
The major parties dmk & congress could have done better...but have stopped short of lip sympathy..
admk, bjp..... though never bothered all along...now sing different songs...
Are people aware of it? Yes it looks like everyone understands...but..let us see on 13th may?

ELECTION EYE - Karunanidhi fasts over Sri Lanka | Reuters

ELECTION EYE - Karunanidhi fasts over Sri Lanka Reuters: "* M. Karunanidhi, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, began an indefinite fast to protest against the Sri Lankan government, after they rejected an unilateral ceasefire announced by the Tamil Tigers. Two other ministers also joined the 84-year-old Karunanidhi in the fast. (CNN-IBN news channel)
Coming in the middle of elections, the government faces pressure to protect Tamils, who are closely linked to about 60 million Tamils in the state across a narrow strait from Sri Lanka.
Karunanidhi's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), an ally of India's ruling coalition, has upped the rhetoric against the Sri Lankan military in the hope of appealing to Tamil voters."

Indian elections pass halfway stage

Indian elections pass halfway stage: "MUMBAI: India's marathon general election passes the halfway stage Thursday, with Mumbai entering the fray barely five months on from the deadly Islamist militant attacks on the city.

Ten seats in India's lower house of parliament are up for grabs in India's financial and entertainment capital, which has seen an increase in 'white collar' political activism since the November strikes that killed 166.

In Mumbai and Maharashtra state, that has meant support for right-wing Hindu parties like Shiv Sena and its offshoot the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which both push a strong line on protecting local Marathi culture and language.

Among the 11 states voting on Thursday are parts of impoverished Bihar and populous Uttar Pradesh in the north, Gujarat in the west, the southern rural state of Karnataka, and leftist-dominated eastern West Bengal."

The Great Bong Song

The Great Bong Song: "'In West Bengal if you are concerned about politics and political parties, slogans are very important; because if we want to say anything to the masses, and for mass inspiration, slogans are very important. From the time of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose when he was with Azad Hind Fouz (Indian National Army), till now if you see Communist Party of India (Marxist) or Trinamool Congress, or all the other parties, all are doing the same thing; they are making the slogans and giving this to their political campaigns,' said Abhijit Ghosh, a voter."

Check out Prabhakaran is not a terrorist: Karunanidhi

Hi,

I want you to take a look at : Prabhakaran is not a terrorist: Karunanidhi

In election run-up, Lanka factor holds key in TN

In election run-up, Lanka factor holds key in TN: "The Lankan army's capture of the LTTE's last few strongholds is having its repercussion in Tamil Nadu. The MDMK and few other outfits are now holding statewide demonstrations demanding an immediate ceasefire"

Lok Sabha Elections 2009 | India Elections 2009 | General Elections - Yahoo! India Elections

Lok Sabha Elections 2009 India Elections 2009 General Elections - Yahoo! India Elections: "'With lot of pain, we have to say this that Manmohan Singh is at best a glorified caretaker of the PM's post who is keeping the seat warm.' Prasad said."

Lok Sabha Elections 2009

Lok Sabha Elections 2009
...Congress is weakly dealing on the militancy issue, Mukherjee said: "Surely the cross border terrorism is the most complex problem and no body denies that but question is how could you define which action is appropriate. When Mr. Advani was...

Khabrein.info

Khabrein.info: "Indian Justice Party’s candidate Lal Bahadur Sonkar, who was contesting from Jaunpur constitucney of Uttar-Pradesh was found dead, hanging on a tree yesterday. This famous town of Uttar-Pradesh, just about 40 kilometer from Varanasi, has never been that tensed. Sonkar, a Dalit himself was one of the candidates in the fray. The BSP had fielded Dhananjay Singh, who is well known here, not for his social work but for his strong ‘muscles’. Whether some body is good or bad has become really a matter of convenience. Hence if Mulayam Singh embraced Kalyan Singh then he is not involved in demolition of Babari mosque. Gangsters are fighting elections and the courts are unable to do so but our government feel threatened with one Dr Binayak Sen that he has even been denied right to get medical test. Despite much voices of protest, this democracy, it seems, is afraid of releasing him from Jail that it does not feel shame of keeping him in Jail without any trial for the past one and a half year. So democracy is not just elections in five years, but our polity will have to be democratic."

Singh, Advani Swap Barbs as Polls Near: India Votes (Update1) - Bloomberg.com

Singh, Advani Swap Barbs as Polls Near: India Votes (Update1) - Bloomberg.com: "Singh, Advani Swap Barbs as Polls Near: India Votes (Update1)
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By Bibhudatta Pradhan and Paresh Jatakia
April 13 (Bloomberg) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chief rival Lal Krishna Advani lashed out at each other, raising the political temperature three days before the first votes are cast in general elections.
Advani, prime ministerial candidate for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, branded Congress party incumbent Singh a “weak” leader who had devalued the office by having to bow to party chief Sonia Gandhi over key decisions.
Singh used a press conference in Mumbai today to hit back, accusing 81-year-old Advani of wringing his hands in frustration while one of his chief ministers “condones a pogrom targeted at minorities.”
That was a reference to Narendra Modi, the controversial BJP chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, where more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in 2002 riots after a fire on a train claimed 58 lives, largely those of Hindu pilgrims."

Election 09: Netajis must be taught a lesson!

Election 09: Netajis must be taught a lesson!: "Election 09: Netajis must be taught a lesson!

