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Shibu Soren is tantalisingly close to realising his aspiration to be the chief minister of Jharkhand — a state he helped form — with the UPA leadership successfully persuading incumbent Madhu Koda to step down for ‘Guruji’.
Koda is expected to announce his resignation on Saturday.
The agreement with Koda capped hectic parleys among UPA partners to facilitate Soren’s ascension.
A power-sharing arrangement has been worked out which centres on maintaining the status quo with the significant exception of change at the helm.
All members of the Koda ministry — the two deputy chief ministers and the seven Independents who play ‘kingmaker’ — are proposed to be retained while the outgoing CM may be given charge of the UPA steering committee.
The committee will not be mere cosmetic as RJD, which was loath to support Soren and came around only at the instance of the Congress leadership, expects it to protect its interests in the state.
While Soren’s decision to pull out of the coalition government had looked as ill-timed bravado, he managed to pull it off with the help of the Congress leadership which needs his five votes in the Lok Sabha and is keen to repeat the alliance with the JMM and RJD which helped it sweep all but one of the 14 seats Jharkhand has in the Lower House.
Stephen Marandi, who was till recently a Soren loyalist, remains a holdout, but the UPA managers are confident of bringing him around.
Fears of early assembly polls — a certain prospect if Soren is not made the chief minister — may prove the calculation right. The Koda government failed to perform and those associated with it are likely to pay a heavy price at the hustings.
Jharkhand watchers don’t expect the change to ring in anything different, but are apprehensive that the arrival of a new chief minister and the proximity of polls may lead to a fresh scramble for mining leases in the resource-rich state

Labels: Indian Politics

The United States on Friday indicated for the first time that it might be agreeable to accommodating changes in the NSG waiver proposal but claimed in the same breath tha it was pushing for a clean text.
“I don’t want to lie to you...I can’t really lie. There might be some changes that we could accept. But we are pushing for a clean text,” US assistant secretary of state (South and Central Asian affairs) told reporters in Mumbai.
“We need to listen to countries that have objections,” Boucher said, adding that “we won’t allow anything that will impede (the Indo-US civil nuclear) deal”.
“The US and India will have to sit together and see what we can accommodate and what we can’t. We will have to talk to the other governments involved”, Boucher said. “If you are making an exception... There has to be a certain logic to it,” he said.
Stating that “this deal is a good deal for India, not just in terms of economic growth and energy but also in terms of India’s relations with international community,” he said, “It is a big deal for us and a big deal for India. The ball is in everybody’s court”.
“Most of the countries I talked to and most of the countries we are hearing from Vienna are positive. They understand the sort of importance in having cooperation with India,” he said.
Boucher said that the Bush administration plans to present the deal to the US Congress in September for its endorsement. He said there was no possibility of the deal being scrapped by the next government in New Delhi as the agreement was between two nations and the new government was obliged to honour the international commitments of the earlier regime.
However, the issue of forging a strategic alliance between India and the US will have to wait till new governments are installed in both Washington and New Delhi, Boucher said.

