Manmohan Singh’s stepbrother Daljit Kohli joins BJP, PM’s family ‘shocked’

                    

PMO sources said Manmohan Singh's family was "shocked" at the development. "His intentions are not known but he is free to pursue his political career," they said, adding the Prime Minister and Kohli have not been keeping in touch since long. 

The sources said Manmohan Singh is the only son and has six sisters. Daljit Singh is a stepbrother of the Prime Minister. Manmohan Singh's mother died at an early age.

AMRITSAR: Daljeet Singh Kohli, the stepbrother of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, joined the BJP on Friday at a public rally in the presence of Narendra Modi and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal here. 

Welcoming him into the party-fold, Modi said he will further strengthen the party. 

"Today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's brother Daljit Singh has joined BJP. This will further strengthen us. We are not a party which talks of membership but one which forms relations," Modi said. Kohli, a local businessman, was welcomed by Badal and BJP's candidate from Amritsar Arun Jaitley. 

The Most Popular Game Played By Politicians

What is the most popular game played by Politicians?
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MUSICAL CHAIR

Soch Samajh Kar Naa Kee Jisne Shaadi

Sabhi Shaadi Shuda Bhai Logo Ke Liye…

Arz Kiya Hai Ki

Soch Samajh Kar Naa Kee Jisne Shaadi, Saara Jeevan Bigad Liya

wah wah…

Soch Samajh Kar Naa Kee Jisne Shaadi, Saara Jeevan Bigad Liya

Aur Soojh Boojh Se Kee Jisne, Usne bhi Kya Ukhad Liya!! 

Priyanka Gandhi attacks Narendra Modi for giving away land to 'friends'

Campaigning for her mother - Congress president Sonia Gandhi - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday launched a scathing attack on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his "Gujarat model", saying people knew that he gave away land to his "friends" at cheap rates.

Priyanka, who in her recent public addresses had defended her husband Robert Vadra over his firms' shady land deals, trained the gun on Modi over the politically sensitive issue of land allotment.Priyanka Vadra assumes a larger poll role 

Speaking at a public meeting in Kudwal area of Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka said, "When you (Modi) address people, tell them what you will do for them. Don't teach them English alphabets like RSVP, ABCD... You are not teaching in a school, you are addressing the nation, tell them what you will do and how."

"If you want to convince people then tell them what you have done for farmers under the Gujarat model," she said accusing the Gujarat chief minister of giving away land to selected industrialists terming them as his "friends" at throwaway prices.

She said people understood when political parties made attempts to fool them and also claimed that labourers in Gujarat were the least paid. Manmohan Singh is super PM, says Priyanka Gandhi 

On Wednesday Priyanka had attacked Modi raking up the snooping controversy surrounding him and said leaders who indulge in wrong acts against women should be kicked out.

Priyanka is the star campaigner for her mother and elder brother Rahul Gandhi, the Congress vice-president contesting from Amethi constituency.

Disapprove irresponsible statements: Modi

   
  


BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Tuesday expressed his disapproval over "irresponsible" statements being made by those claiming to be the party's well wishers.

"I disapprove any such irresponsible statement & appeal to those making them to kindly refrain from doing so," Modi tweeted.

The leader's reaction comes after VHP leader Pravin Togadia and party leader Giriraj Singh's reported hate speeches.

Modi said that with great happiness, the entire nation is looking towards the Bharatiya Janata Party for going to people solely on the issues of good governance and development.

"Petty statements by those claiming to be BJP's well wishers are deviating the campaign from the issues of development & good governance," he wrote without naming the leaders.

Togadia, who reportedly said Muslims should be thrown out of Hindu areas, had Monday triggered a controversy.

Party leader Giriraj Singh, during an election rally in Deogarh, Jharkhand, had last week said those opposing Modi are looking at Pakistan, and such people will have no place in India but in Pakistan.

DO ‘IN-HOUSE SEOS’ WORK IN MORE PRESSURE?

Thanks to the pressure and excitement of work at office,blogging has become a distant dream for me, these days. Political cartoons just do not click my brains anymore.At least,as of now. However,my job profile requires me to remain connected with the Digital Marketing World and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an integral part of the same and thought to share a toon on the same.