A billion Indians will to elect political leaders who will govern them for next five years. Do these netas understand the immense faith and trust that the people of India place in them? Are they capable to live up to peoples’ expectations?.
CJ: Brigadier Arun.., 5 days ago Views:202 Comments:0
Live Debate: Should the BJP and Congress come together?
ELECTION 2009 is not some circus. It is an election of a government, which will preside over the destiny of a billion people of India. Indian polity is placing their future, their well being, their security as also the destiny of their children in the hands of these select few who will be the their link with the country they belong to and their aspirations"

Flood of sops

Flood of sops: "Flood of sops
THE elections have seen a reversal of roles in the case of the two principal contenders – the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The Congress, under the stewardship of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is seeking people’s support for “fulfilling their aspirations” but has not announced any new scheme. The TDP, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, who earned a reputation for being the poster boy of the World Bank-dictated reform agenda, has promised a slew of sops, including distribution of free colour television sets and cash transfer to the poor. Under the cash transfer scheme, announced in the TDP manifesto, Rs.2,000, Rs.1,500 and Rs.1,000 respectively will be transferred to the bank accounts of three categories of below-the-poverty line (BPL) families."

Communal card

Communal card: "Communal card
ISSUES such as price rise, recession and the naxalite problem do not seem to be in the list of priorities of the major political parties in this round of elections."

The great churning

The great churning: "THE political realignments taking place now prove that Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani’s grand idea of a bipolar polity emerging at the Centre in India, with the BJP and the Congress as the two poles and the other parties grouped around them, will remain a pipe dream. The rise of regional parties aspiring to play a national role and a concomitant drop in the influence of the national parties can ensure this in Elections 2009. This is the sentiment that finds echo in the reports filed by Frontline’s correspondents from States that vote on April 16 and 23, the first two phases of the five-phase elections."

The Hindu : National : Congress attributes it to ‘electoral heat’

The Hindu : National : Congress attributes it to ‘electoral heat’: "NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday attributed Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko’s warning of a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if the slightest harm befell Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader V. Prabakaran to “electoral heat.”
Congress spokesman and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said: “Maybe the electoral heat has made Vaiko lose his balance and sense of proportion.”"

NDTV.com: After PC, Navin Jindal faces shoe attack

NDTV.com: After PC, Navin Jindal faces shoe attack: "In a second incident of its kind in a week, a retired school teacher on Friday hurled his shoe towards Congress MP Navin Jindal in Kurukshetra 'to protest' against Congress' policies but missed his target.

Ram Kumar threw his shoe towards Jindal during an election rally in Kurukshetra constituency, police sources said in Kurukshetra.

While throwing the shoe at Jindal, the retired teacher said he is doing so in to protest of the policies of the Congress."

Maoists kill poll candidate in Orissa

Maoists kill poll candidate in Orissa: "BHUBANESWAR - Stepping up attacks ahead of the polls, Maoist rebels Thursday killed an election candidate of a regional party in Orissa, the police said.
At least four armed rebels killed Somnath Madkami, candidate of the Samrudha Odisha party for Malkangiri assembly constituency, at Kalimela town, district superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi told IANS.
‘They took him 4 km away from his home and killed him with sharp weapons,’ he said."

The Way We Conduct Elections In Our Country - Mainstream Weekly

The Way We Conduct Elections In Our Country - Mainstream Weekly: "The presence of the police in India, far from giving a sense of security to voters, lends a sense of insecurity by raising apprehension of an imminent threat to peace. That is the way the police is regarded in India as the external symbols of a disturbed situation. Elections ought to be surrounded by a spirit of bonhomie between the bitterest rivals who fight their electoral war peacefully. The presence of the police force fails to create this image.
Never, even in the first election in the country, still embittered by the memory of the partition and its horrific carnage, was the deployment of force so heavy. The deployment has got heavier with each election with a growing trend to induct muscle men to rig polls, earlier rigged by bogus votes of absentee voters and use of guns and bombs to disturb elections.But the way to tackle it is by effective preventive action like preventive rounding up and by surprise raids on suspects before polls, regardless of party affiliation"

Disabled, but ready to decide India's future - Kolkata - Cities - The Times of India

Disabled, but ready to decide India's future - Kolkata - Cities - The Times of India: "Sayandeb Banerjee voted in the Assembly polls three years ago, but it was an ordeal. When the wheelchair-bound, 32-year-old reached the north Kolkata polling station with his uncle, there was no one to assist him reach the first-floor booth.

'I sat at the foot of the stairs for 90 minutes but none bothered. Only when I threatened to inform the media did the polling officer requisitioned an ambulance and had me stretchered to the first floor. There, an official applied the indelible ink and then asked my uncle to cast the vote as per my wish. Is this the democracy we are proud of 61 years after Independence?' said Banerjee."

Tempers run high ahead of Lok Sabha elections (Political Roundup) | Sindh Today

Tempers run high ahead of Lok Sabha elections (Political Roundup) Sindh Today: "New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) The political temperature was rising ahead of Lok Sabha elections just nine days away with arrest orders against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for threatening BJP candidate Varun Gandhi, now in jail, and an emotional Sikh journalist hurling a shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram at a Congress press conference Tuesday.
As political parties slug it out in what is expected to be one of the toughest general elections, a few candidates, including high profile ones, are stooping low and offending the Election Commission"

Gulfnews: Poll forecasts: Slim chance of clear winner in India elections

Gulfnews: Poll forecasts: Slim chance of clear winner in India elections: "Poll forecasts: Slim chance of clear winner in India elections
Reuters
Published: February 21, 2009, 23:06
New Delhi: India's Congress party-led coalition could beat the Hindu-nationalist opposition in a general election but the balance of power may lie with small, regional parties, a national poll said on Saturday."

