The success of the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) -- with MP Suresh Kalmadi as chairman of the organising committee -- has put life back into the sulking city Congress as the party starts gearing up for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

"CYG has been a success and will definitely benefit us in the polls," city Congress chief Abhay Chhajed said.

" The entire city unit was behind Kalmadi to make the Games a success. Our party cadres were involved in some way or the other in the CYG while the other political parties were working for the polls." The Games have put the city on the international map and the citizens are happy which, in turn, has shot up enthusiasm among party workers, said Chhajed.

Leader of the Congress in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Ulhas Bagul, said citizens have gained while Kalmadi detractors have been silenced.

"There is no need of anyone to go and tell citizens about the Congress or Kalmadi. The public has enjoyed the Games and can themselves judge the contribution of party and its leaders to the growth of the city," he said.

The fresh wave of energy in the party, however, is likely to create problems as the list of aspirants for the Assembly polls is likely to increase. "There are definitely going to be many aspirants for the Assembly polls, but the ones with the best record will get the opportunity," Bagul, who is one of the aspirants, said.

According to political experts, Kalmadi has secured his position in city politics and would definitely make the most out of the successful hosting of the CYG. The praise for Kalmadi from various political leaders for the successful organisation of the CYG would go down well with the public.

Kalmadi has been the target of political parties in the city. The city NCP had kept the Congress out of power in the local civic body while going for an unconventional alliance with the Shiv Sena and the BJP. The ruling alliance had also rejected the civic administration's proposal to spend Rs 5 crore on the promotion of the Games. Hours before the Games, the NCP had not left any opportunity to criticise Kalmadi alleging him of hogging the limelight for the development of the city for CYG. "But the city MP has scored over all his opponents by strategically sharing the success of the Games with all political parties, especially the NCP," political experts observed.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, during the closing ceremony, was categorical in saying that Kalmadi had displayed his leadership qualities through the Games and managed to get "mileage" from it.

The city BJP has come down heavily on Kalmadi. "Kalmadi has misused the platform and it is evident from the political speech at the CYG.

If the Congress leaders are thinking that the CYG will help them, then let them remain in a fool's paradise," leader of Opposition in PMC, Vikas Mathkari, said.

"The citizens are intelligent enough to know that Kalmadi has done little for the development of the city as an MP and it was only due to the Pune pattern of NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP, that the city has taken the right path of development," he added.

His first stint as a blogger lasted all of three months.

Prasad blogged on a range of issues--the Gujjar community's agitation in Rajasthan, inflation, the Indo-US nuclear deal--but found that irrespective of his subject matter, the debate he sought to start would inevitably end up in complaints about the Indian Railways or the government.

"Dear Laluji, sadar pranam (salutations)!" read a comment on his post on the Gujjar agitation. "My husband Baba Sidhaye, (an) ex-western railway employee, is the first and only deaf and dumb by birth international cricketer in the world from India among 110 crore of Indian population. I would like to know: What your railway ministry has done to recognize his exemplary services to the nation and Indian Railways? I think that he is eligible for all the awards of government of India..." On 25 July, Prasad wryly remarked, "I would like to thank all those who have posted their comments on my blog. It has come to my notice that most of the comments are related to the functioning of railways, where people have pointed out various deficiencies in the services. We are studying all the suggestions and will try to implement them." He has not written since, though he may return to blogging later.

Prasad's blog is a case in point about why Indian politicians and political parties are reluctant to tap the growing number of Indian Internet users to further their agenda. As of September 2007, India had 49 million Internet users, according to a study by the eTechnology Group of IMRB International, a South Asian market research firm.

Access to a politician lies at the root of this reluctance, says Sanjay Sharma, managing director of QuBitTechnologies Pvt. Ltd, which has been running the official website of Indian Olympic Association president and Congress politician Suresh Kalmadi (www.skalmadi.org), the unofficial website of minister of state for information technology and communications Jyotiraditya Scindia (www.jyotiraditya.com) and an unofficial Congress party website, www.congress4india.com.

"The problem comes up when there is a flood of small and big requests. When you open up access to a politician, this happens and it is difficult to manage. Politicians have a group of handlers who restrict access and act as filters," Sharma says. "But when access is opened up, the equations get topsy-turvy and there is a fundamental conflict. The politician just wants to say things and find a way to filter access to him." Congress party's computer department chairman Vishvjit P. Singh, agrees. "The problem with interactivity is not only the bandwidth requirement but also that anyone can say anything they want." `Intolerant people'?

Indian Olympic Association chairman Suresh Kalmadi, a key figure in the management of the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, is keen to represent the city in the Lok Sabha once the Games are over.

The MP on Friday decribed himself as the "natural candidate" to contest the polls next year from the city seat.

