NEW DELHI: With the final phase of polling on 86 Lok Sabha seats concluding on Wednesday, all eyes are on Tamil Nadu, a state with a formidable Rahul Gandhi reputation for being an arbiter of fortunes in national elections, where the DMK-Congress alliance is locked in fierce combat with AIADMK and its allies.
The engrossing battle in the southern state has rivetted the attention of the political class as the result could make a critical difference to Congress's bid to return to power. Given the state's capacity to spring surprises no one is predicting a sweep, but reports suggest the DMK-Congress combo is facing an uphill task.
Blog: Who's been India's best and worst PM?
Apart from Tamil Nadu, there are keen contests on the cards in West Bengal where constituencies in Kolkata and nearby areas go to polls with the Left and Trinamool Congress slugging it out. As in the previous rounds of polling, cracks in CPM's Muslim base could affect the Left's fortunes even though the comrades are very much in the fight. But Trinamool, which has partnered Congress, is expected to gain with the Left tally set to come down.
Congress expects to do well in the nine Punjab seats and it is banking on the covert support of the influential Dera Sacha Sauda sect. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine seems to be sweating it out but hoping that the mega NDA show at Ludhiana will give them a leg up. The NDA hopes factional divides in Congress will help it but the advantage lies with the party. Apart from Orissa, Rajasthan and Kerala, Punjab is a state where Congress can hope for clear gains.
In the smaller states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
, the battle is evenly poised. In Himachal Pradesh, the four seats could be evenly split with BJP holding an edge. In Uttarakhand, BJP was seen to be on the backfoot but has worked hard to prevent local issues from dominating the polls. The results could see a 3:2 verdict favouring Congress. With every seat being seen to count in elections 2009, both parties have not spared any effort to win seats in these states.
The notables who face the hustings include Mamata Bannerjee from Kolkata South, Dayanidhi Maran from Chennai Central, T R Baalu from Chennai South, A Raja from Nilgiris, Jayaprada from Rampur, Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit, Maneka Gandhi from Aonla, Sajjad Lone from Baramulla, Navjyot Sidhu from Amritsar, Harish Rawat from Haridwar and Virbhadra Singh from Mandi. These will be keenly watched results.
The puzzle that everyone is waiting to unravel is Tamil Nadu. Here, the momentum seems to be favouring the AIADMK and its alliance partners PMK and MDMK. The ongoing Tamil crisis in Sri Lanka has burst onto the poll scene with parties taking up cudgels for the distressed civilians and even LTTE. AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, a known opponent of LTTE, went to the extent of saying she would support armed action for the creation of Eelam.
But while there is concern over the fate of Tamil civilians trapped in the fighting in Sri Lanka as well over their future rights, the issue has perhaps not become a decisive factor in the elections. DMK, which has been supportive of LTTE in the past, has not been able to really whip up sentiments -- perhaps as it shares power with Congress at the state and the Centre. With Congress as its partner, there are limits to how much of a "Tamil card" DMK can play.
If Tamil Nadu swings away from Congress, it might severely impact its national tally given that reports from Andhra Pradesh, the other state that went its way in 2004, also pointing to losses. If both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu slip out of its grasp, Congress may well be scrounging around for numbers in the power game after the polls.
Kumaraswamy meets Sonia but says JD(S) not leaving Third Front
New Delhi:JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswany tonight met Congress president Sonia Gandhi sparking speculation of realignment of political forces but he insisted it had nothing to do with national politics and his party was not leaving the Third Front.
"There is no question of leaving the Third Front... That question does not arise. We are in Third Front and will be in Third Front," he told a press conference after meeting Gandhi.
The former Karnataka Chief Minister, who hid his face while entering Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence to avoid the media, insisted his meeting with the Congress chief was in connection with certain issues relating to his state Karnataka and had nothing to do with national politics.
He said he had "explained" to CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI leader D Raja why he met Gandhi.
I am a former Chief Minister. I can meet anyone," Kumaraswamy said adding he had met Gandhi on a request from some "Congress friends".
"Anyone thinking that JD(S) will leave the Third Front is living in fool's paradise," he said when repeatedly asked whether he and his party would remain in the Third Front even after May 16, the day votes are counted.
He said JD(S) would abide by whatever decision the Third Front takes. Third Front is emerging stronger and stronger," Kumaraswamy claimed.