It happened so that while exchanging wisdom and knowledge with one of the in-house SEO professional of a mid-size company, I came to know the kind of pressure these in-house SEOs deal with trying to promote their brands online.Got to know how these SEOs are expected to be superheroes who are given the target to promote company brands online in real tiny budget. While companies in India (the small and mid-sized)still allocate a big budget for traditional marketing channels(which is obvious),they are always hesitant investing in online marketing channels. Thought, why not share it with my counted yet very lovely and inspiring readers :) . Hence thiscartoon.Hope it connects. :)

Also I would love to share this article which nicely explains the pros and cons of hiring an  ‘In-House SEO professional’ and an ‘SEO Agency’, for those who might be interested in knowing more about an in-house seo.

KEJRIWAL RESIGNS AS DELHI CM OVER LOKPAL

49 days of governance by the the newly born political party AAP is all over the news channels. Some criticizing the party and the supremo,Arvind Kejriwal,for resigning suddenly and some claiming this very step a game-changer in the upcoming General Elections. Both the BJP and Congress stood tall against the Jan Lokpal Bill even being introduced in the House.This gave AAP a major reason to surrender the governance of the Union Territory,Jan Lokpal being one of AAP’s major agendas. In the past,Kejriwal had promised Lokpal in 10 days if elected.

Is Kejriwal playing real smart politics or is he taking random decisions,remains a mystery,so far.

MODI KILLS OR BUYS OPPONENTS SAYS KEJRIWAL

After Arvind Kejriwal made a statement on BJP PM candidate, Narendra Modi, that he either kills or buys his opponents ,the BJP has complained about the same remark to the Election Commission.

Its no secret that for the 2014 General Elections , Kejriwal has defeated all other opponents of Modi to stand out as the biggest hurdle in between Modi and the PM’s chair. Following Kejriwal’s claim on Modi-killing Kejriwal is not possible for Modi.What next ?? Second Option ?  :D

RAJAT SHARMA EXPOSES KEJRIWAL AFTER ‘MEDIA IS PAID’ COMMENT

India TV chairman , Rajat Sharma, responded strongly after Arvind Kejriwal  alleged most of the media was “sold” and such media people  would be jailed if AAP comes to power, at a fundraising dinner with businessmen in Nagpur. In his show ‘Aaj ki Baat’ he lashed out at Arvind Kejriwal accusing him of keeping double standards. This happened after the AAP party in its press conference named India Tv as one of the sold media and then denied stating they wanted to mean some other news channel.

POLITICS NOT A CHILD’S PLAY ?

Launching attack on newly formed political party AAP , Sonia Gandhi,the Congress President,in a rally said AAP thought running a government was a child’s play but ran away from Delhi.

While AAP could easily retain its Delhi governance it chose to sight a reason of leaving the govt and did the same in 49 days. They were keen to pay attention towards 2014 General Elections. While the AAP came to power requesting people to SMS and suggest them whether they should make the Govt or not in Delhi.They never bothered asking the same public as to should they quit the Delhi governance and try their luck in General Elections.

Is AAP really taking politics as a child’s play ?? Or is it that it was a well thought move to attempt Centre Politics leaving Delhi Arvind Kejriwal knew its ‘Now or Never’ if he wishes to make it real big in politics.

2014 INDIAN POLITICAL KABADDI

For those who may not be aware of Kabaddi,it is one of the ethnic and old games played in India and neighbouring countries, the name of which originates from Tamil word- ‘ Kai-pidi’ meaning ‘Hold Hands’ .

The 2014 General Elections,in a nutshell,is Modi vs All.From small state level parties to big national level , all seem to be stopping this one man from being the Prime Minister of India 2014. Few are also from within his team. Others are maintaining silence to see the results before reacting and taking decisions.

After all, there are many silent contenders who wish to get the top job,few are known to all and few are waiting for the right opportunity. Almost all the parties are playing to stop Modi , be it newly formed AAP or  formed since pre-Independence, Congress.

Regardless of the results of 2014 General Elections,Modi has surely emerged as the only extraordinary Indian politician for who citizens of the nation seem to have divided  into two groups  - Pro-Modi and Anti-Modi.

