AAP defends existence of khap panchayats

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today defended the existence of the khap panchayats, but said it was opposed to any kind of decision given by them that violated the law of the land.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, senior party leader Yogendra Yadav said, "All castes tend to have their social organisations, which do internal dispute resolution.

AAP supporters. PTI

"We certainly acknowledge the right of all such organisations to exist. They have a right to exist and perform a legitimate role because we do not want every social dispute to go to the court of law."

Yadav, who plays a major role in formulating party's policy on crucial issues, said that the problem arose when the khap panchayats violated the law with their decisions.

"The problem arises when the dispute resolution is done through cohesion...when the law of land is broken or when killings and murders are defended in the name of some adjectives like honour killing, etc.

We are absolutely unopposed to compromising any cohesion, violation of law or any killing," Yadav said.

Slamming other political parties for succumbing to the khap panchayats, Yadav said that the AAP will not fall before the feet of these community organisations for the sake of votes.

"Other parties go and ask for vote, fall before their feet. They say even if there is a murder (order issued by the khap panchayat) we will keep quiet for a few days. AAP has not done this before or do not intend to do this in future," Yadav said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a recent interview, had said he does not see the need for banning khap panchayats or unelected all-male village councils that often endorse harsh treatment of women because they serve a "cultural purpose".

PTI

BJP dubs AAP list of corrupt as ‘cheap publicity’

Bangalore: Slamming AAP for its list of "corrupt leaders", senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today said it was "cheap publicity" and questioned the moral right of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in including president Rajnath Singh and senior leader Nitin Gadkari in it.

"The day AAP formed the government with Congress help (in Delhi), they have lost their moral compass and therefore they don't have any right to raise fingers against others," he told reporters at "Chaaiwala my PM" campaign in Bangalore.

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu. PTI

The statewide campaign is on to counter "tea vendor" jibe at Narendra Modi by Congress MP Manishankar Iyer.

"People are laughing at them. It is nothing but cheap publicity and people will not believe it. Is he (Kejriwal) the Supreme Court of India? What moral authority he has got. He is a chief minister courtesy the most corrupt Congress according to him. People will decide who is what," he said.

Naidu said people will "shatter the dreams" of Congress to return to power at the Centre with the help of AAP.

"Congress is adopting two-pronged strategy to support AAP. They all know they will go to jail if BJP comes to power and think they can divide BJP votes by pushing AAP in the forefront, but people are wise and I believe BJP will gain majority," he said.

Naidu said even if the BJP wins majority seats, it will not forsake NDA partners.

"We will walk with them hand-in-hand even if the BJP gains majority seats," he added.

He said BJP has become more stronger after BS Yeddyurappa's return to the party in the state.

On Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's initiative to cobble up Third Front, Naidu said people are aspiring for a stable government at the centre which earlier third front governments failed to provide.

"People have witnessed the governments led by HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral, VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar, who failed to give stable governments. People are wise now," he said.

In fact, there are four "Third Fronts" emerging under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, J Jayalalithaa, Mulayam Singh and Mamata Banerjee, Naidu said.

PTI

Ananth Kumar slaps legal notice to Kejriwal

Bangalore: Slapping a legal notice on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for including him in the list of "most corrupt", BJP leader Ananth Kumar today asked him to withdraw the charge or apologise within three days.

Kumar is the second BJP leader to issue legal notice to the AAP leader after former party president Nitin Gadkari.

BJP leader Ananth Kumar. PTI

The notice served through Kumar's lawyer has asked Kejriwal to withdraw his statements within three days, failing which legal action will taken against him.

"I will initiate appropriate civil proceedings against Kejriwal for compensation and appropriate criminal proceedings against him for libel and slander," he told reporters at crowd sourcing programme conducted by BJP in Bangalore.

Kumar said he has given three days to Kejriwal to withdraw his allegations and apologise for the "immense loss, harm and injury caused to him due to the slanderous attack on him".

Kejriwal on Friday had called Kumar as "corrupt" and included his name in the list of "Most Corrupt" and said his party would field candidates against him.

