Is Chiranjeevi eyeing CM chair?

A recent video footage in which actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi interacts with youngsters has hinted that the neo-politician hopes for the Chief Minister's post.

"People say I joined politics with some vested interest. I may say no, but everybody has some hope inside. However, I am unable to gauge what that hope is," Chiranjeevi seen saying in the latest 9-minute-20-second video footage of suspected "sting operation".

At that point, the video showed his audience pitching in with the suggestion that becoming the Chief Minister was his "hope."

However, in the public domain
, Chiranjeevi had so far been beating around the bush over his political ambitions.

"I am into politics not for the sake of securing power or position but only to serve the people. I am their servant," Chiranjeevi had been proclaiming ever since he declared his intention to quit the tinsel town and jump onto the political bandwagon.

Within the four walls and amidst his close associates, Chiranjeevi, however, appeared to be clearly stating that he has indeed marked the Chief Minister's position as his target.

"Don't simply brush this thing aside, when people say Chiranjeevi wants to become the CM. Just cut the topic," the megastar said.

Of course, but he went on to say that the well-being of the society at large could be his "hope".

Sitting in the conference room at his Praja Rajyam Party office in Hyderabad with bureaucrat-turned-politician T Chandrasekhar, Chiranjeevi was in a jolly mood all through as he apparently spoke his heart out to a group of people.

Who his audience were, however, was not clear. One version was that they could be Information
Technology professionals (going by what one of them spoke about the forum called Do IT), while another was that they were a group of coordinators appointed by the Praja Rajyam to ensure co-ordination between Chiranjeevi fans and the party workers in each district.

All through the meeting, Chiranjeevi referred to them just as "youngsters" and dropped no hint about their antecedents.

"I have no belief in the senior politicians who joined my party." He was categorical in asking the "youngsters" to keep a tab on the senior politicians in every district and report back to the party headquarters if anything went wrong in any district.

"In a way you have to be the spies or rather agents," the Praja Rajyam Chief told them.

He, however, cautioned the youngsters to ensure that nobody smelt anything suspicious about their (spying) acts. Chiranjeevi assured the youth joining the Praja Rajyam party that he was not the kind to "use, exploit and dump" them and their "sacrifices" would not go waste.

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Will Cong take LS poll call before assembly results?

NEW DELHI: Amid indications that the Centre was mulling Lok Sabha polls in February, the moot question is whether Congress would announce its
intentions before the assembly results on December 8 if it indeed decides in favour of advancing the grand battle.

For UPA to hit the hustings in February, it is learnt that the Centre would have to announce it in the first half of December. While Parliament is to meet again, December 8 is when the results of polls in MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram would be declared.

It is being speculated if Congress, deciding on early polls, would wait for its fate in the bulk of BJP-held states to make public its intentions. The Centre, which involves the Congress leadership as well as allies, is veering around the view that February could be a better time to visit the voters.

The ruling combine is averse to facing the budget session and would prefer a vote-on-account early. Also, the economic downturn has led to fears that it could turn worse in coming months and the uncertainty is too strong to gamble on. While it is only the markets and the slowdown which are visible at the moment, the worst fears revolve around possible job cuts and lay-offs, developments which can impact the voter mood.

Besides, there are a host of imponderables like terrorism and inflation on account of which Centre would not want to lose a relatively better moment for the elections. February is seen as the time when the economic crisis would not be much worse than it is now while the new fiscal could be different.

A halt in terror incidents, as is being seen for a month now, would dampen BJP's bid to make it a big-ticket issue while a stabilizing priceline is adding to Centre's confidence. But the timing of announcement of early polls gains importance, with its coming either side of December 8 set to be interpreted differently. If Congress waits for assembly results and then pitches for an early LS test, after a failure to wrest the BJP-ruled states, it is set to be seen as a sign of panic.

A decision before the assembly results would, however, demonstrably delink the Lok Sabha from the outcome of states. If Congress manages to upset the BJP in a few crucial states after having anyway called for Lok Sabha elections early, it would be seen as approaching the polls as a victor.

Insiders reveal while assembly results would impact the mood of the party — and the Congress has a lot riding on these polls as it is expected to reverse the string of defeats with anti-incumbency against BJP here — the decision on Lok Sabha would still be an independent one because of a different set of reasonings. It is about crisis, and aversion to budget session in the uncertainty of alliance politics.

For the planners, February is suitable because while it does advance the polls by a couple of months, it would also pre-empt the concern over availability of schools and teachers — two crucial tools in the conduct of the mega exercise.


Source : Times Of India

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EC transfers officials ahead of Chhattisgarh election

RAIPUR: The Election Commission has ordered the transfer of three officials, including two collectors, ahead of the Assembly elections in
Chhattisgarh.

The election commission ordered the transfer of Divisional Commissioner(DC) of Bastar district, Ganesh Shankar Mishra, Collectors, Sonmani Bora(Raipur) and R Pisda (Kanker), official sources said here.

The secretary of state health department, RS Vishwakarma will take over as the DC whereas the secretary agricultural department, Vikas Sheel and Woman and Child welfare department coordinator, Shahla Nigar will replace the collectors.