Kumaraswamy said he had also briefed his father and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda on his discussions with Gandhi.
"Neither Congress has any expectations from us nor are we expecting anything from Congress as we are in the Third Front," he said.
Jaya Prada's hotel room raided in Rampur?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (Rampur) :
Election authorities raided the hotel
where SP leader Jaya Prada was staying, evoking a strong protest from the actress-turned-politician and her supporters who blamed her "rival" parties for it.
An official team of the district administration raided the Modi Hotel on Monday night. The hotel has been converted into the SP candidate's election office.
The officials said the raid was carried out as the EC had ordered that outsiders should not be present after the end of campaigning.
Sources say the raid was conducted on all hotels in Rampur to crack down on trouble mongers ahead of polling on Wednesday. But Samajwadi Party workers reacted angrily to the raid and chanted slogans against the Mayawati government.
The raid came after a day of high drama with Jaya Prada accusing her colleague Azam Khan of circulating morphed, obscene pictures of her and taking the matter to the Election Commission.
The battle within the Samajwadi Party, which centres around Amar Singh, Azam khan and former actress Jaya Prada's nomination from Rampur is getting murkier by the day.
Jaya Prada has officially complained against the morphed pictures of her that are being circulated.
Jaya Prada told NDTV that there's a threat to her life and she may not survive.
Amar Singh has said that if he has to stay in the Samajdwadi Party he will have to bear with Azam Khan. Samajwadi Party Chief has gone public saying Azam Khan is weakening the party.
So the big question, is Azam Khan crossing over to the enemy camp the Congress?
It's a war that has clearly gone out of hand. Even party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav admitted his helplessness publicly.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said Azam Khan should respect his decision to field Jaya Prada as a candidate.
'Release of Rajiv killer will fuel further passion'
New Delhi, May 12: Stating that the current Sri Lankan conflict may only generate further passion in him, the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday defended in the Supreme Court its decision not to permit premature release of P R Ravichandran, a convict in the infamous Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
"Crime is grave and the former Prime Minister of the country was killed along with 16 others. The crime was committed in a preplanned manner pursuant to a very cruel conspiracy. The petitioner did the same with known intent.
"The current fight between LTTE and Sri Lankan government may again infuse passion in him to act against the law," the DMK government said in an affidavit before a bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sathasivam and Deepak Verma.
The bench directed the petitioner to file his response to the affidavit.
One of the key conspirators in the killing of the former Prime Minister, Ravichandran, a LTTE sympathiser facing a life sentence, had sought premature release on par with other life convicts who are being granted remission.
"The petitioner was involved in killing of 16 persons who include a former Prime Minister, nine police officers and six private individuals. The killing was pre-planned, a premediated conspiracy successfully executed with active help and assistance and participation of the petitioner," Tamil Nadu said.
The convict had cited two orders issued by the government on September 14, 2005 (Annadurai's birthday) and May 10, 2007 to mark the "golden jubilee" celebrations held by DMK to mark Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's stint in the state assembly to plead for his own premature release.
However, the state government
rejected Ravichandran's plea and said he cannot be released on par with other convicts as he was involved in a heinous crime which had not only ramifications in the state but also the entire country.
The state said the convict has no vested right in seeking parity with other life convicts.
"The petitioner who has been sentenced to life imprisonment has no vested right to demand premature release from the prison. Similarly, he cannot also call into question the criteria fixed by the government for not considering cases for premature release since that power exclusively vests with the state government," the affidavit said.
Further, the Tamil Nadu government said Ravichandran's case was considered by the Advisory Board of the Home Ministry which took the view that he was not entitled to remission of sentence since he was involved in a heinous crime and did not meet the other stipulations formulated for premature release of convicts.
One of the stipulations was that a convict seeking premature release should not be tried under Section 435 CrPC. under which a state cannot order premature release of a convict without the concurrence of the Centre as the offence is not only committed against the state but also against the interests of the central government.
The Rajiv Gandhi assassination case was investigated by CBI and hence it required the Centre's consent too, the state said.
Ravichandran was initially sentenced to death by a designated court at Poonamallee but on an appeal the apex court in 1999 altered the reduced it to life imprisonment.
He has so far spent more than 17 years of actual imprisonment.
