Hyderabad:

Alleging that the UPA government has been handling the sensitive Telangana issue in an "unilateral" and "haphazard" manner, the YSR Congress demanded today that the Centre should hold a meeting of all the stakeholders to take an acceptable decision.

Referring to recent statements by AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, who is also the In-charge of Party Affairs for Andhra Pradesh, that discussions on the Telangana issue were over, YSRCP MLAs said that it amounted to unilateral functioning by the Congress.

"Should the state (people) abide by the decision taken by the Congress? Is there no need to take opposition parties into confidence and seek their opinion? Where were these discussions held and who were the participants in these discussions," YSR Congress Party MLAs said in a letter sent to Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

They demanded that the Centre first spell out its stand on the contentious issue and then call a meeting of all stakeholders to take a decision acceptable to all.

"Without going through all this process, if leaders in responsible positions announce that discussions are over and it is time for a decision, it shows their lack of sincerity and insensitiveness to the issue.

"Such statements cannot be justified. No region should suffer due to any unilateral decisions. Handling the issue in a haphazard and authoritarian manner for political gains is not a good parliamentary practise," the letter said.

source:http://zeenews.india.com

The Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP  on Monday decided to charge a fee of Rs 5 from those who wanted to attend the party’s election committee Chief Narendra Modi‘s speech. In a political atmosphere thick from the war or words between parties, Congress lost no time in taking another dig at the Opposition.

Party Spokesperson Manish Tewari took to Twitter early today and hit out at the BJP saying the party has finally discovered Modi’s ‘true market value’.

“Baba Pravachan Ticket Rs 100-100,000 Cinema ticket Rs 200-500 even for box office flop Ticket to hear’a’ CM Rs 5 Market discovers true value,” Tewari tweeted.

Tewari also commented on Modi’s ‘fascist’ nature asking what amount of tax would be imposed on the people for listening to Modi.

“BJP’s listening Tax Rs 5maybe market discovery price What would be speaking Tax imposed on 1.2 billion? Monitising democracy/ pure fascism!”

Also read..BJP charg Rs 5 per ticket to attend Narendra Modi's rally in Hyderabad.

The parties lashed out at each other with renewed vigour after a Reuters interview with Modi was published. Speaking about the 2002 riots, Modi used an analogy where he said that he was like a passenger sitting in the backseat of a car which ran over a puppy.  The fact that he used that analogy to describe his role in the riots which killed 1000 Muslims, incensed a lot of people. The Congress didn’t leave a single stone unturned in their attempts to criticise Modi’s administrative skills.

The exchange hit a low when Modi referred to the Congress as a party that takes shelter behind the “burqa of secularism” every time it faces a crisis.
manishTwitter

“Why don’t they feel accountable to the nation. They use the CBI to further their vote bank politics. They don’t own up to their mistakes. And whenever someone criticises them, they wear a burqa of secularism to hide their flaws,” Modi had said.

The Congress, however, countered Modi’s allegations saying secularism was way better than communalism. Party General Secretary Shakeel Ahmad tweeted: “The veil of secularism is much better than their (BJP’s) communalism. Communalism divides the country.”

Both the BJP and the Congress are trying to exploit every statement, faux pas, made by the other party especially with polls in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan scheduled for later this year. What is left to be seen is how much they manage to influence voters in the general elections slated to take place later this year or early next year.

source:http://www.firstpost.com/politic

HYDERABAD:

This is funding, Modi style. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has ushered in a corporate style of organizing meetings that will ensure that the public themselves pays for the entire expenses of the public meeting scheduled to be addressed by him at LB Stadium in the city on August 11.

The BJP is charging Rs 5 per ticket for the public meeting and on day one of the online registration for the meeting on Monday, about 8,000 persons signed up. Organizers are expecting anywhere between 50,000 to one lakh attendance for the meet, which at the rate of Rs 5 per ticket would amount to about Rs 5 lakh in case the party manages a full house.