He said the allegations levelled by Kejriwal are "motivated, baseless and malicious and their publication is clearly defamatory" and he had failed to provide any shred of evidence to support his allegations.

PTI

How Rahul can prevent himself from repeating Rajiv’s mistakes

Jaipur: Rahul Gandhi has vowed to learn from the success of Arvind Kejriwal's party. But he needn't breach the political divide. Rahul just needs to look at the flawed model that led to his father's downfall in the late 80s. For, Rahul appears to be making most of the mistakes his father made in the early years of his career.

Since Rahul has not held a position of responsibility, his performance with Rajiv as an administrator can't be compared. But their political trajectories converge at many points.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. PTI

Rahul has his father's flaws as a public speaker, an identical coterie of advisors and is considered equally naïve and inept for Indian politics. The only difference is that Rajiv had started his career with a lot of hope; and people seemed to have lost all hope in Rahul even before he has begun. It is not mere coincidence that Rahul too has become famous as Pappu, a moniker firebrand speaker Ritambhara had bestowed on Rajiv at the peak of the Ayodhya agitation.

Rahul has been subjected to unprecedented derision and ridicule after his first interview on TV. His plight is a tragic reminder of the scorn that was heaped on Rajiv everytime he appeared on Doordarshan in the late 80s. Rajiv, old-timers would remember, was panned by both public and press for his monopolizing Doordarshan prime time during the latter part of his tenure (1984-89) with his trite, banal speeches and monologues.

The problem with Rajiv then was his fascination for dull platitudes about his concerns and future plans he rolled out with irritating regularity. His style during those days was summed up by the immortal line Hume Dekhna Hai, Hum Dekhenge that became a subject of mirth among everyone. Rajiv too was famous also for his public bouts of revulsion against the existing system, (remember his famous speech against power brokers or the statement that 85 percent money meant for development never reached the masses); and reminding people of the 'sacrifices made by Indiraji.'

Like his father, Rahul too seems to be fond of these themes. His speeches, and his maiden interview, so far have suffered from the Hum-Dekhenge syndrome, manifest in his litany of clichés on what he plans to do with the Congress and the nation without the slightest evidence of a convincing track record, shades of faux rebellion against the existing system and his constant references to the sacrifices made by his ancestors.

We all know Rahul has had no experience of an aam aadmi's life. It can be safely presumed that Rahul has had limited, even negligible, opportunities to interact with people who did not have a vested interest in him. His interlocutors, his companions must have been either security guards or obsequious politicians eager to please him for their own benefit. They must have told him what he wanted to hear, applauded when he should have been jeered and remained acquiescent when Rahul's words should have been debated or debunked. Since his experience of ordinary, daily life is insignificant, Rahul's thoughts are largely based on what he has learnt sitting at home or in his office with the help of his friends and advisers.

The problem with living on borrowed wisdom is that unless you put it to test in the rough and tumble of real life, it remains just a theoretical concept. Rahul's public appearances have proved that his untested, vague thoughts and scrounged ideas can't stand even the politest of cross examination. In spite of his shortcomings, Rahul could have evolved into a wise, seasoned politician if he had chosen his advisors well. But, on the basis of evidence at hand, he is relying on cronies, again like his father. Like his father who trusted his Doon School brigade, Rahul too has preferred loyalty, royalty and pedigree over experience and political maturity.

His Man Friday and political aide Kanishka Singh, son of former Rajasthan governor and career diplomat SK Singh, has no experience of electoral politics. Rahul's other close lieutenant are Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Sandeep Dikshit and Randeep Hooda. All of them are either from royal families or heirs to political dynasties. Replace them with the likes of Arun Singh, Amitabh Bachchan, Arun Nehru and the other Doon School pals and Rahul's kitchen cabinet resembles that of his father's in the early 80s.

