Periscope: Western UP goes to polls

Western UP goes to polls

On Wednesday, the second phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh will see 67 seats in the Muslim-dominated western part of the state going to the polls. The districts where polling will take place include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Badaun. About 22.8 million voters, including 10.4 million women, will exercise their franchise. In 2012, of these 67 seats, the SP had won 34 followed by the BSP, with 18 seats. The BJP won 10, while the Congress got three; the Peace Party and the Ittehad-e-Millat Council won one seat each.

Among 12 reserved seats in this phase, the SP had won nine while the BSP secured three. The BJP could not open its account on these seats. The prestige of stalwarts such as senior UP minister Azam Khan in Rampur, SP MP Dharmendra Yadav in Badaun, Congress leader Imran Masood in Saharanpur and Union Minister Santosh Gangwar in Bareilly will be at stake to ensure victory of their respective candidates.

Teachers’ election in 3 states

The process of biennial elections for the Graduates’ and Teachers’ Legislative Council in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar will begin on Monday for the poll scheduled on March 9. Results will be announced on March 15. The term of office of 10 members of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar Legislative Council from graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies is due to expire on the retirement of the sitting members. The Model Code of Conduct will come into force with immediate effect in the districts in which the constituencies fall. Notifications will be issued on Monday and the last date of nominations is February 20. 

Hard-selling Jharkhand

The government of Jharkhand will hold a global investment summit this week called Momentum Jharkhand. Scheduled for Thursday and Friday, one of the youngest states in India bills itself as having “immense potential to grow and untapped market, strong industrial base, its mining geography and conducive policies”.

Whether investors come or not, the government of Jharkhand has devised a logo for the summit which is captivating. It depicts a young elephant with wings. The elephant is Jharkhand’s state animal. And the flying baby elephant suggests young Jharkhand has chosen “a strategy to grow by being faster, nimbler, more agile”. Jharkhand’s ability to consistently deliver on its promises helped it overcome this challenge and become India’s leading investment destination.