nitaipil
nitaipil
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INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/15/04 at 17:00:12 » |
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(3rd Test Match)
13th Apr - 17th Apr, 2004
____________________________________________________
Pakistan First Innings all out for 224 :'(
India first Innings all out for 600 :)
Pakistan 2nd Innings 49/2 (day 3) :'(
HOPE MR. KABINDRA BABU WONT SAY "INDIA SHINING ,WE ARE FEELING GOOD ! VOTE FOR BJP 8) |
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bjp
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/16/04 at 11:13:13 » |
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Rahul Gandhi'r bolay jor aaisay ! hai re Air condition o thaka polapan neta ...
A thousand Colombian girls are campaigning for Rahul, says amethi BJP candidate Ram Vilas Vedanti . Vedanti also said he does not consider Rahul as a member of the Gandhi family.
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ajay
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/16/04 at 14:48:23 » |
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'I don't think Soniaji is a foreigner'
click the hyperlink for details
http://specials.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/13myind1.htm
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BJP
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/17/04 at 14:03:50 » |
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It’s final. Cricketer turned-commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu is going to bat for the BJP on the Amritsar wicket for the Lok Sabha polls.
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youthindia
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/17/04 at 14:18:43 » |
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20-something's feel-good factor:
The Vajpayee government may have coined the “feel-good" factor keeping elections in mind, but the nation's young brigade feel that way for totally different reasons
THE SOUND OF MUSIC: Give me Bryan Adams, Beyoncé and A R Rehman any day. Music is my soul. I like all kinds of music - soft, pop, rock, heavy metal even instrumental. Yanni and Kelly G are two of my favourites. Oh! Before I forget, I love ghazals also. Jagjit Singh is awesome. His voice and Javed Akhtar's lyrics - deadly combination!
YUMMY FOOD: McDonald's, Pizza Hut, ice-cream parlours and gol-gappa stands. That's where you're likely to catch me. I love eating out, but yes, when it comes to mummy's hand-cooked halwa , it is something that not even a hungry bear can tear out of my hands. You see I am a connoisseur of good food. I don't eat to live but live to eat.
PUMP UP THE IRON: If my enormous diet got you wondering about my health, stop worrying. I'm a fitness-freak. Exercising is a passion. One or two hours at the gym and I'm all charged-up for the day.
SNAZZY CLOTHES: Cool tees teamed with blue-denim jeans; it's a universal favourite. I love wearing khadis too. Labels aren't an issue. The only requirement is that they should be cool, comfortable and look good on me.
IT'S THE TIME TO DISCO: Guess where I go to practice my jazz lessons - the disco! I'm a party animal. I like to dance through the night and party into the wee hours of the morning. Bhangra to Backstreet Boys, I move to them all.
SMS'ing: Beep, Beep! It's cheap, it's stylish and a great way of keeping in touch with ur g/f or b/f. SMS has made my life simpler. Imagine you are at a cinema hall and want to tell your Dad that you'll be home late, without missing even a single scene -- what do you do? SMS!
NET FREAK: Give me Indiatimes, Yahoo and Google and my virtual world is complete. You've got the facility to send e-mails, chat on IMs and research for your project, even get a mate who is marriage material.
MONEY, HONEY: Money makes the world go round. Money makes me feel independent. Finally, I can buy myself those smart pair of Levis that I've being eyeing for so long. The best part is that your Dad doesn't growl anymore when he sees your credit bill.
MOVIE SHOVIE: From Bollywood potboilers to turbo charged English action flicks, I watch them all. Watching Pretty Woman over a hot cuppa made me feel all tingly on the inside while Hera Pheri had me in fits of laughter.
MY SHARE OF THE LIMELIGHT: Young and rearing to go, I crave for recognition and I work really hard for it too. Why else do you see me shutting in buses, taking up even two jobs at a time!
SHOP TILL I DROP: I love to buy whacky trinkets, trendy bags and how can I forget, the latest DVDs. If I don't want to buy anything, which by the way happens usually when I have run outta cash, window shopping is then the name of the game.
Did someone ask me about elections and netas ? Oh! Well, didn't really give it thought. Maybe if they say so. Maybe not. Does it matter?
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silchar.
