Mulayam decries BSP for NSA against Varun
AFTER the BJP crying foul, it is now the turn of Samajwadi party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to accuse the Mayawati government for "wrongly imposing" the National Security Act (NSA) on Varun Gandhi. "It is wrong to impose NSA on Varun Gandhi. I am personally against imposition of NSA. It has been misused. But I would say whatever is being done with Varun Gandhi is a game plan of BJP and BSP. Why was Varun not arrested when he was coming from Delhi?" asked Mulayam.

Despite a Pilibhit court granting him bail in both the hate speech cases, the BJP candidate from Pilibhit continues to face an uncertain future, even as his party, the BJP, hopes to gain maximum political mileage out of the entire drama unfolding in the quiet UP town. BJP's Election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Kalraj Mishra had said that that senior party leaders will continue to campaign for Varun Gandhi in Pilibhit.

"BJP has announced him (Varun Gandhi) as our candidate. We will formulate a strategy that is positive, law abiding and in accordance to the Model Code of Conduct to ensure that Varun Gandhi wins the elections," said Mishra. With Varun still in jail after the Mayawati government slapped the NSA on him, the BJP plans to rope in senior leader like prime ministerial candidate LK Advani and party President Rajnath Singh to campaign for Varun.

We are and always will be with UPA: Paswan
RAM Vilas Paswan's Lok Jana Shakti party may be preparing for the big day to formally announce its pre-poll "secular alliance" with the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Samajwadi party on April 3, but Paswan has reiterated that his party was a part and parcel of the UPA and will be part of any UPA Government at the Centre after polls.

"We are not making any separate front. We have joined together to defeat communal forces in Bihar and UP. While in Bihar JD(U)-BJP combine is our target, we plan to defeat BJP and BSP in UP. We are not going to attack Congress during our campaigning in either of the states," Paswan said in New Delhi.

Ruling out the possibility of any truck with the Third Front after polls, Paswan said, "the question for any tie-up with Third Front does not arise." Paswan also denied any pressure politics behind coming together of the three parties and said, "there is no pressure politics involved in it. We have an honest intention of defeating communal forces."

Varun gets bail in 2 cases, but stays in jail
VARUN Gandhi got bail in both hate speech cases from a Pilibhit case on Monday on but he will have to continue being in jail as the Mayawati government has slapped the National Security Act on Varun Gandhi on Sunday evening.

Earlier, the court had dismissed a case against Varun for violating the Election Commission's model code of conduct. The case was dismissed on technical grounds because it was filed by the station officer and not the district magistrate.

This, however, does not allow Varun to walk free from jail as it will take three weeks for the Allahabad High Court Advisory Committee to give a ruling on upholding or rejecting the National Security Act (NSA) slapped against him. The Allahabad High Court has set up a three-member Advisory Committee comprising one Acting High Court Judge and two retired Judges, who will mull over the pros and cons of Varun's review petition and decide whether the applicability of the National Security Act against Varun is justifiable or not.

Until the Advisory Committee submits its report, Varun can't appeal against the NSA. Meanwhile, BJP MP and Varun's mother Maneka Gandhi has alleged that the Bahujan Samaj Party government of Mayawati and the Congress had conspired to invoke the NSA against Varun. "Misuse of such powerful laws is unjust to Varun and to the country. The BSP and Congress are desperate for votes. They put pressure on the authorities," alleged Maneka.

The BJP has been observing Monday as 'Black Day' in protest against Uttar Pradesh government's action against Varun. Varun's bail plea on other cases is also up for hearing at the local court in Pilibhit. He has also been booked for attempted murder, rioting, destruction of public property, and preventing public servants from discharging their duty.

Govinda won't contest, Nagma may get ticket
Bollywood star and sitting Mumbai North MP, Govinda, has decided to seek re-election to the Lok Sabha this year. His unwillingness to contest has opened up the possibility of another Bollywood personality, Nagma, to get the Congress ticket.

"Govinda, like other sitting MPs, was asked if he was willing to contest again in the Lok Sabha polls, but he declined the offer," Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan told reporters at State Congress party office in central Mumbai on Sunday.

Chavan said actress Nagma has showed readiness to contest from the seat. "She (Nagma) is one of the applicants for Congress ticket from this constituency," he added.

Govinda had won from Mumbai North constituency in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, defeating BJP's Ram Naik.

Salman Khan to campaign for Congress in UP
The rank and file of the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, which is trying to recover from the jolt of the Samajwadi party tying up with Laloo Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal and Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Jana Shakti party, will now get a shot in the arm with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan being brought in to campaign for the party in the state.

