SunTec, Seachange partnership offers integrated IPTV billing solution

Amsterdam (Netherlands)/ Trivandrum (Kerala), Sep 14 (ANI/Business Wire India): SunTec, the leading provider of convergent transaction pricing and billing solutions for the Communication, Media and Entertainment industry, has partnered with video-on-demand, IPTV and advertising software and systems leader SeaChange International to offer television service providers globally automated provisioning of IPTV consumers and accounts in ‘near real time’, while supporting complex revenue sharing business rules.

The SunTec and SeaChange partnership has already resulted in the integration of SunTec’s convergent billing solution, TBMS-T, with SeaChange’s TV Navigator IPTV middleware for the Smart Digivision’s MyWay (http://www.myway.in) IPTV service. Available in 54 cities across India on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (http://www.bsnl.co.in) (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (http://www.mtnl.net.in) (MTNL) broadband networks, MyWay is expected to reach three million subscribers in the first five years.

“Integrating SunTec’s convergent billing system with SeaChange’s middleware opens a compelling opportunity to the IPTV Service Provider to roll out innovative services and programs for its consumers. SunTec is happy to have a strategic association with SeaChange and I see this partnership complement both the companies’ growth in the emerging IPTV markets,” said Rajesh BL Narashimha, Vice-President and Sales Head APAC and MEA, SunTec.

SunTec’s convergent billing solution, TBMS-T interfaces in near real time with SeaChange’s, TV Navigator middleware, electronic program guide, video-on-demand systems and set top box applications. The flexibility of TBMS-T, coupled with SeaChange’s open middleware, allows the service provider to design innovative services and pack programs/content to attract more usage and consumers. In addition to this, SunTec’s TBMS-T supports the service provider with complex revenue sharing business rules and settlement with IPTV service carriers and content providers/aggregators.

“IPTV operators require open solutions that allow flexibility to choose best of breed vendors and components,” said, Lincoln Owens, Director Broadband Sales, APAC, SeaChange International. Our TV Navigator middleware is rooted in this open approach, which has given way to beneficial alliances across markets. Our tie-up with SunTec has helped create one of the most promising IPTV efforts in Asia and we anticipate further success.” (ANI)

Global brands join hands with nutritional supplements shopping portal MyNutraMart.com

Bangalore, July 7 (ANI/Business Wire India): Pragya International, a Bangalore-based company, has launched online shopping portal MyNutraMart.com to cater to the growing wellness nutrition market.

The Indian wellness services market is expected to remain buoyant and has the potential to sustain a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 30-35 per cent for the next five years, says a latest study by FICCI and professional services firm, Ernst and Young. T

he wellness services market is currently estimated at Rs 11,000 crore in India.

The FICCI-EY report, titled Wellness- Exploring the untapped potential, highlights that the growth is expected on the back of favorable market demographics, consumerism, globalization, changing lifestyles, increasing availability across categories and regions and rising awareness among people.

Global brands like Joint Expert, Mega-Pro, Zenith Nutritions, Joint’s Coach and Alpha Omega, have joined hands with MyNutraMart.com to sell their brands online.

Pawan of Vista Nutrition’s said: “In US more than 60 per cent of dietary supplements and wellness products are sold online. In India, online shopping is at nascent stage as internet penetration stands at paltry 9 per cent. But still being able to sell online gives us instant advantage to cater to wider market and save on branding expenses”.

MyNutraMart.com is expected to tie-up with more than 300 brands and offer 5000 products to cater to the growing Nutritional supplements market worldwide and in particular India.

The portal offers products for cholesterol management, blood pressure management, skincare, brain and memory, depression, vision and eye. Well known supplements like Grape Seed extract, colostrum, policosanol, glucosamine, spirulina and major vitamins have been included on the portal.