India elections survey pre poll - Google Video

India elections survey pre poll - Google Video: "ELECTIONS 2009: SANGH PARIVAR OR CONG FAMILY? Feb 17, 2009 - 1 month ago -
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vinodksharma.blogspot.com"

The Hindu : Front Page : Race shows no clear electoral trend

The Hindu : Front Page : Race shows no clear electoral trend: "Race shows no clear electoral trend
The UPA is the frontrunner but none of the contending fronts has a easy route to power, says Yogendra Yadav"

Pawar turns Left, Cong squirms

Pawar turns Left, Cong squirms: "Express News ServiceFirst Published : 03 Apr 2009 04:25:00 AM ISTLast Updated : BHUBANESWAR: Trying for a larger political space, the hodge-podge Third Front has started dreaming big. The next big step towards the third alternative will be given shape tomorrow at a rally in Bhubaneswar. The game-changer is Sharad Pawar who will share the dais with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and, much to the chagrin of Congress, Left leaders Prakash Karat and AB Bardhan. NCP spokesman DP Tripathi has made it clear that there is no question of the party being apologetic about its participation in the rally. Congress called this a betrayal by the NCP supremo."

No seat-sharing arrangement in Andhra Pradesh as yet

No seat-sharing arrangement in Andhra Pradesh as yet: "Hyderabad, Mar 31 (ANI): The seat-sharing arrangement between the four-party Grand Alliance led by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is still inconclusive.
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu is holding talks with Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K. Chandra Shekhar Rao, the Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Narayana and the Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPM) leader Raghavulu to resolve the issue."

Massive black money economy cripples nation

Massive black money economy cripples nation: "It has been revealed that the Swiss Bank Deposits by Indians over the past decades are estimated to have swelled. It is estimated that last year Indians had whopping $ 1, 456 billion in secret accounts, which is more than the balance held by all other nationalities taken together. Russians held $4700 billion, UK US $ 390 billion and China US $ 96 billion.
Once there is a strong will to provide strong barriers to the generation of black money in the country, there is nothing that is difficult. Let the concerned public authorities focus on tracking the black money and their manipulators, and then seize whatever they have, and punish them in a highly deterrent way, so that no one can dare to go for black money. If this happens all black money would become white, and we will become a strong nation. All this hoarded money will give a strong push to our growing economy, and we will surpass all the nations of the world."

[T.S.R:7957] Revelation of Swiss bank accounts

Revelation of Swiss bank accounts: "This is so shocking.......If black money deposits was an Olympics
event..... India would have won a gold medal hands down. The second
best Russia has 4 times lesser deposit. U.S. Is not even there in the
counting in top five! India has more money in Swiss banks than all the
other countries combined!

Recently, due to international pressure, the Swiss government agreed
to disclose the names of the account holders only if the respective
governments formally asked for it. Indian government is not asking for
the details........no marks for guessing why?"

Indian Elections 2009 » New poll predicts Mayawati will be the next PM

Indian Elections 2009 » New poll predicts Mayawati will be the next PM: "New poll predicts Mayawati will be the next PM
Contrary to predictions made by CNN-IBN, pollster Yashwant Deshmukh has predicted that the left leaning parties will win the next elections and that Ms. Mayawati, the leader of BSP, will be the next PM of India. Mr. Deshmukh, who runs the Team Cvoter polling firm and has covered more than 100 state and national elections in India, will tell British politicians this week that neither the Congress nor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be able to win a majority in elections to the Lok Sabha and will see their strength in the parliament dramatically reduced. The briefing, which is being organized by the public relations company Saffron Chase, is expected to be attended by British MPs and leading businessmen and investors."

HindustanTimes-Print

HindustanTimes-Print: "Muslims number about 35 lakh in Tamil Nadu — about 5 per cent of the state’s population of a little over 6 crore.
They say they have a different worldview from Muslims in some other parts of India, and have grown up on a culture enmeshed with values of other religions.
Muslims here quote ancient Tamil aphorisms freely from the Thirukkural.
Islamia Bhakti Paadalgal (Islamic devotional verse) is part of the Tamil syllabus.
The 17th century epic Sirah Puranam (Life of the Prophet Mohammed) by Umaru Pulavar (Omar the Poet) is modelled on the 9th century Kamba Ramayanam, with the marriage of Ali and Fatima described like that of Ram and Sita.
And when the ancient temple of Kumbakonam in the Kaveri Delta celebrated its Mahamaham (Kumbh Mela) in 2004, the town’s Muslims contributed 100 kilos of rice for the mandatory annadaanam (free meals at temples for pilgrims)."

Key DMK, AIADMK allies fume over seat allocation, Politics News - By samachaar.in

Key DMK, AIADMK allies fume over seat allocation, Politics News - By samachaar.in: "Chennai, Ahead of the single phase Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu on May 13, the two key parties, the ruling DMK and the main opposition AIADMK, are facing allies fuming over their seat-sharing arrangements.
Though the AIADMK has not yet officially announced, its indication that it would cede four seats each to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and MDMK, of the total 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, have upset them both.
'The seat-sharing negotiations with the AIADMK are far from satisfactory,' a top CPI-M source told IANS Wednesday."

Studies/Reports : Majority in Tamil Nadu favours backing LTTE: Poll

Studies/Reports : Majority in Tamil Nadu favours backing LTTE: Poll: "Majority in Tamil Nadu favours backing LTTE: Poll

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) A majority of people in Tamil Nadu want the government to support the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, according to an opinion poll.

