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Tag: Gujarat Congress

  • Congress calls for response from PM Modi on Gujarat conman who posed as PMO official on go to to Kashmir

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress held a press convention in Ahmedabad on Friday, calling for strict motion towards conman Kiran Patel who visited Jammu and Kashmir within the guise of an official from the Prime Minister’s Office and moved with Z-plus safety.

    Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi mentioned, “When information about Kiran Patel’s visit to the extremely sensitive region of Jammu and Kashmir as a PMO official came to light, it raised major concerns for everyone, especially on the nation’s security. The Prime Minister must respond to the citizens of the nation.”

    Patel pretended to be an Additional Director (Strategy and Campaign) within the Prime Minister’s Office and even had a PMO visiting card. He had been arrested by police in Srinagar on March 3. After the expiry of 15 days of police custody, he has now been despatched to fifteen days judicial custody.

    During questioning, the investigating businesses found that Patel was initially from Isanpur, Ahmedabad. He had introduced a bungalow solely a 12 months earlier than.

    His spouse Malini Patel has claimed that he’s harmless. Talking to native media in Ahmedabad, she mentioned, “Kiran is presently in Srinagar however he has been framed. Never have we achieved something flawed. And from Kashmir, we had a good response. Kiran went there to assist Kashmir flourish, however he was framed there. All prior circumstances towards us have been dismissed.”

    Kiran Patel, who is sort of articulate, liked main a glamorous life. He has posted pictures on social media of himself with BJP leaders together with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He additionally claimed affiliation with quite a few overseas universities by posting letters from these establishments on social media.

    Patel can also be the founding father of an NGO in Ahmedabad, During the lockdown, he launched a marketing campaign through which his volunteers distributed free drugs to individuals in want throughout Ahmedabad. He additionally created a WhatsApp group known as ‘RP Helping Hands’ for this function through which he used to attach with individuals and replace them on his work and the place he went.

    This shouldn’t be the primary time that an FIR has been registered towards Patel.

    “Two earlier FIRs had been lodged towards him in Ahmedabad, through which there have been issues with examine returns and private dues. Aside from this, there aren’t any circumstances towards him. He was given safety by a political pal to journey to Kashmir,” Patel’s legal professional Nisar Vaidya instructed native media.

    Patel is energetic on social networking websites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. His account can also be verified on Twitter.

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress held a press convention in Ahmedabad on Friday, calling for strict motion towards conman Kiran Patel who visited Jammu and Kashmir within the guise of an official from the Prime Minister’s Office and moved with Z-plus safety.

    Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi mentioned, “When information about Kiran Patel’s visit to the extremely sensitive region of Jammu and Kashmir as a PMO official came to light, it raised major concerns for everyone, especially on the nation’s security. The Prime Minister must respond to the citizens of the nation.”

    Patel pretended to be an Additional Director (Strategy and Campaign) within the Prime Minister’s Office and even had a PMO visiting card. He had been arrested by police in Srinagar on March 3. After the expiry of 15 days of police custody, he has now been despatched to fifteen days judicial custody.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    During questioning, the investigating businesses found that Patel was initially from Isanpur, Ahmedabad. He had introduced a bungalow solely a 12 months earlier than.

    His spouse Malini Patel has claimed that he’s harmless. Talking to native media in Ahmedabad, she mentioned, “Kiran is presently in Srinagar however he has been framed. Never have we achieved something flawed. And from Kashmir, we had a good response. Kiran went there to assist Kashmir flourish, however he was framed there. All prior circumstances towards us have been dismissed.”

    Kiran Patel, who is sort of articulate, liked main a glamorous life. He has posted pictures on social media of himself with BJP leaders together with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He additionally claimed affiliation with quite a few overseas universities by posting letters from these establishments on social media.

    Patel can also be the founding father of an NGO in Ahmedabad, During the lockdown, he launched a marketing campaign through which his volunteers distributed free drugs to individuals in want throughout Ahmedabad. He additionally created a WhatsApp group known as ‘RP Helping Hands’ for this function through which he used to attach with individuals and replace them on his work and the place he went.

    This shouldn’t be the primary time that an FIR has been registered towards Patel.

    “Two earlier FIRs had been lodged towards him in Ahmedabad, through which there have been issues with examine returns and private dues. Aside from this, there aren’t any circumstances towards him. He was given safety by a political pal to journey to Kashmir,” Patel’s legal professional Nisar Vaidya instructed native media.

    Patel is energetic on social networking websites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. His account can also be verified on Twitter.

  • Despite a foul loss in Gujarat polls, large-scale tug-of-war in Congress to decide on Opposition chief

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who held a press convention in Jaipur on Friday, blamed that if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had not been “put up as a proxy to target” his get together, they’d have gained the lately concluded Gujarat meeting elections. But the interior battle of Gujarat Congress leaders for opposition leaders’ posts tells a special story.

    Before the session of the Gujarat Assembly on twentieth December, there’s a large-scale tug-of-war occurring within the Gujarat Congress to resolve the Leader of the Opposition within the Assembly. Importantly, greater than 3 congress leaders blamed the chief of the Gujarat Congress for his or her defeat.

    A Congress chief on the situation of anonymity mentioned “On one hand, the discussions of defeat within the Congress are occurring within the state workplace, then again, Congress leaders C.J. Chavda, Shailesh Parmar, and 4 to 5 different MLAs who’ve gained, are lobbying as much as Delhi High Command to make them a frontrunner of the opposition (LOP),”

    “Importantly, every leader who lobbied for the Leader of the Opposition from the state to the Delhi level emphasized the ill effects if another leader was made the Leader of the Opposition. Each and every leader are Complaining about the opposite leader,” he additional mentioned

    Besides cutthroat competitors for Lop, Many Gujarat Congress leaders complained concerning the congress president and leaders for his or her defeat, former MLA Raghu Desai, who misplaced the Assembly polls from Ranadharpur in Patan district, has requested the central management to droop state unit president Jagdish Thakor, alleging his “close associates” had labored in opposition to the get together.

    Desai additionally wrote a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge saying “Some get together leaders had labored in opposition to the curiosity of the get together and in addition to defeat me within the election. Some of them have been shut associates of Jagdish Thakor. As the GPCC president, he by no means managed such individuals and performed an vital position
    in defeating me,” alleged Desai.