“While the Bodybuilding supplements market in Southeast Asia is well developed, at the same time uninformed and fraudulent selling is on the rise. By joining hands with MyNutraMart.com, we have ensured that the customers will get the option to make informed purchase and avail some discount as well,” said Arvind M Madhok of Bodycare Nutritions India, exclusive distributor for South Asia for US based company MEGA-PRO International, deals in sports nutrition. (ANI)

Ghulam Nabi Azad says all options of post-poll alliance open

Chennai/Nainital, May 7 (ANI): Ghulam Nabi Azad, a senior leader of the Congress Party, has said the party has kept all options open for a post-poll alliance.

Echoing the views of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Azad said that some parties might not even wait for the results to open negotiations.

“The real realignment will take place immediately after the polling. I am not saying after the results, even after the polling. So, till such time, we should keep our fingers crossed. I am very much sure that all secular political parties, like-minded political parties whether they are from south, east, north, west, their first choice should be UPA and not NDA,” Azad said in Chennai.

Earlier, Rahul said he was confident of the Leftist parties’ support and praised some leading politicians outside the ruling coalition.e praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a potential swing state in which Kumar may rob current allies of the Congress of crucial seats. There has been speculation that Kumar could tie-up Congress, which he has denied.

But Narendra Modi, firebrand leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said there were as many aspirants for the top job in the ruling coalition as the number of major parties.

“Everyone in the UPA, dreams of becoming PM. Sharad Pawar is a minister in Manmohan Singh Government but says that I am first in the race for Prime Ministership. Lalu says I am there, Ram Vilas Paswan says I am no less and Mulayam says if gets a chance, I am ready for it,” Modi said in a rally in Nainital. (ANI)

Mamata warns Congress to choose between TMC or Left

Kolkata, May 6 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) President Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sent out an ultimatum to Congress party to chose between TMC and Left in West Bengal.

The warning came after AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi told newspersons on Tuesday that the Congress could consider a post-poll alliance with Left parties if they have enough numbers.

Senior Congress leader and the party’s media cell chief, Veerappa Moily, however, said: “We won’t form any alliance that is against the TMC.”

Gandhi on Tuesday said his party would support the Left if they manage to gain 190 seats in the current Parliamentary elections.

He was responding to queries by the media persons who were reacting to his suggestion that the Congress did not rule out a post-poll tie-up with the Left parties. Rahul said that the Congress was always open to post-poll alliances.

Addressing a press conference at the Ashoka Hotel here, Gandhi said, “If Left gets 180-190 seats, we will consider supporting them. I hope they are able to achieve that. If they are able to do that, I will be the first one to say you know what, let’s support the Left.”

“Ideological differences between Congress and Left persist, but there is lot of meeting ground and reasonable amount of common space,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that the Communists would accept Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

“Manmohan Singh is the party”"”"”"”s prime ministerial candidate,” he said, adding that he was also the allies”"”"”"” choice for the top job.

“He is the best Prime Minister this country can have. Allies are supporting us and have full faith in Dr Singh”, he added. (ANI)

Left will not support Congress, says AB Bardhan

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan on Tuesday said the Left would not support Congress-led government at the Centre.

Reacting to Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion that the Congress did not rule out a post-poll tie-up with the Left parties, Bardhan said, “Congress is nervous about the fact that they will not have numbers. I don’t think Left will oblige them this time”.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi said his party would support the Left if they manage to gain 190 seats in the current Parliamentary elections.

He said that the Congress was always open to post-poll alliances.

Addressing a press conference at the Ashoka Hotel here, he said, “If Left gets 180-190 seats, we will consider supporting them. I hope they are able to achieve that. If they are able to do that, I will be the first one to say you know what, let’s support the Left.”

“Ideological differences between Congress and Left persist, but there is lot of meeting ground and reasonable amount of common space,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that the Communists would accept Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

“Manmohan Singh is the party’s prime ministerial candidate,” he said, adding that he was also the allies’ choice for the top job.

“He is the best Prime Minister this country can have. Allies are supporting us and have full faith in Dr Singh”, he added. (ANI)

Rahul Gandhi does not rule out post poll ties with the Left

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said his party would support the Left if they manage to gain 190 seats in the current Parliamentary elections .