Asked if the government should support the LTTE in Sri Lanka, 66 percent respondents said yes, the NDTV said in a release Tuesday, revealing the findings of the opinion survey."

MK muddled Sri Lankan Tamils issue: Nedumaran

MK muddled Sri Lankan Tamils issue: Nedumaran: "Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Movement coordinator P Nedumaran on Tuesday strongly condemned Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi for muddling the Lankan Tamils issue while clarifying his party’s stance on the issue.
Referring to the remark of Karunanidhi that he would be the happiest person if Tamil Eelam was formed by democratic voting of the people in Lanka, Nedumaran asked ``Does not Karunanidhi, who has been boasting himself of working for the cause of Lankan Tamils for well over 50 years, know that 70 per cent of the Lanka’s population is Sinhalese and the Tamils constitute only 30 per cent ?’’.
Further, Karunanidhi had failed to say that Tamil Eelam should be formed on the basis of the voting by Eelam Tamils. Instead, he had said that Tamil Eelam should be formed on the basis of the voting by the people of Lanka. This, he had done deliberately to muddle the Lankan Tamils issue, Nedumaran observed."

Going by the audacity with which politicians distribute money openly for votes, will such practice become the norm of future elections rather than exception ? :: Answer it on Indiatimes QnA

Going by the audacity with which politicians distribute money openly for votes, will such practice become the norm of future elections rather than exception ? :: Answer it on Indiatimes QnA: "Going by the audacity with which politicians distribute money openly for votes, will such practice become the norm of future elections rather than exception ? Description It happened in Thirumangalam, Tamil Nadu and NONE was punished. Now too, it doesn't appear anyone will be punished. Will indian public accept election-eve bribing, just as they accepted criminalization of politics and corruption in politics ?"

MK did not lose govts for Eelam: Ramadoss

MK did not lose govts for Eelam: Ramadoss: "CHENNAI: PMK founder S Ramadoss has refuted Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s claims that he “lost” his governments on two occasions for the sake of Eelam Tamils.
Reacting to Karunanidhi’s claims Ramadoss said: “State politics, change of governments at the Centre and changes in political coalitions were the reasons for the dismissal of DMK’s state governments, and not the Eelam issue as claimed by Karunanidhi.”"

IndiaGlitz - Stars on the Campaign Trail - Tamil Movie News

IndiaGlitz - Stars on the Campaign Trail - Tamil Movie News: "From Kollywood to Bollywood, some of cinema’s greatest legends have found themselves enthralled by politics, and this 2009 general election is no exception. Where Chennai has actor Vijayakanth, the founder of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), is campaigning furiously, Mumbai has Sanjay Dutt on the Samajwadi Party ticket. And Tollywood’s shining star on the campaign trail is none other than Chiranjeevi, the founder of Praja Rajyam.
There’s no overlooking the mass appeal of these actors and actresses. One has to only study the charismatic M.G. Ramachandran, arguably the first movie star-politician, to understand this phenomenon. And who can deny that N.T. Rama Rao’s larger-than-life movie portrayals probably provided the impetus he needed to become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh barely nine months after floating the Telugu Desam Party"

Elections 2009: India's Missing Women

Elections 2009: India's Missing Women: "voices demanding the Women's Bill are getting louder. In the Women's Charter, which was part of the All India People's Manifesto initiative promoted by the 'Wada Na Todo Abhiyan' after consultations with more than 230,000 people in 100 parliamentary constituencies, the enactment of the Women's Bill emerged as a key demand. Several women's groups have also made the same demand in a Women's Charter that was released recently in New Delhi."

The Hindu News Update Service

The Hindu News Update Service: "New CII chief to promote political donations by cheque
New Delhi (PTI): As campaigning picks up for the Lok Sabha elections, the newly elected President of industry body CII, Venu Srinivasan, has said he will promote a transparent way of donations to political parties by business houses.
'Companies should do it (election funding) transparently. If it becomes transparent it is good for the polity, good for society,' Srinivasan told PTI.
He said the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been promoting the idea of transparency in political donations. In any case, he said, it has become difficult for business houses to deal only in cash."

Modi is frontline leader of communal forces: Pawar

Modi is frontline leader of communal forces: Pawar: "Narendra Modi is frontline leader of communal forces: Sharad Pawar


Pune, March 16: On a campaign trail in western Maharashtra, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and BJP leader Narendra Modi derided each other, with the Maharashtra strongman describing the saffron campaigner as the 'frontline leader' of communal forces in the country.

Modi hit back, saying Pawar has been hoodwinked by Congress on the issue of prime ministership.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, who launched the BJP-Shiv Sena's poll drive here Sunday night, said Pawar who has spent many years in Congress failed to understand the stratagem of that party to keep him out of the race for the top post.

Referring to recent statement by Pawar that a Maharashtrian should get an opportunity to become PM, Modi said by making Pratibha Patil the President, Congress employed a 'shrewd ploy' to sideline the NCP president shutting doors on his prime ministerial ambitions."

What is Booth Capturing?

What is Booth Capturing?: "Basic booth capturing works in the following way: At a polling center, members of a certain political party will “capture” a booth, by filling it with a stream of party loyalists. Typically these loyalists are not legally registered to vote at that particular booth, and may vote several times for their party member. By keeping the booth occupied, votes for an opposing party are kept lower, and people who have the legitimate right to vote may not be able to wait for an extended time to cast their vote, or they may be so intimidated by fierce seeming mobs capturing a booth that they simply don’t vote."