Not one member of Rahul's Babalog Brigade, like his father's, struggled his way up the political ladder. Success had come easy to all of them, and they too, like Rahul, have had limited exposure to the aam aadmi's life. Some of them may have sharp brains, but when it comes to experience gained from the grind of life, they can't stake claim to a lot. Rahul's thinktank, which should have ideally comprised people from different backgrounds, is almost similar to him in both upbringing and inexperience. No wonder, Rahul sounds naïve, impractical and theoretical.

Rajiv too had many disadvantages. In comparison with Rahul, who has been around for more than a decade, Rajiv had just three years of political experience before the prime minister's job was thrust upon him. He didn't have the benefit of learning on the job from an experienced mother. And he was betrayed by most of the men he trusted. But after the setback in 89, he had started showing signs of political maturity.

Rahul could have turned his biggest flaw—the tag of being a beneficiary of dynastic politics—into an advantage by learning from the travails and triumphs of his predecessors. That he hasn't so far only adds to his tragedy.

Sonia says BJP is sowing seeds of poison in hunger for power

Gulbarga (Karnataka): Attacking BJP and its PM candidate Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today accused them of indulging in divisive politics by "sowing seeds of poison" (zeher ki kheti) and instigating violence.

"This is an area which was the 'karmabhoomi' of Sufi saints and a symbol of composite culture of the country. I firmly believe that you will not allow those who sow the seeds of poison, who don't believe in secular credentials and who play the politics of instigating violence to succeed," the UPA Chairperson said in her address at a public rally here in northern Karnataka.

BJP and other opposition parties, she alleged, have only one motive and that is to hanker after the chair. "It is necessary for the people to be cautious about the opposition parties' plans to gain power by any means."

The Congress President took the attack to the opposition. PTI

The BJP reacted sharply to Gandhi's remarks, with party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy saying that Congress will meet in 2014 the same fate as the drubbing it got in 2007 in Gujarat after her 'maut ka saudagar' (merchent of death) remarks against Narendra Modi.

In an apparent reference to Modi, Gandhi said "those who are busy beating their own drums continuously, I want to ask you whether they will do good to the nation. No, not at all."

"Their only aim is to capture power and to achieve it they will resort to all sorts of conspiracies. You have to wary of these people and understand their intentions."

Gandhi claimed Congress did not crave for power, but was concerned about the country and its people.

"We are also concerned about the removal of poverty and bringing self-respect to the poor. We are concerned about fostering brotherhood and maintaining peace in society.
Therefore, we are in a position to speed up development," she said.

She said Congress was engaged in fighting corruption and therefore the party brought into force the Right to Information Act and Lok Pal Act.

But, she claimed, opposition parties including BJP gave only empty promises and levelled false allegations.

Turning to Karnataka, she said because of the 'corrupt' previous BJP rule in the state, central schemes like MGNREGA did not reach the people. However, the present Congress government has been successful in implementing these schemes, she said.

Gandhi said there was no need for Congress to talk about corruption of opposition parties, as people had experienced it, especially during the BJP rule.

PTI

AAP boosts campaign by directly attacking Modi and Sonia

The Aam Aadmi Party today boosted their campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections by adding the names of Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi to their list of corrupt politicians of the country.

The party leaders in Delhi have claimed that a politician like Narendra Modi, who has always promoted and practiced politics of hatred, deserves to be on that list. As for Congress president Sonia Gandhi, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said the reason behind adding her name is that she was leading a Congress party which has been riddled with corruption during the ten years it has been in power.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi. PTI

"The list of corrupt politicians that was published yesterday is a dynamic list and we will keep adding names to it," said AAP leader Gopal Rai, who is in charge of the national membership drive.

The Aam Aadmi Party has also said that it will field their strongest possible candidates against all the heavyweight politicians it named in its list.

"Our main agenda for the next Lok Sabha election is to rid the country of corrupt, criminal, and dynast politicians and we will put up the strongest possible candidates, be it against Narendra Modi in Gujarat or Sonia Gandhi," said Gopal Rai.

