0815 HRS.

9^th November, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Campaigning for the first phase of Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh ends this evening; Filing of nominations for Delhi Assembly to begin today with the issue of notification.

• India and Kuwait sign five pacts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in culture and education.

• New Delhi yet to take a decision on Prime Minister's participation in CHOGM, says External Affairs Minister.

• Voting for Presidential Polls begins in Maldives.

• India beat West Indies by an innings and 51 runs in the first cricket test at Kolkata.

• Indian women take on Japan in final of Asian Champions Trophy Hockey today.

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Electioneering in Chhattisgarh has gained momentum, as campaigning for the first phase of Assembly elections in the state ends today. 18 constituencies will go to the polls in the this phase on Monday. Out of the 18, 12 constituencies are in the Maoist-affected tribal Bastar region, while 6 are in Rajnandgaon division. Today, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is scheduled to address a Congress worker's convention in Raipur. In the second phase, 72 constituencies will go to the polls on the 19th of this month.

"Located in south Chhattisgarh, Aboojhmarh is spread over in an area of 4000 square kilometers. This Maoist affected forest area have 237 villages with an electorate of about 15,000. But none of the candidates or political workers visited these villages to seek support. Its the administration which made an announcement about November 11 polling through munadi or trumpeting in these villages. To reach some of the Aboojhmarh's 26 polling stations, voters will have to walk a distance of 10 to 40 kilometres to exercise their franchise. Vikalp Shukla, AIR News, Raipur."

The notification to the Delhi Assembly Polls will be issued today. With this, the process of the filing nominations by the candidates will begin.

"After the issuance of notifications, candidates can file their nominations by 16th of this month. The date of scrutiny is 18th and concerned candidates can withdraw their candidature by 20th. Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi is fully geared up to deal with the rush of nomination filing. To ensure free and fair election in Delhi, the office is keeping a close watch on the violators of Code of Conduct. So far, 338 FIRs have been lodged against various political parties for violation of the Code of Conduct. The election to the 70-Member Assembly will be held on 4th of December. With Anand Kumar, this is V. RAVI KUMAR, AIR News, Delhi."

Delhi Election Office has directed all mobile service providers to stop political bulk SMS services 48 hours before the polls.

Scrutiny of nominations for the Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram polls will take place today. The last date for withdrawal of nomination in both the states is Monday, with polls scheduled for 25th. In Madhya Pradesh, 2,886 nomination papers were filed on the last day of nominations yesterday. A total of 4,887 nominations have been filed in the state for 230 assembly segments.

In Rajasthan, 243 candidates have, so far, filed their nominations for the 1st December assembly polls. 152 candidates filed nomination papers yesterday. 12th November is the last date of filing of nomination. Ministers Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya, Mangilal Garasia and Manju Meghwal of Congress and Rajendra Rathor, Radheshyam Ganganagar and Devisingh Bhati of BJP are the prominent names who filed nomination papers yesterday. Our correspondent reports that both BJP and Congress are facing challenge from rebel candidates.

After releasing mega list of 176 candidates BJP is facing protest of party workers at more than 25 places. In Jaipur also party had to change its entry system at State headquarter where protest is continuing since last 3 days. 5 BJP MLAs who were dropped have joined National Peoples Party so far. In congress also MLA Ramswaroop Kasana filed nomination papers as independent candidate from Kotputli, Congress candidates are facing protest at Sawai Madhopur, Sriganganagar and Sadulshar. Anurag Vajpeyi, AIR News, Jaipur."

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has notified the period between 11th of this month and 4th the December, in which conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicising it in print or electronic media in the poll-bound and bypoll-bound states is prohibited. Besides the upcoming elections in five states bypolls will also be held in Assemblies of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Notification for Assembly byelections in Yercaud Constituency of Tamil Nadu will be issued today. The by-election will be held on the 4th of next month.

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Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda has said that the state would not go for assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha polls. He said this while interacting with media personnel at his residence in Chandigarh yesterday. The Chief Minister also said that the state government will complete its term till October 2014.

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India and Kuwait have agreed to expand cooperation in key areas including energy and investment. The two countries reaffirmed that close relations between them are important to tap vast untapped potential. After holding delegation level talks with the visiting Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al- Hamad Al- Sabah, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that India has offered Kuwait attractive investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector.

"India offers attractive investment opportunities for Kuwait in the infrastructure sector. Our two sides will undertake discussion on specific proposals and appropriate investment vehicles for channeling Kuwaiti investments in India. A delegation of the Kuwait Investment Authority is expected to make an early visit to India in this regard."

Our correspondent reports that the two sides also signed five documents including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, cooperation in the field of sports and youth affairs and exchange of cultural and information programmes, besides cooperation in the field of education.

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New Delhi is yet to take a decision on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's participation in the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, CHOGM in Colombo. Talking to AIR, External Affairs Minister Salman Khursid said that the decision will be taken at an appropriate time. However, media reports said, Dr. Singh is unlikely to attend the summit.

The Congress Core Group met in New Delhi yesterday, under the leadership of Party President Sonia Gandhi. The meeting took place in the back drop of political parties and various groups in Tamil Nadu strongly opposed to India's participation in the CHOGM summit.

