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Ballot scores over bullet in
J&K municipal elections 

What is India News Service, Tuesday, 1 February 2005, 1400 hrs IST

Attempts to strengthen political contestation and civic participation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) received a boost in the first phase of civic polls held on January 29, 2005. Elections to civic bodies have taken place after a gap of 27 years.

In the first of an eight-phase polling process, elections to two municipal councils and eight municipal committees in the Baramulla and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir were held on January 29. Polls will be held for all civic bodies in the state, including the municipal corporations of the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. 

The electoral process, which began on January 8, is to be completed by February 17. Beginning January 29, civic polls are being held in Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kupwara to elect a corporation, three councils and 30 committees - with a 33 per cent quota of all posts reserved for women. The summer capital Srinagar, for instance, is to elect its first ever Mayor who will preside over 68 elected councilors, including 23 women.

Preliminary reports indicate that over 60 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the first phase. The municipal committees in Kupwara witnessed the highest turnout of 86 per cent, while those in Baramulla registered a turnout of 56.5 per cent, according to a Press Trust of India report. The highest voter turnout was recorded in Handwara municipal committee, where nearly 88 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise. 

BJP flays Lalu's poster boy tactics: Posters blaming the BJP for the Godhra train blaze and subsequent riots in Gujarat were found pasted on walls in some Muslim-dominated areas and RJD offices here on Monday, prompting the saffron party to petition the Election Commission seeking RJD chief Lalu Prasad's arrest and derecognition of his party.

Sonia promises to improve law and order situation in Bihar: The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today launched her party's campaign in Bihar by promising the people that the next government would be run on the basis of an agreed agenda and would address pressing issues.

Dalit youth turns jain monk: For the first time a dalit became a Jain monk. After screening, Jain saints allowed him to be a part of their religion.

SC stays arrest of journalists in Judeo case: The Supreme Court today granted protection to two journalists against arrest by the CBI in the former Union Minister Dalip Singh Judeo \93sting operation\94 case in which he was shown taking a bribe of Rs 9 lakh on camera for allegedly providing mining contracts in Chhattisgarh.

Upgraded Chetak helicopter Chetan makes successful flight: Chetan, an upgraded Chetak helicopter, made its first flight successfully on Monday. Chetan has been fitted with a powerful Snecma TM 333 2B2 engine that powers Dhruv, the Advanced Light Helicopter and is an upgraded version of HAL's workhorse Chetak, officials said.

Saldanha backs Parrikar, setback to Congress move: Political developments in Goa took a curious turn today with the Tourism Minister and United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) MLA, Matanhy Saldanha, backing the Manohar Parrikar Government on his arrival from Spain.
 
Caste woman\92s marriage to Dalit no ticket for poll quota: The Supreme Court in a significant judgement has ruled that a forward caste woman has no right to contest election from a constituency reserved for backward classes merely by marrying a person from these communities, saying this would defeat the very purpose of Article 332 providing electoral reservation for people belonging to the SC and ST candidates.

Zohra Segal, Chandralekha get Akademi awards: Octogenarian actor Zohra Segal, Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Raman Kutty Nair and contemporary dancer Chandralekha are among the six artistes selected by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for its \93Ratna\94 fellowship for 2004.



States

Pappu Yadav quits RJD: A few days before the first phase of Assembly polls, its LS member Rajesh Rajan alias Pappu Yadav on Monday resigned from the membership of the RJD.

HC orders arrest of 3 Bihar MLAs: The Patna High Court today ordered arrest of three legislators, including two from the ruling RJD \97 Sayed Nausadun Navi, alias Pappu Khan, and Prahlad Yadav, evading arrest for long in criminal cases.

Local court grants bail to Arjun: A court on Monday granted bail to Congress leader and HRD Minister Arjun Singh in a defamation case filed by the Haryana RSS chief in connection with a speech made by the minister in August last year.

J&K civic polls, phase II: Cong, BJP main players: Atmosphere at the end of the electioneering indicates that the main fight for the 71 wards\92 Jammu municipal corporation will be between the ruling Congress and the BJP. 

Crackdown on TDP activists: The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh today ordered arrests of opposition TDP leaders and activists across the state on charges of arson and violence in the aftermath of the killing of an MLA.

PM promises Haryana a green revolution: Promising a new green revolution and taking on the green-turbaned Om Prakash Chautala, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh finally plunged into the rough-and-tumble of vote politics in dusty Haryana on Monday.

Yediyurappa granted bail in criminal case: \93If the police cannot serve warrants to people in Vidhana Soudha, how will they serve warrants to people in remote areas?\94 the magistrate asked. 

B'lore biryani serves up dog: Police in Bangalore are at their wits' end. Despite arresting a 30-year-old man a couple of days ago, allegedly for stealing dogs and supplying the meat to road-side dhabas, police are yet to decide under which section of the Indian Penal Code they are going to book him. The arrest was made following a complaint by an animal rights organisation.




Neighbours


Nepal King sacks Deuba government, assumes power for three years: Nepali King Gyanendra sacked the government on Tuesday, assuming power for the next three years amid an escalating civil war with Maoist.

To crack suicide code, Lanka will unlock brains of the dead: It may sound morbid, even bizarre, but Sri Lankan scientists are going ahead anyway.

Delhi watch gives Dhaka scare: The Bangladesh government is worried whether India will take the initiative to convince South Asian neighbours that the forthcoming Saarc summit in Dhaka should be called off because of deteriorating law and order in that country.





Overall

Kashmir polls brought hope: The muncipal elections, the first in 27 years, show not everything is decided in Delhi.

J J Singh assumed charge as army chief: He is the first Sikh to rise to the post. 

Nepal king sacked government: King Gyanendra assumed power for three years amid an escalating war with Maoists.