Indian Elections - 2009

Indian Elections - 2009: "Criminalization of Poiltics: This is the single most shameful and sad aspect of the Indian politics. Approximately 20% of the Members of Parliament in India face criminal charges in Courts of Law. Admittedly, some of these are political cases, yet the figure is way too high for comfort.. The people of India do not deserve this"

Six reasons why Congress will lose Election 09

Six reasons why Congress will lose Election 09: "Here are six reasons the Congress will taste defeat in Elections 2009. The next part of this article will present the reasons that make the BJP-led NDA most likely to win the people's mandate.
1: Betrayal of the aam aadmi: The Congress party sought votes in 2004 in the name of the aam aadmi. Five years later, it has proved itself to be a party that brought pain to the aam aadmi and further prosperity to the khaas aadmi. The government is projecting near-zero inflation rate as a big achievement, but the common man knows that the prices of essential commodities, especially food items, have hardly come down from the record levels they reached during the UPA years."

No recession for India election spending

No recession for India election spending
13 hours ago
NEW DELHI (AFP) — Election season means spending season in India, where the world's largest democratic exercise triggers a cash splurge on everything from leasing private planes to buying individual votes.
According to a survey by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), the month-long general election beginning on April 16 will witness an outlay of something like 100 billion rupees (two billion dollars).
Of that total, about 20 billion rupees will be spent by the national Election Commission and state governments on organising the actual polling, which be held in five stages and requires a mammoth security operation.
The rest will be spent by official parties and individual candidates, with the CMS estimating that as much as 25 billion rupees has been earmarked for "unofficial" cash purchases of individual votes on the eve of balloting.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - India’s ‘Third Front’ off to rocky start

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - India’s ‘Third Front’ off to rocky start: "Disunity: Despite attracting a crowd of around 200,000 people at a rally this month, observers have poured cold water over the idea that the ad hoc alliance can stick together - either before or after the election. “This is a replay of the 1990s,” said Subhash Agrawal, political analyst and editor of India Focus magazine, referring to the anti-BJP and anti-Congress alliances that take shape every election year. He said poor planning and inflated egos were likely to prevent the Third Front from ever forming a government."

My alliance is with people, God: Captain - Chennai - Cities - The Times of India

My alliance is with people, God: Captain - Chennai - Cities - The Times of India: "KANCHEEPURAM: In what could be a big setback to the Congress, DMDK founder Vijayakanth on Sunday threw a strong hint that he would go it alone in
the Lok Sabha elections. With the PMK showing signs that it may move towards the AIADMK camp, the DMDK decision could mean that the DMK and Congress would be left without any significant ally.

'My alliance is only with God and the people,' the 56-year-old actor-politician said in a crowded street corner in this temple town, where he made a token beginning to his campaign at an auspicious hour, much ahead of other parties."

The Hindu News Update Service

The Hindu News Update Service: "UPA has disintegrated, says CPI(M)
New Delhi (PTI): The UPA has 'disintegrated', the CPI(M) said on Monday after the RJD dealt a major blow to the Congress over seat-sharing in Bihar.
'There is no UPA today. The UPA has disintegrated,' CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat told reporters here in response to questions."

'Pranab's punishment decision is unwelcome' - Kolkata - Cities - The Times of India

'Pranab's punishment decision is unwelcome' - Kolkata - Cities - The Times of India: "KRISHNAGAR: External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee's comment that Congress workers who oppose the alliance with Trinamool Congress would be
punished is 'unfortunate', said Nadia Congress leader Shankar Singh on Sunday"

Concerns over tampering of EVMs in Assam- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

Concerns over tampering of EVMs in Assam- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times: "GUWAHATI: Opposition parties in Assam including Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) have raised concerns over
tampering of electronic voting machines (EVM)."

Mulayam vents his ire at UP lady official - India - The Times of India

Mulayam vents his ire at UP lady official - India - The Times of India: "Yadav alleged the way in which the DM (who is also district election oficer) was cancelling arms licences had created an atmosphere of terror in the district.

'This is also affecting my elections and it is not tolerable', he said.

'She has lost her sense to discriminate between a criminal and a common man. She should get her head cheked', Yadav said angrily."

Priyanka Gandhi slams Varun for anti-Muslim comments - India - The Times of India

Priyanka Gandhi slams Varun for anti-Muslim comments - India - The Times of India: "'Varun's comments are against the traditions and principles of the (Gandhi) family and he has gone against what the Gandhis have lived and died for... It made me very sad to see him saying those things on TV... What can I say?,' Priyanka told reporters in the Bachrawan Tehsil of Rae Bareli, the constituency of her mother and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi."

AFP: Congress coalition ahead in India election race

AFP: Congress coalition ahead in India election race: "NEW DELHI (AFP) — A coalition led by India's ruling Congress Party will secure the most seats in upcoming elections, but not enough to govern alone, according to a poll published Monday.
The survey by research firm Nielsen for the Star News channel predicted a Congress-led coalition could grab as many as 257 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament.
An alliance led by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would secure 184 seats, the poll said.
Either bloc would need to attract further support to obtain the required 272-seat majority."

President issues notification for first phase of elections - Yahoo! India News

President issues notification for first phase of elections - Yahoo! India News: "New Delhi, Mar 23 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil on Monday issued the notification for the first phase of the five phased Lok Sabha elections.
Notifications were also issued by respective Governors for 154 of the 294 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 70 of the 147 Assembly seats in Orissa, going to polls along with the Lok Sabha elections in the first phase"

NDTV.com: PMK to go with Jayalalithaa this election

NDTV.com: PMK to go with Jayalalithaa this election: "Who forms the next government at the Centre - a lot would depend on which way the smaller parties are going.