The party has not only attacked the Congress supremo and the BJP prime ministerial candidate, but also slammed Andhra politician Jagan Mohan Reddy. "There is wave of popular support for Reddy in the state but that does not mean that he is not corrupt. The ongoing cases on his assets prove that," Yadav said.

While launching a verbal attack on one of the most popular Andhra leaders, the one-year-old party has made its stand clear on the Telangana issue. "Aam Aadmi Party has always been in favour of small states. We completely support the demand of a separate Telangana. But at the same time we have to carefully look into the demand of the people from Seemandhra and rest of Andhra Pradesh," Yadav said.

Yadav, who has lately been facing the heat for his comment on the Khap Panchayat, has claimed that his comment on the issue was completely twisted by the media.

"I have never said I support the atrocities of the Khap but that social bodies like Khap or any tribal court that are not unconstitutional have the right to exist and we acknowledge their existence. But the atrocities like coercion and murder branded as honour killing has to be condemned. We don't support any violation of the law of the land," he said while addressing the media.

Harish Rawat sworn in as Uttarakhand chief minister

Dehradun: Harish Rawat, a Union minister, was sworn in as new chief minister of Uttarakhand, succeeding Vijay Bahuguna who was asked by the Congress high command to step down in a bid to boost its prospects ahead of the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

The 65-year-old Rawat's name was approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi who was authorised to name the Congress Legislature Party(CLP) leader after a one-line resolution was passed at its meeting here, senior party leader Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters in Dehradun. Rawat is at present Union Cabinet Minister for Water Resources.

Union Minister Harish Rawat. Image courtesy PIB

In the 70-member assembly, Congress has 33 members and has the support of seven-member PDF including three BSP, one UKD and three Independent MLAs. BJP has 30 MLAs.

The PDF, which has four ministers in the outgoing Bahuguna ministry, has pressed for additional ministerial berths in the new government.

"Soniaji gave her approval for Rawat's name. He has been elected CLP leader and will be sworn in Chief Minister along with some Cabinet ministers later today," Dwivedi said to loud cheers from supporters of Rawat after the five-hour-long CLP meeting.

Rawat pipped two other front runners for the top post--senior party leader Indira Hridayesh and member of Bahuguna's cabinet Pritam Singh.

Soon after being named the CLP leader, Rawat thanked all senior party leaders including Sonia Gandhi and those from the state including Indira Hridayesh, Vijay Bahuguna, Yashpal Arya and Pritam Singh for supporting him.

Spelling out his priorities, Rawat said it would be definitely to pull the state out of the fallout of the catastrophic flashfloods of June, 2013.

Besides Dwivedi, senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad attended the CLP meet as central observers.

Bahuguna, who resigned on Friday, had come under criticism for the way he had handled the flood situation and relief and rescue work.

PTI

SP will play important role in national politics: Akhilesh

Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh: Samajwadi Party would play an important role in national politics in the days to come, said in Farrukhabad today, as the party's campaign for Lok Sabha elections gained momentum.

"The eyes of the entire nation are fixed on Uttar Pradesh as the country is expecting changes in the national politics and Samajwadi Party is set to play an important role in it in the days to come," Yadav said while addressing an election meeting at Nawabganj, about 40 km from here, this afternoon.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. PTI

In an apparent counter to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks that it was not easy to bring Gujarat-like development in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav said, "With the help of several new projects, the state would soon surpass Gujarat in the field of milk production."

"As many as 250 applications have been received so far for setting up mini milk dairies under government scheme and government would soon issue them licences," he said.

The chief minister said 500 additional MBBS seats had been created in the state with the setting up of new medical colleges.

Power plants were coming up soon in Allahabad and Lalitpur to fulfil the demand, he said.

Besides, several schemes to support people for treatment of serious ailments were on the anvil and most medical facilities were available free of cost in government hospitals of the state, he added.

Rejecting allegations of slow pace of development in Farrukhabad, Yadav said focus would be on the progress of this area as well.

PTI

BJP to publish scam chargesheet against UPA government

By Vishwas Waghmode

Strengthening its attack on the UPA government ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced that it will prepare a chargesheet of scams against the central government, which will be published by end of February 2014.