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/18/04 at 16:49:16 » |
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who is the congress I candidate from silchar constituency and who is from BJP and CPM? |
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Shankar_Chakravarti
Shankar_Chakravart
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/19/04 at 06:50:18 » |
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Office of the Chief Electoral Officer,
Assam General Election-2004
List of contestents (Based on Form P02 Data)
S03-ASSAM
No. & Name of PC Name of Contestants Sex Age Cate-gory Party Symbol
1. Karimganj (SC) 1. Nepal Chandra Das M 64 SC AGP Elephant
2. Parimal Sukla Baidya M 45 SC BJP Lotus
3. Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya M 62 SC INC Hand
4. Babul Ram Das M 32 SC IND Aeroplane
5. Babul Roy M 29 SC IND Television
6. Radha Kanta Tanty M 62 SC IND Lock and Key
7. Lukendra Roy M 27 SC IND Kite
8. Sushil Kumar Das M 32 SC IND Black Board
2. Silchar
1. Kabindra Purkayastha M 73 GEN BJP Lotus
2. Noorul Huda M 74 GEN CPM Hammer, Sickle and Star
3. Sontosh Mohan Dev M 70 GEN INC Hand
4. Alok Sen M 33 GEN SAP Candles
5. Anwar Hussain Laskar M 42 GEN SP Bicycle
6. Ashutosh Das M 42 SC IND Bungalow
7. Kantimoy Deb M 55 GEN IND Aeroplane
8. Kshitindra Sarkar M 35 SC IND Coconut
9. Benu Bhuson Nath M 51 GEN IND Book
10. Manoranjan Das M 47 SC IND Kite
11. Samarendra Ghosh M 61 GEN IND Electric Source :http://assamgov.org/ceoassam/Bkground/Listofcontestents.htm
Sorry, Couldn't paste properly as given in the tabular form in the web. Can anybody tell me how to do that ?
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bigbfanclub
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/19/04 at 12:00:54 » |
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BIG B said I won't campaign for friends:
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has not only categorically ruled out re-entry into politics, but hastened to add he would not even campaign for his political friends in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
In Manali for the shooting of the multi-starrer Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon, he told journalists on Sunday he had many friends in politics, but had no intentions about rejoining that calling.
On his first visit to the famous holiday resort, he compared Manali to Switzerland, saying Himachal is a place of beauty.
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bipin_babu'r_kaaran_sudha
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/19/04 at 18:02:03 » |
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how many bottle Mr.Dev distrubuting in this election ???? |
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goutam
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/20/04 at 11:16:42 » |
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The fate of 48 candidates will be decided tomorrow as six Parliamentary constituencies of the State will go to polls in the first phase of the general elections. The preparations to hold the polls are complete and elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure violence-free elections in view of the recent strikes by militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in different parts of Assam, including a grenade attack in the heart of Guwahati city on April 14.
For the first time electronic voting machines would be put into use in the entire State. In the last State Assembly polls, electronic voting machines were used in only four Assembly constituencies of Guwahati city. Moreover, for the first time, the Election Commission has ordered that the voters would have to produce documentary proof of their identity before the polling officials for casting their votes. Altogether 70,99,829 voters of six Parliamentary constituencies – Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Guwahati, Mangaldoi and Tezpur will exercise their franchise in the first phase of the polls tomorrow. Official sources said that of the 8311 polling stations for the first phase of the polls, 2669 have been
identified as sensitive and 1499 as hypersensitive. The Guwahati constituency has the highest number of voters, that is 1441360, while Tezpur has the lowest number- 1006389.
The Guwahati constituency also has the highest number of candidates, that is, 12. The constituency is likely to witness an interesting electoral battle with political heavyweights in the fray. The BJP has fielded noted musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika to contest from the constituency, while, the Congress has fielded former Member of Parliament, Kirip Chaliha while, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has fielded former Home Minister and a signatory to the Assam Accord Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. The Trinamul Gana Parishad has fielded educationist and consumer rights activist Deven Dutta to contest from the constituency.
Eleven candidates are fighting it out in the Dhubri Parliamentary constituency, nine in Barpeta, seven in Mangaldoi and five candidates are in fray in Tezpur constituency. The Kokrajhar constituency has only four candidates and the main issue for the candidates in the constituency is the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the provisions of the amended Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has re-nominated former MP Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary to contest from the constituency with the main plank of ensuring the success of the BTC, while, the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samiti (SJSS) has fielded former Rabha Students’ Union office bearer Sabdaram Rabha to oppose the creation of the Territorial Council.
The campaigning for the six constituencies, which ended at 5 pm yesterday, was a relatively low-key affair with incessant rains playing the spoilsports. The candidates and the political parties were forced to cancel or reschedule a number of their election rallies, particularly in the remote areas due to the inclement weather. During a visit to the lower Assam districts, this correspondent witnessed that the incessant rains totally damaged the roads in the interior areas of the Lower Assam districts of Dhubri and Kokrajhar , making it impossible for the candidates and leaders of the political parties to visit the interior places to woo the voters. The Bihu celebrations also affected poll campaigning as majority of the masses preferred to celebrate the Assamese new year festival rather than listening to the lectures of the political leaders.
The campaign trail was also marked by visits of the political heavyweights. The Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visited the State to address an election rally in the city, while, the Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited the State twice in her campaign trail.