In the backdrop of statements by NCP leaders that they would support an "intellectual" candidate for the seat., journalists asked Kalmadi how he rated his chances. The Congress leader replied, "I am there."

Yet he felt that the NCP was not keen on forging an alliance with the Congress in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The Congress, he said, always favoured an alliance with the NCP. "I have been very kind and frequently urged the NCP to join hands with us in the civic body," he said. The Congress had even sought the posts of mayor and standing committee chairman, but the NCP had turned it down, he said

He said efforts had been made for a fresh alliance with the NCP, with BJP leaders having fallen out with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. "Pawar was not keen on a civic alliance. He said it's a issue to be handled by local leaders and he woldn't get into it. I don't know who these local leaders are," Kalmadi said.

The NCP, in alliance with the Shiv Sena and the BJP, had kept the Congress out of power in the local civic body after the elections last year.

On the Games, Kalmadi was confident that the PMC would complete developing the infrastructure by the end of September end. "We are aware that road construction work for the Commonwealth Youth Games should be speeded up. It will be completed in time, with the Union government having sanctioned additional money," he said.

Most of the work at Balewadi is complete. Trials were conducted there today, he said. He strssed that the work by the PMC was also on the track. "Work will be completed on time everywhere, except on Baner Road," he said.

Kalmadi emphasised that it is imperative to drive home the importance of civilian nuclear deal to the common man. He was speaking at a congratulatory meet organised by the city Congress committee at the Congress Bhavan on Sunday to celebrate victory during trust vote recently. Public representatives and party workers attended the meet. The speakers also denounced recent bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

Kalmadi addresses a meeting at Congress Bhavan on Sunday

"We should consciously avoid targeting any particular community for the blasts. It is high time Puneites become vigilant so that the city does not become a target for such terrorist activities," observed Kalmadi.

Drawing attention to the approaching Commonwealth Youth (CYG) games, Kalmadi said that 71 countries would be participating in the mega sports events of CYG. "Our attempt is to make Pune an international city without losing its essence and originality," said Kalmadi, adding that besides being IT, automobile hub, the city is fast emerging as a destination for animation industry. Looking at the growth of animation industry in the city, it is incumbent on our part to provide it ample scope for growth and churn out best employment opportunities for the youth. We should start using even community halls for computer education, he added.

"I know you do not interfere in the party affairs at local level, but can definitely give political advice to the local leaders," Kalmadi said, urging Pawar to interfere in resolving the differences between the Congress and NCP in the city. Kalmadi and Pawar shared the dais at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the bio-diversity park at Taljai hill organised by the PMC. It is a joint project of the civic body and the state government.

To everyone's surprise, the dais was occupied by city legislators and corporators of Congress and NCP. However, Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, the architect of Pune Pattern was missing from the function. BJP corporators were conspicuous by their absence. Shiv Sena leader and standing committee chairman Shyam Deshpande attended the function.

Kalmadi, in an indirect offer for re-alliance with the NCP, said the Congress was ready to provide helping hand in carrying out meaningful development of the city.

"There have been speculations over changing political equations in the city. The Pune Pattern has been in discussion, but the Mumbai pattern and Delhi pattern holds more importance and should be implemented in the city," Kalmadi added.

When asked about factionalism in the Congress party in the wake of protests against him on the eve of the appointment of Prasad Kedari as Vice Chairman of Pune Cantonment Board on June 28 he said "We are the majority in PCB as we have seven out of eight members on our side. Only one person was angry about the decision about Prasad Kedari being made vice president of PCB. But, now even he has understood. Also, there is no factionalism in the party in the PCB or PMC," "The protests must have been done by supporters of one member but I understand their feelings" he added.

Infighting in the Congress came to its fore on June 28 when a group of persons, suspected to be supporters of former PCB vice president Gautam Mahajan of the Congress party, shouted slogans against Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kalmadi inside the PCB premises. The protests were held following the announcement of Prasad Kedari of the Congress as the new vice president of PCB. Also, supporters of other contenders shouted slogans against him.

Kalmadi was speaking at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch after receiving the Punyaratna award instituted by Congress corporator Aba Bagul. Veteran socialist leader Baba Adhav and former Union minister Mohan Dharia presented the award to Kalmadi.

Kalmadi said the Congress made sure there was no intervention in administrative work when it was in power in the municipal corporation. "But now the leader of the ruling party (Ajit Pawar) is interfering in every matter such as tender documents," he alleged.

He also predicted a split in the NCP-BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Pune. "BJP MP Prakash Javadekar has already indicated this. We have repeatedly appealed to them (the NCP) to quit the alliance with communal parties and join hands with us. The Congress is ready to team up with the party in Pune as we are already working together in the state and at the centre."