    Congress’ Lone Muslim MLA from Ahmedbad’s Jamal Pur Khadia Assembly Blamed Rahul Gandhi and Delhi management for his or her defeat. Talking to Local Media, MLA Imran Khedawala mentioned, “Rahul Gandhi was busy with ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ which was to be organized a year ago. It would be best if you asked in Delhi why this Yatra did not go through Gujarat. The party should have focused on Gujarat. The way BJP landed its national leaders here, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi’s rally should have been held here,”

    Surat Congress president Hasmukh Desai additionally blamed State management, saying “Gujarat in charge Dr. Raghu Sharma, State President Jagdish Thakor, AICC Co-Incharge – South Zone BM Sandeep did not co-ordinate with the Surat City President in the election operations, even after such a bad defeat of Congress,
    the leaders are throwing mud at each other for the position of LOP.”

    Importantly, on one aspect the place congress leaders are combating for LOP Post, some senior leaders are claiming that there isn’t a codified rule within the Gujarat Assembly on granting the standing of LoP, however a norm is being adopted meeting since 1960, based on which any get together that will get a minimal of 10 per cent of
    the whole seats, will get recognised as an opposition get together. The Congress is one wanting the ten% mark, at 18 seats, it’s left to the Speaker whether or not to grant the standing to the biggest opposition get together or not.

    AHMEDABAD: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who held a press convention in Jaipur on Friday, blamed that if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had not been “put up as a proxy to target” his get together, they’d have gained the lately concluded Gujarat meeting elections. But the interior battle of Gujarat Congress leaders for opposition leaders’ posts tells a special story.

    Before the session of the Gujarat Assembly on twentieth December, there’s a large-scale tug-of-war occurring within the Gujarat Congress to resolve the Leader of the Opposition within the Assembly. Importantly, greater than 3 congress leaders blamed the chief of the Gujarat Congress for his or her defeat.

    A Congress chief on the situation of anonymity mentioned “On one hand, the discussions of defeat within the Congress are occurring within the state workplace, then again, Congress leaders C.J. Chavda, Shailesh Parmar, and 4 to 5 different MLAs who’ve gained, are lobbying as much as Delhi High Command to make them a frontrunner of the opposition (LOP),”

    “Importantly, every leader who lobbied for the Leader of the Opposition from the state to the Delhi level emphasized the ill effects if another leader was made the Leader of the Opposition. Each and every leader are Complaining about the opposite leader,” he additional mentioned

    Besides cutthroat competitors for Lop, Many Gujarat Congress leaders complained concerning the congress president and leaders for his or her defeat, former MLA Raghu Desai, who misplaced the Assembly polls from Ranadharpur in Patan district, has requested the central management to droop state unit president Jagdish Thakor, alleging his “close associates” had labored in opposition to the get together.

    Desai additionally wrote a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge saying “Some get together leaders had labored in opposition to the curiosity of the get together and in addition to defeat me within the election. Some of them have been shut associates of Jagdish Thakor. As the GPCC president, he by no means managed such individuals and performed an vital position
    in defeating me,” alleged Desai.

    Congress’ Lone Muslim MLA from Ahmedbad’s Jamal Pur Khadia Assembly Blamed Rahul Gandhi and Delhi management for his or her defeat. Talking to Local Media, MLA Imran Khedawala mentioned, “Rahul Gandhi was busy with ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ which was to be organized a year ago. It would be best if you asked in Delhi why this Yatra did not go through Gujarat. The party should have focused on Gujarat. The way BJP landed its national leaders here, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi’s rally should have been held here,”

    Surat Congress president Hasmukh Desai additionally blamed State management, saying “Gujarat in cost Dr. Raghu Sharma, State President Jagdish Thakor, AICC Co-Incharge – South Zone BM Sandeep didn’t co-ordinate with the Surat City President within the election operations, even after such a foul defeat of Congress,
    the leaders are throwing mud at one another for the place of LOP.”

    Importantly, on one aspect the place congress leaders are combating for LOP Post, some senior leaders are claiming that there isn’t a codified rule within the Gujarat Assembly on granting the standing of LoP, however a norm is being adopted meeting since 1960, based on which any get together that will get a minimal of 10 per cent of
    the whole seats, will get recognised as an opposition get together. The Congress is one wanting the ten% mark, at 18 seats, it’s left to the Speaker whether or not to grant the standing to the biggest opposition get together or not.

  • First part of Gujarat Assembly elections in 89 seats tomorrow: All it’s worthwhile to know

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Voting will likely be held on Thursday for the primary part of Gujarat Assembly elections in 89 seats unfold throughout 19 districts in Saurashtra-Kutch and southern components of the state the place 788 candidates are within the fray. Campaigning for the primary part of the elections within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state ended at 5 pm on Tuesday.

    Voting will likely be held between 8 am and 5 pm on Thursday throughout 14,382 polling stations, the workplace of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stated in a launch.

    Out of the whole 4,91,35,400 registered voters in Gujarat, 2,39,76,670 are eligible to solid their votes within the first part of the elections.

    These embody 5.74 lakh voters within the age group of 18-19 years, and 4,945 above the age of 99 years, the workplace of the state CEO stated.

    Out of the 89 seats going to polls within the first part, the BJP received 48 within the 2017 election, the Congress had received 40, whereas one seat was bagged by an impartial candidate.

    Who are contesting?

    Apart from the BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), 36 different political outfits, together with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) have additionally fielded candidates in numerous seats which can go to polls within the first part.

    The BJP and Congress are contesting in all of the 89 seats.
    The new ballot entrant AAP is contesting 88 seats. Its candidate from Surat East constituency had withdrawn his candidature, leaving the social gathering with one much less seat to contest within the first part
    The BSP has fielded 57 candidates, BTP 14 and CPI-M 4 candidates.
    As many as 339 independents are additionally within the fray within the first part of polls.

    Out of the whole 788 candidates, 70 are girls together with 9 fielded by the BJP, six by the Congress and 5 by the AAP.

    ALSO READ | How scrapped undertaking can damage BJP in Gujarat tribal seats

    Who are a number of the distinguished candidates?

    AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi is contesting from Khambhalia seat in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Saurashtra area that goes to polls on Thursday.

    AAP state unit president Gopal Italia is contesting from Katargam in Surat.

    Among different distinguished candidates within the first part are Rivaba Jadeja, the spouse of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, who’s contesting from Jamnagar (North), and BJP MLAs Harsh Sanghavi and Purnesh Modi from totally different seats in Surat and five-time MLA Parshottam Solanki from Bhavnagar (Rural).

    Sitting Congress MLAs like Lalit Kagathara, Lalit Vasoya, Rutvik Makwana and Mohammad Javed Pirzada are among the many candidates in fray within the first part from seats in Saurashtra area.

    Seven-time MLA and veteran tribal chief Chhotu Vasava is contesting from Jhagadia in Bharuch.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat elections 2022: Morbi, Porbandar, Anand… listed here are 25 seats to be careful for

    Which are the important thing areas to look out for?

    With 54 seats, the Saurashtra-Kutch area will likely be essential for the Congress because it seeks to raised its efficiency.

    In the area, the Congress received 30 seats in 2017 in comparison with 16 within the 2012 election. The BJP, alternatively, was lowered to 23 seats in 2017 as in opposition to 35 received by it within the earlier election.

    In south Gujarat, the Congress in 2017 bettered its tally to 10 in comparison with six within the earlier polls, whereas the BJPs tally dropped to 25 within the final election from 28 earlier.

    South Gujarat additionally contains Surat metropolis with 12 seats which have remained the BJP’s bastion since a very long time.

    The BJP has this time discovered a challenger within the AAP which has fielded a few of its senior state leaders from Surat and hopes to win seven-eight seats within the metropolis, as declared by its nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal.

    Gujarat AAP’s state president Gopal Italia is the candidate from Katargam, normal secretary Manoj Sorathiya from Karanj and Patidar group chief Alpesh Kathiriya from Varachha Road in Surat.

    ALSO READ | Trust within the KHAP: How caste equations are on the coronary heart of the 2022 Gujarat elections  

    Who had been the campaigners?

    The BJP, Congress and AAP leaders held roadshows and addressed public rallies as a part of their high-pitched marketing campaign within the run-up to the elections.

    The ruling social gathering’s marketing campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states together with Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Pramod Sawant (Goa), and a variety of Union ministers and state leaders.

    For the AAP, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejiwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann had been essentially the most frequent campaigners.

    Apart from them, Delhi’s Deputy CM Manish Sosidoa and AAP’s Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh additionally campaigned in Gujarat.

    The Congress banked on its native leaders for campaigning aside from Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and social gathering’s nationwide president Mallikarjun Kharge, who held some rallies in the previous couple of days earlier than the primary part of elections.

    Congress chief Rahul Gandhi held two rallies within the state this month by taking out time from his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    READ HERE | Bridge collapse to Bilkis Bano convicts’ remission: Top points in Gujarat Assembly elections

    How will the polling course of be carried out?

    Voting will likely be held throughout 14,382 polling stations, of which 3,311 are within the city and 11,071 in rural areas, the ballot physique stated in a launch.

    The election physique has arrange 89 ‘mannequin polling stations’, as many stations run by differently-abled folks, 89 eco-friendly polling stations and 611 run by girls.

    There are additionally 18 polling stations run by the youth, it stated.

    A complete 34,324 poll models, an equal variety of management models, and 38,749 Voter verifiable paper audit path (VVPAT) machines will likely be used for the election within the first part, the discharge stated.

    A complete of two,20,288 educated officers and staff will likely be on responsibility for the graceful conduct of the election course of, it stated.

    In the primary part, 27,978 presiding officers and 78,985 polling officers will likely be on responsibility, it stated.

    ALSO READ | Battleground Gujarat: All eyes on AAP in three-way ballot contest in bipolar state politics

    AHMEDABAD: Voting will likely be held on Thursday for the primary part of Gujarat Assembly elections in 89 seats unfold throughout 19 districts in Saurashtra-Kutch and southern components of the state the place 788 candidates are within the fray. Campaigning for the primary part of the elections within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state ended at 5 pm on Tuesday.

    Voting will likely be held between 8 am and 5 pm on Thursday throughout 14,382 polling stations, the workplace of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stated in a launch.

    Out of the whole 4,91,35,400 registered voters in Gujarat, 2,39,76,670 are eligible to solid their votes within the first part of the elections.

    These embody 5.74 lakh voters within the age group of 18-19 years, and 4,945 above the age of 99 years, the workplace of the state CEO stated.

    Out of the 89 seats going to polls within the first part, the BJP received 48 within the 2017 election, the Congress had received 40, whereas one seat was bagged by an impartial candidate.

    Who are contesting?

    Apart from the BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), 36 different political outfits, together with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) have additionally fielded candidates in numerous seats which can go to polls within the first part.

    The BJP and Congress are contesting in all of the 89 seats.
    The new ballot entrant AAP is contesting 88 seats. Its candidate from Surat East constituency had withdrawn his candidature, leaving the social gathering with one much less seat to contest within the first part
    The BSP has fielded 57 candidates, BTP 14 and CPI-M 4 candidates.
    As many as 339 independents are additionally within the fray within the first part of polls.
    Out of the whole 788 candidates, 70 are girls together with 9 fielded by the BJP, six by the Congress and 5 by the AAP.

    ALSO READ | How scrapped undertaking can damage BJP in Gujarat tribal seats

    Who are a number of the distinguished candidates?

    AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi is contesting from Khambhalia seat in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Saurashtra area that goes to polls on Thursday.

    AAP state unit president Gopal Italia is contesting from Katargam in Surat.

    Among different distinguished candidates within the first part are Rivaba Jadeja, the spouse of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, who’s contesting from Jamnagar (North), and BJP MLAs Harsh Sanghavi and Purnesh Modi from totally different seats in Surat and five-time MLA Parshottam Solanki from Bhavnagar (Rural).

    Sitting Congress MLAs like Lalit Kagathara, Lalit Vasoya, Rutvik Makwana and Mohammad Javed Pirzada are among the many candidates in fray within the first part from seats in Saurashtra area.

