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1997 marked the ascent of Robert Vadra—that was the year when he became a part of the Gandhi family through his hushed-up marriage with <keyword id="12587" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Priyanka-Gandhi">Priyanka Gandhi</keyword>. Exactly 15 years later, 2012 marked the beginning of his possible downfall—the year when <keyword id="124047" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ashok-Khemka">Ashok Khemka</keyword>, a senior Haryana IAS officer, kicked up a political storm by alleging irregularities in the land dealings between Vadra and <keyword id="6362997" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="DLF">DLF</keyword>, the country’s largest realtor by market capitalisation, in the state. Khemka’s accusation led to a cascade of media reports detailing his dubious property deals, including one by The Wall Street Journal, probes and negative campaign against the Gandhi family and the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> which is said to have augmented the fall of Congress, headed by Vadra’a mother-in-law Sonia Gandhi, in the last Lok Sabha elections. 
 
Vadra, born in 1969 to Rajendra and Maureen Vadra (whose family originally hailed from Scotland), has one among the crores of anonymous Delhiites till 1991 when Priyanka met him at a party arranged by Gandhi family’s Italian friends. His father Rajendra Vadra, who belonged to Moradabad in UP and whose family originally hailed from Pakistan (they moved to India at the time of partition), ran a business involving exports of brass and wood handicraft. Following his father’s footsteps, Robert Vadra—whose two siblings Richard and Michelle are no more (his sister Michelle died in a car accident in 2001, while brother Richard committed suicide in 2006)—was running a lesser-known costume jewellery export firm in Delhi when he met Priyanka. Their six-year-long courtship resulting in a cloistered marriage attended by hardly 150 guests opened a whole new chapter in Vadra’s life. 
 
Vadra, who is known to be a fan of dance and music, kept himself busy even since, dabbling between his diverse roles as Priyanka’s hubby, Congress president’s son-in-law, father of his children Raihan and Miraya and promoter of growing business interests. He also hogged the limelight in two other more intriguing avatars—as a fitness freak and a car and bike enthusiast. Vadra, who used to run a fitness bulletin on his Facebook page, boasts of working out hard to trim 20 kgs in five years. He gleefully owns Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover and Jaguar, besides his Rs 15 lakh 1800 cc cruise bike Suzuki Intruder. 
 
The string of events that sent him on a downward trail began in 2009, when he started buying tracts of arid agricultural land around Kolayat, a small town in Rajasthan. Soon after this, the central government announced plans to promote land-intensive solar-energy production for which the pieces of land Vadra purchase were suited, leading to a six-fold spike in the value of the land he bought within a few years. This was in addition to the realty assets he purchased in Haryana, including the deals between him and DLF which triggered Khemka’s allegations. According to The Wall Street Journal, as of the end of 2012 Vadra sold property worth more than $12 million and the value of realty assets he still possessed was about $42 million. 
 
During the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections Narendra Modi used every opportunity to take a dig at the Gandhi family by referring to Vadra’s questionable land deals. Now that Modi is in power and Congress’ fortunes are on a sharp downward spiral, Vadra has been winding up a clutch of his companies; six among them—Lifeline Agrotech, Greenwave Agro, Rightline Agriculture, Future Infra Agro, Best Seasons Agro and Primetime Agro—have already been dissolved or are getting dissolved. However, it is early to ascertain if a frantic attempt to shed firms and assets will help Vadra escape the scrutiny of law enforcement agencies, media and public, and turn around his fortunes; and in the process stop supplying ammunition to the acidic baiters of Sonia Gandhi and Congress.

The Curious Case Of Robert Vadra

Son-in-law of Congress party’s President <keyword id="689" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sonia-Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</keyword>, <keyword id="12593" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Robert-Vadra">Robert Vadra</keyword>, may get into trouble as <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP)-led <keyword id="74452" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Haryana-government">Haryana Government</keyword> will soon set up a panel to probe his land deals in the state. 
 
The state government is in final stages of setting up the panel, which is likely to be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Swatanter Kumar. 
 
BJP’s Haryana in-charge and national general secretary Anil Jain said the commission is in formative stage. 
 
"We are surely going ahead with forming a commission to look into all the land deals, if we spot any aberration, the panel will look into it. Right now the commission is in the formative stage," said Jain. 
 
Former Haryana Chief Minister B.S. Hooda, who is also named by the BJP, said there was nothing illegal in Vadra deals. 
Congress party also came out to support Vadra. 
 
"These kinds of tactics won't work on us. If there is truth to it let them bring it out, why make statements?" said senior Congress party leader Mallikarjun Kharge. 
 
Party spokesperson P.C. Chacko played down the panel, saying there was nothing new in the charges levelled by the government. 
 
However, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij was confident about the probe initiated against "Rahul Gandhi's suited-booted brother-in-law". 
 
"When will it happen, who will do it, only CM Khattar will take a call on it," Vij said. 
 
In March, CAG had said that the previous Hooda government had granted undue favours to builders, including Vadra's firm, Skylight Hospitality. 
 
Congress party has insisted the CAG report has neither indicted the former Congress government of Haryana or Vadra or his Skylight Hospitality Private Limited for any violation of the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, or any rules or policy. 
 Skylight Hospitality sold a prime 3.5 acre piece of land in Manesar in Gurgaon district to <keyword id="6362997" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="DLF">DLF</keyword> in 2008 for Rs 58 crore. The land had, however, only cost his company 
around Rs 15 crore and was sold to DLF after obtaining change of land use and other permissions. 
 Vadra is a flamboyant businessman who married Sonia Gandhi’s daughter <keyword id="12587" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Priyanka-Gandhi">Priyanka Gandhi</keyword> in 1997. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

BJP spells trouble for Robert Vadra, to probe land deals

<ul><li><keyword id="12587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priyanka-Gandhi">Priyanka Gandhi</keyword> Vadra marks her entry into politics by joining <keyword id="6362140" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="All-India-Congress-Committee">All India Congress Committee</keyword> as general secretary. </li><li>She will campaign in Uttar Pradesh East which includes Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi and Yogi Adityanath's constituency in Gorakhpur </li><li>Her entry into politics is expected to add vigour to <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>' recovering cadre, which had a demoralising defeat in 2014. </li></ul>Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been appointed as the general secretary at All India Congress Committee, marking her formal entry into politics. According to an official statement, Vadra will be general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, taking charge in the first week of February. Jyotiraditya Scindia will head Western UP. Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India by population and has the most number of seats in the Parliament. Uttar Pradesh East includes the constituencies of Varanasi, which is the constituency represented by the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also Gorakhpur, which belongs to the state’s incumbent chief minister Yogi Adityanath who is also a strongman from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Her strengths Priyanka Gandhi, 47, is the daughter of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi. In the past, she was mostly seen supporting brother <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> in campaigning efforts, but stayed away from actively participating in politics. She might entering active politics just now but Priyanka has been under the media spotlight over the years. Her official foray into politics has been speculated about for a long time, more so around elections. She carries political weight at least in constituencies which are considered to be the Gandhi family bastions. Her entry into politics is expected to add vigour to Congress, recovering cadre, which had a demoralising defeat in 2014. The incumbent United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress was routed out, and the grand old party itself was left with 44 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Priyanka's focus on eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP)-- aside from the appointment of another party heavyweight Jyotiraditya Scindia's focus on western part of the same province-- also signals the party's focus on a state that is politically significant than most others and currently in the grasp of rival BJP. Her weak point The Gandhi scion is no stranger to controversies either. The Central Bureau of Investigation had <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbi-registers-18-cases-of-fraud-against-company-linked-to-robert-vadra/articleshow/60299238.cms">filed </a>18 cases against <keyword id="12593" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Robert-Vadra">Robert Vadra</keyword> for alleged fraud in land acquisition, and the Enforcement Directorate is probing Vadra’s firms for alleged money laundering. On Monday (january 21), the Rajasthan high court <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hc-asks-robert-vadra-mom-to-appear-before-ed/articleshow/67633162.cms">asked</a> Robert Vadra and his partners in Skyline Hospitality Limited, including his mother Maureen Vadra, to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on February 12 to respond to allegations of money laundering by the firm. The allegation around her husband, Robert Vadra, and his businesses are likely to raked up now more so than ever before by rivals.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enters active politics and will take on Modi and Yogi on their home turf

The <keyword id="40807" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Election-Commission">Election Commission</keyword> (<keyword id="6360997" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="EC">EC</keyword>) has said that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana had not violated the model code of conduct by clearing the land deal between Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law <keyword id="12593" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Robert-Vadra">Robert Vadra</keyword> and <keyword id="6362997" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="DLF">DLF</keyword>. 
 
Responding to the BJP’s complaint, the EC replied, “There does not seem to be any violation of the model code of conduct by the government of Haryana in the matter after the coming into force of the model code of conduct from September 12.” 
 
The EC said it had examined the allegations of violation of the model code of conduct and asked for reports from the concerned state departments. “However, in case you have any further or additional information in this regard, you may furnish the same to the commission,” it said. 
 
The report submitted by the financial commissioner, Town and Country Planning Department, said, “The decision on the request for renewal and transfer of licence in favour of DLF Ltd is pending in the department since October 2012 for want of clarification regarding the issue of ownership. The department has sought this clarification from the Director General, Consolidation of Land Holdings and Land Records, which is yet to be received and hence the request for transfer and renewal of licence is pending in the department on which no action has been taken since then.” 
 
