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AAP seeks to do a Delhi in Goa, Punjab elections

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The Aam Aadmi Party is banking on campaign strategies it used before the Delhi polls, including crowd sourcing manifesto and door-to-door campaigning

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to conduct a door-to-door campaign and draw up its manifesto with public inputs for next year’s assembly elections in Punjab and Goa —strategies that helped it secure a landslide win in the Delhi election last year.

Leading the campaign, Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be travelling to the states over the next fortnight.

The AAP is also planning to contest elections in Gujarat, expected to be held next year, but an official announcement is yet to be made. Kejriwal will be making a two-day visit to that state on 9 and 10 July.

Punjab and Goa will be the first states the party will contest after Delhi, where it won 67 out of 70 assembly seats in the February 2015 elections. The terms of Goa and Punjab assemblies expire in March next year.

“These campaign strategies worked well for us in Delhi. We will be implementing similar plans in other states too,” said a senior AAP leader, who did not wish to be identified.

In the run-up to the Delhi election, the AAP had organized a series of discussions on youth, education and health, among others. The poll campaign, titled Delhi Dialogue, led to the formulation of a 70-point manifesto.

The party has now launched “Bolda Punjab” (Punjab Speaks), a series of discussions focusing on issues affecting the state. So far, it has conducted meetings on farmer issues and youth.

In Goa too a similar campaign has been planned. The party will soon launch the campaign across all 40 constituencies in the state.

“With an agenda of clean governance and anti-corruption, besides other local issues, the initiation of Goem Samvaad (Goa Dialogue) will be a vital exercise for the AAP to involve participation of people to form the manifesto, a first-time effort in Goa’s political history,” read a statement released by AAP in Goa.

The party is also working on building its organization in the two states. While the process is complete in Punjab, the AAP is still setting up various wings in Goa, including for women and youth.

In Punjab, the AAP’s women’s wing has launched “Dastak”, a campaign focusing on unemployment, drug abuse and price rise. As part of this, volunteers will visit homes across all 117 constituencies to garner support in a signature campaign.

“The issues in each state are very different. Our campaigns are being modified to address the needs of specific states,” the AAP leader quoted earlier said.

The party is also keen on showcasing its work in Delhi in the election-bound states.

For funding, the party is planning to launch a mobile application to increase the collection of funds. A similar exercise was undertaken ahead of elections in Delhi to ensure transparency in collection.

Analysts say a replica of the Delhi campaign may not necessarily work. “Delhi-style campaigning may not work in other states. Punjab has its own set of issues. Delhi is neither an agricultural state nor does it have such a strong influence of drugs. The issues are very different,” said Ghanshyam Dev, a political analyst and head of the department of political science at DAV College, Chandigarh.

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Porn video played at Patna Railway Station on TV screens, officials take strict action

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A bizarre occurrence took place on Sunday morning about 9:30 am at the Patna train station in Bihar, when a porn film was broadcast on the station’s TV screens for three minutes. Disgruntled, pople reported the event to the GRP and the RPF.

After reporting the incident to the Government Railway Police and receiving no response, the Railway Protection Force contacted Dutta Communication, the agency responsible for running advertisements on the screens, and asked the agency to stop relaying the porn clip in front of people, including women and children.

The incident, which allegedly occurred on platform number 10, was captured on a passenger’s smartphone.

The railway authorities then filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Dutta Communication, leading to the company’s disqualification from future contracts with the Railways. Moreover, the agency has been fined as a result of the unfortunate occurrence.

There were rumours that the railway company had cancelled its contract with the company responsible for airing adverts on the station’s TVs. The Railway Department, however, has said that they are launching their own investigation into the situation.

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Maharashtra is happy that Balasaheb’ Shiv Sainik has become the CM: Eknath Shinde

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Panaji: Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Friday said that not only his Assembly colleagues but Maharashtra is happy that Balasaheb Thackrey’s Shiv Sainik has become Chief Minister of the State.

Supported by BJP, Shinde on Thursday took oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra after enjoying support of breakway section of Shiv Sena MLAs and other Independents.

The chief minister after taking the oath in Mumbai came back to Goa during the midnight to meet his colleagues who had supported him to rebel against outgoing CM Uddhav Thackrey.

Talking to reporters at Goa Airport, Shinde said that Maharashtra could see this day because of his 40 plus 10, total 50 MLAs.

“My colleagues (MLAs) and entire Maharashtra is  happy that Balasaheb Thackrey’s Shiv Sainik has become the chief minister of the state,” he commented.

The chief minister said that the government will do the works that are expected from them by the people from Maharashtra.

Shinde said that his government will work to deliver justice to every section of the society.

“We will also take ahead vision of Balasaheb Thackrey,” he commented.

When asked about the cabinet expansion, Shinde said that the future strategy would be discussed in the meeting with the colleagues.

Shinde along with his supporting MLAs had arrived in Goa on Wednesday night. On Thursday afternoon, Shinde had left for Mumbai.

In a series of political developments that unfolded in Mumbai, Shinde was sworn-in as the chief minister even as BJP leader Devendra Fadanavis took oath as the Deputy Chief minister of Maharashtra.

His swearing-in was celebrated by Shiv Sena MLAs who continued to remain in a resort at Dona Paula in Goa.

After landing at Dabolim Airport, Shinde went to the resort, located 30 kms away from the Airport, where the MLAs supporting him were waiting to welcome him. (GoaNewsHub)

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PM dedicates to the nationl electrified route network of KRCL

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Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated to the nation the electrified route network of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited in virtual mode from Bengaluru. Union minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, State Public Works Department Minister Nilesh Cabral and others were present for the function at Margao Railway station. The Prime Minister inaugurated the electrified route. A cargo train was the first one to run on the electrified route from Margao Railway Station. A senior KRCL official said that on the Southern end of KRCL jurisdiction, Railway Electrification of Mangalore- Shoranur section is completed. “On the Northern end, Railway Electrification of Panvel-Pen-Roha section, a short stretch of 75.86 KM, is also completed. Further, Railway Electrification of Hospet-Hubli-Vasco-da-Gama section of South Western Railway is under progress,” he said.

The official said that in such a scenario, Railway Electrification of KRCL portion of the route had become necessary for seamless train operations over the entire west coast connecting North, Central and Southern India on electric traction. He said that Konkan Railway passes through dense forest cover of Sahayadri hills along the Western Coastal Strip. “This region is endowed with rich natural beauty and mineral resources. Electrification of Konkan Railway route will not only prove to be a major step in conserving its rich natural heritage and flora and fauna of the region but also help in its economic development,” he added. The official said that the electrification project was taken up with a cost of Rs 1100 Cr on 20 per cent Equity and 80 per cent Debt. “The Equity portion of Rs 200 Cr was funded promptly by the shareholders of KRCL i.e Ministry of Railways, Govt. of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. The remaining amount of Rs 900 Cr was arranged through Long Term Rupee loan from a consortium of lenders consisting of State Bank of India and EXIM Bank,” he said.

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