    Seven-time MLA and veteran tribal chief Chhotu Vasava is contesting from Jhagadia in Bharuch.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat elections 2022: Morbi, Porbandar, Anand… listed here are 25 seats to be careful for

    Which are the important thing areas to look out for?

    With 54 seats, the Saurashtra-Kutch area will likely be essential for the Congress because it seeks to raised its efficiency.

    In the area, the Congress received 30 seats in 2017 in comparison with 16 within the 2012 election. The BJP, alternatively, was lowered to 23 seats in 2017 as in opposition to 35 received by it within the earlier election.

    In south Gujarat, the Congress in 2017 bettered its tally to 10 in comparison with six within the earlier polls, whereas the BJPs tally dropped to 25 within the final election from 28 earlier.

    South Gujarat additionally contains Surat metropolis with 12 seats which have remained the BJP’s bastion since a very long time.

    The BJP has this time discovered a challenger within the AAP which has fielded a few of its senior state leaders from Surat and hopes to win seven-eight seats within the metropolis, as declared by its nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal.

    Gujarat AAP’s state president Gopal Italia is the candidate from Katargam, normal secretary Manoj Sorathiya from Karanj and Patidar group chief Alpesh Kathiriya from Varachha Road in Surat.

    ALSO READ | Trust within the KHAP: How caste equations are on the coronary heart of the 2022 Gujarat elections  

    Who had been the campaigners?

    The BJP, Congress and AAP leaders held roadshows and addressed public rallies as a part of their high-pitched marketing campaign within the run-up to the elections.

    The ruling social gathering’s marketing campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states together with Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Pramod Sawant (Goa), and a variety of Union ministers and state leaders.

    For the AAP, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejiwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann had been essentially the most frequent campaigners.

    Apart from them, Delhi’s Deputy CM Manish Sosidoa and AAP’s Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh additionally campaigned in Gujarat.

    The Congress banked on its native leaders for campaigning aside from Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and social gathering’s nationwide president Mallikarjun Kharge, who held some rallies in the previous couple of days earlier than the primary part of elections.

    Congress chief Rahul Gandhi held two rallies within the state this month by taking out time from his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    READ HERE | Bridge collapse to Bilkis Bano convicts’ remission: Top points in Gujarat Assembly elections

    How will the polling course of be carried out?

    Voting will likely be held throughout 14,382 polling stations, of which 3,311 are within the city and 11,071 in rural areas, the ballot physique stated in a launch.

    The election physique has arrange 89 ‘mannequin polling stations’, as many stations run by differently-abled folks, 89 eco-friendly polling stations and 611 run by girls.

    There are additionally 18 polling stations run by the youth, it stated.

    A complete 34,324 poll models, an equal variety of management models, and 38,749 Voter verifiable paper audit path (VVPAT) machines will likely be used for the election within the first part, the discharge stated.

    A complete of two,20,288 educated officers and staff will likely be on responsibility for the graceful conduct of the election course of, it stated.

    In the primary part, 27,978 presiding officers and 78,985 polling officers will likely be on responsibility, it stated.

    ALSO READ | Battleground Gujarat: All eyes on AAP in three-way ballot contest in bipolar state politics

  • Battleground Gujarat: All eyes on AAP in three-way ballot contest in bipolar state politics

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Long caught between two polarities, Gujarat’s electoral subject has expanded to incorporate a 3rd get together with the Aam Aadmi Party difficult the ruling BJP in addition to the opposition Congress that has misplaced floor however nonetheless has vital presence.

    Elections to the 182-member state meeting will happen over two phases on December 1 and 5, the Election Commission introduced on Thursday within the backdrop of the Morbi bridge collapse 4 days in the past.

    As marketing campaign knives get sharpened, the October 30 tragedy by which 135 individuals misplaced their lives may discover emotive resonance.

    Besides, the freebie versus welfarism debate – over which challenger AAP and BJP have been sparring over the past a number of weeks — and the ruling get together’s foremost ballot planks of Hindutva, ‘double engine’ development’ and continuity in governance are prone to stay centrestage.

    Though elections have been introduced as we speak, the thrill for what shall be a three-cornered contest has been getting steadily louder over the previous couple of weeks.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of other Union ministers have been making frequent visits to the state. Modi was in Morbi on November 1 to assessment the scenario.

    And all eyes are on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in addition to his get together leaders who’ve made a excessive decibel entry into the sector, giving voters a 3rd choice in a state that has for many years been bipolar in its politics.

    The elections are essential for BJP, which has received six successive phrases and goals at retaining energy in Modi’s dwelling state, in addition to for AAP, hoping desperately {that a} win in Gujarat will propel it to a pan-India political drive, the third state in its bag after Delhi and a victory in Punjab in March this 12 months.

    The Congress, on its half, hopes to finish its 27-year stint within the Opposition however has to date been quiet with its nationwide leaders conspicuous by their absence.

    READ HERE | Bridge collapse to Bilkis Bano convicts’ remission: Top points in Gujarat Assembly elections

    The BJP has 111 seats and the Congress 62 within the present meeting.

    The NCP has one, BTP two, Independent one and 5 seats are vacant, together with three after Congress MLAs resigned.

    With leaders of assorted events making a beeline for the state, a lot earlier than the announcement of the elections, and events firming up their methods, cities and villages of Gujarat are dotted with commercial banners and posters of political events.

    Modi, the BJP’s star campaigner, has elevated the frequency of his journeys to Gujarat and addressed well-attended gatherings in several components of the state in the previous couple of weeks.

    Several Union ministers and get together leaders fanned out throughout the state throughout the practically 10-day Gujarat Gaurav Yatras launched by BJP president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Six yatras in several components of the states have been launched on October 12 and 13.

    Modi’s occasions have been marked by bulletins of growth tasks with a promise of extra.

    During his go to on October 19 and 20 to Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Kevadia and Vyara.

    he inaugurated and laid the muse stones of tasks price Rs 15,670 crore.

    His speeches dwell on the BJP authorities’s contribution to the event of Gujarat within the final 20 to 25 years.

    He has additionally been stressing on the “Narendra-Bhupendra” (Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel) ‘double engine’ combo for quick paced growth.

    Apart from state government-sponsored programmes, Modi has additionally been taking part in rallies organised by the BJP.