“It is clarified that neither any allegation about any action taken by the Town and Country Planning Department has been made in the news reports, nor any action on the subject... has been taken in the Town &amp; Country Planning Department, either during the period of model code of conduct or before imposition of such code,” the report added.

Election Commission Clears Haryana Govt Of
Breach Of Model Code

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=nitin+gadkari">Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari</a> on Friday slammed Nehru-Gandhi dynasty scion <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=rahul+gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</a> for making an insulting comment against External Affairs Minister <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> and asked him to apologise. 
 
Gadkari also threatened Congress party vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, of defamation suit. 
 
Gandhi, while launching a scathing attack on Swaraj over <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=lalit+modi">Lalit Modi row</a>, accused Swaraj of committing a crime. 
 
“<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sushma+swaraj">Sushma</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sushma+swaraj"> Swaraj</a> is a minister who the whole country knows has done a criminal act. When you do a criminal act, you go to jail. The foreign minister of India going around ... and saying please release this man. The CM of Rajasthan has done that. This is against the law," he said while addressing mediapersons. 
 He also attacked Rajasthan Chief Minister <keyword id="6361795" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vasundhara-Raje">Vasundhara Raje</keyword> and demanded Swaraj’s and Raje’s resignation. 
 
Both the BJP leaders are accused of assisting former <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IPL">IPL</a> chief Lalit Modi with travel documents and an immigration application. 
 
"This is a very insensitive and insulting comment against a foreign minister. He should apologise in person and take back his words. Gandhi's charges of corruption had no basis. She has not violated any law, nor has she misused her office,” Gadkari told the media. 
 
Meanwhile, the day 3 of the Monsoon Session was yet again adjourned. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=BJP">BJP</a> moved a privilege notice in Lok Sabha against <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=robert+vadra">Robert Vadra</a> for a recent Facebook post that said, "Parliament begins and so do their petty diversionary tactics...People of India are not fool(s). Regret to see India led by such so-called leaders." In response to comments on his post, he added, "We need to win over this kind of dictatorship and intrusion in a democratic India. Have nothing to hide, so will continue to fight till they stop falsely accusing me." 
 
BJP MPs submitted notices of privilege, demanding that Vadra be punished and reprimanded for his post.

Apologise to Sushma Swaraj or face defamation suit, Gadkari warns Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: The BJP vs Congress war over Robert Vadra's land deals shows no signs of abating with the saffron party asserting that the Rajasthan government will begin its probe into the controversial deals next month and questioning the "silence" of party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the transactions. 
 
BJP declared Vadra's deals will be investigated in Rajasthan, where CM Vasundhara Raje will ensure a thorough probe once the Lok Sabha polls end on May 16. BJP said the silence of Congress's top duo only added to suspicions that the "family" had something to hide on the land deals, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said. 
 
Former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari also chipped in from Lucknow where he was campaigning for Rajnath Singh, saying the UPA government should either set up a judicial probe into Vadra's dealings or Sonia should file a defamation suit if the allegations against her son-in-law are baseless. 
 
Sitharaman added, "It is not an issue of vendetta politics. It is more an issue of an electoral promise given by Raje that she will definitely look into all the malpractices of the Gehlot government and Vadra is one of these ... once the model code is lifted ... law will take its due course." 
 
Congress retaliated by dismissing BJP's threats, saying the saffron party had got "nervous" because of Priyanka Gandhi's effective campaign. "It is very clear BJP is panicking due to Priyanka Gandhi's campaign in Rae Bareli and Amethi. Her campaign is resonating across the country," party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, describing the information in a CD and booklet released by BJP as "trash allegations made by an elementary school kid". But BJP is showing no signs of easing its attacks on Vadra. "Till date, we don't have the Congress chief talking about it nor has the vice-president, who had said he will bring in great reformatory changes in the party," Sitharaman said. 
 
BJP also termed Congress's claim of the Supreme Court giving Vadra a clean chit an "incorrect interpretation". With the two parties sparring over the issue, AAP accused both of "selective shadow-boxing", saying they were driving away the focus of the campaign from real issues. In a statement, the party said it had already highlighted the issue of Vadra's dealings 18 months ago.

Rajasthan Government Will Probe Vadra's Land Deals After LS Polls: BJP

Upholding the Central Information Commission’s (<keyword id="6378909" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="CIC">CIC</keyword>) order, the <keyword id="6355014" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-High-Court">Delhi High Court</keyword> has dismissed a writ petition by <keyword id="6362997" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="DLF">DLF</keyword>’s subsidiary Edward Keventors Successors. The company had challenged CIC in which the commission had directed the company to disclose the details of a land in South block in Delhi that allegedly raises security threats to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. 
	 