Salman Khan arrived in Unnao on Sunday in a helicopter from Lucknow to attend a "Holi Milan" function organised by Congress candidate Anu Tandon. During the interaction with his fans, who flocked to see a glimpse of the actor, Salman asked them to vote according to their conscience.

He also asked the crowd about their problems and suggested them to meet Tandon, saying the Congress candidate will solve them. The Bollywood actor also sang songs from his film Mujh Se Shadi Karogi and No Entry for his fans and danced on the tune of Amitabh Bachhan's recital of Holi songs.

Unnao is currently represented in the Lok Sabha by the Bahujan Samaj party, while the SP also has a strong presence here. It is with these realities in mind that the Congress has brought Salman here to woo the voters. He will attend five Holi Milan functions and ask people to vote in favour of Tandon.

Varun sent to 2-day judicial custody, says he was framed
A defiant Varun Gandhi was remanded to two days in judicial custody by a Pilibhit court on Saturday, after he courted arrest in front of thousands of his supporters, saying he was being 'framed'.

Varun's lawyers had earlier moved a surrender plea in the court of the Chief Judicial magistrate in Pilibhit, following the rejection of his bail plea by the Allahabad High Court on Friday.

Varun reached Pilibhit earlier on Saturday morning, even as huge crowds of BJP workers clashed with the local police, trying to obstruct them from arresting their firebrand leader.

Earlier, there was intense speculation that the Uttar Pradesh police might arrest Varun even before he surrenders at the Pilibhit court.

Varun apparently took the decision to withdraw the anticipatory bail application from the Delhi High Court after the Allahabad High Court rejected his petition seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him for his alleged inflammatory speeches in Pilibhit.

Last week, the Delhi High Court had granted Mr Gandhi interim anticipatory bail which will expire on Friday and the UP police will have no legal bar to arrest him.

Nano-politics against me, said Mamata
DAYS after the high-profile launch of the world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, on Friday alleged that the event was timed with the Lok Sabha elections in mind and was a conspiracy against her.

In a programme broadcast by a TV news channel, Banerjee said, "The launch of the Nano was timed keeping in view the approaching Lok Sabha elections. It was a conspiracy against me." Banerjee claim that Tata Motors had fled from Singur not because of her party's agitation against land acquisition, but because of the global meltdown.

She also said Tata's purchase of Corus had brought down the share prices of the company. "Their plants in Jamshedpur are also not running through the week." Commenting on Ratan Tata's greeting 'good afternoon' during the Nano launch in Mumbai on March 23, Banerjee said: "He has his allegiance for a particular political party -- CPI-(M). So I will wish him good night. We will usher in a new and good morning."

Earlier, Tata Motors wound up its Nano project from Singur, which was originally scheduled to roll out the cheapest car, last October, following sustained protests by the Trinamool-led farmers demanding return of 400 of the 997.11 acres acquired for the project. The agitators alleged that the 400 acres were forcibly taken by the government.

Godhra case: Gujarat minister surrenders
Gujarat minister for higher education, women and child welfare, Maya Kodnani, along with Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Jaideep Patel, whose bail in the Godhra riots case was cancelled by the Gujarat High Court on Friday, surrendered in front of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) court, in Gandhinagar, after their arrest became imminent.

Earlier, the minister had sent in her resignation on Friday after the High Court took a strong view of her role in leading mobs during the 2002 sectarian violence, terminf it as 'nothing less than organised crime'.

Justice DH Waghela, in his order, said: "Maya Kodnani was leading a mob but still did not control them (mob). This is nothing less than organised crime." He also rejected the petition of Kodnani's defence lawyer who sought more time for her to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the Special Investigative Team had approached the High Court seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Kodnani as she had not responded to its summons. Kodnani is accused of leading a rioting mob in Godhra on February 28, 2002. Over 100 people were killed in the riots there.

Calling it a huge embarrassment for the BJP, Congress Spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, "I certainly hope that the law will take necessary action against the corrupt minister. She was embroiled and accused of monstrous crimes. Commenting on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, she said, "The time has come to show that he supports the law by taking necessary action against her." The investigating team, headed by the former CBI Director RK Raghavan, is re-investigating the case.

SP-RJD-LJP combo latest threat to Congress in N. India
The Congress is now paying up for ignoring a pre-poll alliance. In what could be the most serious challenge to Mrs Sonia Gandhi's say in post-poll government formation, three major Hindi belt leaders - Mulayam Singh yadav of the Samajwadi party, Lalu Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Jana Shakti party have decided to close ranks and contest the elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh together.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh declared, "We three are together. We will fight jointly in North India. We will not clash with each other in the two states having 120 Lok Sabha seats."

LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan, said in Patna, that he had talked to SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD leader Lalu Prasad and the three parties would provide an alternative in the fight against 'communal forces'.

While SP supremo Mulayam Singh did not make a formal announcement, he said Paswan had agreed to drop his plans to field former Prime Minister V P Singh's son, Ajeya Singh, from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress would now be up against three powerful regional groups, SP-RJD-LJP, in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It will also have to face the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) besides the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, who is trying to contest Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow on a Samajwadi Party ticket, is facing stiff resistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation, which opposed his appeal in Supreme Court on Thursday. In his plea, Mr. Dutt is seeking suspension of his conviction to enable him to contest elections.

CBI sources said, Munnabhai is out on bail in the 1993 Bombay blast case in which he was found guilty. If he is allowed to contest it will set a bad precedent.

After the fate of criminal turned politicians like Babloo Srivastava and Mukhtar Ansari was sealed, Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have now been pouring in to the Supreme court to bar Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt from contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Noted social worker and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, filed a PIL in the Supreme Court on Thursday urging it to dismiss Dutt's plea to contest the LS elections. One more petition was filed on March 20 by an Aurangabad-based lawyer on the same issue.

All the PILs take the same view that Sanjay Dutt has been convicted by the court, therefore he should not be allow to contest the elections.

Sandeep Pandey, said, "When the court had denied permission to Babloo, Amarmani Tripathi and Mukhtar and even Shahabuddin then why should they allow Sanjay Dutt?"

The Supreme Court's decision on Sanjay Dutt's appeal, which is expected in the next few days, will determine the political fate of the star-turned politician.

The Bharatiya Janata party's troubles don't seem to be over yet. With the furore over Varun Gandhi's alleged hate speech in Pilibhit continuing to hit national headlines and Yogi Adityanath's speech also raising the eyeborws in political circles, it is now the turn of the party's vice-president, Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi', whose speech in Rampur has come under scrutiny.

A criminal case has been filed against Naqvi and his supporters in the district court in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly barging into a police station and creating a chaos, police said.

According to Inspector NK Tyagi, the incident took place after mob of around 100 angry BJP workers stormed the Patwai police station, blocked the road outside and locked the gate. Naqvi later arrived at the spot and made an inflammatory speech to the mob in the presence of the police. One of the vehicles used by the BJPO activists, was sezied by the police.

The inspector added that a case had been lodged against Naqvi and his supporters under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), Sec 341 (wrongful restraint), Sec 342 (wrongful confinement) and Sec188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code. The BJP leader and his supporters have also been booked under Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Referring to the incident, Rampur Superintendent of Police Jyoti arayan said that Naqvi and the BJP workers handed over a memorandum to the sub-divisional magistrate, alleging that the officer of the local police station had misbehaved with them and made ill comments against a legislator. An enquiry has been ordered into the complaint.

Rattled by a series of allies breaking away from the UPA, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, on Thursday, called an emergency meeting of senior party leaders to evaluate the party's chances of forming the next government in the Centre. Pranab Mukherjee and Digvijay Singh are among the prominent leaders to discuss the parties' ties with allies.

Congress had recently lost some crucial allies with the PMK joining Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and the RJD and LJP ganging up against the Congress in Bihar, leaving only 3 seats for it in the bargain. The Congress, has since decided to go it alone in Bihar and has already declared a list of 37 candidates in the state.

Congress had recently lost some crucial allies with the PMK joining Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and the RJD and LJP ganging up against the Congress in Bihar, leaving only 3 seats for it in the bargain. The Congress, has since decided to go it alone in Bihar and has already declared a list of 37 candidates in the state.

Clearing speculations in the media, Ramadoss, clarified, saying the party would decide on Thursday about its poll alliance and remove all rumours of his stepping down.

Hindutva's new poster boy, Varun Gandhi', whose alleged hate speech in Pilibhit shot him into instant controversy and political stardom, is fast becoming the star capiagner for the party's state units. Several state units of the BJP are seeking his presence in election rallies to boost impact.

Party insiders say his hate speech has paved the route through which he arrived on the saffron map of BJP. The party's rank and file is now desperately seeking Varun's attendance to drive home the aggressive stance that can overcome the UPA challenge. Seventy-odd MPs and leaders from 10 states have queued up before the BJP election office with one request - send Varun for campaigning. Demands are landing up from virtually every constituency.

"In the past few days, a section of the party feels that Varun Gandhi could be party's star campaigner," a state unit leader of the party in Uttar Pradesh said. Sources in the BJP confirmed that Gandhi did not figure in the first list of important campaigners earlier. However, post his alleged anti-Muslim remarks, his name has been included in the coveted list and his popularity graph is almost matching Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's.