"The theme of the scam charge sheet is 'dark decade of the UPA government' as it is the worst government post-independence. We are also seeking feedback from people from various parts of the country to prepare the chargesheet as we felt it will be good to take their views rather than having it prepared it by our activists only," said Gopinath Munde, senior BJP leader, speaking in Mumbai in Saturday.

Munde added that the chargesheet will be published in one or two volumes by end of February. PTI

Munde added that the chargesheet will be published in one or two volumes by end of February and that the party will use social media extensively to seek feedback. "We have received feedback on the various issues such as Adarsh scam, Aadhar card, issues related to the IT industry, LBT with others which will be included in the charge sheet," added Munde.

He also dismissed reports about a meeting between union minister Sharad Pawar and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and said there is no chance of a pre-poll alliance with the NCP. "It is not my decision but it is of the BJP's state unit," said Munde when asked about whether he is opposed to any tie-up with the Maratha strongman.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP spokesperson, said that they went to see the kind of work done by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Assam from where he has been sent to the Rajya Sabha for the past 25 years. "No development work has been done in Assam. We are here in Mumbai since yesterday and met many delegations. Similarly we will go to other parts to get people's feedback," said Prasad.

Prasad added that the major issues in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be unemployment, corruption and development. "We also want to know why the Maharashtra governor refused to give consent to Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) to request for prosecuting former chief minister Ashok Chavan. Was he under anybody's pressure?" asked Prasad.

Kejriwal should prove allegations or resign: Sibal

New Delhi: A day after Arvind Kejriwal put his name on a list of corrupt politicians, Union Minister Kapil Sibal today shot back, saying the Delhi chief minister should prove his allegations within two days or resign.

"I was surprised that a person who is holding the post of chief minister has levelled an allegation against me. His intentions appear to be malafide, otherwise he would not have levelled such baseless allegations.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost

"I am surprised that he dubbed me as corrupt. I give him two days to hand me the proof of my corruption otherwise he should resign from his position," Sibal told reporters in New Delhi.

The law minister said if Kejriwal is able to prove his allegations, then he would resign as a union minister and also quit politics.

"I have already warned him and I say it today also. No one has so far made allegations against me about my public life. There are no complaints against me. There are no FIRs. If he is able to prove that I have been convicted by a court in a corruption case, I will not only resign as minister, but also quit active politics," he said.

Kejriwal on Friday drew a list of "corrupt" politicians against whom AAP has decided to field candidates.

The list included Rahul Gandhi, several UPA ministers, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, Union ministers P Chidambaram and Sushilkumar Shinde and former BJP president Nitin Gadkari.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is accused of propagating dynastic politics and BJP's prime ministerial canndidate Narendra Modi, whose name also figures in the list, faces the allegation of criminalisation of politics.

A few months ago, AAP had alleged that Sibal has a "conflict of interest" in the case involving Vodafone as his lawyer son Amit "continues to defend" Hutchison, which had a partnership with the British telecom major.

Amit had denied the allegations, saying the last time he had appeared for the company was in 2010 when Sibal was neither the telecom minister nor the law minister.

PTI

New block of parties in the offing ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Patna: Efforts to form a new "block" of parties opposed to the BJP and the Congress is all set to gain momentum with a meeting of leaders in Delhi on 5 February, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today.

"Leaders of parties opposed to Congress and BJP will be meeting in Delhi on 5 February to discuss the issue of giving a shape to formation of a new block of like-minded parties in Parliament," Kumar, who will participate in the meeting, told reporters after a function to launch Food Security Law in Bihar.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. PTI

He said Left Front is taking initiative for formation of this new "block" and JD(U) is extending support to it.

Kumar, who is driving force of JD(U), refused to identify the leaders who will be meeting in the national capital on 5 February.

But, sources in the party said it would include leaders of erstwhile "Janata Parivar" like SP Mulayam Singh Yadav, JDS HD Deve Gowda, BJP Naveen Patnaik, Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar of JD(U) and leaders of CPI and CPM.