Labels: American Politics

Though megastar Chiranjeevi has chosen the temple city of Tirupati as his launch pad for unveiling his political party, interestingly he will not be offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara like NTR, Chandrababu Naidu and Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Talking to ‘TOI’ in Tirupati on Friday, Chiranjeevi’s brother-in-law Allu Aravind ruled out reports that Chiranjeevi would offer prayers to the Lord at Tirumala on August 25 and perform a special abhishekam and pujas at Hanuman temple in Japali Theertham on the hill town on August 26 and later take part in the public meeting at Avilala Tank. “We don’t know how these rumours have come about. Chiru has not yet planned his Tirumala trip. He will be landing here on August 26 and launching his party at the public meeting,” he said.
Asked whether the megastar would make his appearance in “Teluguvani Panchekattu” (a la YSR) or in shirtpant (like Naidu), Aravind said with a broad smile: “I cannot reveal that right now as it is a huge suspense.”He said they want to complete the meeting within three hours before 7 pm for the convenience of the public. “Only Chiru will be on the stage while all others, including VIPs, would sit along with the public. Chiranjeevi will be spending some time with physically challenged fans. Later, he will address the public,” he added.
To a query he said the government was extending full co-operation for organising the meeting on a large-scale. Thanking the district police for extending the security cover to the star, Aravind said that besides 2,500 police personnel, 1,000 well-trained personal security of Chiru and 3,000 volunteers would be controlling over 10 lakh people who are expected to converge
on the Avilala Tank area. Sources said the film actor’s fans had already booked 25 trains. The specially challenged fans would be received by the volunteers in bus and railway stations and taken to the meeting. An exclusive gallery has been set up for them. “They will be provided free meals and would be dropped at the railway and bus stations after the meeting,” he said. Meanwhile, the megastar’s decision not to visit Tirumala temple seems to have not gone down well with his fans. “Annaiah should change his decision and pay a visit to Tirumala. Otherwise, all his efforts for uplift of the poor will go in vain,” an ardent fan not wanting to be named said. “There is a strong belief among the leaders as well among the public that whoever pays obeisance to the Lord will rule the state,” an analyst said. The belief had never gone wrong as NTR, Naidu and YSR became CMs after praying at Tirumala, he recalled.
Passerby hurt in Chiru birthday bash
A person was injured in Tirupati when the over enthusiastic fans of Chiranjeevi celebrating the actor’s 53rd birthday were bursting fire crackers at Four Pillar junction road. According to sources, about 50 fans gathered at the junction to celebrate the occasion in a big way. A Murali (28), a passerby, was hit by a cracker on his face and in the process his teeth were broken. Even before the public gathered, the fans quickly left the place. The injured person was later taken to a hospital.
Chiru B-day fete stopped at Tirumala
The fans also tried to celebrate their icon’s B-day right in the temple town where political events are strictly banned. Over 40 Chiru fans tried to distribute food packets in front of Annadanam Complex in Tirumala. The TTD vigilance sleuths prevented them since it would become a political promotion activity.
As per rules and regulations any political event or meeting is strictly banned in Tirumala.
B-day wishes from
daughter Srija
Hyderabad: Chiranjeevi’s daughter Srija on Friday morning called him up on the occasion of his 54th birthday and wished him all success for his political party.
Srija and her husband Sirish Bharadwaj had had a strained relationship with the actor’s family eversince their marriage last year. The actor had not accepted Sirish as his son-in-law and not even visited his granddaughter, who was born two months ago.
Asked whether the star wanted to patch up before naming of the party on August 26, they said there was no talk on the issue. According to a source close to the couple, the hero-turned-politician was talking to Srija daily, but was waiting for an opportune moment to patch up with the couple.

Labels: A.P.Politics

With scores of ‘Telugu tammullu’ walking out of Telegu Desam Party, the Congress Legislature Party on Friday asked C h a n - d r ab abu Naidu to get ready to fight for the bronze medal in state politics as the Congress has already secured the gold medal.
Addressing a press conference here, Congress whip N Kiran Kumar Reddy and legislator Erasu Pratap Reddy questioned Chandrababu Naidu’s comments asking chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to pack his bags from the political arena over his failure to respond to people’s problems. Taking serious objection to the TDP chief ’s rhetoric, the Congress party whip asked Chandrababu Naidu to explain the exodus of hundreds of ‘Telugu tammullu’ from his party.
“Chandrababu Naidu is in such a helpless state that he cannot even stop the exodus from TDP. Instead, he thought it would be wise to target the chief minister to cover up the damage to his party. He is forgetting that people have elected this chief minister and he has fulfilled what all he had promised before coming to power. In fact, the chief minister has been delivering more than he has promised on subjects like free power, free housing, irrigation projects, loan waivers, issue of fresh loans, micro finance to SHGs, health insurance scheme, scholarships to weaker sections, pensions to widows and physically handicapped,” said Kiran Kumar Reddy.
“This chief minister has won the hearts of the people and he is the gold medal winner in state politics as he is way ahead of all his political rivals. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy believes in delivering and living up to promises, unlike his predecessor who is always eager to see the democratically elected chief minister ousted at any cost,” he said.
“The Telegu Desam Party chief is not even in the race for a silver medal at this point as people have started losing faith in Chandrababu Naidu at a fast pace. He may have to settle for a bronze medal given the present state of affairs in the Telegu Desam Party,” Kiran Kumar Reddy added.

