Campaigning in the 2014 Indian general election: Difference between revisions

The digital version release of AIADMK leader Jayalalitha starrer movie [[Aayirathil Oruvan (1965 film)|Aayirathil Oruvan]] during the campaign came in trouble following the issue of the model code of conduct by the ECI.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/regional/jayalalithaa-s-film-opens-again-hoodwinks-model-code-of-conduct/article1-1194470.aspx | title=With elections around, Jayalalithaa puts up a film show | work=Hindustan Times | date=13 March 2014 | accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref> It then ordered local authorities in Tamil Nadu's southern districts to remove film posters showing Jayalalitha and AIADMK founder M. G. Ramachandran.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/391886/ec-orders-removal-mgr-jaya.html | title=EC orders removal of MGR-Jaya posters | work=Deccan Herald | date=13 March 2014 | accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref>

ON 30 July 2013, the Congress Working Committee unanimously passed a resolution for the creation of Telangana. It formally requested the INC-led UPA government to make steps in accordance with the [[Constitution of India]] for the bifurcation of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and the creation of [[Telangana]]. This was seen as an attempt by the INC to merge the [[Telangana Rashtra Samiti]] into itself for the general and provincial election after being marginalised in the Rayalseema and coastal regions by the YSR Congress. All-India Congress Committee general secretary for Andhra Pradesh [[Digvijaya Singh (politician)|Digvijay Singh]] said that TRS leader [[K. Chandrashekhar Rao]] had "repeatedly said that once Telangana was announced, he would merge his party with the Congress. We will await his decision and will be favourably inclined to accept the offer of a merger."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-telangana-demand-met-congress-eyes-merger-with-trs/20130731.htm |title=Telangana demand met, Congress eyes merger with TRS |publisher=Rediff.com |date= |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> TRS welcomed the decision, with Rao saying that his party was fine with Hyderabad being the joint capital for 10 years;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hyderabad-joint-capital-as-ap-to-be-split-into-telangana-seemandhra/410704-62-127.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802102818/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hyderabad-joint-capital-as-ap-to-be-split-into-telangana-seemandhra/410704-62-127.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2013 |title=Hyderabad joint capital as AP to be split into Telangana, Seemandhra |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=9 December 1946 |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> [[Ongole]] was then suggested as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Ongole-the-capital-of-reconstituted-Andhra-Pradesh/Article1-1100877.aspx |title=Ongole, the capital of reconstituted Andhra Pradesh? |publisher=Hindustan Times |date= |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> YSR Congress party leader Jaganmohan Reddy said that he opposed the decision and would agitate against it,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ysr-congress-terms-telangana-decision-undemocratic-threatens-protest/1/297161.html |title=YSR Congress terms Telangana decision undemocratic, threatens protest : Telangana |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date= |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> as all its MLAs resigned over the issue.<ref>{{cite web|author=F wire |url=http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/ysr-congress-seeks-to-cash-in-on-united-andhra-sentiment-andhra-newsletter-991393.html |title=YSR Congress seeks to cash in on 'united Andhra' sentiment |publisher=Firstpost |date= |accessdate=25 February 2014}}</ref> However, former party member Konda Surekha attacked the party and its leader saying that he had backtracked on plenary party meeting supporting the issue.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Jagan-destroyed-YSR-Congress-went-back-on-his-words-on-Telangana-issue-Konda-Surekha/articleshow/21472652.cms |title=Jagan destroyed YSR Congress, went back on his words on Telangana issue: Konda Surekha |language=fr|publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=1 January 1970 |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> Andhra Pradesh BJP president G. Kishan Reddy gave credit for the move to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in saying that the INC took active interest in the issue after Modi had announced a tour to Hyderabad for 11 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianage.com/india/andhra-pradesh-bjp-gives-telangana-credit-modi-276 |title=Andhra Pradesh BJP gives Telangana credit to Modi |publisher=The Asian Age |date= |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> The BJP national spokesperson [[Prakash Javadekar]] suggested that the INC move was under pressure and "that's why we will watch carefully and see whether the intention again to backstab or to really give Telangana, and will watch till Telangana is formed."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/bjp-to-monitor-carefully-upa%e2%80%99s-intention-on-telangana |title=BJP to monitor carefully UPA's intention on Telangana |publisher=News.in.msn.com |date=31 December 1999 |accessdate=31 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801184416/http://news.in.msn.com/national/bjp-to-monitor-carefully-upa%E2%80%99s-intention-on-telangana |archive-date=1 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He added that the BJP supports the creation of "Telangana and Vidarbha's demand. [The] announcement is the victory of the people of Telangana. BJP has always been in favour of Telangana. Congress promised it in 2004 but dilly-dallied for nine years. It has been a story of the struggle of the people of Telangana and nine years of betrayal by the Congress. The NDA's agenda in 1999 promised creation of three states, and it was honoured. The Congress, in contrast, made a promise in 2004 but betrayed people for nine years." BJP national President Rajnath Singh re-iterated support and added, in regards to requests for the creation of Gorkhaland and [[Bodoland]], "We were in favour of the Second States Reorganisation Commission earlier too. We now demand that the government should set it up and seek a report within a specific timeframe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/telangana-now-set-up-commission-for-other-states-says-bjp/1148814 |title=Telangana: Now set up commission for other states, says BJP |publisher=Financialexpress.com |date=12 June 2012 |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> The [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] also reacted in announcing an indefinite strike in calling for Gorkhaland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/telangana-gjm-ratchets-gorkhaland-demand-174805877.html?.tsrc=inucbr |title=After Telangana, GJM ratchets up Gorkhaland demand |publisher=In.news.yahoo.com |accessdate=31 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022010435/http://in.news.yahoo.com/telangana-gjm-ratchets-gorkhaland-demand-174805877.html?.tsrc=inucbr |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meanwhile, the national Home Ministry said that due to the lack of development in the proposed areas and the proximity to other hotbeds in [[Chhattisgarh]]'s [[Bastar district|Bastar]] and [[Maharashtra]]'s [[Gadchiroli]] regions it could turn into a hotbed for the activities of the banned [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] if the administration is not quickly consolidated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/telangana-may-witness-spurt-in-naxalism-home-ministry/410696-62-127.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802124636/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/telangana-may-witness-spurt-in-naxalism-home-ministry/410696-62-127.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2013 |title=Telangana may witness spurt in Naxalism: Home Ministry |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date= |accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref> In February, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh [[Kiran Kumar Reddy]] resigned over the proposal to partition the region and launched a [[Samaikyandhra]] political party.