    However, it’s the third and late entry into Gujarat’s electoral subject, the Kejriwal-led AAP, that’s stirring curiosity with its aggressive campaigning and lengthy record of enticing pre-poll “guarantees”.

    The AAP is banking on ‘welfarism’, the truth that it’s a new different and its stress on daily individuals points to woo voters.

    Kejriwal has anchored his get together’s marketing campaign round a slew of sops, together with 300 items of free electrical energy per 30 days, free training in authorities colleges, unemployment dole, Rs 1,000 allowance to girls and month-to-month stipend to new legal professionals.

    While Kejriwal has been main his get together’s marketing campaign with a number of rallies and townhall conferences, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

    Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Raghav Chadha, too, have visited the state a number of occasions.

    The get together started campaigning a lot forward of the BJP and different events.

    The 10-year-old outfit has additionally left different events far behind so far as announcement of candidates are involved.

    So far, the AAP, which is prone to contest all 182 seats, has introduced names of candidates for 73 Assembly segments.

    The Congress is the unusually quiet, virtually absent, get together within the fray.

    Former get together president Rahul Gandhi, busy together with his Bharat Jodo Yatra that began on September 7 and can go on for practically 5 months, has remained largely absent.

    It just isn’t but clear whether or not the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala will be a part of the opposition get together’s campaigning.

    He final addressed a rally of get together employees in Ahmedabad on September 5.

    The get together has introduced earlier than Gujarat voters achievements made by its authorities in neighbouring Rajasthan.

    The foremost ballot planks of the Congress are inflation, unemployment, social concord and anti-incumbency in opposition to the BJP.

    In the absence of any nationwide leaders to date, the get together’s Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma has been frequenting the state and main its marketing campaign.

    State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi stated the get together’s ballot marketing campaign is occurring in full swing and candidates shall be declared quickly.

    Some smaller events are additionally within the fray.

    Though earlier regional events fashioned by outstanding leaders corresponding to Chimanbhai Patel, Shankarsinh Vaghela and Keshubhai Patel contested polls, they did not make a mark with the state’s electoral politics centred across the BJP and the Congress.

    This time, Lok Sabha MP Asadudin Owaisi’s AIMIM (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen) has introduced candidates in some minority-dominated seats and is prone to subject extra nominees.

    The Congress received the primary three Assembly elections in 1962, 1967 and 1972 in Gujarat.

    In the elections fought after imposition of Emergency in 1975, it misplaced to an alliance of events led by Morarji Desai, the Jan Sangh and insurgent Congress chief Chimanbhai Patel’s Kimlop get together.

    Two subsequent elections in 1980 and 1985 have been received by the Congress.

    In 1990, the Janata Dal and the BJP emerged as dominant forces.

    The BJP has received each Assembly elections from 1995 onwards.

    It has been in energy since, aside from a quick interval from 1996 to 1998 when its chief Shankarsinh Vaghela rebelled and fashioned a authorities with the Congress assist.

    AHMEDABAD: Long caught between two polarities, Gujarat’s electoral subject has expanded to incorporate a 3rd get together with the Aam Aadmi Party difficult the ruling BJP in addition to the opposition Congress that has misplaced floor however nonetheless has vital presence.

    Elections to the 182-member state meeting will happen over two phases on December 1 and 5, the Election Commission introduced on Thursday within the backdrop of the Morbi bridge collapse 4 days in the past.

    As marketing campaign knives get sharpened, the October 30 tragedy by which 135 individuals misplaced their lives may discover emotive resonance.

    Besides, the freebie versus welfarism debate – over which challenger AAP and BJP have been sparring over the past a number of weeks — and the ruling get together’s foremost ballot planks of Hindutva, ‘double engine’ development’ and continuity in governance are prone to stay centrestage.

    Though elections have been introduced as we speak, the thrill for what shall be a three-cornered contest has been getting steadily louder over the previous couple of weeks.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of other Union ministers have been making frequent visits to the state. Modi was in Morbi on November 1 to assessment the scenario.

    And all eyes are on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in addition to his get together leaders who’ve made a excessive decibel entry into the sector, giving voters a 3rd choice in a state that has for many years been bipolar in its politics.

    The elections are essential for BJP, which has received six successive phrases and goals at retaining energy in Modi’s dwelling state, in addition to for AAP, hoping desperately {that a} win in Gujarat will propel it to a pan-India political drive, the third state in its bag after Delhi and a victory in Punjab in March this 12 months.

    The Congress, on its half, hopes to finish its 27-year stint within the Opposition however has to date been quiet with its nationwide leaders conspicuous by their absence.

    READ HERE | Bridge collapse to Bilkis Bano convicts’ remission: Top points in Gujarat Assembly elections

    The BJP has 111 seats and the Congress 62 within the present meeting.

    The NCP has one, BTP two, Independent one and 5 seats are vacant, together with three after Congress MLAs resigned.

    With leaders of assorted events making a beeline for the state, a lot earlier than the announcement of the elections, and events firming up their methods, cities and villages of Gujarat are dotted with commercial banners and posters of political events.

    Modi, the BJP’s star campaigner, has elevated the frequency of his journeys to Gujarat and addressed well-attended gatherings in several components of the state in the previous couple of weeks.

    Several Union ministers and get together leaders fanned out throughout the state throughout the practically 10-day Gujarat Gaurav Yatras launched by BJP president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Six yatras in several components of the states have been launched on October 12 and 13.

    Modi’s occasions have been marked by bulletins of growth tasks with a promise of extra.

    During his go to on October 19 and 20 to Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Kevadia and Vyara.

    he inaugurated and laid the muse stones of tasks price Rs 15,670 crore.

    His speeches dwell on the BJP authorities’s contribution to the event of Gujarat within the final 20 to 25 years.

    He has additionally been stressing on the “Narendra-Bhupendra” (Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel) ‘double engine’ combo for quick paced growth.

    Apart from state government-sponsored programmes, Modi has additionally been taking part in rallies organised by the BJP.

    However, it’s the third and late entry into Gujarat’s electoral subject, the Kejriwal-led AAP, that’s stirring curiosity with its aggressive campaigning and lengthy record of enticing pre-poll “guarantees”.

    The AAP is banking on ‘welfarism’, the truth that it’s a new different and its stress on daily individuals points to woo voters.