He was responding to quries by the mediapersons who were who were reacting to his suggestion that the Congress did not rule out a post-poll tie-up with the Left parties. Rahul said that that the Congress was always open to post-poll alliances.

Addressing a press conference at the Ashoka Hotel here, Gandhi said, “If Left gets 180-190 seats, we will consider supporting them. I hope they are able to achieve that. If they are able to do that, I will be the first one to say you know what, let’s support the Left.”

“Ideological differences between Congress and Left persist, but there is lot of meeting ground and reasonable amount of common space,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that the Communists would accept Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

“Manmohan Singh is the party’s prime ministerial candidate,” he said, adding that he was also the allies’ choice for the top job.

“He is the best Prime Minister this country can have. Allies are supporting us and have full faith in Dr Singh”, he added.

Lashing out at the NDA, he said all these parties were part of the NDA at one point of time. But now, the NDA no longer exists. It’s only for namesake.

Speaking on Advani’s question on India’s money in Swiss banks, he said, “I completely agree with him. It’s been there for 60 years and everybody agrees. Then why all of us don’t work together to get that money back? Let’s crack the problem and not waste time talking of the amount of money that is there. “

Referring to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s decision to remove the name of the lone surviving suspect in the Bofors payoff case Ottavio Quattrocchi from its list of most wanted persons, Rahul said, “Quattrocchi issue is a dead issue. There is no interest in it.” (ANI)

Onus to rejoin NDA on Mamata Banerjee: Advani

Kolkata, Apr 29 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, L K Advani, on Wednesday laid the onus on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to choose between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Talking to reporters at the airport after arriving in the city to campaign for the elections, Advani said, “Mamata has to decide whether she wants to join the NDA or stay with the Congress.”

Advani clarified that the decision to leave the NDA and join hands with the Congress was solely taken by Banerjee.

“It was she who decided to leave the NDA and have a tie-up with the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal,” he said

Terming the UPA as “opportunist”, Advani critisised it for having no “pre-poll manifesto or common ideology”.

“The only aim of the parties to come together was the fear of BJP and to keep it out of power,” he said. (ANI)

Sonia campaigns jointly with Mamata Banerjee, slams Left parties

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Jangipur (West Bengal), Apr 27 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is sharing the dais with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for the first time in eight years, slammed the Left parties for their failure to support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the nuclear deal issue. /pp
To meet the growing energy requirement, we went for the nuclear deal, but the Left parties opposed us saying it was not required, Sonia Gandhi said while addressing a joint election rally in Jangipur in West Bengal’s Murshidabad District on Monday./pp
Gandhi also welcomed Mamata Banerjee’s decision to tie-up with the Congress./pp
We are happy to have Mamata here with us, Gandhi added./pp
Gandhi had last shared the platform with Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata during the state Assembly Elections in 2001. /pp
Sonia Gandhi also criticized the West Bengal Government for ‘misusing’ the benefits of Central schemes./pp
The state government has not utilized central funds meant for the poor and the downtrodden, but had implemented certain central programmes that suited needs of their party leaders, she added./pp
The Congress president also lashed out at the Marxist government for forcibly trying to ‘grab’ poor farmers’ land at Singur and Nandigram. /pp
They (Marxists) have unleashed untold atrocities on the people in the name of acquisition of land for industry, she added./pp
Without naming the ‘Third Front’ and ‘Fourth Front’, Gandhi criticized the hordes of prime ministerial aspirants. /pp
These days it a fashion to aspire for prime ministership. But the Congress’ aim is to serve the country and its people, she added./pp
The Congress president also lashed out at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) for their purpose to get the chair of the Prime Minister. /pp
Gandhi appealed people to vote for the Congress-TMC combine to form a secular and stable government at the Centre./pp
I am sure you will vote for the combine to ensure a stable and secular government at the Centre, she added./pp
Meanwhile, Mamata Bannerjee said that she was confident that the Congress-TMC alliance would be able to oust the Left from the state./pp
On the occasion, senior Congress leader and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced plans to set up an Aligarh Muslim University in Murshidabad District. (ANI)/p

Congress started criminalisation of politics, says Nitish Kumar

Patna, Apr 12 (ANI): Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday blamed the Congress for starting criminalisation of politics in the country.