However, sources say, the BJP is still wary and the party is yet to clear demands of pitching Varun in its election rallies. But not everyone seems to agree. Varun Gandhi's 'charisma' is being questioned by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar. Commenting on the controversy, the chief minister had recently said, "People in public life must exercise restraint."

According to party insiders, just one and a half months ago at the BJP national executive, Hindutva factor was missing from BJP's political resolution for the ensuing polls. Now the party is milking Varun's hate comments. A week in Indian politics, it is proved, is a long time. A saffron star has been born in just seven days. Sources says, Gandhi is in great demand in Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.

The Election Commission continued with its aggressive monitoring violations of the model code of conduct, directing the district authorities in Darbhanga to take action against Union Minister of State for Home and Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed, who had allegedly held a political meeting at Koeti High School on March 13 without seeking permission of the local administration.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Darbhanga, Mr Vijay Kumar Srivastav, on Wednesday, issued arrest warrant against Ahmed for violating the model code of conduct.

Earlier, the Election Commission had on March 16 ordered shifting of the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Darbhanga district and suspended the Sub-Divisional Officer of the district for their alleged involvement in violation of the model code of conduct by Ahmed.

The SDO was suspended since he had allowed the meeting to be held without having secured EC's permission. According to the sources, the DM and SP too were allegedly found complicit in the case, sources said.

Varun Gandhi to approach SC for relief
BJP's controversy child Varun Gandhi on Wednesday decided to approach the Supreme Court, after the Allahabad High Court dismissed his petition, asking for the quashing of an FIR filed by the Pilibhit district administration, under instructions from the Election Commission.

The Allahabad High Court had maintained that there was no need to stay his arrest since the Delhi High Court has already given him anticipatory bail which will restrain police to arrest him till March 27. Since the FIR stands, and police could arrest him after 27th, he has now decided to go to the apex court for relief.

Earlier, the Election Commission had found Varun guilty of delivering hate speeches in Pilibhit during his election rallies, and had advised the BJP not to field him as a candidate in the Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP, however, has rejected the 'advice', instead terming the decision as biased. Varun has also slammed the EC for not giving him a fair hearing.

In its order, a division bench comprising justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and S C Nigam said, "the petition stands dismissed".


Now, after rejection of his plea, Varun Gandhi faces the possibility of being arrest if he visits Pilibhit anytime after March 27, to file his nomination papers.

Starpower: 'Veer-Zaara' to campaign for Congress
The Congress has lined up an entire star cast to add to its campaign glamour quotient for the ensuing general elections. Among others, it has roped in the Veer Zaara stars, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, to capign for it and attend some of its political rallies. Party sources indicate that the star pair would be able to draw a lot of crowds and also voter allegience.

Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal, talking to mediapersons in Kanpur on Tuesday, said that famous Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Priety Zinta, Govinda and Nagma will campaign for the party and participate in rallies and road shows.

Jaiswal said though Govinda was a Congress leader, Nagma had been an active worker and campaigned for the party in earlier elections.

Mayawati spreading B'day terror, says Ajit Singh
The Lok Sabha Elections is witnessing many candidates casting serious aspersions at each other. After the war of words between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP supremo LK Advani, it is now the turn of Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh, who has taken potshots at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, for intimidating the people for fund-raising during her birthday celebrations.

According to Ajit Singh, people of Uttar Pradesh were fed up of Mayawati collecting funds from them for her birthday celebrations every year and wondered aloud what would happen if the she decided to tie the knot.

Addressing an election rally in Mathura, he said, ''Arre thak jaoge kanyadan dal dal ke agar kal Behenji ne shaadi karne ki soch li to." He was campaigning for his son, Jayant Choudhary, who is contesting as the BJP-RLD candidate from Mathura.

Referring to the annual grand celebrations of Mayawati's birthday in which she purportedly asks for huge donations from party workers and others, he added that people in the country were in constant fear of terrorism but the people of UP were scared of the birthday celebrations of their Chief Minister sahiba.

Blame game has begun, Advani, Manmohan wage 'word war'
The 15th Lok Sabha elections have finally started heating up with a caustic war of words that started with the formal launch of the Congress manifesto on Tuesday. With both Manmohan Singh and LK Advani casting serious aspersions on each other about their poltical track record, it is now expected to only get more vitriolic with both Prime Minister aspirants trying to play a game of political one-upmanship.