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Voting for the much delayed Presidential elections in the Maldives started a short while ago, amidst tight security. 470 polling stations have been set up on 192 islands and 41 resort islands, where about 2 lakh 39 thousand voters are expected to exercise their franchise. Votes will also be cast today by Maldivians citizens in Delhi, Trivandrum, London, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Counting will begin this evening and provisional results are expected late tonight.

"After two aborted efforts, there seems to be a political consensus that a new President needs to be elected before Monday, when the term of the current Presidency ends. Voting began at 7 this morning to decide between the three candidates - Mohamed Nasheed, Abdulla Yameen and Gasim Ibrahim. Though Nasheed has the popular support, it remains to be seen whether he can seal his victory today with over 50 percent votes. If that is not the case, a runoff vote will be held tomorrow. Elections observation teams from the Commonwealth, UN, EU and countries including India and Japan are present in the country. ABHISHEK DAYAL AIR NEWS."

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The cold wave has further intensified in Himachal Pradesh. Snowfall continues at several places in tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and remote Bharmour and Pangi area of Chamba district, while some parts including capital Shimla were lashed by rains.

"In Lahaul valley people were facing shortage of petrol and diesel as the area has been cut off by road connectivity after more than three feet of snowfall on Rohtang Pass. Although the Border Roads Organization men were trying to clear the snow but continuous snowfall has hampered their operation. The district authorities have appealed people to drive their vehicles carefully as the interior roads have become slippery after frequent spell of snowfall in the district. Shishu Sharma Shantal, AIR News, Shimla."

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The four-day long festival of Chhath Puja concluded this morning, with the worship of rising Sun. In Patna, thousands of devotees gathered at the Ganga ghat early this morning and gave Arghya to the rising sun. Our correspondent reports that a number of devotees gave Pahla Arghya to the setting sun on the Ghats last evening.

"From early morning people started rushing to the river banks, ponds and other water bodies and offered Arghya to the rising sun. With traditional Thekua Prasad distribution the Puja process ended with lots of enthusiasm and also the long fast of devotees for 36 hours ended. Administration had made all arrangements for cleanness and peace for devotees on the occasion of Chhath Puja. The puja began on Wednesday with ritual of Nahi-khai in which devotee’s prepared traditional food Lauki-Bhat after taking bath. Diwakar kumar, AIR News Patna."

In Delhi, devotees in large numbers gathered at the bank of Yamuna river early this morning to offer prayers to the sun. Our correspondent reports that 72 ghats were set up in various parts of the city for the festival.

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India defeated the West Indies by an innings and 51 runs in the first test at Kolkata, to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the 2-match series. Resuming the third day yesterday at the overnight score of 354 for 6, the hosts posted 453, in reply to West Indies' first innings score of 234. Debutant Rohit Sharma scored a brilliant 177, ably supported by R. Ashwin who scored 124. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar made 10. Trailing by 219 runs in the second innings, the West Indies were dismissed for 168. Paceman Mohammed Shami, who bagged 4 wickets in the first innings, took 5 in the second. Ashwin scalped 3 wickets. Rohit Sharma was adjudged man of the match.

The second Test, which will be Tendulkar's last international match, will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from the 14th of this month

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The Indian Women's team will lock horns with hosts Japan in the title clash of the Asian Champions Trophy Hockey tournament at Kakamigahara today. The match will begin at 11:30 AM Indian Time. Both teams had met on Thursday in their final round-robin match, with Japan emerging victorious, beating Ritu Rani-led India by 2 goals to 1.

Meanwhile, in the Men's section, India defeated Malaysia, 5-4 in their final round-robin match yesterday. Manpreet Singh-led India will take on Oman in the 5th-6th position game tomorrow.

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

• The Centre to challenge the high court verdict on formation of the CBI is the lead in most newspapers 'If CBI is illegal, why try us?' is the Hindustan Times headline, this question being asked by 2G accused A Raja and 1984 riots accused Sajjan Kumar.

• The Hindu and Mail Today have a picture of Saurav Ganguly hugging Sachin Tendulkar, as he played his last match at Eden gardens Kolkata 'Legend going, new stars glitter' writes the Times of India, referring to Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami. The Tribune and the Asian Age have a picture of debutant Shami celebrating, as he took 9 wickets in the match, which helped India beat the West Indies.

• Pressure mounting on the Prime Minister to skip the CHOGM meet in Sri Lanka is covered by most dailies. 'Congress fears CHOGM visit will damage DMK ties' writes the Indian Express.

• The sports page of many newspapers have reported about the match between World No 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway and 5 time world champion Viswanathan Anand, which is scheduled for today. 'Check this out mate, Anand takes on Carlsen today' says the Economic Times.

• Its all in the family, apparently as far as recommendations for Padma awards goes. Accessed through an RTI, the list of people who suggested names for the 2013 awards has been revealed. The Times of India, on its front page, writes that sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan named his sons, Lata Mangeshkar nominated her sister and Amar Singh, his confidant Jaya Prada for the honour.

• Have you persevered your old copies of Amar Chitra Katha and Indrajal comics, which you brought for 60 paise in the sixties ? Well, if you have, you just got lucky ! You could sell each of them for 70,000 Rupees, as they have become collectors items writes the Economic Times on its front page.