Mishra would serve as the secretary of the health department, Pisda as the Woman and Child welfare department coordinator and Bora as the joint secretary in the ministry.

As there were a lot of complaints against the officials, they were transferred, sources said.

Members of various political parties had met the Chief Election commissioner(CEC), N Gopalaswamy and alleged that some officials in the state election commission were working as agents for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). They also gave him a CD on the same.

The CEC also expressed concern on the delay in executing election-related activities in the district, in a meeting held with authorities.

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‘Gandhigiri’ by Chhatra JD(U)

While Raj Thackeray and his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, in attacking Bihari students and examinees in Mumbai, have shown little
respect for the rule of law and court, a group of Chhatra JD(U) workers resorted to symbolic act of Gandhigiri to bring sanity and order.

Since names matter in all symbolic acts, they, led by their state president Arvind Kumar Nishad, entered the premises of Maharashtra Bank in Patna on Exhibition Road, and for tokenism, recalled the non-violent path pursued by Mahatma Gandhi.

But soon politics got better of him, as Nishad said that it was because of RJD supremo and railway minister Lalu Prasad that Bihari students had been suffering violence at the hands of the inspired followers of Raj Thackeray, or those of his ilk! As if it was not enough, he demanded immediate resignation of Lalu from the Union cabinet!

Farcical drama went on. For, Chhatra JD(U) general secretary Ritesh Kumar and Shashi Ranjan got reminded of Gandhigiri, again! Their purpose: to send a message to the people of Maharashtra that people of all states and Union Territories constitute one entity -- sons and daughters of India. Besides, they felt that it was due to "personal selfish interest" that "some people" take to sloganeering regarding regionalism, language and parochialism for their "kshudra rajniti (narrow politics)."

If not Raj Thakceray and his MNS workers, then the Chhatra JD(U) president Nishad was certainly listening to them, because he was in hearing distance from them on the premises of Maharashtra Bank!

Meanwhile, since realism was on the mind of the Yuva JD(U) president and party MLA Sunil Kumar, he appealed to the Bihari students, already in rage against the violence suffered in Mumbai, not to indulge in arson and stone pelting, and instead, cooperate with the Bihar government for the maintenance of peace and harmony.

However, it was not clear if the present round of violence suffered by the Bihari students in Mumbai, or elsewhere in the country would be the last one, or would not be repeated.

Source : Times Of India

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Cong chief, Modi fight over MNS issue

PATNA: The state Congress chief Anil Kumar Sharma has crossed swords with Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi for the latter’s claim with respect to
the attacks on Bihari and north Indian students in Mumbai that Congress was responsible for it.

On the other hand, CPI, expressing concern over the happenings in Mumbai and its fallout in Bihar reflected in the arson caused and committed by students returning from Mumbai, said that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had taken to fascist methods, which poses a serious danger to both democracy and the country’s unity.

CPI state council member Jabbar Alam said that Raj Thackeray and his organisation have been undermining Constitution and law of the land. It amounted to bulldozing his way to bring about a fascist rule by crushing public opinion, he added.

Sharma, criticising Modi, said that his claim was condemnable, and also asserted that BJP, in fact, was responsible for the entrenchment of Shiv Sena and its chief Bal Thackeray as well as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its chief Raj Thackeray in the affairs of Maharashtra, even as they believed in and practised narrow politics based on caste, religion, regionalism and chauvinistic ambitions.

According to Sharma, BJP entered into an opportunistic alliance with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and also helped in paving the way for the rule of this party on Maharashtra. He called it “misdeeds and hunger for power” of the BJP.

Sharma even said that Shiv Sena and MNS volunteers, as well as “goondas and anarchical elements” indulged in attacks on Bihari and north Indian students, which was anti-national in spirit.

He said that BJP has been claiming to practise “nationalist politics,” but it was merely a “sham,” since what the Bihari students suffered in Mumbai
was a mere fallout of the misguided alliance and politics pursued by the BJP to grab and capture power.

According to state Congress working president Samir Kumar Singh, Sharma, in an appeal to the Centre, has demanded ban on SIMI, Indian Mujahideen, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, MNS and all other organisations of their ilk.

Sharma has also demanded enactment of an Act by Parliament for closing opportunities to any political party or organisation that indulge in obscurantism and raise such narrow, chauvinistic issues based on caste, religion and regionalism to capture power.

He said that Shiv Sena has been practising such politics. Despite that, BJP entered into an alliance with it during the polls for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and state assembly adding that Modi had made himself ridiculous in the state.

Source : Times Of India

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Chiru T-yatra set to begin from Sircilla

HYDERABAD: Though it is not known whether he would announce his stand on the separate state more clearly than what has already been said in Tirupa
ti in August, Prajarajyam president Chiranjeevi is expected to reveal his action plan to help the weavers in the state during his second visit to Sircilla town on October 30.

According to party sources, this is the reason for him to choose Sircilla as the starting point of his nine-day tour of Telangana. Chiranjeevi is scheduled to visit the weavers’ town on October 30 and address a public meeting there.
Chiranjeevi’s Telangana tour is expected to spring surprises, said party spokesperson Parakala Prabhakar.