	“In view of the aforesaid, the contention that the petitioner had not been granted an opportunity of hearing cannot be sustained. An opportunity of making oral submissions was granted to the petitioner in view of the unequivocal language of the notice issued on February 28, 2013, however the petitioner rested content by sending a response dated March 10, 2013. Thus, the provision of Section 19(4) of the RTI Act was duly complied with,” the court said in its order. 
	 
	The court further added, “I am also unable to accept the contention that the petitioner was prejudiced in any manner on account of non disclosure of the application preferred by respondent no.3. The petitioner was informed of that respondent number three had sought information relating to the property ‐Block‐ 48, Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi...Thus, the petitioner was aware of the information that was sought. It is clarified that no information relating to the petitioner other than that relating to the property in question is to be disclosed.” 
	 
	The court observed that since the commission had followed the law, hence, it was not necessary to review the ‘merits of the decision’ taken by CIC. The commission had given its final order on December 3, 2013 following a RTI application filed by activist Subhash Chandra Agarwal which had sought information on the said land. 
	 
	It should be noted that objections were raised against DLF’s subsidiary’s plans of constructing high-rise luxury apartments on that land as any private building close to the President’s house posed serious threats to the country’s sovereignty. 
	 
	“It is noteworthy that Subramanian Swamy in his letters addressed to President of India alleged involvement of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra in the dubious land-deal highlighted in the RTI queries, said to have been the biggest ever land-scam in the country,” said Agarwal. 
	 
	“With petition of DLF subsidiary (Edward Keventors Successors) now dismissed, Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and any other concerned government-agency should review decision of allowing land-use change in earlier UPA-regime in the controversial matter where even intelligence-authorities and President Secretariat are learnt to have raised objections from security-aspect with land-project being in close vicinity of Rashtrapati Bhawan,” he added. 
	 
	Representational Image

Delhi High Court Upholds CIC’s Order, Rejects
Petition Filed by DLF’s Subsidiary

<ul><li><keyword id="13227" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhupinder-Singh-Hooda">Bhupinder Singh Hooda</keyword> held the CM position from 2004-2014 and is also a four time MP.</li><li>Hooda won from his constituency with a margin of 58312 votes.</li><li>He fights from the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency which falls in the Rohtak district. </li></ul>Bhupinder Singh Hooda is leading from his <keyword id="8254285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garhi-Sampla-constituency">Garhi Sampla constituency</keyword>. He is contesting against Satish Kumar Nandal from BJP amongst others. Hooda won from his constituency with a margin of 58312 votes. Hooda, the two-time Chief Minister of Haryana, was once the leading the Congress and the state too. But his popularity has been slipping after Narendra Modi wave hit the country in 2014. He held the CM position from 2004-2014, and has also been an MP four times from his constituency Garhi Sampla-Kiloi from Rohtak district. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/babita-phogat-haryana-assembly-elections-2019-result/articleshow/71725888.cms">Dangal girl Babita Phogat is hoping to win her first election in Dadri</a> In the assembly elections, Hooda with his political dominance is still a strong contender. Hooda is up against Satish Kumar Nandal, who was a member of Indian National Lok Dal but recently joined BJP. Nandal has been Hooda’s competitor from the same constituency for the past two elections but lost in 2014 by 47,185 votes while in 2009 he lost by 72,100 votes. However this time, Nandal has the BJP and Modi’s advantage with him. Even without the party advantage, Nandal has been closing in the vote margin in the last two elections. A dynasty man Hooda’s father Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda too was a senior Congress leader, while his son Deepender Singh Hooda has served as an MP thrice from the Rohtak constituency. Holding onto the glories of the past Bhupinder Singh was able to save his constituency Garhi Sampla – even after Congress fell in the 2014 elections. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/who-is-jjp-leader-dushyant-chautala-and-jjp-final-result-in-haryana-state-elections-2019/articleshow/71734605.cms">Dushyant Chautala may hold the 'key' as the less than a year old Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) may have the precious few seats needed to form the next Haryana government</a> Work and controversy Hooda has the support of the Jat community behind him. But he also came under fire from the non-Jat community during the Jat agitation in February 2016. The Jat agitation lead into violent protests and unrest as the community sought to be included under Other Backward Class, to get the affirmative action benefits. He was also criticised for his ‘alleged support’ to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra in Gurgaon land case. In 2018, Hooda was also <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/robert-vadra-bhupinder-hooda-booked-in-gurugram-land-scam-case-1329757-2018-09-01">booked</a> over Gurgaon land deals. For 2019 assembly elections, Hooda has been raising his voice against the rising unemployment in the state, lack of development and the bad law and order situation. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/haryana-state-assembly-election-2019-final-result/articleshow/71730556.cms">The final result of Haryana state election 2019</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/haryana-state-election-result-winner-list/articleshow/71738657.cms">Haryana State Election result and Winner list</a>