“If there is criminalisation of politics in the country, it is because of the Congress since that party started this trend,” Nitish Kumar told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Congress did not stand a chance in Bihar since the state is no more its bastion.

“The Congress doesn’t have any hold in Bihar. Why should we feel scared?” Paswan said.

Paswan mentioned that his party’s tie-up with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was strong enough to bag all the parliamentary seats in Bihar.

“There is no confusion in Bihar. The RJD and the LJP alliance will sweep the polls no matter what the exit polls say,” he added. (ANI)

NCP tie-up with Left, BJD is Orissa-specific, says Pawar

Bhubaneswar, April 8 (IANS) The Nationalist Congress Party alliance with the Left parties and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Orissa is ‘only Orissa-specific’, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here Wednesday.

‘Our arrangement is only Orissa-specific,’ Pawar told a press conference, addressed jointly with Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik.

Pawar said the NCP remains with the Congress-led United Progresssive Alliance (UPA) at the national level.

‘We are not part of the Third Front,’ he clarified.

The NCP’s tie-up with the BJD as well as the Left in Orissa has upset the Congress.

Pawar kept all options open for an alliance with the Third Front in a post-poll scenario.

‘It is important that the secular forces come together (in Orissa). I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We need secular parties to prevail,’ he said.

Yechury said the electoral alliance in Orissa could not be called a Third Front. ‘It is not a Third Front. We are making it Orissa-specific,’ he said.

Orissa Chief Minister Patnaik assure that the BJD would be with the ‘secular front’ after the elections. ‘Certainly, the BJD will be with the secular front,’ he said.

BJP says it’s committed to creating smaller states

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said it was committed to the creation of smaller states, as it justified its support to the demand of a separate Gorkhaland state in West Bengal and Telangana in Andhra Pradesh.

Justifying the party’s alliance with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which is demanding a separate state carved out of Darjeeling and nearby areas of West Bengal, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said: ‘Small states are growing at faster rates. The Economic Survey Appraisal has given us this data.’

BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said the party will consider sympathetically the GJM’s demand for a Gorkhaland state. The BJP has also supported a separate state for Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.

‘They (GJM and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti) are regional outfits and there are many outfits who call for smaller states. We will look at their demand sympathetically.’

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday accused the BJP of trying to divide West Bengal and asserted that it would make BJP’s tie-up with the pro-Gorkhaland GJM a poll issue.

The CPI-M’s reaction came in the wake of the GJM joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and extending support to Jaswant Singh’s candidature from the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. The BJP manifesto has also promised to consider the demand for a Gorkhaland state.

RJD, LJP campaign jointly in Bihar

Nalanda, Mar 27 (ANI): Ahead of the general elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan commenced their campaign jointly here on Thursday.

Although both these parties are a part of the UPA, they contended that with the help of Samajwadi Party (SP), the Congress party would not have any scope to form the government again.

Earlier, both the parties had downplayed the claims of the leader of the UPA, the Congress party for seats in Bihar.

Consequent to the sidelining of the Congress party, RJD and LJP had declared that they would form an understanding between themselves and enter the poll fray.

Thus both the parties, RJD and LJP, are contesting in all the 40 seats in Bihar with the hopes of outwitting Congress party and also the NDA-led by the BJP.

Also Lalu and Paswan are projecting a possible new tie-up with Mulayam Singh-led SP, presently associated with the Congress party.

These three parties by themselves claim to have a firm base in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

As Ram Vilas Paswan put it, the coming together of these three parties may exert more pressure on the Congress party.

“If you combine the three parties, we would have 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, 40 seats in Bihar and our alliance have also taken place in Jharkhand. When we comprise the three, then we would have 134 seats out of total 543 Lok Sabha seats in these three states itself. We have strengthened our vision to bowl out the NDA for a duck,” said Paswan.
Meanwhile, campaigning in Nalanda, Lalu lashed out at the Bihar Janata Dal (United)-State Government.