In Varanasi, BJP offers security to Arvind Kejriwal

After Aam Aadmi Party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being behind attacks on party chief Arvind Kejriwal, BJP on Friday hit back, saying politics in India cannot be fought with theatrics and offered security for the AAP leader.



"Politics in India is not a film script and real issues of India will not be solved by theatrics," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said on AAP's accusations about BJP being behind protests against Kejriwal.

Another senior BJP leader Sunil Oza, a former MLA from Gujarat, said people of Varanasi would never indulge in activities like throwing eggs on anyone.

"If Kejriwal is worried about his security, we can provide that through our karyakartas (workers)," Oza said.

Kejriwal, who is fighting Lok Sabha polls from here against Modi, faced a barrage of stones and brickbats thrown at him by over a dozen youth shouting "Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi" slogans near the Banaras Hindu University campus on Thursday evening.

He faced further protests on Friday, after which AAP accused BJP of being behind these protests and has also sought action by the Election Commission.

BJP has however distanced itself from any such protests and said that it was not at all worried about Kejriwal in these elections, as he was a "mere distraction".

Oza said BJP has been repeatedly appealing to the people of the city to restrain themselves and if Kejriwal is not being welcomed by people here spontaneously, he should seek police protection.

"We are open to providing him our own workers to help him with his security, if he desires so," the leader said.



Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/in-varanasi-bjp-offers-security-to-arvind-kejriwal/1/356475.html

BJP does a quick deal with TDP, prevents alliance breakdown.

The BJP has agreed to surrender five Assembly constituencies earlier allotted to it by the Telugu Desam Party.

This means the saffron party will contest only nine out of 175 Assembly seats in Seemandhra as per the provisions of a pre-poll alliance with the TDP.

According to sources, the BJP will contest five Lok Sabha seats in Seemandhra.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar held a three-hour-long meeting with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu to solve the stalemate over seat sharing for the Assembly elections which are simultaneously being held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

"Alliance is there. There is no issue," Javadekar said after coming out of the meeting.

However, Naidu refused to comment anything and left for Krishna district to campaign.

It may be recalled that TDP chief  Chandrababu Naidu expressed serious displeasure over the choice of candidates by the BJP in certain Assembly constituencies allotted to it.

"If they put up such weak candidates, it will only benefit the rival parties and weaken the alliance. It will also impact our prospects in the Lok Sabha elections," Chandrababu said in election meetings in Vizianagaram district of the state on Thursday.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/chandrababu-naidu-tdp-bjp-alliance-seemandhra-telangana-prakash-javadekar/1/356458.html

Modi declares himself as married man

   

    

 BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi here today in an affidavit filed before the Election Commission showed himself as a married man revealing that his wife’s name is Jashodaben.

In an affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers filed today for Vadodara Lok Sabha seat, Modi for the first time stated that he is married.

So far, Modi used to leave the column of spouse which is to be filled in an affidavit as blank. He had kept the column as blank in 2012 Assembly elections as well.  

However, for the 2014 Lok Sabha election affidavit, in the column where he has to declare assets in the name of his wife, Modi has written that he has no information on it.  

Though he had filed the nomination papers this morning, the Vadodara district election authority put the affidavit on the display board of the Collectorate at midnight.  

The affidavit has not been uploaded on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat till late in the night.  

Earlier, Congress had said that Modi should come clean on his marital status while filing nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Vadodara LS seat which has been chosen by Modi from 26 constituencies of Gujarat is considered to be one of the safest seat.

Modi is also contesting election from Varanasi where he is challenging Aam Aadmi Party candidate Arvind Kejriwal and Congress’ local MLA Ajay Rai.

Priyanka, Robert Vadra vote

   

Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and her husband Robert Vadra voted here Thursday in the Lok Sabha election.

Priyanka was casually dressed in a brown kurta, with a white salwar, while Vadra wore pink trousers with a black blazer, which instantly started trending on twitter.

Someone tweeted: "Robert Vadra goes to vote in pink pants! Where is the fashion police?"

The couple, who voted at Lodhi Road in the New Delhi constituency, flashed their inked fingers to the media.

"There is no Modi wave," Priyanka Gandhi said after casting her vote.

