Video-cassette on Vajpayee releasedIn a vote catching move targeted at Muslim voters, the BJP on Thursday released a video cassette in Hindi projecting its prime ministerial candidate Atal Behari Vajpayee with a theme song adapted from the famous ghazal `Afrin, Afrin' by late Pakistani maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The three-minute video clip opens with the theme song `Aphein, Aphein, Atalji Aphein' and is a take off on Nusrat's ghazal, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, who conceived the idea, told PTI. It will be telecast on private cable television and screened in video parlours all over the country.
Panel releases list of `criminal' poll candidates:
A panel of eminent personalities on Thursday released a list of 72 poll candidates with allegedly criminal backgrounds, a majority of them from Uttar Pradesh. The panel said these candidates were unfit for contesting elections. The panel, which investigated the backgrounds of 500 of the 4,693 candidates in the fray for the 12th Lok Sabhaelections, found that 72 of them had criminal proceedings pending against them. Of these, 16 belonged to the BJP, 12 to the SP, nine to the Congress, five each to the BSP and the RJD. One belonged to the JD.
EC rules out change in Assam poll schedule:
Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill on Thursday ruled out any change in the February 16 polling schedule for Assam as demanded by the state government in the wake of recent violence. Gill told newspersons after a full Commission meeting that the three-member body had taken pains to fix poll schedules and "at present it is not possible to bring about any change". The meeting reviewed various steps being taken in conjunction with the centre and the state governments in ensuring violence-free and fair polls.
Shirking poll duty:
A Kerala government official was on Thursday arrested for refusing to accept election duty orders. Official sources in THirunananthapuram said, Amir Hamza, an upper division clerk of Peruvanthanam Grama panchayat inIdukki district, was arrested for going into hiding without accepting the order.
Congress nails BJP's lie: The Congress on Thursday accused the BJP of conveying ``lies'' even in their election advertisements. In the BJP advertisement, `Moment of Truth', the party has shown a scene describing it as PG hostel, Hyderabad, but the actual place was Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Najma Heptulla said displaying photos of the Lodhi Gardens. Another advertisement issued by the BJP carried a statement from Salim Sheikh, advocate, Bhopal, in support of the party. But Sheikh has stated on an affidavit denying any such statement.
MP chronicle launches first Hindi election website:
Madhya Pradesh chronicle and its sister Hindi publication `Navabharat' have developed an exclusive website on the Internet for providing information on Lok Sabha elections in the state. The website titled `MP Votes' gives updated information on all aspects relating to the Lok Sabha elections including abackgrounder and past performance, according to a press release hin Bhopal. `M P Votes', which can be accessed at www.mpvotes.com, is the first exclusive election website in Hindi in the country.
Only 119 women given tickets:
Only 119 women have been given tickets to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections, even though women comprised 50 per cent of the population, chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW) Mohini Giri said in Mumbai on Thursday. Addressing the forum for women, Giri said women had been given tickets to contest in places where the scope of winning was very narrow. Giri said she had exhorted women to know their rights. "Once we know our rights we are already empowered," she said.
Massive BJP plans for sports promotion:
While all other parties have just ignored sports, the BJP has come up with plans to increase budgetary allocation, involve at least 10 crores of the country's population, young and old, in sports activities and the formation of an Indian sportsservice. A national youth commission, on the lines of the national women's commission, will also be set up to monitor all the schemes for sports and youth welfare, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP member of Rajya Sabha and a seasoned sports administrator, said in New Delhi on Thursday.
Campaigning on low key in UP:
With barely four days left for polling in Uttar Pradesh, most of its 85 constituencies wear a sober look compared to the usual fervour associated with elections. Walls in cities and towns are cleaner, blaring loud speakers are missing and hoardings have been removed, reports say. As the fear of the model code of conduct reigns, contestants and their supporters have resorted to door-to-door canvassing. Party workers have taken to street corner meetings after forming local committees.
No UF-Cong tie up after polls, says Paswan:
Senior Janata Dal leader Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday ruled out any possibility of the United Front (UF) tying up with the Congress in the post poll scenario ifthe 12th Lok Sabha elections gives a fractured verdict. "We will prefer to sit in the opposition than join hands with Congress," he told reporters when asked if the Front will tie-up with the Congress to keep the BJP out of power.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
