PRIYANKA vs MODI ON RAJIV's ISSUE

While campaigning for BJP candidate Smriti Irani in Amethi on Monday, party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi criticised former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi for being arrogant, reminding the public as to how he publicly humiliated former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Tantuguri Anjaiah 32 years ago.

Modi's criticism of the former prime minister drew sharp response from Congress. Priyanka Gandhi, campaigning in Gandhi bastion for brother, Rahul, singled out Modi's reference to her father, Rajiv.

She said Modi's remarks were 'insulting' towards her martyred father on the soil of Amethi. She also called upon the people of Amethi to reply to Modi's comments 'from each of the polling booths'.

"People of Amethi will never forgive them for this act. Workers in Amethi will reply to their low-level politics," she said.

But the question to be asked is did Modi's comments warrant such an extreme reaction from the Congress? Also, did Modi actually 'insult' Rajiv Gandhi?

Modi was actually just relating a true incident. It is well documented that Anjaiah was actually shouted at in 1982 by Rajiv at Hyderabad's Begumpet airport.

Rajiv, who at the time was Congress general secretary, had arrived on a private visit to the state. On seeing a large crowd at the airport, he wondered why there was a gathering of party workers at the airport.

The Andhra chief minister didn't understand the reasons for Rajiv's annoyance and did nothing to clear the crowd. This earned him Rajiv's ire who publicly called him a 'buffoon'.

If the public humiliation was not enough, Anjaiah was later sacked from the party by Indira Gandhi, which proved to be the last straw for Anjaiah, who was unhappy with the way central government was controlling state administration indirectly.

The treatment meted out to the Andhra CM proved costly to Congress as later in 1983, the Telugu Desam Party, led by Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao or NTR won the assembly elections with a thumping majority.

The insult to Anjaiah was cleverly used as an "atmagauravam" (self-respect) plank by NTR to woo voters in Andhra.

VIJAYAMMA vs HARIBABU

All eyes are on the port city Visakhapatnam since YS Vijayamma, who is YSR Congress honorary president as well as widow of the late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, is seeking election to the Lok Sabha from this constituency. She faces Kambhampati Haribabu, president of the Andhra Pradesh unit of BJP, in what would be a straight fight between the two candidates. Expelled Congress MP from Anakapalle and former Mayor of Visakhapatnam Sabbam Hari is contesting on behalf of the Jai Samaikyaandhra Party while the Congress has put up an information technology company head Bolisetti Satyanarayana, who is a political novice. A cosmopolitan city, Visakhapatnam is the largest city in the Seemandhra region and is a predominantly urban constituency with over 16.7 lakh voters. The South, East, North, West segments of Visakhapatnam city, Gajuwaka and Bheemunipatnam (Bheemili) are the urban assembly segments, while Srungavarapu Kota in neighbouring Vizianagaram district is the lone rural segment under Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency. Stalwarts like Tenneti Viswanadham, PVG Raju represented the constituency, while in recent years, the likes of former CM Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy and former Union Minister Daggubati Purandeswari won the seat. Purandeswari won the 2009 election as a Congress candidate, but left the party in March in protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Since there is a lot of euphoria about the electoral prospects of the YSR Congress in Seemandhra, Vijayamma is being considered a "favourite" to trounce Haribabu, who is being supported by the Telugu Desam Party and the newly-formed Jana Sena headed by Chiranjeevi's brother and movie actor Pawan Kalyan.

The hopes of the YSR Congress are pinned solely on the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy's image, while the BJP nominee is banking on the "Modi wave". "YSR had a special interest in the development of Visakhapatnam and had launched many initiatives as Chief Minister. I will carry the process forward," Vijayamma has promised voters. Haribabu, a former professor of engineering in Andhra University, enjoys a good reputation and a clean image, but doesn't enjoy any rapport with the people despite serving as an MLA once. However, he has many plans for Visakhapatnam, which is expected to become a major investment destination in the next five to ten years after bifurcation. "Development of sectors like information technology, tourism and marine industries will be the focus areas. In the next five years, Vizag should become the prime destination for all," Haribabu said. On the other hand, Vijayamma has tried to lure voters by saying that only her son Jaganmohan Reddy, on becoming Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, could carry forward the various welfare schemes initiated by her late husband. On her part, she has promised a railway zone for Visakhapatnam, besides a metro rail project and Rs 3,000 as compensation per family to fishermen who could not venture into the sea due to adverse conditions. Jai Samaikhyandhra Party has fielded Sabbam Hari as its candidate from Visakhapatnam, but he may end up as an "also ran" along with Satyanarayana of the Congress. 

CONFECTIONEERS MAKE ELECTION SPECIAL SWEETS

Politics is getting sweeter in the Kolkata metropolis with confectioners offering election-themed delicacies this poll season. Known for their sweet-tooth, Kolkatans are snapping up 'nirvachani mishti' (election sweets) with shops setting up special counters to sell sweets embossed with party symbols or names 'NaMo', 'RaGa' and 'Didi'. 'NaMo Tea Mousse' named after the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is a hit. Confectioners are also selling a special Bengali dessert 'payesh' and have named it 'Didi', dedicated to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick, the 129-year-old sweetshop at Bhowanipore, has introduced nine uniquely designed sweets like 'sandesh' for the poll season. "We make sweets for every occasion and since this is the general elections, we thought we must have something for patrons of different political parties," shop owner Sudip Mullick told PTI. Crushed rose petals are used to create CPI(M)'s red hammer and sickle symbol and raw mango and orange for Trinamool Congress's flower and grass party symbol. 
The BJP 'sandesh' has strawberry-flavour and a pink lotus, while the Congress depicts a hand. Priced at Rs 115 per piece, these sweets though pinching the pocket, add a special flavour to political discussions by voters and patrons of different political parties. Shopowner Mullick says sales of the 'poll sweets' are encouraging and smaller versions have been introduced to make them more affordable. "Parties and political leaders are buying in bulk, while those who support certain political parties are also buying it to show their support for a leader," he says. For those party supporters willing to send a greetings to their leaders, the shop has created a special 'victory sweet' which has 'Joyee Hao' (be victorious) written on them with cottage cheese. After the elections are over, the confectioners plan to make a large 'sandesh' with the photo of the new prime minister. 