Addressing an election rally in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district in Madhya Pradesh, Advani said, Manmohan Singh was the country's weakest prime minister. He was the Prime Minister but had no powers because he could only take decisions subject to permission from Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Responding to Advani's allegation that he was a weak PM, Manmohan Singh lashed back at the BJP leader, saying, "The actions of our government speak volumes about it."

Taking the war of words into the BJP camp, Dr Singh attacked Advani, saying the Leader of the Opposition had played a prominent role in the destruction of the Babri Masjid. He added, when he(Advani) was Home Minister, Parliament was attacked and thousands were massacred in the Gujarat riots. The Red Fort was also attacked and the plane hijacked to Kandahar.

After Varun, now it's EC against Uddhav
THE Election Commission's tryst with hate speeches doesn't seem to end. Even as the Varun Gandhi controversy continues to grab national headlines, the poll panel is now training its guns on Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray.

The district collector of Mumbai,on Monday, submitted a report against the Shiv Sena executive President for his allegedly objectionable comments against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mumbai district collector I Z Kundan said that police will take the decision whether to take action or not. A video recording of the Uddhav's speech has been submitted to the police and to the poll panel, along with the report.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe however said that they haden't received any formal notice from the Election Commission. There were reports that the district electoral office has begun proceedings against Uddhav under the Representation of People's Act, 1952. The EC had found Uddhav's speech against PM objectionable.

The district electoral office began to look into the case on Saturday, a day after the Sena scion's address at a saffron conclave held at the Sun Mill compound, near Sewri. BJP president Rajnath Singh too was present at the jamboree.

After viewing the CD of Uddhav's speech, the EC has come to the decision that the Shiv Sena Executive President has violated the model code of conduct.

Acording to the party leader Gorhe, the Sena had earlier registered a formal complaint with Election Commission in Delhi against Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari for his 'provocative' remarks against Uddhav Thackeray.

Court summons Tharoor for insulting National Anthem
Former United Nations diplomat-turned Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor is now in the eye of a storm. The suave celebrity author, who is fighting the elections on a Congress ticket from Thiruvananthapuram, has invited public ire for "insulting the national anthem'".

According to a complaint, Mr Tharoor had insulted the national anthem at a function, held on December 16 in Kochi by interrupting the singing of the national anthem and asking the audience to sing the national anthem in an American manner by placing the right palm over the heart.

In this case, he was asked by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian K Kuriakose to appear before him on April 18 in connection with alleged insult of the national anthem by him.

It is said the witnesses have given evidences that clearly indicate that the above argument carries weight and Tharoor's presence was necessary to resolve the question over whether a charge could be framed against him.

Mulayam accused of 'threatening' senior lady officer
Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has now landed himself in yet another controversy, this time for having 'threatened' a senior lady official. Mulayam, who managed to get a clean chit from the Election Commission recently after having caught on camera, distributing cash to party workers during a Holi get-together, got involved in a fresh trouble by passing several remarks against senior lady official during a public meeting in Mainpuri.

Mr Yadav criticised the District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer for harassing the party workers and warned that because she is a woman, he was leaving her.

Yadav alleged the way in which the DM was canceling arms licenses had created an atmosphere of terror in the district. SP workers have accused her of being partial and confiscating their gun licenses.

He said, "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 checked."

He announced in the public that she should mend ways within a week or else he would register a complaint against her with the Election Commission.

Following the SP chief's comment on the lady district magistrate, BJP's Prakash Javadekar said that the Election Commission cannot have dual standards against violations of the model code of conduct, and should take action. He added that EC was hyperactive against Varun's speech.

Earlier, the EC had sent a notice to Mr Yadav in connection with distribution of money during a Holi in Etawah. But later, it had dropped the matter after being satisfied with his reply.

Ramadoss may resign after PMK ties up with Jaya
Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss is all set to resign after his party, the PMK decided to break away from the UPA and join hands with AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha. Seat-sharing talks between the PMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu broke down on Monday.

According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.

According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.

Ramadoss, along with the Minister of State for Railways R Velu, are scheduled to meet PM Manmohan Singh and the Congress high command.

PMK sources said that the party has struck a deal with AIADMK chief Jayalalitha, but an official announcement will only be made after the general body meet on Thursday.

The Election Commission's tryst with hate speeches doesn't seem to end. Even as the Varun Gandhi controversy continues to grab national headlines, the poll panel is now training its guns on Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray.

The district collector of Mumbai,on Monday, submitted a report against the Shiv Sena executive President for his allegedly objectionable comments against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mumbai district collector I Z Kundan said that police will take the decision whether to take action or not. A video recording of the Uddhav's speech has been submitted to the police and to the poll panel, along with the report.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe however said that they haden't received any formal notice from the Election Commission. There were reports that the district electoral office has begun proceedings against Uddhav under the Representation of People's Act, 1952. The EC had found Uddhav's speech against PM objectionable.