She also said that she will campaign only in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the constituencies of mother Sonia Gandhi and her brother and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

There is no Modi wave, it's only in media: Lovely

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely today claimed that the ‘Modi wave’ that everyone seems to be talking about was “not there at all” and it existed only in media.

“There is no ‘Modi wave’ you keep asking me about, it all exists just in newspapers and media,” Lovely told reporters after casting his vote in East Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha polls here.

A total of 150 candidates are in the fray for the high-stake seven constituencies in the national capital, which today recorded an impressive 64 per cent polling in the battle, where BJP appeared to be riding a ‘Modi wave’ against challenge from fledgling AAP and a struggling Congress.  

A total of 1.27 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise which include over 3.37 lakh first-timers.  Asked about the post-poll fortunes for Congress in the capital, Lovely expressed confidence in “regaining the lost ground” since last Delhi Assembly polls.  “All our seven candidates have worked in the right fashion in preparation for the polls. And, we are more than compensating for the lost ground in this elections. We will retain all seven seats here,” he said.

A Starting XI of the Strongest Players in World Football

Some of the strongest players in world football are in the following slideshow. The players mentioned in this XI are there based on attributes such as weight, strength and power. 



Strength has always been a vital part of football, especially in the modern day game, but what would a squad look like if it contained a bunch of players who's weight combined reached a total of 969k (153 stone)

Here is that very team. Warning, this article may contain several beasts.

Summer of discontent: Congress' strategy of fielding sitting MPs is unlikely to offer dividends in the citadel of citizen outrage

It is 11 a.m. and Kapil Sibal's padyatra is winding its way through the congested lanes of old Delhi's Ballimaran. Shops have just opened in the area renowned as the home of poet Mirza Ghalib. Sibal, a sort-of poet himself, waves at the people peering through tiny windows in rickety buildings and standing on wooden balconies. But today is not the time for poetry. Sibal stops to deliver an emotional pitch. "I have always stood for victims of Gujarat riots and I have taken on Modi. We came here from Pakistan and I worked hard to reach where I am today. No one can accuse me of taking even a single penny," he says.

Sibal, the Union minister for law and justice and communications and IT, is fighting to retain Chandni Chowk, a seat he has won twice since 2004. It is here that the Capital's fiercest electoral battle will be fought on April 10. "The minorities realise that he is not corrupt. Besides, he always helps those who go to him," says Mohammad Naushad, a local resident who is a Youth Congress leader. There is, however, a discontent against Sibal which his challengers, BJP's Harsh Vardhan and Aam Aadmi Party's Ashutosh, hope to cash in on. "People are fed up of corruption and false promises," says Ashutosh. "They are looking for an alternative. I am the only candidate getting support from all the communities."

Harsh Vardhan, who led BJP's unsuccessful bid for power in the 2013 Assembly elections, realises the significance of the community both his rivals are wooing: Muslims make up 14 per cent of voters in this constituency. He launched his campaign from the house he was born in in Muslim-dominated Fatak Teliyan at Turkman Gate. "I am the only native. Everyone else is an outsider," he tells voters.

Chandni Chowk is a microcosm of Delhi's Lok Sabha 2014 elections. The Capital, which has over 10 million voters, is poised to witness seven triangular contests as AAP seems determined to repeat its success of last December's Assembly polls, notwithstanding the fact that it may have lost some of its middle-class support following the public shenanigans of its short-lived government. Residents of Masjid Moth, a middle-class locality in South Delhi, say they regret voting for AAP in 2013. "AAP has completely let us down," says Pavan Khetarpal, 46, a chartered accountant. "This time, we will vote for Modi." This loss for AAP, which emerged as a direct result of citizen outrage in the Capital, may, however, be compensated by its dent in Congress's traditional vote share among slum dwellers, labourers and minorities. That explains why the party has augmented its anti-corruption rhetoric by positioning itself against Modi. This tactic, it hopes, will bring Muslim votes. Members of the minority community say they will vote for whoever they feel is best positioned to defeat BJP. "Wait for some time," says Muzaheed Ali, 28, a street vendor near Ghalib's house in Chandni Chowk. "We will decide only at the last moment."