Indian Business News
'Indian IT to dominate global mkt post eco recovery'
New Delhi, May 12: Global consultancy firm Deloitte on Tuesday said Indian IT services industry is undergoing a structural transformation and is poised to dominate the global IT space after recovery sets in.
"The profile of the Indian IT industry is undergoing a paradigm shift and after economic recovery sets in it will emerge as a dominating player in global IT space," Deloitte India Principal Economist Shanto Ghosh told reporters.
"Economic recovery globally is likely to come in by the second half of the next calendar year, "Ghosh added.
According to the Deloitte whitepaper, the Indian IT-BPO industry is now at a critical point in its evolution and moving forward it faces a transforming macroeconomic environment, rapidly changing customers, evolving services and rising stakeholder aspirations.
"These forces are expected to redefine the nature of demand and supply for the industry, and also redefine the strategic imperatives for businesses in 2009," the report stated.
The report added that the global slowdown has affected business climate within the country and the growth rate of the IT and IT Enabled Services sector is experiencing tremors of the downturn.
Indian IT sector derives about 61 per cent of its revenues from the US-based clients, hence impact of slowdown in the US is likely to have a deep impact on prospects of the sector.
‘10,000 jobs under threat at Corus plant’
Tuesday , May 12, 2009 at 1552 hrs IST London:Nearly 10,000 jobs are under threat as Tata Steel's European arm Corus is mulling closing of one of its mills in England after a group of buyers terminated a contract to buy the unit's 80 per cent produce for 10 years.
"Not only did the consortium's decision spell the end for an estimated 3,000 steel workers in the area, but a further 7,000 jobs in the supply train are also threatened," the Daily Mail newspaper reported in its online edition.
However, a senior company official said that direct and indirect job losses are imminent with closure of industrial operations, though he did not confirm to such a figure.
"We have 1,920 employees on the company's roll and 1,000 contractual workers. There jobs are under threat. There will be indirect job losses too but we cannot confirm the figure," the official said.
As the consortium of buyers, comprising Italy-based Marcegaglia, Korean firm Dongkuk Steel and others like Duferco Participations and Alvory SA, has backtracked from the offtake deal, Corus is looking at legal options to avert the closure of its Teesside Cast Product unit in Northeastern England.
"Corus is using all legal means to ensure that the terms of the 10-year agreement are fully enforced and that the four consortium members live up to their contractual obligations," the company had said.
Microsoft may lay off more: Ballmer
Mumbai:Software giant Microsoft, which has announced laying off 5,000 employees including 55 in India, said it may look at more layoffs if the economic downturn dramatically worsens again.
"Presuming the economy hopefully stays as bad as it is and doesn't get dramatically worse, we will finish our plan, but if it gets dramatically worse again, we will look at things again," Microsoft Corporation CEO Steve Ballmer, said in Mumbai.
The Redmond-based company had in January announced that it would axe 5,000 jobs globally amid the ongoing slowdown.
It announced slashing one per cent of its 5,500-strong Indian workforce, amounting to 55 layoffs, in a bid to realign its business in the country.
It added that it would continue to hire and create employment opportunities in line with the recovery and growth of the Indian economy.
"We had said that we would lay-off about 5,000 people.
We are still filling other jobs. We are mostly through that process globally and there is still some work to do," Ballmer said.
"There are areas where we are continuing to add people. As I said, these are global additions, so it is a little hard to separate our work globally from our work in India," he added.
Ballmer said Microsoft is the second largest foreign IT employer in India and that he doesn't see a change in that.
In the second round of job-cuts effected on May 5, the software major announced it would lay off 3,000 employees. In January, Microsoft had laid off 1,350-1,400 people, largely in the US.
IPL Cricket News|IPL News
Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI Punjab by 8 wickets
CENTURION: The VIP boxes at Supersport Park gave an exact picture of what happened on the field in the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI.
The blue flags were all over the place, the red and white ones slowly kept disappearing. Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani sat in the dugout celebrating through the evening while Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia, co-owners of Kings XI, were hardly noticed anywhere around.
It was a crucial encounter here that went in favour of Mumbai easily as West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo smashed a sizzling half-century to help his side easily chase a mere 120 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar’s team won the match by eight wickets, thus climbing up the points table to share the fourth spot with Team Jaipur. Yuvraj Singh’s team, on the other hand, had only themselves to blame for a poor display batting first, going down to the sixth spot in the rankings.
