New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Cricketing icon and Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday was recognised as the national icon of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to encourage voter participation in the electoral process.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday with Tendulkar for three years at a function here in the presence of the Chief Election
Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioners Arun Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.

As part of the three-year agreement, Tendulkar will spread voter awareness.

Tendulkar was presented with the title and recognition in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

The major step to encourage the voters by the poll panel comes ahead of Assembly elections in states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana,
Chhattisgarh and Mizoram later this year and Lok Sabha elections next year.

Speaking on the occasion Deputy Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar Sahoo said, “Today is a momentous occasion as legendary cricketer Tendulkar has agreed to be the national icon for ECI, we express gratitude for that and this alliance will help the youth and urban population with the commitment of the ECI.”

“Your dedication and passion for the game of cricket has made you a role model of millions. As national icon your reach and influence will
definitely amplify the efforts of the ECI to promote voter participation and awareness. We look forward to your valuable contribution and towards
strengthening the pillars of democracy,” Sahoo added.

The poll panel in a statement on Tuesday said that this collaboration would mark a significant step towards leveraging Tendulkar's unparalleled impact with the youth demographic for increasing voters’ participation in the forthcoming elections, especially in General Elections 2024.

It also said that the Commission through this partnership aims to bridge the gap between citizens, especially youth and urban populations and the
electoral process thereby, trying to address the challenges of urban and youth apathy. 

Last year, the Commission recognised famous actor Pankaj Tripathi as the National Icon. Earlier, during the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, stalwarts like M.S.Dhoni, Aamir Khan and Mary Kom had been the poll panel's National Icons.

Tendulkar is currently a Rajya Sabha MP. Tendulkar holds several records for his performance on the 22 yard cricket pitch and is considered one of
the greatest players.

Jaipur, June 30 (IANS) After making T.S. Singh Deo the Chhattisgarh deputy Chief Minister, the Congress high command is now deciding to resolve the ongoing Gehlot-Pilot tussle in view of forthcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan.

Sources said that the party leaders are working on a three step formula.

Under the first formula, it is being discussed that Pilot be made party's national general secretary, CWC member, and also be given the charge of Rajasthan Assembly poll campaign committee.

Second formula is to bring Pilot back as state party chief. In this case, the Gehlot camp will be upset as it wants the party Chief to be a person from their group.

The Gehlot group says that removing current PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra during election year can lead to a dent in the Jat vote bank. However, the party high command is discussing if Dotasra can be made Deputy Chief Minister in case.

Third formula being discussed is to make Pilot and Gehlot sit face to face and resolve differences and if Pilot can be made the next CM face for this election. The party wants Gehlot and Pilot to come together and contest next polls unitedly, said party leaders.

Jaipur, May 15 (IANS) Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Monday placed three demands before his party's government, warning that if these demands are not met by the end of this month, then he will agitate in the entire state.

At the public meeting held in Bhankrota here to mark conclusion of his Jan Sangharsh Yatra, Pilot said: "Till now we were speaking in a Gandhian way. There will be a big movement in villages and cities now and we will get justice done."

Pilot's three demands include that the Rajasthan Public Service Commission should be dissolved and a new organisation should be formed, unemployed should get compensation in lieu of paper leak and there should be a high-level inquiry into the corruption that happened during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

Targeting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pilot said: "We are working for the organisation while being abused without holding any post and you are eating cream while sitting in power."

"Let people hear that don't limit me, I don't belong to any religion or society. I am the son of 36 communities. I am the son of Rajasthan," he added.

"Whether I remain in any position or not, we will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan. I am not afraid, I am not going to suppress. I have fought for you and will keep fighting."

Pilot recalled that in 2013, the Congress was left with only 21 MLAs and then party chief Sonia Gandhi called him and said that the condition of the party in Rajasthan is very bad, "you go and become the President".

"In these five years, we strongly opposed the Vasundhara government on the basis of its policies. There was open loot in Vasundhara's rule," he said.

Pilot said that the Chief Minister is also the Home Minister and the Finance Minister: "I said many times that what we have said should be investigated. I observed a day-fast for the investigation of the Vasundhara government. I thought we should go to the public. Corruption is eating the society like termites. We will have to strike hard. We have to show the world that we do what we say."

Pilot also questioned that on whose advice was Babulal Katara made an RPSC member?

"The children who work hard for a year or two, spend lakhs of rupees, live in rented houses and then the paper gets leaked. You have to go to its root. If the law is doing its job, then there should be no discrimination. Any fish, no matter big or small, have to be caught," he added.

"You have arrested Katara. On whose advice did Katara become a member of the RPSC, it has to be ascertained? The purpose of this visit was to investigate the corruption of the BJP government. The purpose of the yatra was to get action taken on the paper leak," he said.

The rally was also addressed by state minister Rajendra Singh Guda who accused his own government of being indulged in corruption cases.

Minister Hemaram Chaudhary also spoke on the occasion and retaliated on the allegations of Gehlot on accepting money from the BJP.

He said that he was hurt by the kind of allegations made by the Chief Minister. If the Chief Minister has found me guilty of taking money, then why did he made me a minister?

"Many Congress leaders obstructed this rally," he said, adding "You (Gehlot) are accusing your own government."

Addressing the meeting, former Speaker Dipendra Singh Shekhawat said that BJP-era Speaker Kailash Meghwal hadA once accused the Vasundhara Raje government of corruption worth Rs 5,000 crore. "There are allegations of corruption on the ministers of our government as well, all should be investigated."

Chaksu MLA Ved Prakash Solanki said: "(Congress state in charge Sukhjinder Singh) Randhawa called me and after showing the survey, said that the BJP is speaking in Chaksu. I told them that BJP is speaking in my place, but just tell me where Congress is speaking?"

Mukesh Bhakar, MLA from Nagaur's Ladnun, said: "Gehlot wants Pilot to leave the party. We will not go anywhere. We will stay here."

Pilot started his Jan Sangharsh Yatra on May 11 from the RPSC in Ajmer. The yatra, which reached Jaipur after covering a distance of 125 kilometers in five days, has once again raised the issue of paper leak and corruption reported under the tenure of former CM Vasundhara Raje.

Former Congress state President Narayan Singh has reached Pilot's meeting. Overall, around 15 MLAs were present in his rally.

New Delhi/Jaipur, April 11 (IANS) Despite the party objections, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday began his one-day fast at Shaheed Smarak in Rajasthan's Jaipur.

Ahead of his fast, he paid floral tributes to Jyotirao Phule in the city.

Pilot has accused the Gehlot government for inaction on the corruption allegations against the then Vasundhra government.

Pilot said: "No action was taken on corruption allegations during the Vasundhara government. While being in the opposition, we had promised that an inquiry would be conducted. As 6-7 months are left for the election, questions could be raised if there was any alliance between Gehlot and Raje. Action will have to be taken soon to prove that it is not. Congress workers should also feel that there is no difference between our words and actions."

On Monday, hours ahead of Pilot's, the Congress state in-charge, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa termed the move as being against the party interest and an "anti-party activity".

"Sachin Pilot's day-long fast tomorrow (Tuesday) is against the party interests and is anti-party activity. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in the party forums instead of in the media and public," he said in a statement.

"I have been an AICC in-charge for the last 5 months and Pilot has never discussed this issue with me. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress," Randhawa added.