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guest
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/20/04 at 11:21:49 » |
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Jethmalani to contest against Vajpayee
Ruling out withdrawing from the race from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency against Prime Minster Atal Behari Vajpayee, noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani today declared the fight was on and Congress said it would withdraw its candidate in his support, reports PTI. “The fight is on and will continue till May 5 (polling day),” Jethmalani said adding that “there’s no question (of withdrawing from the race.) If I withdraw, we’ll have to set aside the election for the Prime Minister,” Jethmalani, who has filed his nomination papers as an independent, told reporters after returning from London. When asked to clarify whether he would himself be in the race or only lend his support to the Congress and campaign for its candidate Akhilesh Das there, he said, “Congress is supporting me, where is the question of my supporting it?” Jethmalani said he was leaving for Lucknow today and would remain there till the elections.
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guest
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/20/04 at 14:51:39 » |
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http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/20polls.htm |
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exitpoll
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/20/04 at 16:40:29 » |
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BJP leaves Congress behind in Round 8)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/628186.cms |
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dingu
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
04/21/04 at 15:39:03 » |
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About 63 per cent of the voters of six Parliamentary constituencies of Assam, exercised their franchise in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls today to decide the fate of 48 candidates. Though no major incident of violence was reported from any part of the State, minor skirmishes between supporters of rival political parties and damage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported from different parts of Mangaldoi and Kokrajhar Parliamentary constituencies.
Repolling is likely to be ordered in 12 polling booths under Mangaldoi constituency and one in Dhubri constituency. According to official sources here, more than 61 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in Guwahati Parliamentary constituency, 63.10 per cent in Dhubri, 60.24 in Barpeta, 65 per cent in Tezpur, 57.65 per cent in Mangaldoi and 70.5 per cent in Kokrajhar. However, the poll percentage may go up as reports of polling are still pouring in from interior places, official sources said.
In Guwahati Parliamentary constituency, according to initial figures, 65 per cent of voting was reported from Jalukbari Assembly segment, 45 from Dispur, 70 per cent of Chaigaon, 60 per cent from Boko, 50 per cent from Guwahati East, 55 per cent from Guwahati West, 65 per cent from Hajo, 60 from Palasbari, 69 from Dudhnoi and 70 from Barkhetri.
In Guwahati city and nearby areas, there was a slow response from the voters in the early part of the day and the polling picked up momentum only in the later part. The improvement in the weather condition after incessant rains for days during the run-up to the polls, also encouraged the voters to come out to exercise their franchise. But unlike Guwahati city, the voters of the outskirts preferred to cast their votes in the early hours of the day, and during a visit to the Sualkuchi area, this correspondent noticed that more than 30 per cent of polling was recorded in most of the booths of the area around 11 am.
Our Correspondents report: Kokrajhar: Two cases of election related violence were reported from Bismuri ME school polling station and Balagarh LP school polling station under Kokrajhar police station. Three persons were injured in the incidents. In the first case, one Bhupen Barman, an AKRASU activist, was beaten up by the supporters of a rival party at Balagarh LP school polling station around 11 am. He has been shifted to Kokrajhar Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, two others received minor injuries in the incident. In the other case, one Rajib Brahma, a mini-bus driver on election duty, sustained injuries when a group of Adivasi people attacked an election party around 11.30 am at Bismuri ME school polling station. Though the election officials managed to flee the scene, Rajiv was beaten up by the mob and the bus was also damaged.
Miscreants smashed two EVMs at Kachuabeel polling station under Tulsibeel police outpost under Gossaigaon subdivision around 12.30 pm, said the Kokrajhar SP and hinted that repolling may be ordered in the polling station.
Mangaldoi: About 60 to 65 per cent polling was recorded in the four legislative Assembly segments of the Malgaldoi Parliamentary constituency. Incidents of destruction of two EVMs and a control unit have been reported from Kakramari LP school polling station. Possibility of repoll in the polling station has not been ruled out by the Election authorities here.
The presiding officer of Roinakuchi Prathamik Vidyalaya polling station under Patharighat Police station informed the media that around 11.45 am , two youths resorted to rigging. This provoked the voters to demand closure of the voting exercise there. Following this, presiding officer Dhruba Sarma stopped the voting process, pending a decision of the Election authorities.
Meanwhile, the AGP has lodged an FIR with Patharighat PS naming Munna Ahmed alias Manjur Ali and Ratul Hazarika as the accused in the case. It also alleged that the two miscreants tried to rig the polls in favour of the Congress.
At the Ghorasal centre in Sipajhar, quarrel broke out between the supporters of the AGP and BJP, leading to the injury of Bishnujyoti Rabha and Prasanta Rabha. However, they belong to the Congress fold, said the reports reaching here. But polling was not affected.