Bhupinder Singh Hooda wins – forging an unbreakable bond with his Garhi Sampla constituency

In the first Assembly election after the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, Maharashtra and Haryana go for polls on October 15. The stakes are high for all the political parties involved; <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>, <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>, <keyword id="42402" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="NCP">NCP</keyword>, <keyword id="6358821" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shiv-Sena">Shiv Sena</keyword>, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Indian National Lok Dal (<keyword id="49114" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="INLD">INLD</keyword>). However, these elections are particularly important for the BJP, which had suffered successive defeats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by-polls. The by-polls defeat came in as a blow for the party that stormed to power, at the Centre, single-handedly only a couple of months back. 
 
Will BJP be able to regain its lost glory in these elections? Or would other local parties steal the show? Only time would tell. We tried to take a dig. 
 
These elections would be the first major test for the five-month old Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre. Following a bitter divorce with Shiv Sena, its oldest ally, the BJP would be determined to prove that it’s the senior partner in Maharashtra. If it manages to win about 90 seats, it would justify its push for equal share in seats with Shiv Sena. If this happens, then it would be interesting to see if Shiv Sena, once a very dominant force in the state, would be ready to play second fiddle to the ex-alliance partner, BJP. 
 
The current state of affairs in Haryana also seems interesting. On one hand, the corruption allegations (like Robert Vadra-DLF deal) and anti-incumbency against the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government are giving the ruling party the pre-poll jitters. On the other hand, it is increasing BJP’s chances of coming to power in Haryana; after all, the party won seven out of 10 Lok Sabha seats. 
 
After suffering a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress is eager to salvage its pride. And these elections will prove to be their litmus test. Although the break-up between the BJP and Shiv Sena has left the Maharashtra contest wide open, the Congress is on a sticky wicket due to anti-incumbency and various scams. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former ally of the Congress, will be looking to prove that it has a stronger foothold in the state than the Congress. 
 
Shiv Sena, fighting the first election after its founder Bal Thackeray’s demise, will encash on the sympathy factor to salvage its pride and justify its persistence for more seats by winning more seats than the BJP. 
 In Haryana, <keyword id="87769" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Om-Prakash-Chautala">Om Prakash Chautala</keyword> of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), who was granted bail on medical grounds, re-energised the party’s election campaign by taking undue advantage of his bail and campaigned for the party. His rallies drew massive crowds as Jats of Haryana are die-hard supporters of the Chautala family. Also, INLD is likely to get some sympathy votes due to Chautala’s imprisonment. However, one can’t be sure if the crowd and sympathy would translate into votes. 
 
As of now, the Assembly elections present an interesting political slugfest that even political pundits and psephologists are finding it difficult to reckon which way the political wind would blow.