Indicating beginning of the process of formation of the new block, Kumar said many of the leaders have evinced interest in this new grouping.

Kumar categorically ruled out any chance of JD(U) returning to NDA.

"The question does not arise," he said in reply to a question in this regard.

The Bihar chief minister also dismissed party chief Sharad Yadav making any statement against formation of this new block. A section of media had quoted Sharad Yadav as saying yesterday that formation of a new block is just a "gupbazzi" (gossip).

"I had a talk with Sharad Yadav this morning and he denied saying anything of this kind...some mediapersons might have thrust words in his mouth," Kumar said.

There are reports of the CPI and CPM fighting the coming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar with JD(U).

PTI

Nitish’s talk of a Third Front is good news for the Congress

Deve Gowda may be the self-proclaimed choreographer of the proposed Third Front but he was denied the privilege of telling the world, because Nitish Kumar stole the thunder from him by announcing the re-birth of the political grouping. The Bihar Chief Minister first made the announcement in an interview to the Economic Times and then by talking to various media organisations.

The three parties named so far in this 'Janata Parivar returns' Front are those which are supporting the Congress's UPA-II from outside. The Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (S) which are formally supporting it and the JD(U) which is doing it tacitly. The Congress, which has 4 MLAs in Bihar, "unconditionally" supports Nitish's government.

But all these negotiations and talks are for not for a pre-poll alliance. It is all for a planned post-poll alliance should each of the constituent parties catch the fancy of the voters with the idea of "federate" structure and and if the people turn away both the BJP and Congress, giving Modi less than 160 seats.

Gowda has magnanimously said that he is not interested in becoming Prime Minister again. Nitish also has repeatedly denied ambitions to become a Prime Minister. Both Nitish and Gowda have said their new front was an attempt to revive the Janata Parivar concept. The Janata Parivar in this case means the Janata Dal,  and not the Janata Party of old. The erstwhile Janata Dal had Lalu Pradav Yadav's RJD, Ramvilas Paswan's LJP and Navin Patnaik's BJD. Both Gowda and Nitish said talks with Left front parties were in progress and they could hypothetically be considered on board with the alliance.

Nitish Kumar's planned third front may not be as successful as hoped. PTI

The third front seems formed, at least in principle. But the irony is that the electoral fortunes of none of the three protagonists, Janata Dal (U) in Bihar, Samajwadi Party in UP and JD(S) in Karnataka is on the rise. By forming a Third Front, they now have some talking points to try and convince their social constituents that they are here for serious business. They are contesting to run the country, or play the king maker when the need arises to "protect secularism" and "prevent communal forces" (read Modi) from coming to power.

The front is trying to rope in BJD and Nitish said major announcements would be made in 15-day time. BJD has over the years remained sceptical and dismissive of any such idea and has continued to maintain its distinct non-polar identity. AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa's name was also dropped to make it sound like a broad based front, so what if she has never even stood in a photo with the Janata Parivar revivalist leaders. Nitish, Gowda and the Samajwadi Party are not talking about who is or will be the leader of their front. Being the most contentious issue, it's prudent on the part of the leaders to not discuss the issue now in case it kills the idea even before it is born.

The Third Front can't be a pre-poll alliance for a variety of reasons, the most important being that no party benefits from the alliance. It isn't clear how seat sharing talks are possible without recognising one of them as being the party leading the alliance. How will the JD(S) of Karnataka benefit the JD(U) in Bihar or Mulayam's SP in UP? Only the Left parties can be accommodated, but they won't return the favour in states like Bengal, Tripura and Kerala.

The "non-Congress, non-BJP" front claims made by Nitish, Gowda, or Samajwadi Party leaders is meaningless and misleading. No Third Front government is ever possible without either the BJP or the Congress supporting it. Since all these parties that propose to come together for now are secularists and are supporting the Congress from outside, the BJP supporting the alliance in May 2014 is ruled out. This hypothetically leaves the Congress to support them if Modi's eventual numbers are far below than what the various opinion polls are projecting.