Udalguri: Reports of damaging EVMs from Paneri, Udalguri and Majbat Assembly segments have been received. However, the miscreants involved in the incidents are yet to be identified. At the Udalguri Girls’ ME school polling station, located just near the Udalguri police station, broken pieces of EVMs and its control units were seen scattered this afternoon when this correspondent visited the polling station. However, till the time of the incident, 844 voters could exercise their franchise. The polling station has 1142 voters. Reports of damaging of EVMs were also received from Dakhingerua and Uttarkalikhola LP schools under Paneri PS. Similar cases of damaging EVMs were also reported from two polling stations – Udalguri Mission LP school and Paneri Bengbari . Repolling has been ordered at Bagariguri LP school polling station at the time of filing of this report. Meanwhile, many people from villages Udalguri LAC have alleged that they could not exercise their franchise owing to the tremendous pressure from “some forces”.
Tangla: Repolling in 12 polling stations of Paneri and Udalguri Assembly segments have been ordered following incidents of smashing of EVMs. However, the Returning officer’s order is awaiting approval of the Election Commission. Former MLA of Udalguri Assembly constituency, Binoy Khunggur Basumatary, who has now joined the Congress, was arrested by the police of Paneri police station for his involvement in a case of assaulting a polling officer Jeet Boro at Bangbari High School polling station and smashing of the EVMs.
Nalbari: Congress MLA Paniram Rabha allegedly let loose a reign of terror by assaulting two poll officials – JB Dutta and Aroop Chakraborty -- at Madhapur LP school polling stations under Barama police station. The MLA also smashed the EVM. Repoll has been ordered in the polling station.
Reports of rigging from Phatik Chandra Lahiri ME school polling station under Kokrajhar LS constituency have been received. Independent candidate of the constituency Sabdaram Rabha has already lodged a complaint with the Election Commission observer Ashok Mehta and Zonal officer Lehu Ram Boro over the incident. He also demanded repoll at Hazargaon, Natunhowly, Pub Howly, Banduri, Ambari, Soiriabhera, Gerua, Sauraguri, Majguri, Bahbari, and Kumarikata polling stations. He alleged that armed groups at these polling stations forced the voters to cast their votes in favour of a particular candidate. Some group clashes between AGP and Congress supporters were reported from Batsor and Borni areas under Dharmapur Assembly segment of Barpeta constituency.
Jamugurihat: Army personnel were deployed in the Joypur area under Sootea Assembly segment following attack on AGP supporters. Incidents of clashes between Congress and AGP supporters were also reported from some other places of the Assembly segment. Three persons have been admitted to Tezpur civil hospital for treatment.
Bihpuria: One polling agent Chouhan Singh Kaman was injured in an incident of attack at Kamala Miri LP school polling station.
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andhrapradesh
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/11/04 at 12:41:54 » |
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uts really unexpected result ...persoanlly i am feeling very sorry for Mr.Naidu dont know why he and his party could not make a mazority !
Shankar Da (mr.shankar chakrabarty) can you please react !! |
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pondit
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/11/04 at 12:53:54 » |
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i think naidu lost touch with voters while pursuing his dreams. in india it is a reality that u cannot win the votes by only addressing the issues of rich and upper middle class. u have to keep an eye on the agriculture and also at the poor people. if u cannot give subsidy on fertiliser and that u giving the same to import computers from abroad u r bound to lose. thats what happened to mr.naidu, who in my view was one of the best chief ministers in the country. hope we will see him as an important minister in the centre. |
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Devdas
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/11/04 at 15:08:46 » |
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It's Ctr + Alt + Del for Chandrababu |
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billgate
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/11/04 at 15:57:30 » |
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I am agree with you ponditji...hope we will see him IT minister if mr.vajpayee form the govt ...if not then god knows what Mr.Naidu will do with his LAPTOP!
[quote author=pondit link=board=0011&num=1082039412&start=15#15 date=05/11/04 at 12:53:54]
i think naidu lost touch with voters while pursuing his dreams. in india it is a reality that u cannot win the votes by only addressing the issues of rich and upper middle class. u have to keep an eye on the agriculture and also at the poor people. if u cannot give subsidy on fertiliser and that u giving the same to import computers from abroad u r bound to lose. thats what happened to mr.naidu, who in my view was one of the best chief ministers in the country. hope we will see him as an important minister in the centre.
[/quote] |
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mulaym+mayawati
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/13/04 at 13:41:25 » |
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mulaym and mayawati r singing "KEHE DO NA KEHE DO NA YOU ARE MY SONIA " |
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nitaipil.