The divided vote suits BJP. The India Today Group-Cicero opinion poll predicts a BJP wave in the Capital. The party is set to get 41 per cent votes, which would be between five seats and a possible repeat of its clean sweep in 1999. No less than 44 per cent voters surveyed said they wanted Modi as prime minister as against 24 per cent for Kejriwal and 19 per cent for Rahul Gandhi. Improving BJP's prospects will be the fresh faces it has fielded; it has repeated only one candidate, Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi, from the last Lok Sabha elections. And, like all other parties, BJP hasn't ignored caste considerations, which will be at the heart of calculations in all constituencies except New Delhi and East Delhi. In Chandni Chowk, where Bania and Punjabi traders are 35 per cent of the electorate, BJP fielded a Bania in Harsh Vardhan, as did AAP in Ashutosh. In West Delhi, BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma, a Jat leader and son of former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, to undo the mistake of 2009. Back then, Jats had deserted BJP after it denied the ticket to Parvesh. "My father was a doer as Modiji is. I want to continue his legacy," says Verma. He faces a tough fight from AAP's Jarnail Singh, a journalist who shot to fame after hurling a shoe at then home minister P. Chidambaram in 2009. AAP hopes Jarnail, who has championed the cause of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, will sway Sikhs who make up 18 per cent of the constituency's voters. Both Parvesh and Jarnail will take on sitting Congress MP Mahabal Mishra.

The Congress has repeated all its seven sitting MPs, risking a tsunami of anti-incumbency. While Jai Parkash Agarwal and Ajay Maken, MPs from North East Delhi and New Delhi, won primaries-where party workers voted to choose a candidate to stand for re-election, caste forced the party's hand in other constituencies.

The leadership wanted to replace sitting MP Krishna Tirath from North West Delhi but couldn't find a suitable Dalit woman candidate for a reserved seat where 21 per cent voters are Dalit. So she was renominated as soon as BJP fielded Dalit leader Udit Raj and AAP nominated its Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla. Despite her claims to the contrary, Tirath's low-profile campaign reflects a lack of confidence.

Caste considerations hobbled Congress's choice even in South Delhi, the only other seat it wanted to change the candidate for. The party did a rethink when it realised that sitting MP Ramesh Kumar's older brother Sajjan Kumar still has clout among Jats and Gujjars.

Ramesh has spent only Rs 3.08 crore of his Rs 19 crore MPLADS fund and was placed 290th in India Today Group's Ranking of MPs. With no big achievement to showcase, he takes an easier route to woo voters-lash out at Modi. BJP chose Ramesh Bidhuri, its MLA from Tughlakabad, to take on Ramesh Kumar. Bidhuri belongs to the Gujjar community, the second largest in South Delhi, and enjoys support among local traders. "Vote for Modi if you want development. He will change your lives," he tells voters. Bidhuri, however, has a tough contest on his hands: AAP, in a smart move, has fielded a Jat, Colonel Devinder Sehrawat, against him. Of the 42 villages in South Delhi, 18 are Jatdominated.

"I want BJP to come to power but, as a Jat, I will never vote for Bidhuri, a Gujjar," says Laxman Pawar, 39, a real estate agent in Ber Sarai.

In New Delhi and East Delhi, Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit are fighting with their backs to the wall. Though Maken has a strong presence among the poorer sections and urban villages, he seems to have lost middle- and upper-class voters to BJP, which has fielded Meenakshi Lekhi, its very visible and voluble spokesperson. Lekhi hopes to not only make a dent in Maken's support base but wean away disenchanted middle class voters who had supported AAP in December. "Maken is distributing pamphlets of his work done. You don't need to read a pamphlet. Just visit the places and see the mess all around you. He has let down the people," she says. AAP candidate Ashish Khetan relies on his party's antigraft plank. "BJP only talks of Congress's corruption. MCD, which is controlled by BJP, is the hub of corruption in Delhi," he says, as he leads a jhaduchalaoyatraaround Delhi cantonment.

Dikshit is up against BJP's Mahesh Giri, the former international director of Art of Living Foundation. His NGO, Nav Bharat Sewa Samiti, has worked on cleaning the Yamuna and runs health camps in East Delhi. AAP candidate Rajmohan Gandhi, at 78 the oldest candidate in the fray, brandishes his formidable USP: His supporters make it a point to remind one and all that he is Mahatma Gandhi's grandson.