“The leader will announce several things during the T tour. Number of important personalities will join the party,” he said while announcing the road map of the tour. Commencing from October 30 from Sircilla, the tour will end on November 6 in Bhadrachalam.

Source : Times Of India

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Nobody is above the law: Maharashtra CM

MUMBAI: Rejecting that charge that Maharashtra government acted under pressure to arrest MNS chief Raj Thackeray, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh
today said nobody was above the law and warned that anyone indulging in violence will be dealt with sternly.

"There has been no pressure on the government to arrest Raj Thackeray. No one is above the law. Do you want the government to be a spectator?" he asked.

Noting that many MNS activists have been arrested from across Maharashtra, Deshmukh said, "Once we decide to take action, some precautionary steps have to be taken by the police and they have been taken. There have been reports of minor incidents of violence. Those indulging in violence will be dealt with strictly".

Thackeray was arrested early today from Ratnagiri in connection with the attacks on north Indian candidates appearing for a railway recruitment examination on Sunday. The MNS has alleged that the Maharashtra government has acted at the behest of the Centre in arrested its leader.

"We have deployed SRP companies in various towns. So I don't think there is any problem," he said while asking Mumbaikars to go ahead with their routine life.

"It is no problem. There is no question of any fear," the chief minister said.

Source : Times Of India

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DMK's human chain protest on Tamils' plight today

CHENNAI: The ruling DMK wants its human chain agitation on Tuesday to highlight the plight of Tamil civilians in war-torn Sri Lanka to be a massiv
e event and is mobilising members of all its wings as well as various sections of society.

DMK president and chief minister M Karunanidhi has been issuing appeals to cadres through the party organ, 'Murasoli', for the last two days to participate in large numbers, and wrote again for the Tuesday edition.

In his missives, he has been highlighting the party's track record in taking up the cause of Tamils in Sri Lanka over the years.

On Monday, Karunanidhi sought to rebut criticism that the steps he had taken were mere gimmicks by underscoring the UPA regime's positive response to the all-party appeal to the Centre to intervene effectively in Sri Lanka to ensure cessation of hostilities there and commencement of fresh negotiations.

"While we have some detractors here, it is a big consolation for us that the regime in New Delhi is considering our demands sympathetically. The Prime Minister has spoken to the Sri Lankan president and the external affairs minister is due to visit Colombo shortly. A UN convoy carrying 750 tonnes of food could not be distributed in the north last week, but on the very day the Prime Minister spoke to the Sri Lankan leadership, the supplies were sent and distributed among 2,30,000 people," he said.

Source : Times Of India

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17 BJP MLAs rebel against Uttarakhand CM Khanduri

NEW DELHI: Just when it prepares for a crucial round of assembly polls, dissidence has once again wracked BJP in Uttarakhand with 17 party MLAs re
belling against chief minister Major General (retd) B C Khanduri.

Trivendra Singh Ravat, a minister in the Khanduri government, submitted the resignations to party chief Rajnath Singh here on Monday. Though the party chief, it is learnt, urged the MLAs not to precipitate matters ahead of the crucial assembly elections, the rebels were not ready to relent.

The tough posture underlines the challenge that the leadership has faced in the state since it prevailed over the MLAs to accept Khanduri in place of the the popular choice, former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

While Khanduri got the nod because of the impressive stint he had as the surface transport minister at the Centre under the NDA government, he has since failed to enhance his appeal among the MLAs who find him to be too bureaucratic in his approach.

Though Khanduri, thanks to goadings by the central leadership, tried to trim his style to suit the MLAs' tastes and restored the perks — ministerial ranks and other trappings of power such as red beacons — he had withdrawn after taking over, this has not helped matters.

Rather, it seems his new-found adaptability seems to have alerted them to the pragmatic streak in a chief minister who, to many, seemed to value his ability to brazen out controversies about his style of functioning.

Source : Times Of India

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Pranab Mukherjee likely to visit Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: As Tamil parties continue to build pressure on the government over the Sri Lankan issue, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee is
likely to travel to the island nation to assess the situation and discuss the matter with the country's leadership.

Official sources here on Sunday said the visit is being considered in view of the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka.

Mukherjee is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

However, no date has been fixed for the visit so far and it is being worked out, they said.

After a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rajapaksa on Saturday, Bogollagama extended a formal invitation to Mukherjee to visit Sri Lanka to assess the situation.

The government's key ally DMK has been demanding India's intervention to stop Sri Lankan military offensive in north Sri Lanka. To build pressure, its ministers in the Union Cabinet and MPs have tendered their resignations to the party chief.

Mukherjee's visit is intended to enable India to get first-hand account of the situation, particularly the condition of ethnic Tamils there.

During the telephonic talk with Rajapaksa, Singh said the Sri Lankan government should ensure that the rights and safety of Tamils are protected and that they don't get "enmeshed" in the conflict with LTTE.

The Sri Lankan president, on his part, assured Singh that his government is ensuring safety and security of the Tamils.

Singh has also asked Rajapaksa to look for a political settlement to the ethnic problem, insisting that there could be no military solution to it.

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