Voting begins in 49 Bengal assembly constituencies

Polling began under heightened security in 49 constituencies spread over two districts – Howrah and North 24 Parganas – bordering Kolkata in phase four of the West Bengal assembly polls here on Monday.

North 24 Parganas, a part of which falls under the world’s largest mangrove forests – the Sundarbans – has 33 constituencies. The remaining 16 are in Howrah.

Over 1.08 crore (1,08,16,942) voters across 12,481 polling stations, including 27 auxiliary booths, are eligible to decide the fate of 345 candidates – 40 of them female – between 7 a.m and 6 p.m. The Election Commission will use 14,353 EVMs and 680 VVPATs

A total of 672 companies of central forces and 23,000 state police personnel have been deployed, in addition to other measures, to ensure free and fair polls in the two districts, considered volatile in view of their history of political clashes and poll-related disturbances in past elections.

In the Sundarbans region, equipped with ham radio operations to solar lights, officials have gone the extra mile to ensure the electorate gets a chance to exercise their voting rights.

In the 2011 assembly polls, the Trinamool – then an ally of the Congress – had bagged 43 of the 49 seats. The Congress had got two, the Left Front spearhead Communist Party of India-Marxist three and the Communist Party of India one.

The Trinamool and the Bharatiya Janata Party are in fray in all the constituencies. The Left Front constituents and the Congress are contesting 46 seats, leaving one seat to Janata Dal-United, besides backing two independents.

Khardah in North 24 Parganas district is yet again witnessing a battle between two economists – state finance, industries and information technology minister Amit Mitra of the Trinamool and Asim Dasgupta of the CPI-M.

In Bidhannagar, that includes the posh Salt Lake, an abode of celebrities, top administrative and police officials, and well-heeled professionals, the Congress has nominated renowned lawyer ArunavaGhosh, who is taking on sitting legislator Sujit Bose of the Trinamool.

Another constituency hogging the limelight is Kamarhati, from where Saradha scam accused Madam Mitra, now in custody, is in the race on a Trinamool ticket.

Among major candidates are a number of state ministers and BJP’s only sitting legislator Samik Bhattacharya.

The Trinamool has given nomination to former India footballer Dipendu Biswas (Basirhat South), retired international cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla (Howrah North) and late Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter Baishali Dalmiya (Bally).

Earlier, voters in 167 of the state’s total 294 assembly constituencies exercised their right to franchise on April 4, 11,17 and 21 in the first three phases.

Polling in the, fifth and sixth phases will be held on April 30 and May 5 for 53 and 25 constituencies, respectively.

Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

Nation must help Kashmir meet huge challenges: Mehbooba Mufti

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday sought the backing of the entire nation in helping tide over the difficult challenges confronting her state, which had pegged it back on the development index as compared to other states.

Speaking at the annual conference of chief ministers and chief justices of high courts here, she said that as chief minister, her prime objective will be to restore the balance and put her state firmly on the path of development.

Participating in the structured discussions on improving justice delivery system in the country, she said years of political strife in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in huge loss of life and property, not to mention the setback to the development process in the state, which needs special care and attention.

Mehbooba Mufti said that Jammu and Kashmir is too sensitive a state and the government cannot afford to get distracted by issues which seem to trivialise its special position in India.

She said her task becomes difficult when certain groups in other parts try to challenge the state’s special relationship with the rest of the country and question the same which is part of the Indian constitution.

“Such acts, besides wasting our energy, send negative signals and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state,” she said, adding people in Jammu and Kashmir are still nursing old wounds inflicted by horrific tales of misfortune and tragedy.

She noted that this not only escalates a feeling of distrust in the state, but also discredits the mainstream parties in the eyes of the voters.

Responding to her observations made by Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said: “The whole country is at your back and realizes the difficult situation you are facing in your state.”

He also dwelt at length about the liberties of people and said access to courts is a fundamental right which cannot be denied to any one, howsoever frivolous his petition may be.

The chief minister said she has full faith in the wisdom of the country’s judicial system, which has proved time and again their sensitivities to the special needs of the state. She thanked the CJI and admired various judicial interventions made from time-to-time, especially in fast-tracking clearance of insurance claims of the people devastated by the colossal floods of 2014.

She also batted for setting up of a National Law University in the state to impart training and advanced education to students and researchers so that quality of justice delivery system improves.

Jammu and Kashmir is one of the states which don’t have a National Law University yet.

Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

BJP, CPI-M initiate action against Trinamool over morphed photo

Upping the ante against the Trinamool Congress, the BJP and the CPI-M on Sunday filed police complaints here against West Bengal’s ruling party for publishing a morphed picture showing union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offering sweets to former Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat.

Besides filing police complaints in Delhi and Kolkata, the Communist Party of India-Marxist said it will raise the issue in parliament on Monday.

The morphed picture was one of several pictures displayed by Trinamool’s RajyaSabha member Derek O’Brien on Saturday in an attempt to prove close links between CPI-M and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

The BJP later showed the “real picture” showing the home minister offering sweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Trinamool later admitted that the picture was photoshopped and removed it from the party’s website. O’Brien too admitted it was a “mistake” and sought to “end the chapter”.

While the CPI-M’s complaints both with Delhi and Kolkata police have been filed against O’Brien, the BJP in its complaint here named Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Subrata Bakshi besides O’Brien.

“In our complaint, we have named Banerjee, Bakshi and O’Brien and demanded their arrest for this fraud,” said BJP leader Jayprakash Majumdar.