The only purpose the talks of a third front serves for now is to spice the run up to the polls and give the media some constant fodder, or act as breather from the otherwise Modi versus Rahul angled coverage. The results of the 2009 elections stand testimony to the fact that with the singular exception of the BJD, all other regional parties which were not aligned either with the Congress or with the BJP took a severe beating. This includes both the Left Front and Samajwadi Party. The JD(U) got good numbers in Bihar but it was at the time a prominent ally of the BJP.

The Congress is watching worrying signs beyond the potential third front. Deserted by allies, the Congress- led UPA-II slipped into a minority a long time ago and even two of the remaining three allies, Nationalist Congress Party and the National Conference are maintaining the suspense. They now have doubts whether they should settle for a pre-poll alliance with a party they have partnered for five years while it was in power at the centre.

After the Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh, the political weight of the third partner Congress partner in UPA, Rashtriya Lok Dal has become inconsequential for the upcoming elections. Ajit Singh is faced with an existential crisis, with his own Jat community switching over to the BJP and the Muslim community which was earlier supportive, becoming deeply suspicious of him.

The NCP has been keeping the Congress on tenterhooks. Party leader and union minister Praful Patel first raised questions over Rahul Gandhi's interview and his statements on Friday were critical of Congress, almost putting it on notice.

"We are losing patience because the Congress was delaying alliance talks…The impression from Delhi is different from what leaders say in Maharashtra. Leaders in Maharashtra have been given contrary signals. We need clarity. Options for all political parties are open," Patel said.

Patel's remarks acquire significance in light of NCP chief and agriculture minister,  Sharad Pawar's, earlier expressing doubt over Rahul's ability to lead the country. The NCP has been at the loggerheads with the Congress over several issues but has so far not left.

Though the Congress has eked a temporary truce with the National Conference by agreeing to the creation of hundreds of financially expensive new administrative units in J&,  but the trust deficit continues to be still there.

Political allies have played a prominent role in the Congress's victory in 2004 and 2009. The party had powerful regional allies in both the elections. However, this year is different for the Congress. Its two big allies, Trinamool Congress and DMK are gone, even smaller ones like the PMK, TRS, IUML and JVM have also jumped ship.

After running a coalition government for two consecutive terms for the last 10 years, the Congress should ideally have claimed it as a major achievement and it should have been an attractive proposition for new alliance partners. But just over two months ahead the parliamentary elections, it faces very grim prospects. Other than Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar, whom Rahul Gandhi called an "idea", no other leader or party is looking with favour at the Congress.

In politics, like in any other deal an alliance partner is attracted to the bigger party only if the two are ideologically bound or if the bigger party (Congress or the BJP) has the ability to catch or transfer votes to it. The perception that Congress is not fighting the 2014 elections to win but to somehow contain Modi's rising numbers and limit its own downslide to a respectable three digit figure has perhaps hit home with existing and potential allies.

The Congress high command belatedly decided to remove inefficient Uttrakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, but the Telangana tangle has exposed the Congress leadership's vulnerability. The Andhra Pradesh state unit, including chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, has the courage to openly defy the central leadership.

Talks of the third front by Nitish, Gowda and Mulayam suits the Congress for now, but Rahul Gandhi has his task cut out for him.

Jammu and Kashmir: Militant killed in encounter

Srinagar: A militant was killed in an overnight gun-battle with security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said today. "The body of the militant has been recovered along with an AK rifle and some ammunition," a police spokesman said. Security forces had yesterday cordoned off village Kangan in Pulwama, 35 kms from here, following information about presence of militants in the village.

Representational image. Agencies.

As the security forces were closing in on the target house, the militants opened firing, which was retaliated. The exchange of fire stopped after an hour leading to fatal injuries to the militant.

The operation was halted for the night and the body of the slain ultra was recovered this morning. The spokesman said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant is being ascertained.

IANS