The MP said that the recent agitation by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) against north Indians has affected development projects in the city. "Everyone should be free to move about the country. In fact, only eighty per cent of the jobs in Pune are held by locals, while only twenty per cent have been taken by immigrants," he stated.

Kalmadi's comments came in the wake of Pawar's assertions that the next Pune MP would be a `Maharashtrian'. Pawar had said that it is time for present Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi to shift to the Rajya Sabha and give opportunities to younger people.

Kalmadi further said, "We are ready to welcome the NCP with Supriya Sule contesting the next polls, but the final decision would be taken by the Congress. I have even offered support to an NCP candidate to head the next standing committee". Kalmadi was speaking on the sidelines of a function organised by the Maharashtriyan Uttar Bharatiya Ekta Manch (MUBEM) at Shaniwarwada.

He added, "Look who is teaching us about who will be Pune's MP? We are competent enough to take decisions. I have never heard such comments from the NCP before. It's disappointing."

Speaking strongly on the recent exodus of north Indians, Kalmadi said, "Pune accepts everybody, no matter where they are from. In fact, I appeal to all those who have gone back to their homes to come back to the city. If any anti-social element tries to disturb you, come to the Congress Bhawan and we will take care of you."

He said that every year about two lakh youth get employed and that, "locals should be given preference, but at the same time, those who have shifted to Maharashtra and treat it as their own state should also be given a chance. In Congress, we are taught that anybody can stay anywhere, it's a free nation and nobody should spoil this atmosphere."

Former state home minister Kripashankar Singh said during the same function, "This soil has given us bread and butter and I will fight against injustice. This soil is like `chandan' for us."

Strongly criticising Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's policy, Singh said, "Raj and Uddhav can fight among themselves over property or any other matter, but they ahould not involve us in it. Don't let the youth take to violent ways. Request them not to cross the limits."

For the first time in the country, Electronic Voting Machines, EVM's, to be used in local elections in Maharashtra on April 10, 2005, will allow voters to not vote for any candidate.

Even as the supreme court decides on a petition demanding additional facilities on EVM's to log no-votes - or what is popularly called "protest" vote - the Maharashtra state election commission is going ahead with the use of a novel feature that will allow no-voting, spurred on not so much by sympathy for the "protesting" voter but as a practical necessity.

The facility will be available to voters who go to the polls on April 10, 2005 in the two municipal corporations of Navi Mumbai and Aurangabad, and the five municipal councils of Manikpur, Nallasopara, Badlapur, Ambernath, and Mowad.

Though of the same stock as EVM's used in last year's general and assembly elections, the EVM's for these local elections have been modified in some ways. An "end" key, says election commissioner Nandlal, has been added to ensure that the machine gets reactivated for the next voter even if the previous voter does not fully exercise his franchise. "In local elections there are multiple posts to be voted in one poll. So we have modified the balloting unit to permit voting for two to three candidates at on go," he said. For instance, voters in a municipal council can cast their vote for a councillor and the president of the council on the same unit.

However, if a voter does not wish to vote for either one of the two posts, he can press the "end" button to terminate the voting process after casting one vote.

With the Opposition benches empty, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee rushed through the business of the House and completed all the formalities connected with the passage of the Finance Bill, giving effect to Budget proposals amounting to Rs 5,00,000 crore for the financial year 2004-05. Though the Treasury Benches heaved a sigh of relief following the passage of the Finance Bill, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee did not hide his resentment. "I tell you, this is not a happy occasion. Parliament of India is passing Budget proposals of Rs five lakh crore without discussion with the Opposition not being present in the House." The Appropriation Bill, 2004, too was passed on Wednesday by the Lok Sabha without discussion. However, the Opposition was present during the proceedings.

The discussion on the all-important money bill became impossible with the BJP-led Opposition announcing the boycott of the House in protest against the 'insult' of the NDA leaders by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a meeting on Wednesday. The boycott decision was announced before the House began its sitting at 11.00 am. Earlier, the Question Hour was suspended through a resolution moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

When asked whether NDA should be dismantled, Thackeray replied in the negative.

Replying to a query, he said his party had put up a candidate to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman because the BJP-led NDA had not consulted them while announcing their support to the Congress candidate. "We want to condemn the BJP-led NDA's move to support Congress candidate without consulting the Sena. We should have been consulted," Thackeray said.

The resignation was forwarded to President A P J Abdul Kalam, who accepted it with immediate effect.

However, there is still no sign of Soren, missing since early this week to evade arrest in 30 year-old Chirrudih massacre. The arrest warrant relates to a case in 1975 in which Soren was accused of inciting arson and violence during a rally in which 10 people were killed.