Labels: A.P.Politics

Ruling out any support to a Congressled government at the Centre after the next election, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday said his party would be accused of “opportunism” if it did so.
Speaking to a TV channel, Karat also lashed out at PM Manmohan Singh for the cash-for-vote scam and said it was far worse than the JMM bribery scandal. “It was on a much bigger scale this time. Manmohan Singh will never escape the moral blame,” Karat said, adding that Congress had adopted a similar method during P V Narasimha Rao’s tenure which led to the JMM bribery scandal.
Karat also challenged the government and said, “Let us see how they run this government with a manufactured majority. We all know how they won the trust vote with bribery, intimidation and blackmailing.” Putting in perspective CPI general secretary A B Bardhan’s statement that Mayawati could become PM, Karat said, “Bardhan was asked, do you think she can become PM. He said, yes why not. That is his way of saying that he has no objection to any particular leader becoming PM. We don’t look at it in terms of projecting an individual.”
On a specific question about projecting Mayawati as the next PM, Karat reiterated that his party did not look at projecting individuals.
As for not supporting a Congress-led coalition, Karat said, “We are going to call for the defeat of BJP and Congress. And after that, if you think we are going to support a Congress government, I don’t know, I think people will accuse us of opportunism.”
Karat also wondered why only the possibility of Congress or BJP forming a government was raised. “So, why do you think that there can only be a BJPled government or a Congress-led government,” he said, adding a third force could also be in that position. “Hopefully, we will be able to present some third force in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he said. Asked whether the coming together of the Left with parties like BSP, which have aligned with BJP in the past, would create a durable third alternative, he said the Left was not going to project such an alternative. “Be very clear, I didn’t use the word third alternative. I have not talked about the third alternative... Our party’s understanding of the third alternative is not some combination to fight elections. The third alternative has to be in terms of policies and programmes,” Karat said.
The CPM boss said political parties which were not part of the Congress and BJP-led coalitions joined forces only after realising that they were opposed to the nuclear deal. “It’s only after we withdrew support, we said we would contact all secular parties which opposed the deal and which can plan with us to vote against the UPA government. And as part of the process, I met Mayawati, Ajit Singh, Deve Gowdaji. We met all of them and then came to a common understanding,” he said.
Karat also made light of the erstwhile UNPA led by Samajwadi Party, and said he never considered it a part of the third front

Labels: Indian Politics

The IAEA Board of Governors is expected to approve on Friday the India-specific nuclear safeguards pact to allow the Indo-US nuke deal to move forward. There may not be a vote and Pakistan may not press for this step.

With the US and India going all out to get a comprehensive backing of the 35-member Board for the UN nuclear watchdog’s inspections plan by consensus, IAEA sources indicated that the major step may not face any hurdles and and that it will have a smooth sailing.

Pakistan’s attempts to force a vote caused unease both in India and the US but it appeared to back off after the US nudged Islamabad not to block the approval or seek amendments.

IAEA sources said the safeguards text is likely to be approved by a consensus but in the event of a vote, Pakistan may abstain.

IAEA decisions are usually taken by consensus except when the Iran’s nuclear programme came up for vote in 2005. Sources said the crucial meeting will see statements delivered by the ambassadors of India and the United States as well as by the nuclear watchdog’s director-general, Dr Mohammed ElBa radei.

Labels: Indian Politics

Chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on Thursday instructed the Rajiv Swagruha Corporation to ensure that the cost of houses/flats under its scheme is 25 per cent less than those in the market and at the same time not to compromise on quality.
The CM reviewed the progress of the Rajiv Swagruha housing scheme at the secretariat on Thursday. Cautioning the officials, the CM said, “Quality should be maintained at every stage and precautions should be taken to observe all the norms stipulated for multistoried buildings.” Third party monitoring and all the other vigilance should be taken to ensure perfect quality construction, CM said.
“The aim of the government is to see that every person with moderate income owns a house at an affordable cost,” said CM. The officials said that the work is progressing steadily on the Rajiv Swagruha houses/flats at Chandanagar (1140 units), Bandlaguda (3114 units) in Hyderabad and Pocharam (2604 units) and Vetapalem (Prakasam district 427 units). According to the officials, the Chandanagar houses/flats will be completed by January 2009. The officials informed the CM that the model houses are ready at Chandanagar and those at Bandlaguda and Pocharam will be ready soon. Model houses will be constructed at Yendada, Kakinada, Vetapalem, Nellore, Kadapa, Tirupati, Kamareddy, Mahbubnagar and Karimnagar.
Under the scheme, 25 per cent of the cost of the house is taken as deposit from the applicants within three months and on failure to pay it the allotment is cancelled.
So far Rs 38.33 crore has been collected for 25 per cent of Rajiv Swagruha houses in the state. About 4000 acres of land has been already purchased by the corporation and efforts are on to purchase more land at other places, said the officials.