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/14/04 at 13:51:28 » |
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History will remember Atal Bihari Vajpayee as one of the India's finest Prime Minister ! |
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guest
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/15/04 at 13:47:39 » |
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west bengal ex CM mr.Basu now saying "UNI AAMDER BADHO MATA" hai re rajniti ...5/6 years back this joyti babu said "gharer bou aabar rajniti te keno"?!!!
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p.a.sangma
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/15/04 at 15:23:35 » |
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In an unsavoury incident at the LGB Airport here this afternoon, former Lok Sabha Speaker and eight-time MP from the Tura Lok Sabha constituency Purno A Sangma was assaulted by the personal bodyguard of Assam Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) president Rekibuddin Ahmed. The incident occurred when the supporters of Sangma started shouting anti-Congress and anti-Sonia slogans while the Congress-followers, who had accompanied the Congress MP from Guwahati, Kirip Chaliha to the airport, raised anti-Sangma slogans. Both Sangma and Chaliha were about to leave for New Delhi by the afternoon flight. Ahmed along with a large number of Congress followers was escorting Chaliha to the airport.
When the Sangma-supporters started to shout slogans terming Sonia Gandhi as a foreigner, the Congressmen did not take to it kindly and reacted by raising counter-slogans. Tempers flared on either sides and very soon it snowballed into a physical confrontation with supporters from either side entering into fisticuffs. The personal bodyguard of Rekibuddin Ahmed even went to the extent of whipping out his revolver and brandishing it at the Sangma camp. The bodyguard also had the temerity to manhandle the veteran leader from the North East.
Earlier, Sangma at an impromptu press conference at the airport, lashed out at Sonia Gandhi, stating that her becoming the Prime Minister might compromise national security. Sangma said that though the people voted for the Congress, Sonia’s foreign origin issue would become a matter of national debate if she climbs the prime ministerial chair. Asked by reporters, whether he would stick by his proclaimed stand that he would quit parliament if Sonia became Prime Minister, Sangma evaded a direct reply stating that Sonia was yet to become PM and he had still to talk to his party’s national leadership.
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confused
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/15/04 at 18:37:03 » |
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[quote author=guest link=board=0011&num=1082039412&start=15#20 date=05/15/04 at 13:47:39]
west bengal ex CM mr.Basu now saying "UNI AAMDER BADHO MATA" hai re rajniti ...5/6 years back this joyti babu said "gharer bou aabar rajniti te keno"?!!!
[/quote]
Do you still have any doubt about the characters of CPM, CPI et. al? These creatures will sleep with anybody to keep BJP out of power. |
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Sumit
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/17/04 at 17:14:06 » |
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I am glad that HRD Minister Murali Manohar Joshi and his deputy Sanjay Paswan lost this election. They tried every harmful experimentation with education system, and tried to manipulate the education system to their evil wishes. It's good for the country that these two are wiped out. |
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sahin
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/17/04 at 19:29:27 » |
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Q:What ex CM of Andhra Pradesh Mr.Chandrababu Naidu is doing now these days ? ::)
Answer : he is visiting www.naukri.com from cyber cafe ! ??? |
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guest
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/18/04 at 19:33:47 » |
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sonia refused to take oth as a PM! what you say now guyz? |
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sidney
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/19/04 at 05:55:37 » |
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Sonia made up her mind 4 times before accepting PM post. Is it because of her family's concern about her life or for the sake of national unity? Senator Kennedy made the right decision not to run for President for the sake of his broken family. The sitiation may be different, but the common sense will prevail. |
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swamiji
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/19/04 at 13:43:45 » |
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In a land whose heritage glorifies renunciation of all ties, it is unusual to find a politician who has learnt to say 'no.' Congress president Sonia Gandhi, by turning down the clamour from within her party to become prime minister, has joined a rare set.
A few have done this in the past. The situation in 1989 was a tad similar: V P Singh's Janata Dal, which had a pre-poll understanding with the Left parties on one side and the Bharatiya Janata Party on the other, had emerged as the largest grouping in Parliament. Rajiv Gandhi's Congress had fallen from a humongous majority in the previous Lok Sabha to become the single largest party but he wisely opted to sit out in the Opposition. The JD too had an origins issue, over V P Singh's antecedents. Party senior Chandra Shekhar had then resolved to never support an ex-Congressman for the top job. When the JD Parliamentary Party met soon after the election, the first name proposed and approved for the PM's post was not V P Singh but Devi Lal.
It was all played out to a script, but Shekhar was not aware of the climax. The Haryana strongman promptly declined, and in turn proposed Singh's name since he had led the charge against Rajiv Gandhi from the front -- to Chandra Shekhar's eternal chagrin.