Maharashtra, Haryana Assembly Polls: Political Breakups Leave Everyone Guessing

Packaging has come a long way from natural containers like tree leaves bamboos, pottery and ceramics to molded glass, metal cans and plastics. With the industrial revolution, the call for packaged food rose and the manufactures looked for better alternatives for their customers. When we think of packaged food, we immediately associate it with companies like <keyword id="194619" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="tetra-pak">Tetra Pak</keyword>. Tetra Pak’s journey with India began three decades ago when it started its operations in 1987. It was the first Carton <keyword id="1634601" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="packaging-company">Packaging Company</keyword> in India and their vision to make food safe and available everywhere has touched millions of lives across the country since then. However, their promise of safety extends beyond just food, to the environment. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 At a recently organized two-day leadership seminar titled, Today, Tomorrow, Together, which celebrated Tetra Pak’s thirty years in the country, a guest panel on Sustainability had representatives like Sanchita Jindal, Adviser, Ministry of Environment and Forests; <keyword id="150453" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sunil-duggal">Sunil Duggal</keyword>, CEO, Dabur; Wilma Rodrigues, Founder &amp; CEO, Saahas Zero Waste and Tetra Pak’s <keyword id="5902227" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="jeff-fielkow">Jeff Fielkow</keyword> on Day 1. The esteemed guests discussed the ‘Key success factors for implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility legislation’ and concluded that there is a long way to go for most Indian companies. The discussion was centred around the premise that sustainable global economy should combine long term profitability with ethical behaviour, social justice and environmental care. Tetra Pak has been a stellar example of that by being fully committed to sustainability practices long before the <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> insisted on Sustainability reports from companies of all member nations in 2012, and also much before Legislation such as EPR (extended Producer Responsibility) came into play. The company’s brand promise, PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD clearly underlines everything they do at Tetra Pak. “Our promise is to protect food, to protect the communities that we work with and society at large, to protect the future of our customers and the environment. We realized long ago that there is a need to accord each of these commitments the highest priority; but conversely, we need to balance them as well – because no single commitment can be carried through at the expense of the other. We have also come to recognize that the only way to achieve this is through collaboration, innovation, determination and a strong sense of obligation across the entire company,” says <keyword id="1042402" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kandarp-singh">Kandarp Singh</keyword>, Managing Director Tetra Pak South Asia Markets. Building a sustainable business involves collaborating with customers, suppliers, governments, NGOs and society. It requires a commitment to continuous innovation, developing technologies and materials that will drive efficiency, cut waste, promote the use of renewable resources and reduce environmental footprint, while continuing to meet the ever-widening needs of the market for packaging that keeps food safe. Recently in Mumbai, over 1600 families in <keyword id="6355459" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="colaba">Colaba</keyword> and Cuffe Parade got four benches made from recycled cartons and installed them at Sagar Upvan, also known as <keyword id="136514" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai-port-trust">Mumbai Port Trust</keyword> garden. The residents stopped nearly 18,000 cartons from ending up at city’s dumping grounds. This is only one of many such initiatives being run by Tetra Pak, with the help of an execution partner called R U Recycling Greenlife (RUR). According to RUR, around 20% of used cartons sold through Sahakari Bhandar and Reliance Smart and Fresh outlets across Mumbai get deposited by conscious consumers and are recycled into useful products, but the opportunities are immense for other shopper citizens to follow suit. Tetra Pak’s flagship recycling programme, called Go Green, was started in association with Sahakari Bhandar in 2010. With 44 collection centres across the city, Go Green has managed to collect over 20 lakh cartons and recycled them into 250 desks and over 100 garden benches. This initiative is interesting because not only does it promote recycling of packaging materials but it also creates classroom furniture and notebooks out of the recycled material which is then donated to schools for the lesser privileged. Kandarp Singh says, “There is need for a unified approach towards recycling in order to make our cities healthier and more habitable. Being a responsible manufacturer, we have been working ahead of the curve to set up a viable ecosystem to encourage and build awareness around the recycling of our fully-recyclable paper-based cartons. We are very thankful to our partners like Sahakari Bhandar, Reliance Fresh and RUR for their support in. The support that Mumbaikars have extended to us is very encouraging and we are ready to take this mission to the next level over the next few years.” When it comes to sustainability the company is a great example to follow, and their sustainability story does not end at just recycling. The company is a frontrunner when it comes to ethical work practices starting from sourcing till recycling- • RESPONSIBLE SOURCING - Cartons are primarily made from paper which is sourced only from well -managed forests to ensure that none of the endangered forests are affected. The internationally-accepted FSC symbol (Forest Stewardship Council) on Tetra Pak cartons indicate that they are made from paperboard from responsibly managed forests. • WORLD CLASS MANUFACTURING - By controlling the entire production cycle, Tetra Pak ensures reduced wastage as it manufactures aseptic packaging material while increasing efficiency. • INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS - Not just that, the company invests heavily in state-of-the-art latest technology and has developed processing and filling systems that minimise food waste while ensuring food safety and lowering environmental footprint. • INCREASING RECYCLING AND CREATING AWARENESS - The company has been working ahead of the curve and partnered with organisations working across the waste value chain to boost recycling of used cartons as Tetra Pak realizes the impact its products can leave on the environment- • 8,000 recycled Tetra Pak cartons can save 1 tree • 6,500 recycled Tetra Pak cartons make 1 bench • 6,000 recycled Tetra Pak cartons make 1 roofing sheet • 4,500 recycled Tetra Pak cartons make 1 school desk • 150 recycled Tetra Pak cartons make 1 notebook (Source: Sahakari Bhandar) Sustainable packaging Given the increasing awareness about the environmental impact of packaging, Tetra Pak carton is the packaging of the future, being fully recyclable already, and with the company making sure that used cartons get an effective afterlife and do not end up at landfills. The paperboard, which is 75% of the carton, is recycled into useful products and the 25% remaining fraction consisting of the polyethylene and the aluminum can be recycled into panel boards, roof sheets and so on. Globally, sustainability is an important priority for Tetra Pak. Last year, the company launched Tetra Rex, made entirely from plant-based materials and 100 per cent renewable. Other options that Tetra Pak is looking at are biopolymers for caps and more. Another stellar example of the sustainability story is the multi-stakeholder Municipal solid waste management program, ‘Alag Karo Har Din Teen Bin’, in Gurugram which was pivoted by the NGO Saahas starting September 6th. The program is aimed at establishing and sustaining segregation at source and develop capacities of the waste collectors to ensure high recycling rates in Gurugram. “Gurgaon generates 1,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. If source segregation is practised and collection and processing infrastructure is improved, it is possible to reduce the amount of waste being dumped by 85-90%. The MCG has started various projects for source segregation of waste and decentralised waste management,” says Narhari Banger, additional commissioner, MCG. The program aims to reach out to 9000 households; 50 commercial establishments such as Offices and Malls; 50 schools and 500 waste pickers in order to spread awareness about three-way source segregation -dry waste, wet waste and hazardous waste. "We want to sensitise people on proper waste management practices and the value that recyclables like used Tetra Pak cartons can provide to waste dealers and recyclers." says Kandarp Singh. "Our cartons are primarily made from high value paper and are 100% recyclable. We want citizens to be aware of good waste segregation practices and for them to take action in their own homes. We hope the people of Gurgaon see the value of projects like Alag Karo in making our Millennium city cleaner."

Used beverage cartons are being recycled into classroom desks and that’s not where Tetra Pak’s sustainability story ends

<ul><li>Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is gunning for a second term. </li><li>Khattar won from the Karnal constituency by a margin of 45188 votes.</li><li>He won the 2014 election with a majority of 63,736 votes.</li></ul>Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is waiting for his second term as BJP is aiming for a majority in the state assembly. Khattar won from the Karnal constituency by a margin of 45188 votes. Khattar was up against Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) candidate Tej Bahadur Yadav. The poll of exit polls projected a win for BJP with a massive majority of 63 out of the 90 seats. However, there was only one poll, by India Today-Axis, which showed a neck-to-neck fight between the two coalitions- one led by the BJP and the other led by Congress. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bhupinder-singh-hooda-haryana-election-results-2019/articleshow/71734070.cms">Bhupinder Singh Hooda leads from Garhi Sampla constituency</a> On the voting day too, Khattar seemed confident of victory as took a train from Chandigarh, followed by an autorickshaw to his home, and then rode a bicycle to the polling station in Karnal. “People of Karnal showered me with their blessings in the last elections. I am hopeful that this time too, they will ensure my victory with a thumping margin — more than the one recorded in 2014,” Khattar had told <a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/khattar-files-papers-from-karnal/841231.html">media.</a> The man who led BJP’s victory in 2014 Khattar rode along with the BJP wave in 2014, as Narendra Modi came to power. In 2014, Khattar had become the first BJP Chief Minister; the party had taken a bold step betting on a Punjabi candidate in a state that is dominated by the Jat community. He won the 2014 state assembly election with a majority of 63,736 votes. He defeated the previously successful independent candidate from Karnal, Jaiprakash Gupta. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/babita-phogat-haryana-assembly-elections-2019-result/articleshow/71725888.cms">Dangal girl Babita Phogat is hoping to win her first election in Dadri</a> From RSS to BJP, Khattar’s journey in politics Born in Rohtak, Khattar is not a new name in politics. He was just 24 when he joined RSS in 1977. Having worked for 14 years, he joined the BJP and went on to become the Organizational General Secretary of the state. As a strategist with both the RSS and the BJP, Khattar remained in the shadows until he was thrown into the spotlight in 2014 when he was chosen as the BJP's candidate for the CM elections. Controversies surrounding Khattar Khattar’s five-year term in the state has also been marred with multiple controversies with the biggest one being the Jat agitation in February 2016. The Jat agitation saw violent protests and unrests in the state as the community asked for inclusion in the Other Backward Class, so as to get the affirmative action benefits. He was also in news right after Article 370 was scrapped for his comments on Kashmiri girls. However, all that can held against Khattar pales in front of the poor perception of the opposition. The BJP has ensured that the corruption charges on Robert Vadra, the kin of the Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and the Chautala family that ruled the state earlier remain etched in public memory as they cast their vote. For his next 5 year term, Khattar has promised water for every household in Haryana. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/haryana-state-assembly-election-2019-final-result/articleshow/71730556.cms">The final result of Haryana state election 2019</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/haryana-state-election-result-winner-list/articleshow/71738657.cms">Haryana State Election result and Winner list</a>

Manohar Lal Khattar wins his constituency but is hanging on to Haryana by a thread

NEW DELHI: Imagine a Narendra <keyword id="2196111" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Modi-vs-Priyanka-Gandhi">Modi vs Priyanka Gandhi</keyword> contest for the Varanasi <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> seat. It would have been the mother of all election battles, and would have put everything and everyone else in the shade. It would have electrified the nation and riveted the attention of the world. 
 Priyanka Gandhi is reliably learned to have been very keen to be the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> candidate in the holy city. But the party leadership finally decided against fielding her. 
 Priyanka, who has so far limited her political responsibilities to managing her brother and mother's Lok Sabha campaigns in <keyword id="43068" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rae-Bareli">Rae Bareli</keyword> and Amethi, is believed to have made a strong pitch to contest because she felt Modi was “bad for the country” and needed to be “stopped”. 
 
