Cong unveils Sonia's State visit itinerary
The Congress yesterday published the extensive tour programme of their star campaigner Sonia Gandhi in Maharashtra on February 14 and 15 for the second phase of her electioneering in the state. Apart from Nagpur and Mumbai, she has also decided to campaign in several cosntituencies in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Western Maharashtra.
Cong pulls up BJP for `hurting' Sikh sentiments
Picking on two election posters which show Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani "overshadowing" Guru Gobind Singh, the Congress today complained that the BJP had hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs. The Congress has also petitioned the Election Commission seeking the disqualification of the two BJP leaders from the contest under the Representation of the People Act for "blatant misuse" of religion.
Pawar remark threatens to spoil RPI party in Chimur
Maharashtra Congress strongman Sharad Pawar's remark that the Congress-Republican Party of India alliance was facing a tough time in Chimur constituency has caused a flutter in Nagpur's political circles. Pawar made the statement after concluding his whirlwind tour of Vidarbha region that covered seven out of the region's 11 Lok Sabha constituencies. His analysis has not only jeopardised the chances of RPI candidate Jogendra contesting from Chimur constituency as a Cong-RPI alliance nominee, but also created a flutter in both Congress and RPI camp.
Crime-free polls is top priority for EC
Keeping criminals at bay and ensuring that polling day remains incident-free, especially in violence prone constituencies, has become the Election Commission's top concern as D-day approaches. The Commission yesterday ordered nine state governments to take "prompt and strict action" to "bind down known bad characters, deposit licensed arms and seize unlicensed arms" to prevent any conflagration of the law and order situation in the run-up to the poll.
Thackeray turns messiah of tenants
Embattled Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has threatened to take on the alliance government, of which he himself is the architect, if it fails to protect the interest of the two million tenants in the metropolis.
Meghe, a political alien in hometown Wardha
Datta Meghe will need more than the Mahatma's blessings and Sonia's efforts to enter the 12th Lok Sabha from `Gandhinagari' Wardha. Meghe, who belongs to Wardha, appears more of an outsider mainly owing to his band of workers which has descended upon Wardha from Nagpur. .