The last time these two teams met in this tournament, on April 29, Kings XI had scored exactly the same total as they did on Tuesday - 119 - and still won by three runs in a scintillating encounter.
On Tuesday though, Bravo had other ideas and he spelt it out for all those who were expecting the Kings to get lucky again. The right-hander clubbed seven fours and three sixes in his knock of 70 and remained unbeaten as Mumbai romped home.
Taylor's gem sinks McCullum's ship; RCB win by 6 wickets
Centurion:Ross Taylor smashed a blistering unbeaten 33-ball 81 as Royal Challengers pulled off a stunning six-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling Indian Premier League match in Centurion on Tuesday.
Chasing 174 for a win built around skipper Brendon McCullum's 84, Royal Challengers feasted on Knight Riders' below-par bowling and romped home with four balls to spare at the Supersports Park.
Royal Challengers won their fifth match from the 11 played so far while Kolkata side continue to be bottom-placed with after their ninth loss from 11 ties. Kolkata have so far won just one match -- against Kings XI Punjab via Duckworth Lewis method.
Man-of-the-match Taylor was given a reprieve when the Kolkata side goofed up and failed to run him out in his very first delivery in which he ended up scoring five runs. He made full use of his second life and hit seven four and five sixes to help Royal Challengers emerge triumphant in the thrilling match.
Bangalore were off to a brisk start with Jesse Ryder (22) and Jacques Kallis (32) adding 58 runs for opening wicket in eight overs but Kolkata bowlers removed three batsmen in the space of 10 balls.
Bangalore were reduced to 70 for two at the strategy break and in the subsequent over they also had Robin Uthappa out of the scene.
Kallis, who faced 38 balls and decorated his stint with four boundaries and a six, the was the first one to go with left-arm spinner Murali Kartik getting him caught by McCullum on the second ball of ninth over.
SMS game introduced in IPL withdrawn
New Delhi, May 12: The SMS game introduced in IPL has been stopped with immediate effect. Earlier a huge controversy sparked off following Sports Minister MS Gill’s remark in which he slammed the game and termed it as ‘betting.’
Reacting to the development, 6 UP, the inventors of the game came out in strong disagreement with India’s Sports Minister. "It is not a betting game - you cannot make a bet. It can't be match fixed or manipulated. It does not contribute to corruption," said their Managing Partner George Tomeski.
"6UP is a game of (predominate) skill. (Supported by written Indian legal opinion and advice)," he had claimed.
Although no pressure was put for the game to be withdrawn, the organisers decided to stop it with immediate effect.
"There was no formal complaints about the game but the Sports Ministers' views were taken into account and the organisers have withdrawn the game," senior BCCI official and a member of the IPL Executive Board Rajiv Shukla told agency.
Gill had last week denounced the SMS game in which fans made ball by ball predictions for cash prizes, saying it amounted to gambling.
"I see the commercial use of cricket for business gains, that is going on. I am concerned, at knowledgeable comments, from serious followers of cricket about the latest venture of encouraging viewers to make ball by ball predictions of runs scored for economic gain in the shape of cash prizes," Gill had said in a statement.
"This is viewed as 'openly encouraging gambling and betting', which official bodies do not resort to, even in countries where betting is legal; all this 'to make money and enlarge their TV viewership base'," the minister had added.
KKR racism row: Report claims Bichel abused Agarkar
New Delhi: Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar and former Australian pacer Andy Bichel, who is now a bowling coach with Kolkata Knight Riders, allegedly got into a fracas leading to a racial slur.
Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja during a chat show on a news channel revealed that Knight Riders' Indian players are being ill-treated by foreign coaching staff.
Jadeja revealed how an Indian player was asked to come off while fielding and when asked why he was called back, one of the assistant coaches said: "You Indian, you do as you're told."
"The player and coach involved are said to be Agarkar and Andy Bichel," the news channel reported Tuesday.
The alleged incident happened 15 days ago and team owner Shah Rukh Khan had to intervene to resolve the issue.
Jadeja claimed he had the information from players in the team and said the Knight Riders were no more than a divided house.
Bottom placed Knight Riders have been dealing with controversies before the start of the tournament when coach John Buchanan popped up the idea of multi-captaincy. A blogger, who claims to be a player, has been spilling out the juicy dressing room gossip of the Knight Riders.
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