In North East Delhi, where 45 per cent voters are 'Purvanchalis' or migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, regionalism counts more than caste. BJP has brought in Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari to woo this huge vote bank while AAP has fielded JNU professor Anand Kumar, mainly because he is from Varanasi. Though Tiwari's star appeal could sway voters, his party is worried he could be undone by the sizeable Muslim vote, which usually goes to the Congress. Indeed, two of the eight Assembly seats that the grand old party won in December were from here. 

For this election, its sitting MP Jai Parkash Agarwal has roped in his wife, two sons and daughters-inlaw to campaign for him. That may not be much help, for Agarwal has little to offer except an appeal to ignore AAP's "false assurances" and stop "communal Modi" from coming to power. This, in fact, is true of all Congress candidates in the Capital. But will it work?

Revealed: Why Narendra Modi walked out of marriage with Jashodaben

A day after BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi declared in his poll affidavit filed in Vadodara that he was a married man and that his wife's name is Jashodaben, his elder brother Sombhai Modi issued a statement here on Thursday to explain that the marriage was forced on a teenaged Narendra.

Sombhai said the marriage was forced on Modi by his parents when he was a teenager in keeping with the old orthodox tradition of fixing marriages between children and that it was never consummated as Modi walked out of the marriage soon after it was solemnised.

Dwelling on the reasons of the Gujarat Chief Minister's act, Sombhai said a young Modi did it in response to an inner call to work for the nation and the society inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekanand.

In his press statement Sombhai, who runs a home for the old-aged and lives a simple life with his family in Ahmedabad, appealed to the people to see the marriage in the backdrop of these facts.

Modi, who has ruled Gujarat since 2001, has left the field for "spouse" blank in four Assembly polls. Of late, he has also flaunted his single status at rallies, saying that he was single and had no one to be corrupt for.

Modi ended the speculation over his marital status after a long period of silence, perhaps because the Congress had run a smear campaign against him in the last Vidhan Sabha elections and even after that by projecting Jashodaben, a retired teacher living in a north Gujarat village along with her brother, as a spurned wife and a victim of Modi's exploitation.

Modi's declaration of his marital status is aimed at pre-empting such a campaign and also any attempt to drag him to the Election Commission on the issue.

Since 1992, when Gujarati weekly Abhiyan carried for the first time a story on Modi's marriage, Jashodaben and her family have refrained from talking to media, calling it a personal affair, and wishing Modi good luck in his endeavours.

Mandate 2014

In Pics: Now an Auto driver slaps Kejriwal

  

In the second attack on him in the last four days, Arvind Kejriwal was today slapped by an unidentified man during a roadshow in Sultanpuri area of North West Delhi and the AAP leader immediately blamed BJP for it.  



The man slapped Kejriwal when he was shaking hands with his supporters. kejriwal's face was swollen after the slap.

Google Planning To Make Andriod TV

The online reports about the development of anAndroid TV by Google are gaining momentum with each passing day. Google's prior attempt in the television domain with Google TV (set top box) failed at making a holding in the market. But this time around, Google is putting its massively successful Android in the latest set top box, giving Google TV a complete revamp.

For the development of content to be made available on Android TV, Google is also collaborating with app developers. The Android TV will also provide third party support like Hulu, Netflix, Pandora and Vevo in addition to indigenous apps. Android TV will have the familiar Google search, notification system and voice input to control the new user interface.

According to Google "Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing platform. It's all about finding and enjoying content with the least amount of friction." Google also says the experience will be "cinematic, fun, fluid, and fast."

Using the Android TV, users will be able to buy and download games, apps, and rent or purchase media content right from the set-top box. For navigation and surfing, the box will pack in a four way directional remote control. There is no official word on its release date from Google as yet.

No alliance with BJP at any cost, says Naveen Patnaik

Even though his partymen have been mired in mining scams he is Mr. Clean. Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik spoke exclusively to Manogya Loiwal to talk about his equidistance politics and how BJP is never an option for BJD.  

As he waves to the people of Odisha in Rajgangpur in Sundargarh district of the state, to attend fourth rally in a day, he kept his neck on the head rest and asked his security incharge to turn all the portable coolers towards him. As the heat of election is on, its time even Naveen Patnaik felt the wave of Modi but ignored it in his own style.