    Kejriwal has anchored his get together’s marketing campaign round a slew of sops, together with 300 items of free electrical energy per 30 days, free training in authorities colleges, unemployment dole, Rs 1,000 allowance to girls and month-to-month stipend to new legal professionals.

    While Kejriwal has been main his get together’s marketing campaign with a number of rallies and townhall conferences, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

    Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Raghav Chadha, too, have visited the state a number of occasions.

    The get together started campaigning a lot forward of the BJP and different events.

    The 10-year-old outfit has additionally left different events far behind so far as announcement of candidates are involved.

    So far, the AAP, which is prone to contest all 182 seats, has introduced names of candidates for 73 Assembly segments.

    The Congress is the unusually quiet, virtually absent, get together within the fray.

    Former get together president Rahul Gandhi, busy together with his Bharat Jodo Yatra that began on September 7 and can go on for practically 5 months, has remained largely absent.

    It just isn’t but clear whether or not the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala will be a part of the opposition get together’s campaigning.

    He final addressed a rally of get together employees in Ahmedabad on September 5.

    The get together has introduced earlier than Gujarat voters achievements made by its authorities in neighbouring Rajasthan.

    The foremost ballot planks of the Congress are inflation, unemployment, social concord and anti-incumbency in opposition to the BJP.

    In the absence of any nationwide leaders to date, the get together’s Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma has been frequenting the state and main its marketing campaign.

    State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi stated the get together’s ballot marketing campaign is occurring in full swing and candidates shall be declared quickly.

    Some smaller events are additionally within the fray.

    Though earlier regional events fashioned by outstanding leaders corresponding to Chimanbhai Patel, Shankarsinh Vaghela and Keshubhai Patel contested polls, they did not make a mark with the state’s electoral politics centred across the BJP and the Congress.

    This time, Lok Sabha MP Asadudin Owaisi’s AIMIM (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen) has introduced candidates in some minority-dominated seats and is prone to subject extra nominees.

    The Congress received the primary three Assembly elections in 1962, 1967 and 1972 in Gujarat.

    In the elections fought after imposition of Emergency in 1975, it misplaced to an alliance of events led by Morarji Desai, the Jan Sangh and insurgent Congress chief Chimanbhai Patel’s Kimlop get together.

    Two subsequent elections in 1980 and 1985 have been received by the Congress.

    In 1990, the Janata Dal and the BJP emerged as dominant forces.

    The BJP has received each Assembly elections from 1995 onwards.

    It has been in energy since, aside from a quick interval from 1996 to 1998 when its chief Shankarsinh Vaghela rebelled and fashioned a authorities with the Congress assist.

  • Gujarat Congress desires Rahul Gandhi to turn out to be celebration’s nationwide president 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress on Sunday demanded that Rahul Gandhi be made the celebration’s nationwide president.

    The demand was made on the celebration’s state government committee assembly held right here, with all its members supporting the proposal with a spherical of applause. 

    All the members of the grand previous celebration’s state government committee met right here and expressed their emotions that Rahul Gandhi be made the president of the Indian National Congress.

    “They wanted this point to be presented before the national leadership,” chief spokesperson Manish Doshi mentioned.

    “It was demanded that respected Rahul Gandhi, who is the future of India and the voice of the youth, be made the president of the Indian National Congress. All the present delegates of the state executive approved it with thunderous applause,” the celebration mentioned in a press release after the assembly. 

    The state unit additionally resolved to win 125 out of Gujarat’s 182 seats within the upcoming Assembly election underneath the management of state president Jagdish Thakor.

    Earlier within the day, the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) additionally handed a decision demanding that Rahul Gandhi be made the celebration’s nationwide president, Congress leaders mentioned.

    The decision was handed in a gathering of 310 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates (who will vote in celebration’s presidential election) from Chhattisgarh chaired by Hussain Dalwai, state Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla mentioned.

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress on Sunday demanded that Rahul Gandhi be made the celebration’s nationwide president.

    The demand was made on the celebration’s state government committee assembly held right here, with all its members supporting the proposal with a spherical of applause. 

    All the members of the grand previous celebration’s state government committee met right here and expressed their emotions that Rahul Gandhi be made the president of the Indian National Congress.

    “They wanted this point to be presented before the national leadership,” chief spokesperson Manish Doshi mentioned.

    “It was demanded that respected Rahul Gandhi, who is the future of India and the voice of the youth, be made the president of the Indian National Congress. All the present delegates of the state executive approved it with thunderous applause,” the celebration mentioned in a press release after the assembly. 

    The state unit additionally resolved to win 125 out of Gujarat’s 182 seats within the upcoming Assembly election underneath the management of state president Jagdish Thakor.

    Earlier within the day, the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) additionally handed a decision demanding that Rahul Gandhi be made the celebration’s nationwide president, Congress leaders mentioned.

    The decision was handed in a gathering of 310 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates (who will vote in celebration’s presidential election) from Chhattisgarh chaired by Hussain Dalwai, state Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla mentioned.

  • Chorus grows louder in Congress for Rahul as president

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Congress leaders from throughout the nation have began exerting strain for the return of Rahul Gandhi as social gathering president. The social gathering’s state items in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha and Gujarat have handed resolutions that Gandhi be introduced again as social gathering president. Other state items are prone to take cue and undertake comparable resolutions.

    Rahul Gandhi had resigned from the publish after the social gathering’s loss within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and has since rejected calls to take again the social gathering’s reins and indicated that he might not change his thoughts.

    With the method for Congress president’s election scheduled to set into movement on September 22, all state items have been requested by the social gathering’s central management to go a decision authorising the incoming president to nominate state unit chiefs and AICC members. While passing this decision, the PCCs have began concurrently passing one other decision calling for the return of Rahul Gandhi as social gathering president.

    The decision searching for Rahul’s return was moved in Chhattisgarh by chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and seconded by PCC chief Mohan Markam, state Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant, and ministers TS Singh Deo, Shivkumar Dahariya and Premsai Singh Tekam.

