BSP eyes Muslim, north Indian votes

MUMBAI: The BSP is eyeing north Indian and Muslim votes in the metropolis, with four of its six candidates from Mumbai seats being either of the two communities.

"The party will soon declare names of the two remaining candidates, who will also be either Muslim or north Indian, in a couple days," BSP state president Vilas Garud said on Thursday.

"North Indians, Muslims and Dalits form a major chunk of voters in the city. However, these communities are being neglected. They want somebody who is from amongst them and would serve them better. This is the reason for giving tickets to north Indian and Muslim candidates," he said.

North Indians are upset with the treatment meted out to them while Muslims are looking for a new secular party which can serve them better, Garud added.

Meanwhile, Congress nominee from Mumbai North Sanjay Nirupam said, "BSP is contesting not to win the polls but to indirectly help communal parties by dividing votes...BSP is here to eat into the Muslim and north Indian votes of Congress in Mumbai. They are here to help BJP and Shiv Sena by dividing the votes."

Muslims and north Indians constitute 40% of around 80 lakh voters in Mumbai. Marathis, Gujaratis, Marwadis and others comprise the rest, he said.

BSP has fielded Mohammed Ali Shaikh (South Mumbai), Atahar Siddique (North West), Ashok Singh (North East) and Lakhminder Khurana (North Mumbai).

Candidates for South-Central and North-Central are yet to be declared.

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SC issues notices to EC, Praja Rajyam Party on symbol issue

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission and Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's party Praja Rajyam on the poll body's decision to allot the rail engine symbol to the southern party.

A Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam sought response from the Election Commission on a petition filed by Rashtriya Krantikari Samajwadi Party (RKSP).

In its petition, the RKSP claimed it was an unrecognized national party with influence in states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkhand, J&K, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka besides Andhra Pradesh and most of its candidates had been fighting the earlier elections on the rail engine symbol.

The party claimed since its candidates were already using the symbol, the same cannot be alloted to Praja Rajyam.

The EC has alloted the rail engine symbol to Praja Rajyam on the directions of the apex court which had clarified that the allotment of the symbol would only be restricted to the present election.

Source : Times of India

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Kirorilal Meena, Cong engaged in a war of nerves

NEW DELHI: Kirorilal Meena. The man is widely believed to have sounded the death knell of Vasundhara Raje's dream of bucking anti-incumbency in
Rajasthan while helping Ashok Gehlot form the government.
But the ambitious Meena strongman is now bargaining hard with Congress
for nominees of his choice in the tribal seats, triggering a deadlock on seven of 25 seats.

If in three months, Congress is seeing a villain in Meena after toasting him as Raje's nemesis, it speaks about the importance of one-caste parties in close electoral contests in a fragmented polity. Established political parties feel they count as much as assets as for their damage potential.

Meena emerged the leader of his community as he tapped its anger in the wake of a violent Gujjar-Meena tussle. Quickly, he emerged the retailer of its votes.

Meena is sure of his value. "BJP lost by victimising me and Congress can gain by promoting me," he told TOI.

BJP strategists concede Meena was a major reason in the assembly polls swinging towards the Congress, as he single-handedly determined the community's preference.

Having taken his help in forming the government, with his unlettered wife Golma Devi even made a minister, there is now a rethink in Congress on further propping up Meena as it is felt that pandering to his demand was only fuelling his ambitions.

Sources said a shrewd Gehlot has put his foot down against indulging `Dr Sahab' beyond Dausa and Kota, while the latter has asked for Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Kota, Churu, Sikar and Jaipur rural. This is the belt where Meenas hold clout.

It is a risky strategy, as Meena is in a position to dent the party fortunes in seven constituencies. But the dynamics of caste politics are such.

Source

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