The fight in Rourkela and Sundargarh is just a hint of how the state is witnessing an impact of Modi wave in the Lok Sabha elections. Though state will also go for polls for Assembly elections, BJP may not be able to create a dent in the BJD bastion, Odisha.

"We are very happy with the preparations and we will give a clean and transparent government at the state and a lot of MP's in the centre. There is no Modi wave in the state and we will prove it," says Naveen Patnaik.

Maintaining equal distance from Congress-led UPA and BJP-led NDA, the Odisha CM says, "We will be equidistant from BJP and Congress. There is no question of joining NDA even if they do not have Modi as PM candidate."

Whether Modi will become prime minister is a far fetched question for him which only results will tell.

However, he has reservations on Modi wooing the minorities. "I don't think BJP will be able to forgive them for Gujarat. It was serious and they will never be forgotten by minorities."

After the Third Front formula did not see the light of the day he still remains hopeful post results.

Even Mamata Banerjee's Federal Front formula has not found takers in BJD since Patnaik has not spoken to her over it. He denies talking to Mayawati and Jayalalithaa over formation of an alternative front at the centre but is confident that regional parties will play a pivotal role in the government formation at the centre.

According to him the biggest enemy of BJD is UPA and the campaign will be vigorous against the Congress. "It will be against UPA because none of there leaders came after Phailin. They have ignored us and rejected our pleas."

Basking in the glory of success in handling the plight of Phailin that resulted in loss of crores across the state, he enjoys the support of the common man as the undisputed leader of the state.

Yet tainted with mining scams his partymen still feel that it is his image that takes the lead and will get them the advantage of turning supporter turnout in rallies into a credible votebank.

Busy with his poll campaigning, he is finding little time to pen his thoughts. So you may have to wait longer for his next book.

Kill those who have done injustice to you, says Raj Thackeray to farmers

Targeting Congress and NCP over the suicide of farmers in the state, MNS chief Raj Thackeray appealed to them not to take the extreme step and instead kill those who have done injustice to them.

Thackeray was speaking at a campaign rally here organised for Raju Patil Raje, his party's only candidate from Vidarbha region.

"For the past 67 years, elections continue to be fought on four issues- roads, energy, water and employment. But all these issues have still remained unresolved. In such a case, we don't want any election at all. In villages, country liquor is available in plenty, whereas drinking water is not. It is the tragedy of our system," the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief said.

During his speech, the MNS chief read out a purported suicide note left behind by a farmer in which he had urged the voters not to vote for Congress-NCP saying that the leaders of these parties were responsible for him to take this extreme step.

Thackeray appealed to the farmers not to commit suicide due to debt burden. "Don't commit suicide. It is not a solution to your problems. If at all you want to die, first kill those who have done injustice to you," he said.

He criticised the Congress-NCP leaders for paying visits to only those hailstorm-hit parts in Maharashtra, where their respective parties have base.

"Congress and NCP leaders are visiting the hailstorm-hit areas where their parties owe allegiance. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Sharad Pawar visit only their respective party areas, affected by hailstorms and politicised the issue," he said.

BJP Election Manifesto 2014.

Good governance and development, says Modi on BJP manifesto

BJP on Monday released its long-delayed Lok Sabha Election Manifesto 2014, promising "modern, prosperous and vibrant India based on ethos and values". 

The party's manifesto was released as polling began on six Lok Sabha seats in Assam and Tripura.  

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi pledged to provide good governance if his party was voted to power in the Lok Sabha election.

Speaking briefly after the release of the BJP's election manifesto, Modi said the Bharatiya Janata Party's aim was to provide a strong and united India which would enjoy the world's respect.

"There will be zero tolerance on this issue," Modi said, his voice a little hoarse from the many election speeches he has been giving all over the country.

"If I have to summarise our manifesto in two words, I will say: good governance and development."

The Gujarat chief minister said he would leave no stone unturned to carry out the responsibilities the BJP had thrust on him. 

He promised never to do anything for himself and underlined that he "will do nothing with a sense of revenge".

On the manifesto, Modi said: "This is not an election ritual. It is not just a document. It reveals our party's direction, our aim."