The district electoral office began to look into the case on Saturday, a day after the Sena scion's address at a saffron conclave held at the Sun Mill compound, near Sewri. BJP president Rajnath Singh too was present at the jamboree.

After viewing the CD of Uddhav's speech, the EC has come to the decision that the Shiv Sena Executive President has violated the model code of conduct.

Acording to the party leader Gorhe, the Sena had earlier registered a formal complaint with Election Commission in Delhi against Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari for his 'provocative' remarks against Uddhav Thackeray.

Former United Nations diplomat-turned Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor is now in the eye of a storm. The suave celebrity author, who is fighting the elections on a Congress ticket from Thiruvananthapuram, has invited public ire for "insulting the national anthem'".

According to a complaint, Mr Tharoor had insulted the national anthem at a function, held on December 16 in Kochi by interrupting the singing of the national anthem and asking the audience to sing the national anthem in an American manner by placing the right palm over the heart.

In this case, he was asked by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian K Kuriakose to appear before him on April 18 in connection with alleged insult of the national anthem by him.

It is said the witnesses have given evidences that clearly indicate that the above argument carries weight and Tharoor's presence was necessary to resolve the question over whether a charge could be framed against him.

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has now landed himself in yet another controversy, this time for having 'threatened' a senior lady official. Mulayam, who managed to get a clean chit from the Election Commission recently after having caught on camera, distributing cash to party workers during a Holi get-together, got involved in a fresh trouble by passing several remarks against senior lady official during a public meeting in Mainpuri.

Mr Yadav criticised the District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer for harassing the party workers and warned that because she is a woman, he was leaving her.

Yadav alleged the way in which the DM was canceling arms licenses had created an atmosphere of terror in the district. SP workers have accused her of being partial and confiscating their gun licenses.

He said, "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 checked."

He announced in the public that she should mend ways within a week or else he would register a complaint against her with the Election Commission.

Following the SP chief's comment on the lady district magistrate, BJP's Prakash Javadekar said that the Election Commission cannot have dual standards against violations of the model code of conduct, and should take action. He added that EC was hyperactive against Varun's speech.

Earlier, the EC had sent a notice to Mr Yadav in connection with distribution of money during a Holi in Etawah. But later, it had dropped the matter after being satisfied with his reply.

Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss is all set to resign after his party, the PMK decided to break away from the UPA and join hands with AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha. Seat-sharing talks between the PMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu broke down on Monday.

According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.

According to highly placed PMK sources, the resignation of union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is imminent, following a decision by his father and PMK party founder, S Ramadoss, to join hands with the AIADMK.

Ramadoss, along with the Minister of State for Railways R Velu, are scheduled to meet PM Manmohan Singh and the Congress high command.

PMK sources said that the party has struck a deal with AIADMK chief Jayalalitha, but an official announcement will only be made after the general body meet on Thursday.

Varun should read Gita properly : Priyanka
Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said that the inflammatory comments made by Varun Gandhi goes totally against the principles of the Gandhi family. She feel so bad to see him saying all these things on television.

Speaking to reporters against her cousin Varun, she said that he should read and understand Gita (Bhagvad Gita) properly.

Priyanka Gandhi will attend many closed-door meetings at various places in Rae Bareli (Sonia Gandhi's parliamentary constituency) and neighbouring Amethi ( Rahul Gandhi's constituency) and interact with all workers.

BJP dares EC diktat, sticks with Varun's candidature
A defiant BJP on Monday stuck to its guns and declared that Varun Gandhi would remain its candidate from Pilibhit in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Coming down heavily on the EC "recommendation", the party has alleged that the poll panel's directive could be due to the Chief Election Commissioner-designate Navin Chawla's proximity to the Congress.

The BJP leadership is of the view that debarring candidate does not fall within the purview of the Election Commission's mandate, and expressed confidence that Varun's candidature would not be held hostage by petty politicking. Senior BJP leader Balbir Punj said that there were candidates with criminal charges in other parties also. Then why had the exception been made in Varun Gandhi's case.

Allaying all fears of the BJP dropping Varun as a candidate, party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar has said, "Yes, Varun is still our official candidate." He added that it is not the EC's job to say who should be candidate and who should not be. EC is not the forensic lab to tell whether the tape is authentic or not.

Earlier, Varun had stirred up a controversy by allegedly delivering a vitriolic speech in Pilibhit targetting minority communities, has been strongly pulled up by the Election Commission. The poll panel had also asked the Bharatiya Janata Party not to make him its official candidate in the ensuying elections.