The BJP also said it will petition the Election Commission on Monday to demand deregistration of the Trinamool over the issue.

“We will move the Election Commission tomorrow (Monday) to demand the deregistration of the Trinamool,” BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told IANS in Delhi.

Seeking action against the Trinamool leader, Karat in his complaint said: “O’Brien displayed the picture to make unfound allegations and politically defame me and bring me into disrepute with the people.”

Citing the example of Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, who was arrested in 2012 for circulating a spoof on Mamata Banerjee, Marxist veteran and Left Front chairman Biman Bose demanded O’Brien be arrested.

“The chief minister should immediately order the arrest of Derek O’Brien. The reason for which AmbikeshMahapatra, who had forwarded a cartoon, was arrested and sent behind bars, is applicable for O’Brien also. He deserves to be in jail,” said Bose.

Alleging that fraud was “Trinamool’s motto”, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the matter will be raised in parliament where the session will begin on Monday.

“This photo morphing is an indication of the Trinamool’s desperation. They have realised that their defeat is certain that is why they have started such type of thing.

“Whatever they are doing, there is fraud in everything. Fraud is their theme and motto. Since this have been done by a RajyaSabha member, the matter will be raised in parliament on Monday,” said Yechury.

Trinamool vice president and RajyaSabha member Mukul Roy asserted O’Brien’s apology ended the controversy.

“Derek O’Brien has already apologised categorically. The matter should end there,” said Roy.

Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

Odd-even: Delhi government to run six buses for MPs

The Delhi government will run six ‘special buses’ during the ongoing odd-even traffic scheme to facilitate the movement of MPs for parliament’s session beginning from Monday.

“We have decided to run six special buses to ferry MPs to parliament as they are not exempted under the odd-even scheme,” Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai told IANS on Sunday.

The MPs are not exempted in the Delhi government’s car restriction scheme. The second phase of the odd-even scheme started on April 15 and will continue till April 30.

Rai said: “I appeal to all parliamentarians to follow the odd-even rule and also do car-pooling with other MPs.”

Three special buses for MPs will leave from North Avenue and South Avenue via Akbar Road and Ashoka Road, respectively, the minister said, adding that the city government will run more buses, if required.

The minister also spoke to LokSabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and sought her co-operation to make the scheme a success.

Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

Around 22 percent turnout in Bengal polls’ fourth phase

Nearly 22 percent turnout was recorded in the first two hours after polling began in 49 constituencies spread over two districts – Howrah and North 24 Parganas – bordering Kolkata in phase four of the West Bengal assembly elections on Monday.

“Till 9.00 a.m., 21.87 percent turnout was recorded, with 22.63 percent in North 24 Parganas and 20.34 percent in Howrah,” said an Election Commission (EC) official.

While the EC claimed the polls to be peaceful so far, the BJP and the Congress alleged false voting in some of the booths.

BJP’s Roopa Ganguly contesting from Howrah North alleged false voting in one of the booths and also faced angry protests from alleged Trinamool Congress activists.

Her rival from the Trinamool, retired international cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla, denied the charges and claimed polling was peaceful in the constituency.

North 24 Parganas, a part of which falls under the world’s largest mangrove forests – the Sundarbans – has 33 constituencies. The remaining 16 are in Howrah.

Over 1.08 crore (1,08,16,942) voters across 12,481 polling stations, including 27 auxiliary booths, are eligible to decide the fate of 345 candidates – 40 of them female – between 7.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.

The Election Commission has used 14,353 electronic voting machines (EVM) and 680 Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

A total of 672 companies of central forces and 23,000 state police personnel have been deployed, in addition to other measures, to ensure free and fair polls in the two districts, considered volatile in view of their history of political clashes and poll-related disturbances in past elections.

In the Sundarbans region, equipped with ham radio operations to solar lights, officials have gone the extra mile to ensure the electorate gets a chance to exercise their voting rights.

In the 2011 assembly polls, the Trinamool – then an ally of the Congress – had bagged 43 of the 49 seats. The Congress had got two, the Left Front spearhead Communist Party of India-Marxist three and the Communist Party of India one.

The Trinamool and the Bharatiya Janata Party are in fray in all the constituencies. The Left Front constituents and the Congress are contesting 46 seats, leaving one seat to Janata Dal-United, besides backing two independents.

Khardah in North 24 Parganas district is yet again witnessing a battle between two economists – state finance, industries and information technology minister Amit Mitra of the Trinamool and Asim Dasgupta of the CPI-M.

In Bidhannagar, that includes the posh Salt Lake, an abode of celebrities, top administrative and police officials, and well-heeled professionals, the Congress has nominated renowned lawyer Arunava Ghosh, who is taking on sitting legislator Sujit Bose of the Trinamool.

Another constituency hogging the limelight is Kamarhati, from where Saradha scam accused Madam Mitra, now in custody, is in the race on a Trinamool ticket.

Among major candidates are a number of state ministers and BJP’s only sitting legislator Samik Bhattacharya.

The Trinamool has given nomination to former India footballer Dipendu Biswas (Basirhat South), and late Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter Baishali Dalmiya (Bally).

Earlier, voters in 167 of the state’s total 294 assembly constituencies exercised their right to franchise on April 4, 11,17 and 21 in the first three phases.

Polling in the, fifth and sixth phases will be held on April 30 and May 5 for 53 and 25 constituencies, respectively.

Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs