Missing in action in Delhi, Kejriwal to finally begin roadshows today
With only 12 days left for the election, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been missing in the election campaign in Delhi for the past few weeks, will take out roadshows starting Wednesday.
Making the announcement, AAP Delhi convener, Gopal Rai said that Mr. Kejriwal will not take out any rallies as the party’s internal review has shown that roadshows have more impact. Addressing the media, Mr. Rai said that the party chief will take out roadshows in all seven constituencies from May 1-8, the third phase of the AAP’s election campaign. “On May 1, Mr. Kejriwal would take out a roadshow in Chandni Chowk from Model Town Assembly constituency at 4 p.m. and cover many areas of the constituency,” Mr. Rai said.
On May 2, he would take out a roadshow in East Delhi from Trilokpuri Assembly constituency. On May 3 and 4, the AAP chief would do roadshows of North-East Delhi and South Delhi. On May 5, he would take out a roadshow in West Delhi, on May 6 in North-West Delhi and on May 8 in New Delhi. On May 7, he will campaign in Haryana, Mr. Rai said.
“Apart from this, Mr. Kejriwal will go for morning yatras in Assembly constituencies that are missed in roadshows. We will give you its details later,” Mr. Rai said.
Fighting polls and patriarchy in Haryana
Notorious for its “patriarchal mindset” and crime against women, including honour killings, Haryana has only nine times elected women candidates to the Lok Sabha in the 13 general elections held since its formation on November 1, 1966.
In other words, the women Lok Sabha MPs from the State comprise only 7.03% of the total 128 MPs elected from Haryana since 1967 general election.
Indian National Congress’ P. Wati was the first woman candidate to contest the Lok Sabha election from Ambala in Haryana in 1967. She polled 1,19,303 votes but lost to Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s S. Bhan by a margin of just 8,700 votes.
Notice issued over Gambhir advertisement
Gautam Gambhir | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
A full page advertisement of BJP’s East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir endorsing a cricket game app, which appeared in an English daily, invited a show cause notice from the East Delhi Returning Officer on Tuesday over allegations of ‘surrogate advertising’.
According to the order by the RO, the advertisement, promoting an app called ‘CricPlay’, appeared in Delhi Times, a supplement of The Times of India, on April 26. It carried an image of Mr. Gambhir along with the phrase “Ab Mere Sath India Khelega” and also offered a daily cash prize to winners.
“This appears to be a surrogate advertisement, which appears to have political overtures in favour of contesting candidate,” read the order. According to the Model Code of Conduct, expenditure incurred on such advertisements must be added to the account of election expenses of a particular candidate. Mr. Gambhir has been asked to furnish documents to show if the advertisement was pre-certified.
(With inputs from Agencies)