The decision which came after a lot of deliberations, found Varun guilty of violating the spirit of election laws and also destroying the conscience of the nation. An EC statement said it was not convinced by Varun Gandhi's contention that the tapes containing his speech were doctored.

The Commission has now decided to work closely with the Pilibhit district administration to follow up on the criminal case filed against Varun. In the event of the case not producing speedy results, the poll panel is also toying with the idea of approaching the Allahabad High Court to ban Varun from contesting elections.

Calling upon the BJP to dump the youngest scion of the Gandhi family to escape censure, the Election Commission warned the party that any attempt by the party to nominate Varun will be seen as it being party to Varun's hate agenda.

Don't play politics with IPL, says Chidambaram
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, has hit back at the BCCI and the BJP for politicising the issue of hosting IPL matches in India during the ensuing general elections. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Chidambaram said the IPL was a wise combination of sport and business and we should not add politics to it.

Lambasting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's statement that the IPL shifting out of India signifies a national shame, the minister said, "What is national shame? People of India think Gujarat riots of 2002 were a national shame."

A day after the BCCI announced that the second season of the IPL was being shifted overseas because of security issues in India, Chidambaram said that while he had no comment on that decision, he had read a number of statements which obliquely criticised the Central government.

Answering BJP leader Arjun Jaitley's comment that the decision to move the IPL abroad will convey a negative message to the world, Chidambaram said, "I know that Mr Jaitley has a penchant for exaggeration, but because he also wears the cap of the president of the DDCA, he seems to have gone overboard this time."

Earlier, after weeks of speculation and a ding-dong battle involving the Union home ministry, state governments and the IPL organisers, a solution finally emerged on Sunday morning, when BCCI president told a crowded press conference in Mumbai that owing to government pressure, the glamorous Season 2 of the Indian Premier League would now be held overseas.

While the venue was to be finalised, the issue of general elections, along with some state assemblies going to the polls became too sensitive an issue for the government to take any chances, given the high security risk involved.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi termed the decision as the most unfortunate decision of his life, almost all franchise owners, including Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Mallya, Nita Ambani and Preity Zinta expressed happiness that the IPL controversy had finally been resolved. They also agreed that the general elections were anyway more important for the nation and hence its security could never be undermined in preference to a cricket tournament. According to Lalit Modi, all the matches will be held on the same schedule. Taking a dig at the UPA regime at the Centre, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, said it was sad that a government was supposed to take care of the security of 1 billion Indians, cannot guarantee the security of 11 cricket players. Offering to host all IPL matches with a "guarantee of security" in Gujarat, the firebrand BJP leader lamented that with the moving of IPL abroad, India's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 would also have a question mark against it.

Chiranjeevi may contest 3 seats in show of strength
Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi, who formed his Praja Rajyam party with much fanfare ihn 2008, has hinted that he may contest from three constituencies of Andra Pradesh, making it a grand show of strength in front of the electorate. Talking to reporters, he said that he might contest from one assembly seat each in Andhra, Rayalseema and Telanagana regions.

He will be repeating history, if the PRP president does that. N T Rama Rao, founder of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), used to contest from three constituencies to drive home the point that his popularity spans the entire state.

He made a confirmation that he would contest from a seat in his native West Godavari district and Tirupati in Rayalseema. He also said that he will choose Nalgonda in Telangana, if he would find possibility of contesting from a third constituency.

Chiranjeevi alleged that the Congress party had not done justice to backward classes in allotment of party tickets. He also pointed out that Congress fielded only 66 candidates from backward classes though there were 109. This shows the insincerity of Congress in ensuring social justice.

Paswan's LJP to contest 15 LS seats in UP
Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janashakti Party, has decided to cast its net beyond the borders of Bihar. It is likely to field 15 candidates in Uttar Pradesh.

LJP spokesperson for UP, Rajkumar Ojha, said that the party has already announced its candidates from five Lok Sabha constituencies of Jaunpur, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Etah and Khalilabad.

To answer whether the party will go out all alone in the polls in UP, Ojha said that the possibility of contesting under the banner 'National Dalit Front' (NDF) has not been ruled out and will soon take a decision on this.

According to a senior LJP leader, if their party contest the election under the banner of NDF, they might fight on at least 20-30 seats in UP.

Led by Ramvilas Paswan, the National Dalit Front (NDF) was formed in 2008 to make a dent on Mayawati's Dalit vote bank. This front comprises of LJP, Indian Justice Parties (Udit Raj) and Republican Party of India (A) led by Ramdas Athavale.