He accused state Chief Minsiter Nitish Kumar of not letting party leaders and workers of RJD and LJP to campaign in the area and is creating bottle necks.

“We are not being allowed to raise our flags. We are not entitled to carry out our road shows,” said Lalu. (ANI)

Prayers for success of Congress-Trinamool in West Bengal

Kolkata, Mar 18 (ANI): Activists of Trinamool Congress and Congress party organised a yagna here for the success of the alliance of these two parties in the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha.

This was consequent to the finalisation of the tie-up and sharing of seats between the two parties in West Bengal.

“We have organised this fire ritual for the success of Congress and Trinamool Congress in upcoming elections. We want that under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the United Progress Alliance will do well and Trinamool Congress will perform well in West Bengal under Mamta Banerjee’s guidance. We also want that this alliance would last till the 2011 West Bengal’s Assembly elections and form a new government in the state,” said Abhijit Mukherjee, a supporter of Congress.

The Congress party hopes to do well through the alliance with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.

The Trinamool is the main opposition party in West Bengal. Congress party would contest in 14 of the state’s 42 seats, leaving the rest to the Trinamool. (ANI)

LIC ‘Jeevan Varsha’ can be purchased online through Policybazaar.com

New Delhi, Mar 9 (ANI/Business Wire India); After receiving an overwhelming response by selling ‘Jeevan Astha’ online at www.policybazaar.com, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) extends its partnership to yet another policy ‘Jeevan Varsha’. It can be bought online only at www.policybazaar.com. The policy would be open for sale till March 31.

Policybazaar.com, India’s one of the leading online non-life and life insurance aggregator tie-up with LIC provides a platform to sell their products “Jeevan Varsha” on the Internet. LIC ties-up with an insurance portal will also enable the consumers to get detailed information on the Policy “Jeevan Varsha” and buy it online on Policybazaar.com.

LIC’s new plan, ‘Jeevan Varsha’ is a regular premium plan where all modes such as yearly, half-yearly and monthly are allowed and any person who has completed 15 years of age can buy this policy.

The minimum sum assured for the monthly mode is Rs. 75,000, while it is Rs. 50,000 for other modes. Jeevan Varsha is lower than ‘Jeevan Aastha’, the internal rate of return will be similar to it, taking into consideration all the factors. The policy would offer Rs. 65 per Rs 1,000 sum assured and Rs. 70 for a 12-year term. The money-back plan has two policy terms – 9 years and 12 years – with the premium-paying term restricted to only nine years. It’s a product, which gives you the tax benefits of 80C and 1010D, but in addition, has a clear floor in terms of a 7 per cent simple return on investment over 12 years.

Speaking on this initiative, Yashish Dahiya Co-founder and CEO, Etechaces Marketing and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. said “After getting a very good response from ‘Jeevan Astha’ we are trying to deliver the best for ‘Jeevan Varsha’ to our consumers as well as the client. We are always striving to get the best products to our customers to provide the best deals easily through Internet, and we are also very proud of our association with a trusted brand like LIC.”

To make a purchase, the customer logs in with a need in mind and by using a highly interactive and intuitive tabbed browsing interface, the customer can access hundreds of options and combinations. Once a simple on-line application form is filled, the site offers the best options for the policy needed. The customer is then free to finalise and close the deal, which he thinks is best suited for his needs.

Policybazaar.com is India’s leading online non-life and life insurance aggregator. Policybazaar.com enables the customer to compare insurance products from leading insurance companies on the basis of their quality and price, and empowers the consumer to purchase the best suited insurance plan for their unique needs. (ANI)

BJP announces alliance with RLD

New Delhi, Mar 2 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday announced an alliance with the Ajit Singh led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The tie-up was announced at a joint press conference addressed by Singh, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Convener Sharad Yadav.

Former Union Minister Ajit Singh’s outfit, built mainly on a Jat support-base, will be allowed to contest in seven Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

These include Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura, Nagina, Amroha, Hathras and Sitapur.

