WB govt announces  panchayat election dates , West Bengal Govt announces rural poll dates, SEC unmoved,WB News 20-13, WB News update.

Kolkata:

The West Bengal government on Thursday announced fresh panchayat election dates on May five and eight, but the State Election Commission told the Calcutta High Court that it would not conduct the polls without deployment of central paramilitary forces.

Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee told the court of Justice Biswanath Somadder, hearing the case by SEC seeking cancellation of the election, that a letter was addressed to the state election commissioner stating that May five and May eight were the new election dates.

He sought to assure the court and the SEC that all arrangements would be made for holding free, fair and peaceful elections and said that the commission should accept its assurance to ensure that the elections were held in time.

The Advocate General insisted that the state would make security arrangements from within the state and if necessary, bring forces from neighbouring states and assured all assistance to the SEC.

But SEC's counsel Samaraditya Pal submitted that it was not possible for the commission to hold the elections without deployment of central forces because of apprehension of violence.

Pal, quoting a letter by SEC to the state government, submitted that the commission had repeatedly said that the elections be held in three phases with deployment of 800 companies of central paramilitary forces on consideration of situation prevailing in the districts.

He said the state government had sought elections in two phases, the reasons for which were not explained.

The phasing of the elections and choice of districts in each phase was the prerogative of the commission, he submitted and the state had no authority to announce the phases and districts for such phases.

source:http://zeenews.india.com

Bangalore:

In continuing desertions from the ruling BJP in poll-bound Karnataka, three more MLAs on Thursday quit it eyeing to join other parties.

Two of them -- Madal Virupakshappa and S V Ramachandra -- are set to be candidates of the B S Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janatha Paksha (KJP) while Raju Gouda alias Narasimha Naik is in touch with the JDS, sources said.

Gouda had resigned from the ministership recently amid indications that he would join the Congress. It now appears that he has apparently failed to get a Congress ticket.

Meanwhile, the BJP is to organise a rally here on April 8 which would be attended by the party President Rajnath Singh, Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley respectively, officially launching its campaigning for the May 5 elections.

BJP sources said the party would finalise tomorrow at least 140 candidates of the total 224 Assembly seats.

source:http://zeenews.india.com

Karnataka assembly Election 2013 : Yeddyurappa's KJP to play spoilsport for BJP, reveals C-Voter survey, BJP's high voltage anti-corruption campaign could be blunted by next month's Karnataka results.Karnataka News 20-13.

Bangalore, april 4 :

The BJP's high voltage anti-corruption campaign could be blunted by next month's Karnataka results. As the BJP's sole southern bastion readies to go to the polls on May 5, Headlines Today and C-Voter pre-poll survey has found that the BJP is facing a crushing defeat in the assembly elections. Its only hope if any lies in introducing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the campaign, feel voters.

The BJP's tally is set to shrivel from 110 to 52, the pre-poll survey conducted between January and March projects.

The Congress meanwhile is set to boost its numbers by a whopping 38 to end up forming the government in Karnataka. It is likely to win 118 seats, eight more than the BJP in 2008.

But most interestingly, in another strong indicator of Narendra Modi's growing popularity, a majority of 64 per cent believe that he can help the BJP recover lost ground in Karnataka.

The Headlines Today-C Voter pre-poll survey was conducted among 15,000 respondents across all the 224 assembly segments of Karnataka. The data is weighted to the known demographic profile of the state as per 2001 census. As always, there is a plus or minus margin of error of 3 per cent.

The BJP's nemesis is turning out to be former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. His Karnataka Janata Party has an 8 per cent decisive swing in its favour. While that wins him just 12 seats in the new assembly, it deals a mortal blow to the BJP's hopes of retaining power.

HD Deve Gowda's JD (Secular) has been left stranded exactly at the same place as in 2008 with the pre-poll survey projecting 19 seats for the party.

The Congress' big victory in Karnataka, it's first after some facile wins in the northeast and Himachal, is coming on the back of a one percent decline in vote share.

The BJP's vote share is seeing a steep decline of 6 per cent with it coming down from 34 per cent to 28 per cent.

Interestingly, a series of questions asked of the respondents show that 40 per cent of the respondents believe that corruption is the single biggest reason for the BJP's loss in the state.

The constant infighting which has seen a revolving door at the chief minister's office has contributed to the overwhelming feeling among 62 per cent of those polled who said the BJP failed to provide better governance than previous governments

While BSY may have succeeded in slamming the door shut on BJP's 'gateway to the south', his party's tally of 12 is also way below the mark and will not help him play kingmaker in the state.

source:http://www.daijiworld.com

Bangalore:

Congress in Karnataka is putting together a high-voltage campaign for the May five assembly polls, with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan slated to address public meetings even as it is set to unleash celebrity power.

Congress Campaign committee today held a meeting chaired by Veeranna Mathikatti and discussed the strategy. Mathikatti said party President Sonia Gandhi, Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Singh would address public rallies.

The party would field popular Kannada actors Darshan, Ramya and Bhavana, who is a member of the committee, to woo the voters, besides Kannada film veteran Ambareesh who is also a contender for the assembly ticket, party sources said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee premises became a venue for protests as well as celebrations. Though the party is yet to officially announce the list, supporters of those who are believed to have got the ticket were in cheerful mood. Loyalists of those who feared they lost out held noisy demonstrations.

"There are so many contenders and we can't satisfy everybody. It's normal for those who fail to get ticket to protest. Congress workers would not work against the party and the candidates", said the Leader of Opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah said while seeking to downplay the protests.

Both Congress and ruling BJP are expected to announce their first list of candidates later this week. The first day of filing nominations is on April ten.

There was speculation over whether Ministers Umesh Katti, Murugesh Nirani and V Somanna would quit BJP and join B S Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janatha Paksha (KJP). Katti made it clear in Belgaum today he would contest on a BJP ticket. "The rumours that I will join KJP is the creation of the media".

There were indications from Nirani and Somanna today that they would remain in the ruling party.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Lingasagur, Manappa Vajjal, quit the party today to join JD(S). He would contest the election on a JD(S) ticket.

JD(S) MLA from Maddur Kalpana Siddaraju quit the party today after she was denied a ticket. She has now sought a ticket from the Congress.

source:http://zeenews.india.com

After the eviction of B. S. Yeddyurappa The current key man of Karnataka politics the Karnataka election 2013 is heading for a coalition government.

So far as Karnataka opinion survey poll prediction 2013 is concerned the scenario has been changed after eviction of B. S. Yeddyurappa otherwise it would have been second victory for BJP in Karnataka. Yeddyurappa is the Most Popular Lingayat Mass Leader in Karnataka Electoral History will result in big destruction of BJP and also not allowing Congress or other party to gain out of it.

Lingayat and Vokkaligas are key cast which decide major winning and loosing scene.

After Gujarat election result BJP compared Yeddyurappa with keshu bhai , but in a hurry of comparison they forgot that their is no Narender modi in Karnataka. B. S. Yeddyurappa factor has a potential of getting more then 70 seats and thus forming a alliances government.

Congress on other hand is leaderless for now also have the potential to gain momentum. Congress needs a good face projected to gain the enthusiasm of party cadres and voters, congress needs a miracle Lingayat leader. Fight between BJP and KJP has already started, it Congress yet to enter the scene.

KJP led by B. S. Yeddyurappa is supposed to get maximum seats and forming a alliance government after election results are declared for 2013.

Karnataka state election result 2008

Source:http://www.seekersfind.in