Apart from perhaps tying up Modi in Varanasi and forcing him to curtail his national campaign, Priyanka's entry would have charged up the rank and file of the Congress at a time when a number of ministers and leaders were reluctant to fight elections of fear of losing (one senior Cabinet member is reported to have feared a rout). The fact that she was willing to place 'a higher principle' above a real risk of defeat would have sent out a strong and defiant message to the demoralized troops, and hopefully, the entire electorate, Congress insiders said. 
 
“Even if she’d lost, the results would have been only known after the elections. But it would have come as a huge booster before. It was very courageous of her. That’s something senior Congressmen who’ve run away from contesting didn’t understand,” said a party manager. 
 
 
 
 
Senior partymen said the decision to not field Priyanka was driven by the logic of preferring a ‘local’ to take on Modi the ‘outsider’. But there may have been other reasons too: 
 
* The estimate that Priyanka's presence in Varanasi would have accorded Modi “too much importance”; 
 
* The fear that defeat of one of the three Gandhis might have dimmed the ‘halo’ around them; 
 
* It would almost certainly have exposed Priyanka to attacks from Modi and the BJP on account of her husband Robert Vadra's alleged ties with real estate giant DLF and brought some of his other reported land deals under the microscope; 
 
* Most of all, it would have diverted attention from Rahul and his campaign, and raised questions as to whether Priyanka's entry was an implicit acknowledgement of her brother's lacklustre leadership. There might have been some apprehension that Priyanka, by the force of her personality, would have greater gravitational pull than Rahul. She has been variously described by those who know her as “charming, charismatic and connected”; her political instincts are also said to be sharp, and she can work a crowd. The 41-year-old Priyanka’s entry could have undermined Rahul’s authority not long after he'd been officially anointed future leader. 
 
For Priyanka, who is said to be very close to her one-year-older brother, the reason for wanting to contest in Varanasi was never to position herself as an alternative to Rahul, but to “fight the good fight”, according to an insider. “She has no larger ambition to lead the Congress,” he added. 
 
Still, her desire to take the field against Modi is significant because it’s in stark contrast to the continuing perception of Rahul being a reluctant politician, and because it shows that the younger sibling may not be averse to broadening her political interests behind the family boroughs of Rae Bareli and Amethi. For a long time now, there has been a subterranean demand, ‘Priyanka lao, Congress bachao’, which periodically finds public voice. 
 
One of the reasons the Congress delayed naming a candidate for Varanasi was because it was weighing the possibility of naming Priyanka. But the actual decision against fielding her was taken some days before Tuesday’s announcement of local MLA Ajay Rai as candidate for the Congress; the last few days were spent seeking a tacit understanding with SP and BSP for complicating Modi's job in Varanasi. 
 
Significantly, early this month, in perhaps the strongest push yet for bringing Priyanka to the forefront of the Congress, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said that Rajiv Gandhi spoke to him about his daughter’s political aptitude way back in 1990. The question is: Was Dwivedi aware of the secret confabulations and was he trying to test the waters? 
 
While promising to reveal details in due course, Dwivedi said, “As far as I know, her (Priyanka) interest in politics started at an early age. She was keen to understand political developments and the language of politics from the very start. I even have proof of this but I don’t want to discuss it now. All I’ll say is that Rajiv Gandhi told me something about this in 1990. That’s all for the moment.” 
 
The comment immediately led a group of Congress leaders to claim, off the record, that there were plans afoot to bring Priyanka into active politics. 
 
That plan has been shelved, at least for the moment. As for Rai’s chances in Varanasi, even the boldest gambler is likely to think twice before placing a bet on him. 
 
But Priyanka is clearly still interested in Varanasi, even if she’s not in the fight herself. At a meeting at the Tughlaq Lane residence of Rahul last Monday, Priyanka gave Rai a pep talk soon after the party decided to field him. 
 
“Priyankaji ne kaha ki aap jam kar ladiye. Unhone apna personal mobile number bhi diya aur kaha ki aapko jo bhi zaroorat hogi woh aap turant bolen. Woh aapko muhaiyya karayi jaayegi. (Priyankaji told me to fight wholeheartedly. She gave me her personal mobile number and told me not to hesitate to ask for anything that I may need and said I will be given every help),” Rai quoted her as telling him.

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