MODI, RAHUL OUTFITS IN GREAT DEMAND

Amid the poll potpourri, the fashion quotient of political leaders like Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi has also caught the attention of people, particularly youth, say designers of West Bengal. According to designer Abhishek Dutta, BJP prime ministerial candidate Modi's trademark cotton and raw-silk half-sleeve kurtas in pastel hues along with cream churidars are favourites among both youth and middle-aged people. "Modi's trademark dress is a huge hit," he said, adding that Rahul's white kurta, white pyjama or blue denims along with sneakers too have attracted youths. Another designer, Sayantan Sarkar, said Modi's dressing style relates to a sense of power -- crisp and clean, yet traditionally Indian, while Rahul's style invokes youth energy. "Right now, kurta pyjama along with linen half-sleeve Nehru coats are in a huge demand among men," he said. Sarkar rates Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as the third most popular among youths in terms of fashion. "His sharply tailored suits show his love for fine dressing. Whether it's well-fitted suits or kurta-pyjamas, Omar Abdullah is one of the most stylish politicians representing young India. There are people who have placed demands for well-fitted suits, like those used by Omar," he said. Sarkar also pointed out that given the tropical, hot climate of the country, linen kurtas and pyjamas are also selling like hot cakes among political activists who are regular at political meetings

Sharbari Dutta, who designs only for youths, feels that politicians need to dress the way their target audience wants them to. "Rahul Gandhi comes from a very renowned family in the country. But when he goes to an adivasi family or village, he has to dress like a common man to reach out to the masses," Dutta told PTI. According to the designers, women like Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Jayalalitha and Mamata Banerjee also have their personal style statements. "Priyanka Gandhi's sense of dressing is a craze among young girls," said Dutta. Sonia Gandhi is generally seen wearing cotton saris during political rallies. Dutta said that whereas Sonia and Priyanka's dressing sense invokes elegance, Mamata's 'tant' cotton saris with plain, thin blue borders and hawai sandals go with her image of representing the common man which she tries to portray in Bengal. Apart from the craze over the dressing of their favourite leaders, people have also shown interest in saris printed with party symbols. Designer duo Mona-Pali, sensing the mood for the demand, arranged a fashion show recently where models showcased various designer saris printed with symbols of various parties, including Congress, BJP, TMC and AAP. "The saris printed with party symbols had a huge response both from viewers and customers," Pali said. Various sari shops in Kolkata have been flooded with orders to get saris printed with symbols of political parties. "We have been receiving huge orders of party symbol printed kurtas and saris. Most of these orders come from supporters of different political parties who generally wear these garments while attending rallies of politicians or on poll day," said Nishikanta Behura, a garment store owner here. 

PURANDESWARI FACING TOUGH FIGHT

A tough battle is in offing for former Union minister and daughter of TDP founder N T Rama Rao, D Purandeswari, in this constituency as she is fighting in an unfamiliar territory of Rayalaseema and is facing Congress veteran A Sai Pratap and the youthful P Mithun Reddy of YSR Congress. Purandeswari belongs to coastal Andhra and the BJP's decision to field her from Rajampet in Rayalaseema came as a surprise. She represented Visakhapatnam seat in Coastal Andhra in the outgoing Lok Sabha and had quit Congress over division of the state and joined BJP ahead of the elections. The decision is attributed to the pre-poll alliance between BJP and TDP, in which the saffron party was allotted four of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Seemandhra. Purandeswari is banking on the legacy of NTR who had once declared himself 'adopted son' of Rayalaseema, and the popularity of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Modi, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and actor-turned- politician Pavan Kalyan who is a star campaigner for NDA in Andhra Pradesh addressed a public meeting at Madanapalle in the constituency last week. Reminding the people of her father's association with Rayalaseema, Purandeswari promised she would work to address the scarcity of water and the developmental needs in the ackward region. 
YSR Congress is believed to have a strong base in the Rayalaseema region. On the other hand, Sai Pratap, the Congress candidate, is a six-time MP from Rajampet. Sai Pratap was expelled from Congress for moving no-confidence motion against the UPA government for its decision to create Telangana state. He sided with former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy who floated the Jai Samaikyandra Party. Pratap, however, returned to Congress later, and is now seeking re-election. He was a close associate of the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, but chose not to join the YSR Congress. With Congress on the backfoot in Seemandhra in the aftermath of bifurcation, Sai Pratap too faces a tough challenge. YSRCP's Mithun Reddy, son of former minister P Ramachandra Reddy, thinks that recent tour of Modi in the constituency has consolidated the sizable minority voters behind his party. Purandeswari could be a tough opponent in coastal Andhra, but not in Rayalaseema, he claims. The Rajampet parliamentary constituency comprises the assembly segments of Rajampet, Kodur, Rayachoti, Thamballapalle, Pileru, Madanapalle and Punganur. 

PHASE VII

CROREPATI CANDIDATES