The remaining Lok Sabha constituencies, including Kairana, Bijnore, Moradabad, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Saharanpur, Meerut, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad will be contested by the BJP. (ANI)

BJP announces alliance with RLD

New Delhi, Mar 2 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday announced an alliance with the Ajit Singh led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The tie-up was announced at a joint press conference addressed by Singh, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Convener Sharad Yadav.

Former Union Minister Ajit Singh’s outfit, built mainly on a Jat support-base, will be allowed to contest in seven Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

These include Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura, Nagina, Amroha, Hathras and Sitapur.

The remaining Lok Sabha constituencies, including Kairana, Bijnore, Moradabad, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Saharanpur, Meerut, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad will be contested by the BJP. (ANI)

Trinamool defeats CPM in Bishanpur assembly bypoll

Kolkata, Mar 1 (ANI): Giving a fresh jolt to the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress on Sunday wrested the Bishanpur (West) assembly seat from the Left Front by a huge margin in a byelection.

The bypoll was held on February 26, in which 82 percent voters cast their votes.

Madan Mitra of the Trinamool Congress Secured 85,335 votes and he defeated his CPM rival Iskandar Hossain by 30,395 votes.

After this bypoll election, the verdict is also likely to strengthen the clamour for an alliance between the Congress and Trinamool Congress for the upcoming elections.

Keshav Rao, the Congress Party General Secretary in charge of the state, is in Kolkata to discuss a possible tie-up with the Trinamool.

The bypoll was conducted in the wake of the death of CPM leader Rathin Sarkar. (ANI)

RLD ties up with BJP for 2009 elections

New Delhi, Feb 24 (ANI): Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh has signed a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to wrap up a seat sharing deal for the forthcoming elections.

Lots of political development are expected ahead of the general elections in western Uttar Pradesh in the wake of this tie-up.

The RLD is likely to win seven seats in the western UP, as it has a very strong foothold here.

In last elections, Ajit Singh’s party was in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP), which has now grown close to the Congress. (ANI)

Mulayam hopeful of alliance with Congress in days to come

Lucknow, Feb 20 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday said a tie-up with the Congress is likely to materialize in days to come.

“Our alliance with Congress will be materialize in the days to come,” Mulayam Singh said.

The SP chief also talked about his friendship with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and said his party was free to take and give support to anyone in the elections.

Replying to comment on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani’s visit to a gym, where he tried his hands on dumbels and exercising machines, Yadav said, “A man is young by heart. If Advani is young why do you have problems? I pray for his health. He should remain hail and hearty,” Yadav said. (ANI)

Samajwadi Party says it was approached by BJP for electoral tie-up

Lucknow, Feb 19 (ANI): The Samajwadi Party (SP) has said it had received an offer of an electoral alliance from the opposition BJP-led NDA alliance.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav told reporters here on Wednesday that NDA convenor, George Fernandes had broached the idea of a tie-up while they were dining with BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Yadav said his response was that the BJP should drop its main poll plank of building a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at the site of a razed 16th century mosque.

“George came to me, and I told him all the four things. First demand was to drop the issue of Ayodhya, leave out your opposition to Article 370, and third thing was to change views about Muslims. Atal said that if we will leave these issues then what would be left with us?” Yadav said.

Meanwhile, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, said that he would implement ‘Gandhigiri’ in politics, a theme which gave him prominence in the film ‘Munnabhai MBBS.’

Dutt started his pre-poll campaign as a SP candidate ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

“I think, ‘Gandhigiri’ is a very important factor. I think I’ll implement it in politics,” said Dutt.

Asked whether he would have time to devote for his constituency as he is based in Mumbai, Dutt said he would follow in the footsteps of his father, who spent a lot of time with and for his followers.

“My family is known for commitment. I will devote time for Lucknow. My father Sunil Dutt has done a lot for his constituency. I am his son and will do all that what I have learnt from him,” said Dutt.

The Samajwadi Party is an ally of the Congress party, but the two parties have differences on seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)