By IANS,
New Delhi : Two political heavyweights will come visiting Goa on Wednesday – Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
They will address an election rally each in the two hemispheres of the state’s politics – North Goa and South Goa, the two Lok Sabha seats.
Sonia Gandhi will address a rally at Fatorda in South Goa which has historically been known as a Congress stronghold, with a strong Catholic population. Modi will address a gathering at Bicholim in North Goa, which has returned a BJP MP on the last two consecutive occasions.
Both events have been scheduled for Wednesday evening, virtually ensuring that the election rally regulars who always attend such high profile political dos will be left with one big choice to make.
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Lalu has a taste of public ire
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad is known for his gift of the gab, but he was at a loss for words when confronted by a member of the public back home in Bihar.
It happened while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief was touring his parliamentary constituency, Saran. During a road show, the public complained that he was inaccessible. Lalu in his inimitable style said: “Mujhse Patna mein aakar milna (You come and meet me in Patna)”.
Then a young man retorted: “Kya aap humko Patna mein pehchanenge (Will you even recognise me in Patna)?”
The RJD supremo had nothing to say and ignored him, choosing instead to greet others in the crowd.
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Curious case of the missing ‘moon’
Sighting this ‘chand’ or moon may have helped union minister and Congress leader Kumari Selja in her campaign. But looks like she will have to do without it as she seeks re-election from the Ambala Lok Sabha seat in Haryana.
While other Congress leaders in her constituency are helping her campaign, one man conspicuously absent is Kalka legislator Chander Mohan alias Chand Mohammed.
After his infamous marriage to lawyer Anuradha Bali aka Fiza and the equally messy break-up, Chander Mohan is said to be cooling off in London.
Selja, however, may not actually be missing him given that he became a bit of an embarrassment to the ruling Congress in Haryana after his controversial marriage.
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Poll time, superstition time
Elections in India can spell a busy time for astrologers and tantriks. And two key contestants from Allahabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh are certainly said to be giving them good business.
Ashok Bajpai of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has accused rival Reoti Raman Singh of the Samajwadi Party of taking the advice of ‘tantriks’ to offer a human sacrifice.
But Bajpai himself is believed to have got the entrance to his ancestral home altered on the advice of an astrologer.
Both are said to be busy visiting tantriks and sadhus for divine blessings and some useful “tips” to win.