Thursday, May 1, 2014

BJP has a chance in 6 West Bengal seats

(EconomicTimes)

This is an election that has challenged and threatened traditional political geographies. Broadly, the BJP has sought to turf its way into regions where it was traditionally weak. In that sense, April 30 represented perhaps the most fascinating phase of the election, especially if narrowed down to West Bengal. The days before the seventh round saw Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee exchange barbs. Playing Mamata's Rottweiler, an over .. 

This is an election that has challenged and threatened traditional political geographies. Broadly, the BJP has sought to turf its way into regions where it was traditionally weak.What changed in the interim? Frankly, the BJP became unexpectedly competitive in Bengal. In 2014, its incremental vote is being sourced from discontented and desperate CPM voters, seeking a strong anti-Trinamool platform. As such, Modi realises there is little extra to gain from assailing the Left, but there is a constituency hostile to the Trinamool that is waiting to be exploited. For Mamata, hitting back at Modi is essential to consolidating Muslims. Also, if the BJP gets more support, in 

Is there a commonality to these seats? To be fair, they represent a mix. The BJP had won Darjeeling in 2009 as well, backed by local Gorkha parties. In the other seats, it is benefiting from a small but existing base — in some cases non-Bengali and in many cases anti-Left — but has added a layer that comprises anti-Trinamool and formerly pro-Left voters. On top of that is the curiosity about Modi and the fact that political spaces, possibilities and unlikely social coalitions have opened shop in .. 




Congress Spokesman Manish Tewari apologises to Nitin Gadkari for naming him in Adarsh scam

(ibn)



Tewari apologises to Gadkari for naming him in Adarsh scamNew Delhi: In a major embarrassment for the Congress, its leader Manish Tewari on Wednesday tendered an unconditional apology to BJP leader Nitin Gadkari for allegedly defaming him in the Adarsh scam case.
"Manish Tewari has submitted a written apology to Gadkariji before the court. Gadkariji has accepted and requested the court to withdraw the case now," Gadkari's lawyer Sushant Geet said.
Tewari had in November 2010 accused Gadkari of holding a 'benami' flat in the scam-tainted Adarsh housing society. Gadkari dragged Tewari to court in December that year, accusing him of defamation.
Tewari apologises to Gadkari for naming him in Adarsh scam
Manish Tewari had in 2010 accused Nitin Gadkari of holding a 'benami' flat in the scam-tainted Adarsh housing society.
On March 7 this year, the court had taken cognisance of the complaint against Tewari and on April 7, he was asked to pay a bond of Rs 10,000 to Gadkari.

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