    ALSO READ | Rajasthan Congress passes decision to make Rahul Gandhi the social gathering’s nationwide president

    Baghel mentioned “If similar resolutions are passed in other states, then Rahul ji should rethink his decision of returning as Congress president.” He mentioned the social gathering’s presidential election is nearing and “retaining in view the emotions of social gathering employees, I feel Rahul ji will agree (to turn into social gathering chief).”

    As the demand for his return as Congress president gained momentum, Rahul Gandhi as soon as once more mentioned “whether I become president of Congress or not will become clear when the elections for the president post take place. But, I have clearly decided what I will do and there is no confusion in my mind.”

    At a press convention in Kanyakumari through the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he had mentioned “wait till that time (when elections take place) and when that time comes, you will see, and if I don’t stand, you can ask me then ‘why didn’t you stand’ and I will answer the question for you.”

    Rahul’s remarks have been seen as a sign that he would possibly keep on with his earlier stance of not taking over the social gathering chief’s publish.

    ALSO READ | ‘Will work below Rahul Gandhi’: Gehlot on Congress management disaster forward of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’

    Senior Congress chief P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh too have favoured a consensus for the publish of the AICC chief

    The notification for the Congress president’s election will likely be out on September 22 and the method for submitting nominations will likely be held from September 24 to 30.

    The final date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8 and the election, if required, will likely be held on October 17. The outcomes will likely be out on October 19.

    NEW DELHI: Congress leaders from throughout the nation have began exerting strain for the return of Rahul Gandhi as social gathering president. The social gathering’s state items in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha and Gujarat have handed resolutions that Gandhi be introduced again as social gathering president. Other state items are prone to take cue and undertake comparable resolutions.

    Rahul Gandhi had resigned from the publish after the social gathering’s loss within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and has since rejected calls to take again the social gathering’s reins and indicated that he might not change his thoughts.

    With the method for Congress president’s election scheduled to set into movement on September 22, all state items have been requested by the social gathering’s central management to go a decision authorising the incoming president to nominate state unit chiefs and AICC members. While passing this decision, the PCCs have began concurrently passing one other decision calling for the return of Rahul Gandhi as social gathering president.

    The decision searching for Rahul’s return was moved in Chhattisgarh by chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and seconded by PCC chief Mohan Markam, state Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant, and ministers TS Singh Deo, Shivkumar Dahariya and Premsai Singh Tekam.

    ALSO READ | Rajasthan Congress passes decision to make Rahul Gandhi the social gathering’s nationwide president

    Baghel mentioned “If similar resolutions are passed in other states, then Rahul ji should rethink his decision of returning as Congress president.” He mentioned the social gathering’s presidential election is nearing and “retaining in view the emotions of social gathering employees, I feel Rahul ji will agree (to turn into social gathering chief).”

    As the demand for his return as Congress president gained momentum, Rahul Gandhi as soon as once more mentioned “whether I become president of Congress or not will become clear when the elections for the president post take place. But, I have clearly decided what I will do and there is no confusion in my mind.”

    At a press convention in Kanyakumari through the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he had mentioned “wait till that time (when elections take place) and when that time comes, you will see, and if I don’t stand, you can ask me then ‘why didn’t you stand’ and I will answer the question for you.”

    Rahul’s remarks have been seen as a sign that he would possibly keep on with his earlier stance of not taking over the social gathering chief’s publish.

    ALSO READ | ‘Will work below Rahul Gandhi’: Gehlot on Congress management disaster forward of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’

    Senior Congress chief P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh too have favoured a consensus for the publish of the AICC chief

    The notification for the Congress president’s election will likely be out on September 22 and the method for submitting nominations will likely be held from September 24 to 30.

    The final date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8 and the election, if required, will likely be held on October 17. The outcomes will likely be out on October 19.

  • Battle for the bastion in Gujarat

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Bhuj on August 28 to inaugurate the Narmada canal that can convey water to parched Kutch from south Gujarat. The state is up for meeting polls in December and at a rally later, surprisingly, he introduced up the outdated bogey of conspiracies to defame Gujarat after the 2002 riots when he was chief minister (2001-14). This was uncommon for the PM, a deviation from the script of the previous couple of years the place he had stopped speaking concerning the previous and was centered extra on future alternatives for the state.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Bhuj on August 28 to inaugurate the Narmada canal that can convey water to parched Kutch from south Gujarat. The state is up for meeting polls in December and at a rally later, surprisingly, he introduced up the outdated bogey of conspiracies to defame Gujarat after the 2002 riots when he was chief minister (2001-14). This was uncommon for the PM, a deviation from the script of the previous couple of years the place he had stopped speaking concerning the previous and was centered extra on future alternatives for the state.

    PM Modi waves to crowds on the Khadi Utsav occasion as CM Patelwatches; Kejriwal with AAP leaders at a tiranga yatra in Mehsana in June; (Photo: ANI)

    The PM’s packed two-day tour additionally included a roadshow in Bhuj (his fourth within the state since March), the inauguration of the Atal Bridge for pedestrians on the Sabarmati river and becoming a member of a Khadi Utsav occasion the place he spun a charkha with 7,500 ladies artisans from throughout Gujarat. All this hectic exercise, in fact, got here towards the backdrop of two vital developments within the state. Barely 10 days earlier than, on August 19, there had been a significant overhaul of the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. Then there was the controversial Independence Day ‘gesture’ from the state authorities, releasing 11 individuals convicted of involvement within the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the homicide of 14 members of her household within the 2002 communal assaults. A BJP supply says Modi was in a huddle with state leaders, taking inventory of the fallout of the 2 developments.

    On August 19, CM Patel had str­i­pped two of his ministers of vital portfolios. Rajendra Trivedi misplaced income whereas Purnesh Modi had to surrender roads and buildings. No offi­cial rationalization has been given for the transfer however a BJP supply stated glibly that the management was in no temper to offer the opposition an opportunity to level fingers in terms of “inefficiency and shielding culprits” so near the election. Trivedi, the No. 2 within the cabinet, had a penchant for reside telecasting his “raids” on authorities officers (the thrill is he rubbed too many individuals the fallacious means) whereas Purnesh Modi is within the dock for shielding a contractor answerable for defective work on bridges. Both ministers, nonetheless, proceed to carry quite a few much less vital portfolios.

