Dutt promises Gandhigiri, not to contest against vajpayee

Sanjay Dutt made his political debut in style in Lucknow on Saturday, with a roadshow which he himself led riding on a bike. But the newly minted ‘neta’ also declared he would not contest against Vajpayee.

"I respect Atalji a lot. He is like my father....If he contests election from here, then netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) has also asked me not to contest elections", Dutt told reporters here.

Asked about the reaction of Congress MP Priya Dutt to Sanjay's contesting the elections, Amar Singh said that she was like her younger sister and he himself, if Priya would permit, would campaign for her along with Sanjay in the coming Loksabha polls.

In reply to a question, Dutt, who appeared in the Munnabhai series of films based on Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, said his plank would be Gandhigiri in coming elections.

About what would he do against Mayawati government charged with corruption by SP, Dutt, reflecting Gandhigiri, said he would like to give her flowers.

On whether he would prefer Manyatta to be in fray for the seat if he would not be allowed by the court to contest the elections, Dutt said it would be decided by SP leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh.

Sanjay Dutt, who will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Lucknow constituency on a Samajwadi Party ticket, said at his first press conference as a ‘neta’ that he was looking forward to becoming a politician and serve the nation. Dutt also said that he was thankful to SP for giving him a chance to serve the people.

It was a star-studded press conference where Dutt was flanked by actors Manoj Tewari, Jaya Prada and Jaya Bachchan. He was also accompanied with his wife Manyatta and SP party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh.

On his decision to join to the SP, Dutt stated that post the demise of his father Sunil Dutt, he felt lonely. In this bleak time, it was Amar Singh who stayed alongside him, he added. After coming to Lucknow, Dutt said further, he feels that he is not alone.

Dutt thanked Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh for their support and especially mentioned Digvijay Singh -- a senior Congressmen -- for saying that it was wrong to arrest him (Sanjay) under TADA. Dutt noted that it was after 17 years when Congress had said something on his arrest.

He reiterated that his father did a lot for the nation and he looks forward to doing the same for the nation.

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Omar Abdullah sworn in as J&K’s youngest CM

National Conference president Omar Abdullah was on Monday sworn in as the youngest-ever Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir by state Governor NN Vohra. Putting to rest speculations about the appointment of a Deputy Chief Minister, Tarachand of the Congress took oath as Omar’s deputy.

Ten ministers were also sworn in along with Omar and Tarachand – five each from the two parties. Six-time MLA Abdul Rahim Rather took oath as a Minister of State. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Other ministers who also sworn-in were three-time MLA and former JKPCC Chief Peerzadas Mohmmad Sayeed, Taj Mohideen, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Shyam Lal Sharma, all Congress, and Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mian Altaf, Surjeet Salathia from NC, to be ministers in the J-K government.

Thirty-eight-year-old Omar was invited by Governor Vohra last night to form the government in the state. The invitation followed NC chief’s meeting with the Governor to formally stake claim to form the government.

Omar was, earlier, unanimously elected as the leader of the NC Legislature Party at its meeting on Sunday. His name was proposed by his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and seconded unanimously by the remaining 25 Legislators.

"I am confident to deliver in the state and come up to the expectation of the people of the state", said Omar who got a rapturous welcome on reaching the border state's winter capital yesterday.

Yesterday, PDP pulled out of the ruling Congress-led UPA coalition over its new alliance with National Conference with party president Mehmooba Mufti writing a letter to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

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Read-section 49-0 of our constitution "NO VOTE"

Section 49-O of the Constitution :
By section "49-O" as per the 1969 act a person can go to the polling booth, confirm/prove his identity, get his finger marked and convey to the presiding election
officer that he does not want to vote for anyone!
This is called "49-O".
Why do that ?....Because if we can get more "I vote for nobody" votes, than the margin of winning votes in any one ward, the polling in that ward will stand canceled and there has to be a re-poll called, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, the same candidates are barred from contesting again.
This may just get the political parties thinking of the quality of their candidates, and, may just help to improve politics in our country.

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