The drama unfolding in the Congress party is not too dissimilar. Sonia Gandhi, having led her forces against the National Democratic Alliance, declines the offer to lead a minority government and may propose Manmohan Singh's name today. Indications so far are that she will not resile from her determination.
Yes, Sonia's move has thrown the Bharatiya Janata Party off course. While it may go around claiming credit for getting Sonia to renounce the prime ministership, the party will also have to come to terms with the fact that it has been denied a potent issue. Sonia's foreign origin has now been overshadowed by her show of supreme sacrifice, and unless the BJP moves on it will reap a bitter harvest.
For the BJP, the choice is clear. Either stick to the course charted out by outgoing prime minister A B Vajpayee, or return to its earlier shrill avatar when it raked up issues only to put them on the backburner when in power. The latter has an inbuilt law of diminishing returns while the former, despite not having paid off in the recent election, is the saner approach.
Of course, its shock defeat has skewed its thinking, and hot heads need to cool down before they can think straight. When they do, the BJP will realise that with power comes tremendous responsibility; the recent election shows that in normal times people vote not out of sentiment but over immediate concerns. Street level politics are okay so long as they highlight issues that impact the voter's life -- anything else may get you the decibel level, not the votes. The difference between the BJP's previous stint in the Opposition is it is a former ruling party now. What passed earlier will not do so anymore.
Sonia's decision impacts the Congress more than one is willing to concede -- witness the weepy appeals for her to reconsider. Congressmen are a unique lot: self-preservation is the engine that drives them, and they will mask this facet with high-falutin' principles. Save the country, save secularism, etc should all be seen for what they really are: save us Congressmen.
The panic may be natural. The Gandhi family has remained their single biggest USP, never mind the family has paid the price for it in blood. Manmohanomics may have returned to centre-stage today, but let us not forget that in the 1991-1996 era the affable Sardar's economic course correction made him enemy number one for most Congressmen. The party has embraced his reforms now, but it was under duress since the BJP was claiming all the credit for it.
P V Narasimha Rao's prime ministership was a time to bite the bullet, not to reap the fruits, so Congressmen wanted nothing to do with economic reforms. Today, when the world is noticing India for its economic strength, the reforms have become attractive.
But the family is what they wanted foremost, everything else flowed from it. And till recently, they had got their ideal world: Sonia and reforms.
Sonia's prescription, bitter as it may seem, is the best that can happen to them, but so blinded are they by self-preservation they are unable to see it. Sonia Gandhi's prime ministership is a potent issue, it is akin to the BJP rediscovering the Babri Masjid all over again. On one hand her move defangs the Sangh Parivar, and on the other it returns the Congress to its roots -- a time when the party presidency and the prime ministership rested in different individuals, as it must in a true democracy, before a paranoid Indira Gandhi altered the script. It is a strange situation: Congressmen are being offered internal democracy but they are screaming for autocracy.
Her allies, who are blithely supporting the government, may seem enthusiastic over Sonia's move but the biggest impact of her decision will be on them.
Gandhi has turned down the prime ministership, not sworn off the party presidency. Neither she nor her children have offered to get out of politics: they will instead focus on strengthening the organisation, returning it to its pre-eminent position in states where it has lost out over the last 15 years.
And who has the Congress party lost out to? The BJP, yes, but in state across state it is also a combination of regional forces that have managed to net the Congress' vote bank as it disintegrated. To revive the party, Sonia Gandhi will have to neutralise the very allies that are supporting her government today.
Uttar Pradesh Congressmen, for instance, believe the Samajwadi Party is a bigger threat to them than the BJP. Ditto the CPI-M in West Bengal. Ditto the RJD in Bihar. The BJP's vote bank may have bagged some of the Congress' traditional vote, but the bulk of it went to the smaller parties.
The regional parties are aware of the risk to their existence if the Congress were to revive. In a lot of ways, this is a reprise of 1996-1998. Then the Congress supported a conglomeration of parties that were chipping away at its base to keep out the BJP; today it is the reverse.
In 1996 it had taken the Congress two years to realise it was committing political hara-kiri; how long will it now take for the regional parties to do so?
When they do, unlike then the allies will now find a fighting fit Congress.
This, is the crux of Sonia's masterstroke.
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soniagandhi
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/19/04 at 16:20:09 » |
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Sonia’s sacrifice raises her stature
With her singular act of self-abnegation, Sonia Gandhi has proved to her detractors that she has put her party and country above any personal aspirations and placed herself on a pedestal along with the nation’s icons.
In the process of declining the nation’s top executive job of prime minister out of a sense of personal conviction, the stature of this Italy-born politician has gone up several notches. True it left large sections of her party very unhappy because her allies too had chosen her unanimously as the leader of the victorious coalition.
"She is a courageous woman who has fought her way to the top, defying critics," said veteran political watcher Kuldip Nayar who has been a bitter critic of the policies of the Congress party in the past.
