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Only NDA can provide stability: PM (Go To Top)

          Bulandshahar (UP): Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday claimed that only the NDA could provide a stable government that could help India become a developed nation and a super power. "If NDA does not get a majority, the country will slip into political anarchy," Vajpayee said at an election rally here on the penultimate day of campaigning for the fourth and final phase of Lok Sabha elections. Hitting out at the Opposition which, he claimed, was divided, Vajpayee said "others will not be able to run the government...there will be a Prime Minister every six months." "Is there a party or a coalition that can provide stability," he wondered adding that it would be injustice if the NDA does not get majority.

SDF wins 4 seats without contest in Sikkim (Go To Top)

          Gangtok: With four days left for the final phase of the ongoing general elections, the SDF (Sikkim Democratic Front) is said to have won four seats -Kabi Tingda (North Sikkim), Damthang (South Sikkim), Wok (South Sikkim), Melli (South Sikkim) - without voting as other nominations were rejected on technical grounds. "The decision given by the respective returning officers rejecting the nomination papers have been upheld by the chief election commissioner of India during his short to Sikkim recently. So, this has given much impetus by the ruling party to launch the election campaign more vigorously for the rest of the seats of Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha," said Nar Bahadur Bhandari, president pf the Sikim Pradesh Congress Committee.

Dacoits-infested villages exempted from depositing arms (Go To Top)

          Shivpuri (MP): Unlike many places across the country, residents of dacoit-infested villages in Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh have been allowed to keep their licensed weapons during the forthcoming polls. According to a standard routine across the country, ahead of polls all private arms have to be surrendered temporarily to ensure free and fair polling. Residents of remote and inaccessible villages in Shivpuri have, however, been allowed to keep their arms during the elections to deflect any attack by dacoits. "We have been given a special exemption by the District Magistrate from depositing our guns during elections despite being mandatory. We feel secure with our weapons as there is a constant threat from dacoits," said Uttam Singh, a villager.

           Meanwhile, authorities in Shivpuri said that it was vital that the villagers carried their own arms, as it was not possible to adequately police remote areas. "The villagers feel secure with their guns. Because it is not possible to deploy police in the very remote areas or in those areas we are unable to reach, that's why for the safety of the villagers we have exempted them from depositing their weapons," said Amarnath Verma, SHO of Narvar Police station. The ravines of Madhya Pradesh, known as Chambal, have been a home of dacoits from time immemorial. Though most of the gangs have surrendered to authorities, a few still operate, striking at random. After the first phase of elections on May 5, Madhya Pradesh is going to the polls in its second phase on May 10.

Need to bar criminals from politics, says CEC (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Krishna Murthy has stressed upon the need to bar criminals from politics. He has called for a concerted effort by the political parties to enforce this. "You have to understand the High Court statement. It could have led to a lot of practical problems. That is why we went to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court gave a stay. While nobody doubts the need to avoid criminals from entering politics, there has to be a yardstick. We have already suggested that those who have been charged with offences punishable with 5 years of imprisonment or above, if the court has formed a proper charge sheet, they should be disqualified," said Krishna Murhty. The CEC expressed satisfaction over the declining level of poll related violence, especially in Bihar.