And when it comes to the most bizarre alliances and marriages of convenience, there is no state quite like Tamil Nadu.

PMK, which was a part of UPA since 2004, is now all set to go with Jayalalithaa's AIADMK.

This is one of the possibilities being discussed for an alliance in Tamil Nadu.

Interestingly before the elections in 2004, since 1999, PMK has swung like a pendulum from the AIADMK to the DMK, then back to the AIADMK and then DMK-led coalitions"

NDTV.com: Latest News, e-Bulletins, Stocks, Bollywood, Cricket, Video, Blogs, RSS from India

NDTV.com: Latest News, e-Bulletins, Stocks, Bollywood, Cricket, Video, Blogs, RSS from India: "EC finds Varun Gandhi guilty, condemns him"

The Hindu News Update Service

The Hindu News Update Service: "IIT, IIM alumni to join poll fray
Lucknow (PTI): After businessmen, dancers, eunuchs and teachers, the colourful Indian political bandwagon will get a touch of intelligentsia in the coming polls with alumni of the elite IITs and IIMs planning to test their electoral fortunes.
While the Bharat Punarnirman Dal, a political party founded by a group of former IITians has announced its first list of eight candidates for the coming Lok Sabha polls, students from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow are actively involved in managing election campaigns of different political parties"

Jaago Re - About Us - Jaago

Jaago Re - About Us - Jaago: "One of the key innovations is the launch of India’s first online voter registration engine, which allows you to fill out your voter registration form online within 5 mins! The engine has an added feature (in the 35 target cities) to locate your house address on your city map through a GIS application, in order to determine your Assembly Constituency. Click here to know about the other innovations and benefits of registering at www.jaagore.com."

Manifestos

Cut & Paste Job - Special Report - Sunday TOI - The Times of India: "This is that time in our national life, when 'freedom' is in the air: free rice, free wheat, free water, free electricity and, of course, a colour TV, on which you can see the great drama of democracy unfolding 24x7. So is anything missing here? Yes, a small irritant called the Election Manifesto. The first phase of the Lok Sabha polls is just four weeks away and not a single political party has bothered to release its manifesto. Technically, that should be in place before the campaign. A manifesto, after all, is supposed to be the blueprint of a party's plans for the nation for the next five years; a commitment to its values; a list of the promises it has made and plans to fulfil for millions of people."

Crises of Indian Parties - Mainstream Weekly

Crises of Indian Parties - Mainstream Weekly: "Personality Cult
Personality cult, the crowd mentality of Indian hero worshipping, is not only accounting for distortions in voting behaviour of the electorate but has also resulted in the rise and continued existence of many small parties.
In the Congress, right from Nehru to Sonia Gandhi, the emphasis of the leadership had been on personality and not on the ogranisational unity of the party. The common political logic undergirding the playing of the Sonia card, despite having many senior and experienced Congressmen, was that only she would probably emerge as a national level vote-catcher.
Leaders like Jayalalitha, Chandrababu Naidu, Mayawati, Bal Thackeray, Laloo Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Raj Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee, and so on, are sole leaders of their respective parties."

Corporates work overtime to clean up politics of criminals

Corporates work overtime to clean up politics of criminals: "In the present Lok Sabha, one in five Members of Parliament (MPs) have criminal charges, and some like Shibu Soren have blood on their hands. The Mumbai terror attacks on places where the rich and famous stay seems to have triggered a sense that to keep terrorists at bay it is necessary to deny criminals Parliament play."

Silence of Rajini baffles politically-inclined fans

Silence of Rajini baffles politically-inclined fans: "Silence of Rajini baffles politically-inclined fans


Gokul VannanFirst Published : 17 Mar 2009 01:50:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 17 Mar 2009 03:32:18 PM ISTCHENNAI: Whom will ‘super star’ Rajinikanth support in the Lok Sabha elections? Keenly awaiting a word from him are his fans across the state, whose number is said to be around 10 lakh and who are expected to follow his diktat blindly.
The actor who has been politically active since 1995, has, in the past, guided his fans in a few elections.
However, he has not given in to his fans’ request of launching a political party, saying he is ‘waiting for a divine order’ to do so."

Ramadoss plumps for Jaya; DMDK ties up with Congress

Ramadoss plumps for Jaya; DMDK ties up with Congress
CHENNAI: A broad picture on the pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu emerged on Friday with the PMK deciding to go with the AIADMK and actor Vijayakant’s Desiya Murpoku Dravidar Kazhag am (DMDK) finalising a tie-up with the Congress, thus finding itself a place in the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA).The suspense over the PMK’s decision came to an end with a senior DMK leader saying that the PMK was not with them, while the DMDK is said to have clinched a deal with the Congress in New Delhi.Top rung DMDK functionaries Panruti Ramachandran and L K Sudeesh, who had gone to New Delhi to prevail upon the Election Commission to allot the ‘drum’ symbol to their party, also held parleys with senior Congressmen like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - HUM HINDUSTANI: Tangled in tapes —J Sri Raman

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - HUM HINDUSTANI: Tangled in tapes —J Sri Raman: "Bal Thackeray has heaped praise on Varun for putting pro-Hindutva valour before poll-time discretion. It has echoed and endorsed his view that “anyone speaking for Hindus is castigated as communal”. The Sena has “advised” the BJP to stand by Varun"

How money corrupts Indian politics

How money corrupts Indian politics: "If there was a vote on whether the cricket should be postponed or the elections, which way would the electorate go? Why miss out on a contest of skill and transparency when all we get in return is a murky game where a tribe of varied characters spend dubious money in a process that may not even declare a clear victor? At least the 20-20 rules do not permit indecision.
To be fair, democratic politics always needed money as a part-time servant. Unfortunately, the dependency has been reversed. Money now needs politics at its beck and call"

India Today - India's most widely read magazine.