"She will definitely go up very high in people’s estimation. Our country worships renunciates - Mahatma Gandhi was venerated because he renounced everything - and the fact that she has shown such sensitivity to a section of public opinion, even after gaining a parliamentary majority, is in keeping with the Indian ethos. Her stock will definitely go up."
In the face of Sonia walking away from the prime minister’s job, BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj do not know where to look after making statements like "fighting Sonia and exposing her over-ambition to become the country’s PM is our national mission".
The 57-year-old grandmother, whose only childhood ambition was to be a school teacher and who showed no political inclinations or interest even after she married into a political family in India, has become in six years’ time one of the country’s most popular leaders as she marshalled the Congress party to a spectacular election triumph that no one had expected or predicted.
Although she has had no administrative experience whatsoever, she showed admirable leadership qualities and doggedness of purpose in bringing back to national reckoning the party that brought India its independence and gave the country five of its 12 prime ministers.
Even a month before the national election, she was being written off by pundits and many were preparing an obituary of her brief political career that began when she was persuaded in 1998 to inherit the mantle of leadership of the 119-year-old Congress that has been led by her husband Rajiv Gandhi, mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, grandfather-in-law and India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his father Motilal Nehru. Sonia Gandhi has often said to her close friends and associates that "they don’t know what stuff I am made of". Even by early 2003, following the defeat of the Congress party in several state elections, her party strategists who made her leader were privately wondering whether she would be able to deliver while columnists cynically commented that "we don’t know what she stands for" while others taunted that she was "neither a run-of-the-mill leader nor a visionary".
According to her biographer Rasheed Kidwai, even as the debate over her leadership skills and inexperience mounted, Sonia sprang a surprise that proved to be a political turnaround for her. She moved a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was riding high after his party’s regional poll victories, and indicted him and his government on several counts from corruption to social anarchy.
"Here was the leader of the opposition leading from the front, mixing aggression with wit, no longer the first-time MP who struggled with words as she took the oath as member of parliament," wrote Kidwai.
In a recent interview Sonia said she took the plunge into politics, much against her inner tuggings, as "I felt I was being cowardly to just watch things deteriorate in the Congress for which my mother-in-law and the whole family lived and died.
"It was the feeling of responsibility towards the family. And the country..."
She also says that the ascendancy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose agenda she sees as divisive, was one of the reasons for her decision to take the leadership of the Congress "because this is an agenda against which my family has fought...because this agenda, if carried out, will divide the country".
Her transition from a shy, introvert Italian girl from a middle class household that did not have much contact with foreigners to a woman who married into a patrician, internationally renowned family in faraway India and slowly imbibed that country’s culture, traditions and way of life is something that endeared her to Indira Gandhi and the Congress party.
"In many ways she was much more Indian than an average Indian woman," recalled a veteran Congress leader who has watched her for long and has been close to the Gandhi family.
Her daughter Priyanka said her mother’s decision was in line with India’s rich culture and tradition and had nothing to do with politics.
"People will not believe that a person can walk away from the post of prime minister," said Rahul, adding "I’m proud of her."
Echoed Jairam Ramesh, who is part of the party’s economic think tank, agrees with Kuldip Nayar: "Sonia Gandhi has now joined the pantheon of renunciates like the Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi with her decision."
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Amitav
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/19/04 at 20:19:36 » |
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Dont worry guys ,if this Receptionist cum one time Maid Servant(in England) could'nt become PM,so what one day her son's Columbian Girl friend (a waitress)will definitely become our PM some time in the future .We will demand a Dinner party from you guys then.
Frankly speaking ,the famous white house intern Monika Lewnisky would have been a much better choice than Sonia Gandhi |
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Feel Good
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/19/04 at 21:09:35 » |
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[quote author=Sumit link=board=0011&num=1082039412&start=15#23 date=05/17/04 at 17:14:06]
I am glad that HRD Minister Murali Manohar Joshi and his deputy Sanjay Paswan lost this election. They tried every harmful experimentation with education system, and tried to manipulate the education system to their evil wishes. It's good for the country that these two are wiped out.
[/quote]
Yes.. The country is saved from clutches of Joshi's evil intent..
Read in newspaper about the celebrations accross IIMs..
also the history books in schools needs to be immidiately corrected, joshi's intent was to brainwash young minds by rewriting the history books with lies and trash that suits his political idelogue. By the way, I wonder why sanjay paswan lost ? so, his ojha's, tantriks and astrologers could not save him ? |
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shakuntala
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/20/04 at 15:36:15 » |
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amitav how come you know that she is waiteress ?r u her colleauge?
let me know the hotel name i will come ..dont worry men if u give me good service i will give u good tip!