UPA collapses in Bihar, Cong to field 37 candidates

Bihar's election landscape is becoming very competitive. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) it seems has almost collapsed in the state with the Congress declaring its intentions of fielding as many as 37 candidates for the state.


The party decided to mount the offensive after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan offered just three seats to the Congress. "Congress has decided to contest on 37 seats in Bihar. Coalition dharma has been violated and we are upset with this. We have no alliance with Laloo as of now," Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde, who heads the Screening Committee for vetting party candidates from the state, said.

RJD got the lion's share on 40 seats and will put up candidates in 25 seats while Paswan's party will be contesting on 12 seats. Meanwhile, former RJD leader Sadhu Anirudh Prasad Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday morning.Earlier, Laloo denied any tension between the RJD-LJP combine and the Congress, saying the parties were loyal to UPA. "No confusion is there. We are discussing with everybody. Our alliance is UPA, and we want to contest election together." Prasad said he was not willing to forge an alliance with the Communist parties who had quit the ruling coalition over the nuclear deal with the US. Communists are our permanent friends.

Varun is our candidate for Pilibhit, says BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally announced that Varun Gandhi is its candidate for the Pilibit constituency in the upcoming general elections.

The BJP, while declaring Varun Gandhi to be their candidate for Pilibhit, also urged the poll panel to take back the notice served on the party over the speeches.

"Varun Gandhi is our candidate from Pilibhit. He is the declared candidate of the party," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, quelling rumours and intense speculation that the party high command was veering towards distancing itself from the young Gandhi, whose lineage has made the hate speech controversy much more newsy.

The BJP said in a letter to the commission: "Even assuming that a speech has been delivered by a member of the party, these contents do not represent the views of the party or its policies." "Merely because a member of the party has expressed views contrary to what the party stands for, the party cannot be vested with any responsibility.

IPL 'almost' cleared, may be crunched to 27 days

NEW DELHI: The Season 2 of the much-hyped multi-million dollar of the Indian Premier League has finally come out of the general election shadow, the tournament may now be crunched within a window of 27 days.

Most state governments have now cleared the IPL's revised schedule, which went through three iterations, because its dates were clashing with the general elections. Maharashtra is the only state which has given conditional clearance.

Friday night saw most states giving their go ahead to the series, even offering state security for the matches ­ an issue of contention between IPL and the Home Ministry, while State governments also tended to side with the Centre on issues of providing paramilitary forces during matches.

Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor says the city police are ready to provide security as long as matches do not coincide with polling days.

He has also requested the cricketers stay at the Cricket Club of India instead of five-star hotels.

However, the state seems divided on the issue with Director-General of Police (Elections) Suprakash Chakravarty saying that the IPL should be held only after elections are over. The top cop has sought postponement of the IPL to sometime in May, or after the three-phased elections in the state are completed. "There is no point in putting any extra strain on the police and security forces, which shall be fully occupied with the election duties," Chakravarty said.

However, the tournament, which showcases a breathtaking curtailed version of the game, still runs the risk of being further truncated, with the Centre unwilling to budge on security concerns and states cautious about underwriting policing. According to informed sources, the high-profile tournament may well be cut to less than a month with matches being held during a 27-day window in May, by when two of the five phases of polls would be over.

George, Digvijay may fight as independents

TOP JD(U) leaders and prominent members of the National Democratic Alliance, George Fernandes and Digvijay Singh, may defy their party's decision not to give them election tickets this year. Both have expressed their intentions to contest as independents from their respective constituencies.

According to party sources, there is considerable opinion within the JD(U) that 79-year-old leader is not fit enough to take on the rough and tumble of election this time. But, Fernandes, unshakeable as he is, thinks otherwise. Fernandes said that if not as a JD(U) candidate, then he will fight as an independent from his constituency Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

Another prominent leader and the former minister of state for external affairs, Digvijay Singh, is likely to fight as an independent candidate after reports that the party has decided not to give him a ticket from his Baka constituency.

BSP's candidate Kushwaha charged with model code of conduct

BSP's candidate from the prestigious Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, RS Kushwaha, has been charged with violating the model code of conduct by the Election Commission for using mikes without its permission.

Police inspector BR Mishra said that a case was registered against Kushwaha on Friday evening, for defying the model code of conduct for using mikes and loudspeakers without the necessary permission to address an election meeting in Mirzapur Aehari village in Rae Bareli.

Kushwaha held the meeting without the permission of the district authorities and refused to call off the rally when he was told to do so by the police, said the police officer.

The District police chief said that an inquiry has been initiated against Kushwaha following the directives of sub-divisional magistrate Chitralekha Singh. The report will soon be sent to the state Election Commission after which proper action would be taken against him.