The manifesto was released by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

Joshi said they consulted people all sections of society before finalising the manifesto.

"We formed a 17-member committee for the manifesto. The manifrsot website was started and we received 1 lakh suggestions from rural areas and even from Indians based in the US. We also consulted local institutions; we spoke to teachers, farmers, ladies, disabled and children. We also consulted labourers, artisans and their representatives," he said. Read the full manifesto here 

"We have tried to address immediate problems faced by people such as price rise, employment, black money, policy paralysis and poor delivery or services," he said.

Joshi promised improvement in administration.

"We will bring about e-governance and easing licensing norms for business. We will work for healthy centre-state relationship. We work towards decentralisation of power and participatory democracy. We will bring about administrative, judicial and police reforms. Will work for social justice of SC/STs. We will work for equality of education and employment for minority," he said.

"Food security and rural development will be addressed. We will work towards improving educational institutions and research. We will work for vocational training and development of skills. We have suggested improvement of taxation policy- we are facing tax terrorism at present."

"Banks are in bad state. We will work for their improvement. Will make brand India for manufacturing sector. There will be microfinancing for farmers. We will make 50 new circuits for tourism. Our stand is clear barring multi-brand retail. We will promote FDI."

"We will provide water for every farmer's field and adequate drinking water."

"We will connect river waters. We will connect Jammu and Kashmir with rail freight corridor and improve border and coastal road connectivity. We will work towards concept of 'industry family."

He said 78 per cent of people's money was spent on healthcare.

"We will rectify this. Right to health is every body's right. We will initiate National Health Assurance Scheme and make changes in health policy. We will improve Indian medicine system such as ayurveda."

"We aim to build a modern, prosperous and vibrant India - Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, based on our ethos and values. We have to convert ourselves into a knowledge based society and economy, powered by experience, tools of technology and energy of our people. BJP commits itself to this task and promises to work relentlessly towards this goal, for which we are seeking sixty months," said the manifesto. 

BJP's promises:

- Vibrant and participatory democracy.

- Empowered and inspired people.

- Inclusive and sustainable development.

- Quality life in villages and cities.

- Basic amenities to all.

- Flourishing agriculture.

- Productive youth.

- Involved women.

- Robust physical and social infrastructure.

- Innovative and technologically driven society.

- Globally competitive economy.

- Brand India built on quality.

- Strong, effective and futuristic institutions.

- Open, transparent and systems-based government.

- Proactive, pro-people good governance.

- To build a modern India: the best foundation is our own culture.

- The best tool our own hands; and the best material our own aspirations.

To control price rise, the party promises these steps:

- Put in place strict measures and special Courts to stop hoarding and black marketing.

- Setting up a Price Stabilisation Fund.

- Unbundle FCI operations into procurement, storage and distribution for greater efficiency.

- Leverage on technology to disseminate Real time data, especially to farmers - on production, prices, imports, stocks and overall availability.

- Evolve a single 'National Agriculture Market'.

- Promote and support area specific crops and vegetables linked to food habits of the people.

For employment and entrepreneurship, the BJP says it will:

- Strategically develop high impact domains like labour-intensive manufacturing (viz. textile, footwear, electronics assembly, etc. and Tourism.

- Strengthen the traditional employment bases of agriculture and allied industries, and retail - through modernisation as well as stronger credit and market linkages.

- Harness the opportunities provided by the upgradation of infrastructure and housing, for its job generating potential.

- Encourage and empower our youth for self-employment - incubating entrepreneurship as well as facilitating credit.

- Address the employability issue by initiating a multi-skills development programme in mission mode. Focus will be on job creation and entrepreneurship, in both rural and urban areas.

- Transform our Employment Exchanges into Career Centres - connecting our youth with job opportunities in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology; as well as providing counselling and training.

To tackle corruption, the party promises to establish a system to eliminate scope for graft through:

- Public awareness

- Technology enabled e-governance minimizing the discretion in the citizen-government interface.
- System-based, policy-driven governance - making it transparent.

- Rationalisation and simplification of tax regime - which is currently repulsive for honest taxpayers.

- Simplification of the processes and procedures at all levels - bestowing faith in the citizens, institutions and establishments.