[quote author=Amitav link=board=0011&num=1082039412&start=15#29 date=05/19/04 at 20:19:36]
Dont worry guys ,if this Receptionist cum one time Maid Servant(in England) could'nt become PM,so what one day her son's Columbian Girl friend (a waitress)will definitely become our PM some time in the future .We will demand a Dinner party from you guys then.
Frankly speaking ,the famous white house intern Monika Lewnisky would have been a much better choice than Sonia Gandhi
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Amitav
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/21/04 at 17:34:10 » |
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Hi Sakuntala,I was not aware that lot of waiters(like you) visit this site and who may feel very bad if anyone speaks in a negative way about their job .
Howver I would like to clarify that I respect dignity of all jobs ,be it your job in a UK restaurant(like most bangladeshis do in UK) or Rahul Gandhi's girl friend(in Columbia).
Howver as far as rahul's girl friend is concerned,Rahul was forced to clairfy some time back(in Deccan Herald) that his girl friend was not a Waitress but an Architect ,but the funny part is he could not identify the college from where she got her Architecture Qualification.
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shakuntala
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/22/04 at 12:37:39 » |
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amitav:
happy top heard that you respect dignity of all jobs! you know I am /we are very wooried about your future ...well there is a Vacancy , and its reserved for you already ..Swiper to MP Rahul Gandhi !
you may join once you read this message !
[quote author=Amitav link=board=0011&num=1082039412&start=30#32 date=05/21/04 at 17:34:10]
Hi Sakuntala,I was not aware that lot of waiters(like you) visit this site and who may feel very bad if anyone speaks in a negative way about their job .
Howver I would like to clarify that I respect dignity of all jobs ,be it your job in a UK restaurant(like most bangladeshis do in UK) or Rahul Gandhi's girl friend(in Columbia).
Howver as far as rahul's girl friend is concerned,Rahul was forced to clairfy some time back(in Deccan Herald) that his girl friend was not a Waitress but an Architect ,but the funny part is he could not identify the college from where she got her Architecture Qualification.
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Amitav
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/22/04 at 20:28:41 » |
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Hi Shakuntala,
I dont know why are you feeling so lonely in your Dishwasher Job in UK which hundereds of Circumscribed Bangladeshis like you are doing in UK ,if necessary pull some more from your own country .
In case you want to resign from your UK Job and join rahul's gandhi's sweeper job , you are most welcome like most other Bangladeshi Infiltrators doing similar Jobs in Delhi.
No problem,I will sponsor your work permit to India.
In that case you can also dream to be India's PM in future,at least I will vote for you provided you sleep well with Rahul Gandhi and keep him happy.
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shakuntala
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/23/04 at 13:44:17 » |
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amitavjamadar,
100 times i told u i m not dishwasher nor swiper like u and ..who told u i m bangladeshi ...
apart from dishwas u need to wash ur mind too .......well amitav what now ? are you planning to clean all RSS leader ass h o l e ....after election all are suffering from losemotion ..decentrty ! i know ur bjp govt could not arranged water ..dont worry jamadar amitav all bjp feston which u bjp rss used for election , you can use these as a toilet paper for a s s cleaning !
[quote author=Amitav link=board=0011&num=1082039412&start=30#34 date=05/22/04 at 20:28:41]
Hi Shakuntala,
I dont know why are you feeling so lonely in your Dishwasher Job in UK which hundereds of Circumscribed Bangladeshis like you are doing in UK ,if necessary pull some more from your own country .
In case you want to resign from your UK Job and join rahul's gandhi's sweeper job , you are most welcome like most other Bangladeshi Infiltrators doing similar Jobs in Delhi.
No problem,I will sponsor your work permit to India.
In that case you can also dream to be India's PM in future,at least I will vote for you provided you sleep well with Rahul Gandhi and keep him happy.
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Amitav
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/23/04 at 17:39:31 » |
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Mr or Mrs Shakuntala or possibly someone in between.The thing is that if I want I can easily find out who are u
and what whether you are washing the private parts of ladu bhai or Mush Bhai.
The way is I will provoke you to such an extend that you will join Ladu bhai's group ,get caught by US Soilders and then put in Abu Gharib Prison after that I can c your excellent pictures in CNN,BBC .
and the other thing is the words which you say in this topic indicates that you were quite familiar with them right from the time you were preparing to come to this world when I slept with your mother . |
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minister
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/24/04 at 12:34:13 » |
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Brief profiles of those inducted into the Union Council of Ministers: 8)
http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/may/22profiles.htm
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minister
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Re: INDIA VOTES 2004
«on:
05/24/04 at 12:35:22 » |
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Brief profiles of those inducted into the Union Council of Ministers: 8)
http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/may/22profiles.htm
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