L B Stadium charges Rs 3.75 lakh per day for hiring and also takes a deposit of Rs 5 lakh which will be refunded after deduction of the electricity expenses. "If the BJP gets it right, then the entire expense for the August 11 public meeting will be borne by the public themselves," noted analysts.

While the online registration for the public meeting is already on via the party's official website, Facebook and Twitter, ticket sale counters are to be opened up on July 20 to facilitate the sale of tickets. "We plan to open about 500 such ticket counters in Hyderabad and about a dozen each in the district headquarters. The money raised by the sale of tickets will be utilized for charity purposes," said state BJP spokesperson NVSS Prabhakar.

Insiders say the party would end up spending more in setting up the sale counters across the state including the state capital. While the stadium can seat about 25,000 people in the gallery and another 15,000 on the ground, the capacity can almost double in case standing is allowed. "The response is overwhelming. We know Modi's name strikes a chord with the youth, and 8000 delegates registering online on the opening day on Monday testifies to it," Prabhakar, who is in-charge of organizing the meeting, said.

Dubbed the 'Narendra Modi Nav Bharat Youth Conclave', the rally was originally scheduled for July 27, but was postponed since voting for the second phase of pachayat polls is scheduled for the day. While the entry has been restricted to the age group between 18 and 40 years, the organizers said youth from rural area are the main target while students and working professionals would form a sizable chunk. On being asked whether Modi had approved the modalities of the rally, Prabhakar said the design of the whole programme is the brain child of the Gujarat chief minister.

The Hyderabad rally has assumed political significance as it would be Modi's first public meeting in the south after becoming the BJP's chairman of the campaign committee. BJP sources said the Hyderabad meeting will also mark the launch of the party's poll campaign for the 2014 elections in south India.

Following Hyderabad's youth conclave, Modi is scheduled to address a farmers rally at Rajahmundry in Andhra region sometime in September, following it up with another public meeting in the Rayalaseema region. However, unlike the Hyderabad Youth conclave, the farmers' rally at Rajahmundry and the public meeting in Rayalaseema are open to the public free of cost.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Hyderabad:

As many as 21,441 Gram Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh will go to polls later this month.

Elections will not be held in 149 gram panchayats due to various reasons, the State Election Commission said in a release here on Tuesday.

The polling will be held in three phases on July 23, 27 and 31. A notification to this effect was issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on July 3, the day when model code of conduct also came into force.

The nominations can be filed till July 13. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is July 17 and the list of contesting candidates will be published the same day.

The counting of votes will be taken up from 2 PM onwards on the day of the polling.

A total of 2,19,753 polling stations have been set up in the State, which has 3,94,01,855 voters, including 1,97,52,741 females.

source:http://zeenews.india.com

Panchayat polls In Andhra Pradesh to be held in 3 phases in july ,Andhra Pradesh panchayat polls held in July, panchayat polls.

Hyderabad:

The Gram Panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held in three phases on July 23, 27 and 31. A notification to this effect was issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on Wednesday.

The elections will be held in three phases and nominations can be filed from July 7 to 13, State Election Commissioner P Ramakanth Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad.

The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is July 17 (not later than 3 PM) and the list of contesting candidates will be published on the same day.

Polling will be held from 7 AM to 1 PM under first phase on July 23, second phase on July 27 and third phase on July 31.

The counting of votes will be taken up from 2 PM onwards for first phase on July 23, second phase on July 27 and third phase on July 31.

The results will be declared soon after the completion of counting of votes. The model code of conduct for the polls came into force immediately and the transfer of all officers and officials directly or indirectly connected with the conduct of the election is banned.

The total number of Gram Panchayats in the state is 21,592 and the number of Gram Panchayats going to polls is 21,491. The number of wards in Gram Panchayats going to polls is 2,17,578. The number of polling stations for Gram Panchayat elections is 2,19,753.

The number of male voters is 1,96,49,114 and female voters is 1,97,52,741. Total voting strength is 3,94,01,855. The number of ballot boxes to be used is 1,32,066.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news