Labels: A.P.Politics

Panchayat raj minister J C Diwakar Reddy on Thursday condemned the alleged harsh language used by his brother J C Prabhakar Reddy against transport officials for seizing his bus.
Addressing a press conference 72 hours after the incident, the minister said that anyone found guilty of using such language should tender an unconditional apology. “If there is truth in the allegations, then the law will take its own course. No one has the right to call anyone by his caste or occupation in a derogatory manner. If anything of that kind has been said, I strongly condemn it and sincerely apologise. But, at the same time, I request all TV channels to send me tapes relating to the incident so that I can find out the truth.”
The minister said he was deeply hurt over the way his name was being dragged into the controversy.
“I am not here to support anyone, but to clarify on media reports that have been naming me in the incident. I have not yet spoken to my brother about the incident. But, whatever I have seen on the TV, I can definitely say that the incident is deplorable.”
On Thursday, demonstrations were held across the state by Dalit and BC organisations demanding the arrest of Prabhakar Reddy.
“If my brother has made such a statement, then he has to suffer. But, we have to find out the truth of the allegations,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, in the face of vociferous demand for his arrest from Dalit organisations and BC bodies, J C Prabhakar Reddy denied in Anantapur that he abused the officials on caste lines. “My rural language might have been misunderstood by the officials and BC organisations,” he said.
Threatening to intensify the agitation all over the state if he was not arrested, leaders of the BC Samrakshana Samithi and Mahajana Party questioned the government’s inaction. “What is stopping the police from arresting Prabhakar, when they could arrest the editor and two reporters of Andhra Jyothi in a midnight swoop?” they asked.
While Mana Party activists and SC sangham workers took out rallies in Kadapa, Nalgonda and Nellore decrying the remarks of Prabhakar Reddy, BC activists and Dalits burnt his effigy in Anantapur.
CPI leader K Narayana said in Warangal that Prabhakar Reddy should be arrested immediately and Diwakar Reddy should be dismissed from the cabinet.
Nayee - mana Sangham attacked the booking counter of Diwakar Travels on Raju road in Anantapur by breaking the window panes and damaging furniture.
They said they would down the shutters of barber shops on Friday throughout the state.

Labels: A.P.Politics

As expected, the core committee of the Telugu Desam Party on Telangana discussed the separate statehood issue at a meeting here on Thursday, but said several more such meetings were needed before taking any decision on the contentious demand.
The second meeting of the core committee was held at a remote village, Aiza in Mahbubnagar district on Thursday. Briefing the media after the meeting, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said since the issue was a very sensitive one, a decision could not be taken in one or two meetings. “There is no need for taking a decision in such a hurry. We have yet to discuss and debate the matter with MLAs, public representatives and district party presidents before taking a decision,” he said.
The TDP had gone to polls last time with the slogan of united Andhra but now keeping in view the changing scenario and recognising that sentiment existed in certain parts of Telangana, the party softened its stance but a final decision was not possible without taking into consideration the feelings of people of all the three regions, he added.
While this remains the official stand of the party for the time being, it is said that the party wants to buy time to see how the political scenario emerges after the announcement of Chiranjeevi’s party. The film actor, it is said, would inaugurate his party office in Jubilee Hills on August 8 and launch his party on August 22.
Moreover, TDP wants to move carefully in regard to having any kind of tie up with TRS. Any understanding with TRS would mean that TDP would have to sacrifice a big chunk of assembly and Lok Sabha seats which could lead to dissensions within the party as well. Even if that problem can be sorted out, a lot depends on the attitude of the Left parties since TDP is trying to forge a viable third front at the Centre and also have understanding with them at state level.
While the CPM appears to be more in favour of joining hands with TDP both at national and state level, the CPI is still wavering and appears to be more inclined to sail with Chiranjeevi. It is aiming for a minimum of 20 assembly and about four Lok Sabha seats. The TDP would not yield so much space.
All these issues are understood to have figured at the core committee meeting which finally decided to continue the consultations with party leaders on the contentious issue of separate Telangana before announcing its stand. Meanwhile, the core committee also decided that Naidu should end his ‘Mee Kosam yatra’ at Anantapur and return to Hyderabad by August 15 and lead the party during the monsoon session. Thereafter, he will take up district tours every week.

Labels: A.P.Politics

An "annoyed" US president George W Bush has confronted Pakistan prime minister over the leaking of intelligence, shared by Washington, to militants by the ISI and quizzed him on who was controlling the spy agency.
Pakistan, which has reacted angrily to recent calls for direct US military strikes or "hot pursuit" of militants thriving in its tribal areas, has been harping on the need for the American intelligence agencies to share information so that it can carry out operations against the extremists.
However, Bush during his meeting with prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said that Washington is reluctant to share intelligence with Islamabad because people in the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) are passing on such information to militants, defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar was quoted as saying by Pakistani newspapers on Thursday.
Bush also expressed "concern and some annoyance" about the ISI's role in Pakistan, the minister told the news daily. Bush told Gilani and his delegation that the US believed the ISI had established deep ties with militants operating in Pakistan's tribal areas, some officials present in the meeting said.
The US president complained that intelligence shared with Pakistan was leaked by "certain elements" in the ISI to terrorists much before they could be attacked by American or Pakistani forces. This was a cause of concern for the US, Bush was quoted as saying by Mukhtar.
Bush was blunt about expressing American reluctance to share intelligence information with Pakistan, an official present at the meeting was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.
"President bush also asked who is controlling the ISI," Mukhtar said. This was apparently a reference to the recent controversy over a move to place the spy agency under the interior ministry. The government notification in this regard was withdrawn after the powerful army and the presidency objected to the move.

Labels: American Politics