India Today - India's most widely read magazine.: "Power has unlimited glamour: Shatrughan Sinha
IANS
Mumbai, March 21, 2009
He admits that 'power has unlimited glamour'. Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Patna Saheb in Bihar, also candidly says that he is not interested in the 'temple-mosque' row but in development issues.

'Let those who wish to go on and on about 'mandir-masjid' do so. I'm interested in 'manav mandir', human growth and development,' the man popularly known as 'Shotgun Sinha' told IANS in an interview."

DNA: India: Former PA of Gandhi to contest elections

DNA: India: Former PA of Gandhi to contest elections: "Former PA of Gandhi to contest elections"

Khichdi sarkar zindabad!

Khichdi sarkar zindabad!: "Khichdi sarkar zindabad!


Aditya SinhaFirst Published : 21 Mar 2009 02:20:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 21 Mar 2009 09:01:52 AM ISTYou don’t need an insider to gauge the lack of interest in the Congress party in forming the next government, if it retains the number of seats it has in the parliamentary elections (though an insider will tell you that the Congress feels a stint away from the treasury benches will help Rahul Gandhi emerge party leader in his own right). The BJP’s L K Advani appears to have given up on forming the next government: one, the third-front-like squabbles among his closest advisors indicate his 81-year-old grip is slipping; and two, Varun Gandhi’s polarising remarks are evidence that the RSS has seized control of the campaign in the Hindi heartland from Advani."

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Decline of India's political leviathans

BBC NEWS South Asia Decline of India's political leviathans: "As India braces for another split verdict in the forthcoming general election, Mahesh Rangarajan analyses the decline of the country's national parties.
Neither of the premier parties, Congress or the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is confident of leading their respective alliances to full power.
India is completing a decade in which coalitions dominated by one or the other have held power.
After five years at the helm, the alliance headed by Dr Manmohan Singh has much to smile about. For four of these years, growth rates were well over 8% and even now, amid a global slump, India will be the world's second fastest growing economy."

elections maharashtra - Google News

elections maharashtra - Google News: "Stay up to date on these results:
Create an email alert for elections maharashtra
Add a custom section for elections maharashtra to Google News
Search blogs for elections maharashtra
Add a news gadget for elections maharashtra to your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed for elections maharashtra in Google Reader"

Cracks in the jigsaw

Cracks in the jigsaw: "Just when coalitions were appearing to stabilise, they have started cracking. First, it was the UPA-LF coalition that split on the rock of the nuclear deal. But the NDA was not to be left behind: it steadily kept losing partners — the National Conference, Trinmool, and finally the BJD. One would have thought that the Congress would seize the initiative and create a larger alliance before the elections; but the party, even while forging an alliance with Mamata Banerjee, chose to literally throw away partners in a too-clever-by-half move, announcing instead that it would not have any national level alliance. Come election season and everyone is finding new allies and finding excuses to dump older allies."

Congress, NCP Finalize Seat-Sharing in Maharashtra - myPOPKORN

Congress, NCP Finalize Seat-Sharing in Maharashtra - myPOPKORN: "India Election 2009
March 20, 2009: Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday finalized seat-sharing for Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections to be held in next month.

According to the agreement, Congress would contest polls from 26 parliamentary seats, while NCP would fight elections in 22 constituencies."

Strange bedfellows! Cong, BJP ditched by trusted allies - Express India

Strange bedfellows! Cong, BJP ditched by trusted allies - Express India: "Strange bedfellows! Cong, BJP ditched by trusted allies"

The Election Circus - MouthShut.com

The Election Circus - MouthShut.com: "The Election Circus
Posted on Mar 17, 2009 under General

The Indian electoral process has started. The election is no less than a circus with Messrs Gopalswamy, Chawla and Qureshi as ringmasters. Previous elections always used to have a front runner. But this election has no favourites with three fronts being formed. The ruling UPA is facing severe anti-incumbency and the Congress party's allies are taking it for a ride. The NDA which six months back looked all set to make a comeback is now suddenly on the backfoot, with it allies waiting to desert it. And the motley group of Prime ministerial aspirants calling themselves the Third Front are waiting to see which side they can jump to, after the election results."

The Hindu Business Line : Will it be ‘Untied’ Progressive Alliance?

The Hindu Business Line : Will it be ‘Untied’ Progressive Alliance?: "The manner in which the Congress has been treated by its allies in Bihar is an indication of the progressive shrinking of political space for India’s Grand Old Party."

Social networking media warm up for elections

Social networking media warm up for elections: "A discussion in Twitter criticises the Congress for using the ‘Jai ho’ song from Slumdog Millionaire. “The Congress has lost all credibility in my books after lobbying the ‘Slumdog’ kids for their campaign,” said a tweet. “Indian Congress party bought the rights to Jai ho, the Oscar-winning song for $200K. How many starving children will it feed?” asks another. People also compare BJP’s online campaign with that of Congress. “Indian Political party BJP is betting big on internet audience for 2009 election, I see their adverts all places. Congress targets roadsides”."

