Excellent compilation by @NitiCentral team on @narendramodi’s appeal to the Woman Voter
Niticentral, 14th October, 2013
No one would deny that an increasing number of women across the country, especially urban women find Narendra Modi, the Prime Ministerial candidate for the BJP-led NDA, appealing. That 48 per cent of the under 35 years total voters is women and also that he enjoys a significantly higher popularity among women than men will become all the more crucial during the 2014 General Election. A pre-poll survey conducted by Niti Digital back in 2012 ahead of the Gujarat Assembly election also bears out the strong affinity between the women voters and Modi’s ratings for strong leadership.
“Flawed Central policies caused economic slide”
Business Standard, 13th October, 2013
The Rashtriya Swayayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat today blamed “intrinsically flawed” policies of the Congress-led UPA government at Centre for the economic downturn and also struck down the talks on India becoming a economic super power. “The economic condition of the nation has a direct and instant bearing on the routine and life of the common people. And presently the common man is reeling under the unbearable weight of unending price rise,” Bhagwat said while addressing the annual Dussehra gathering at Reshimbagh ground.
“There should be no untouchables in politics as well as social work,”
Business Standard, 14th October, 2013
Attending a function where former BJP president Nitin Gadkari rolled out business plan of his Purti Group, NCP president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said “there are no untouchables in politics”. “There should be no untouchables in politics as well as social work,” Pawar said in his address at Gadkari’s function held last night. It is recalled that Purti Group came under the scanner last year over reports of investment by shell companies, which eventually led to Gadkari stepping down as BJP president. On the occasion, Gadkari declared a tie-up with Essar Group for launching 100 petrol pumps across the country which would sell ethanol blended fuel at a price lesser by Rs 2 than being sold by PSU oil companies. Purti makes ethanol through baggase and other bio-waste.
Ravish Tiwari has a fantastic piece on Amit Shah at work in UP
Ravish Tiwari, The Indian Express, 13th October, 2013
The road to Delhi goes through Uttar Pradesh. This election though, it also stops at Gujarat, as is evident from both the Congress and the BJP choosing party leaders from the state to steer their campaigns. If Madhusudan Mistry is doing the job for the Congress, it’s the choice of the other camp that evidently makes clear both its intent and its goals for volatile UP. He is Amit Shah. “If the people of Uttar Pradesh decide to bless Narendra Modi,” he tells a public meeting in Mathura, October 2, “the entire country will bless the people of the state.” In meetings after closed-door meetings, attended by vetted invitees, Shah’s message is clear: this is a do-or-die battle for the BJP in the state, and can only be won if they fight as a united force.
Winnability to be decided by BJP workers, not leaders in MP
Suchandana Gupta, The Times of India, 13th October, 2013
Amid the flood of support for chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, there is a strong under-current of rebellion within the ruling BJP. With approaching assembly elections, anti -incumbency and fear of workers’ unrest is staring the BJP in the face. As a way-out, the state unit of the party has hammered out a three-tier scrutiny procedure from grassroots to the top-brass to involve party workers in the selection of “winnable” candidates for who they are willing to campaign. Situation is such that no leader or sitting MLA can take his candidature for granted. Even sitting ministers will have to undergo the process to be able to get a ticket from the constituency of their choice.
Rahul Gandhi left the rally in Punjab with a bitter taste of factionalism within the party. (The photo says it all)
Harpreet Bajwa, The Sunday Standard, 13th October, 2013
The Congress rally held in Sangrur on Thursday was an occasion to convey that the party in Punjab is a united front to take on Akali Dal in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Instead, the rally has exposed the widening fissures within the party. Not only that, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi left the rally with a bitter taste of factionalism within the party. Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said, “I will not comment. You can see for yourself what happened at the Sangrur rally, the party vice president Rahul Gandhi and high command was there and they saw (it).
Why “last ditch”, why not just “ditch”
DNA, 13th October, 2013
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be on a single day visit to Rajasthan on October 23. During the visit, the Gandhi scion will address huge public rallies in Churu and Kheldi towns of Alwar district. Both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have held two rallies each in different divisions. This tour of the Congress vice-president is considered as the last visit to Rajasthan before Assembly polls.
“Lawyer who pursued Bofors case wants to contest against Sonia Gandhi”
IBN Live, 13th October, 2013
A lawyer, who had pursued Bofors scam besides many other high-profile cases, wants to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli on a BJP ticket against sitting MP and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “I have always fought against corruption, whether it was Taj Corridor case, Telgi scam, Bofors case or CWG scam,” said advocate Ajay Agarwal. A native of Moradabad district, Agarwal, who had filed public interest litigations (PILs) in these cases, claimed he had been associated with Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) ever since his student life.
” Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi did not spend a single penny from their pockets in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections”
Press Trust of India, 13th October, 2013
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi did not spend a single penny from their pockets in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as the party took care of their entire expenditure. That the Congress’s first family was a clear favourite of the party when it came to distribution of funds in the last general elections was revealed in the expenditure data submitted by its treasurer Motilal Vora recently to the Election Commission.
Good show by BJP in rural #Assam SKAC polls
The Times of India, 13th October, 2013
Having won nine seats in the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (SKAC) – the result of which was announced on Thursday – BJP in Assam now sees a glimmer of hope of being accepted not only by the rural voters but also among the tribal electorates of the state. “Winning nine seats in the SKAC will silence BJP’s detractors, who always say that our party is an urban-based outfit with no rural support. The result has proven our stand that BJP is a party for the rural and tribal population of the state,” BJP leader and legislator Prasanta Phukan said.
Evaluate character of contestants before casting vote: Bhagwat
ZEE News, 13th October, 2013
Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday appealed to voters to do a due diligence of candidates contesting the 2014 elections. “…First and foremost ensure that names figure in the voters’ list and than minutely evaluate the policies of contending political parties and also the character of the candidates while exercising the franchise,” Bhagwat said. Citing recent Supreme Court ruling, the RSS chief said, “Since the apex court has given an option of rejection in the voting machines, therefore the electorate should be careful since the opportunity comes only in five years”.
Ram temple letter row: Uttar Pradesh government clarifies ‘misprint’, transfers top official
Anant Zanane and Nadim Asrar, NDTV, 13th October, 2013
The Uttar Pradesh government has transferred Home Secretary Sarvesh Chandra Mishra and suspended another official after a letter asking for the “reconstruction” of the Ram temple at Ayodhya was issued by Mr Mishra’s office earlier this week. While Mr Mishra has been transferred and put on ‘wait mode’, a section officer in the home department, Prem Kumar Pandey, was suspended over the letter, which had called for a meeting of top state officials on October 14.