The political circus and more

The political circus and more: "Now let me take you to other stories of the great Indian political circus. The tale from the “republic of Bihar” is; its leader Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad Yadav, the sworn political enemies, have shook hands to fight the Lok Sabha election together. One may recall Paswan had shown his thumbs down to Yadav when the latter was desperate to form the government after the assembly elections. At that time Paswan had sworn to free Bihar from the clutches of the Lalu raj. Now by aligning with Yadav, he has given fillip to the return of the jungle raj in Bihar. Well that’s why Chameleon thy name is Indian politician!"

The Hindu Business Line : Cong scouts for more regional alliance ahead of LS polls

The Hindu Business Line : Cong scouts for more regional alliance ahead of LS polls: "In this election year, what has dented the regional parties' aspirations for more seats in states, other than the ones in which they have primary influence, is the unilateral stand of the Congress Working Committee which stated in its last meeting that t he party will only go for regional and not a national alliance. - PTI"

Third Front is at best a bargaining platform- ET Debate-Opinion-The Economic Times

Third Front is at best a bargaining platform- ET Debate-Opinion-The Economic Times: "the Third Front is presently an inchoate medley of parties lacking organisational cohesion or a common programme, with ambitious, mercurial, regional chieftains like Mayawati, Pawar and Gowda who would like to be PM but would not be able to run a coalition jointly.

Membership remains open with many like the TDP yet to decide, many — including the Left — could join/desert after the elections to maximise gains. Apart from Mayawati, much of the posturing by regional leaders is to protect weakening home turfs from opposition parties or forces emerging from the penetration of regionalisation into new regions/communities.

The DMK faces a challenge from not only the AIADMK or PMK but also Vijaykanth’s DMDK; the TDP from TRS and Chiranjeevi’s Prajarajyam; the Left from Mamata’s Trinamool, and the SP from Mayawati’s BSP. The BJD jettisoned the NDA based on calculations that it can fight alone in Orissa, not because it was keen to join the Front.

Thus, despite eight members, the Front remains at best a “bargaining platform” for a greater share in state and national governance; forming a national government remains a distant dream."

Tamil Nadu: Will Vijayakanth be the captain?

Tamil Nadu: Will Vijayakanth be the captain?: "Vijayakanth's campaign and party manifesto is simple to the point of being naive. He is opposed to both the DMK and the ADMK. So does that put him in the camp of the Congress? No, he doesn't support the Congress either, at least not just yet.
The fact is, there is a 9 per cent vote in Tamil Nadu that is uncommitted: It votes for neither the DMK nor the ADMK. It is this vote that Vijayakanth is hoping to get. And the party that aligns with him will have access to this vote as well."

Jayalalitha asks Congress to shun DMK

Jayalalitha asks Congress to shun DMK: "Jayalalitha asks Congress to shun DMK

Jayalalitha said that her party and the Congress have shared friendly relationship in the past and now it was time to take corrective action. She said that DMK was sinking and any party which aligns with it will also sink in quicksand.."

Indian Elections 2009 » Jayalalitha woos Congress

Indian Elections 2009 » Jayalalitha woos Congress: "AIADMK chief and ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is actively wooing Congress to become a part of it’s UPA coalition. Jayalalithaa asked Congress to break it’s existing alliance with it’s arch rival DMK."

BSP will contest general elections alone, says Mayawati .:. NewKerala - India 's Top Online Newspaper

BSP will contest general elections alone, says Mayawati .:. NewKerala - India 's Top Online Newspaper: "Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said on Sunday that her party will not form an alliance with any political party for the general elections this time"

The Hindu Business Line : The importance of being PMK

The Hindu Business Line : The importance of being PMK: "Speculation is rife in the local media over which way the astute politician will go. There were reports last week that Dr Ramadoss was going to call on the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president, Mr M. Karunanidhi, who also heads the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance in the State. Then came reports that Dr Ramadoss was going to meet the AIADMK supremo, Ms Jayalalithaa. Neither event happened, with Dr Ramadoss seemingly content to leave political parties and analysts on tenterhooks"

DNA: India: RSS prevails on Jaitley

DNA: India: RSS prevails on Jaitley: "Jaitley's climbdown did not surprise anybody. The Sangh Parivar does not take kindly to challenges to authority. The clout of RSS over BJP is established: even LK Advani had to step down on RSS orders following his Jinnah remark. It is, however, a mark of Jaitley's clout that he got away without any action taken against him."

MP Elections : CD tampered, claims Varun » Delhi Elections Results : India Elections,India MP Elections 2009,India Lok Sabha Elections 2009, MP Elections Results,Delhi Elections,General Elections 2009,General Elections Results 2009

MP Elections : CD tampered, claims Varun » Delhi Elections Results : India Elections,India MP Elections 2009,India Lok Sabha Elections 2009, MP Elections Results,Delhi Elections,General Elections 2009,General Elections Results 2009: "Breaking his silence on his controversial speech targeting the Muslim community allegedly made during an election rally in Pilibhit on March 6, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi on Wednesday morning issued a clarification saying he was a Gandhian and the CD of his speech had been tampered with."

Election Schedule 2009,General Elections Schedule,15th Lok Sabha Election Schedule, Election Date

Election Schedule 2009,General Elections Schedule,15th Lok Sabha Election Schedule, Election Date: "Schedule for General Election to the Legislative Assemblies 2009"

India Elections 2009

Indian general election, 2009
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