    This isn’t the primary time such motion has been taken. In March, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had requested the CM to dismiss his private assistant, Dhrumil Patel. Then, in July, state BJP president C.R. Patil was requested to sack assistant Sudhanshu Mehta after receiving corruption complaints.

    Gehlot’s plan for the Gujarat Congress is to spotlight the BJP authorities’s “failures: in well being and training

    The BJP has had an uninterrupted stint in Gujarat for shut to a few many years, however the years have taken their toll with anti-incumbency and corruption scandals. They nonetheless have many issues going for them this election—Modi, whose picture shines vivid as normal, a powerful social gathering organisation, a comparatively environment friendly administration and, most significantly, an opposition Congress which is in a shambles. The final has largely been because of the BJP’s poaching at common intervals; many senior leaders, together with 13 of the Congress’s 77 MLAs, have crossed over prior to now 4 and a half years. Ex-legislator and former AICC member Naresh Raval was the newest to go on August 18.

    CM Patel, who has been within the sizzling seat for lower than a yr, has tried to determine himself as a person of the individuals. The election season largesse has included a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance for state staff and 1 kg pulses at concessional charges to 7.1 million ration card holders registered below the National Food Security Act in 250 talukas. “We have developed a work culture where people feel less troubled and their issues are resolved at the earliest,” he stated in his I-Day tackle.

    Gehlot meets Gujarat Congress leaders; (Photo: Nandan Dave)

    As all the time, on the organisational entrance, the BJP has set an bold goal of successful not less than 150 seats (yet another than the state report set by then CM Madhavsinh Solanki of the Congress in 1985). State president C.R. Patil seemed upbeat when he instructed social gathering employees in Ahmedabad on August 21 that “the BJP is working round the clock to achieve the aim of winning all 182 seats”. With three of the state’s top-rung leaders—Union ministers Amit Shah, Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala—preoccupied in Delhi, the grapevine has it that Patil, who is called “super CM” due to his affect over Bhupendrabhai, may emerge because the CM candidate if the social gathering breaks its earlier report of 127 seats. Patil has dominated out the likelihood, although. “Bhupendrabhai will be our CM face,” he says categorically.

    Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are attempting to promote the ‘Rajasthan model’ and ‘Delhi model’ respectively to the voters. The Congress is banking on its 2017 marketing campaign chief, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, to spice up its fortunes once more. Gehlot is ballot in-charge this time too and camped in Gujarat for 3 days final week (August 18-20). He has had talks with social gathering officers in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Ahmedabad, however the social gathering is holding again on a ballot manifesto. An initiative titled ‘Bolo Sarkar’ has been launched, below which Congress employees are anticipated to carry some 2,000 conferences in rural areas to get individuals’s ideas. After a assessment by the excessive command, lots of the higher ideas may make it to the manifesto, say social gathering sources.

    A Gujarat Congress chief says the main target will probably be on the BJP authorities’s “failures” on the training and well being fronts. Gehlot needs partymen to spotlight the Rajasthan authorities’s plan to introduce a ‘right to health’ invoice versus Gujarat’s shoddy dealing with of the post-Covid state of affairs. Replicating the ‘Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme’ in Gujarat—the scheme gives well being cowl to each household in Rajasthan—can even be a sizzling subject throughout the marketing campaign. “It was very painful to see the condition of Gujarat during the pandemic. Despite being in power for 27 years, the government did nothing to save precious lives,” Gehlot instructed reporters.

    As ballot in-charge, Gehlot had bought 77 seats for the Congress in 2017, its greatest efficiency since 1995. The social gathering had even give you a catchy ballot slogan then, ‘Vikas gando thayo chhe (Development has gone kaput)’, enjoying on Modi’s favorite ‘vikas’ mantra, however it wasn’t sufficient to derail the saffron social gathering. The Congress’s slide prior to now two years could also be an excessive amount of for even Gehlot to salvage. Many of the social gathering’s large leaders have switched camps and joined the BJP. But Gehlot continues to be up for a rumble; speaking to reporters in Ahmedabad on August 20, he known as PM Modi an “ace actor”.

    But greater than the BJP, the Congress’s fear is that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would possibly steal their constit­uency. AAP chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is specializing in Saurashtra and the south Gujarat area this time round. He has promised to copy his “Delhi model” to offer high quality authorities college training in Gujarat. At a city corridor in Bhuj on August 16, Kejriwal rolled out a plan for this, which incorporates opening new authorities colleges, an audit of personal colleges, freezing the charge construction and making the roles of contract lecturers everlasting.

    Kejriwal can also be trumpeting his signature freebies-with-riders, together with 300 free models of electrical energy a month, month-to-month unemployment dole of Rs 3,000 to the youth and Rs 1,000 to ladies above 18. AAP has additionally bought some 1,100 locals on the rolls to unfold the social gathering’s message on social media platforms. The Delhi CM has even requested probationary lecturers and policemen to marketing campaign covertly for AAP. “The policemen are demanding higher grade pay. Work for us, help bring an AAP government and we’ll get you higher pay,” he stated.

    Kejriwal’s phrases are getting lots of traction which, not surprisingly, has the Congress in some hassle. Former Union minister Tushar Chaudhary calls APP the “BJP’s B-team” whereas ex-state Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia has been telling anybody who will hear that his social gathering had promised free electrical energy to farmers means again in May. AAP state president Gopal Italia retorts that the Congress ought to first implement its guarantees within the states the place it guidelines, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The BJP, for its half, is having fun with the commotion. As a senior state chief says, “If AAP cuts into the Congress votes, it will better our margins.”

  • Congress’ twin problem in 2022 Gujarat elections: To tackle BJP & maintain vote financial institution intact, say specialists

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The forthcoming Gujarat Assembly polls are more likely to be one of many hardest for the opposition Congress as it’s dealing with a twin problem – of defeating the ruling BJP within the residence state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defending its base from events just like the AAP and AIMIM, that are additionally attempting to make inroads into the state, say political specialists.

    However, a state Congress spokesperson claimed folks will vote for his or her occasion, within the Gujarat elections due later this 12 months, as they’re fed up of the BJP’s “misrule” for over 20 years.

    But, political observers really feel the Congress is tormented by a dearth of robust native leaders, infighting and depleting work drive within the state.

    “This will be one of the toughest election for the Congress in Gujarat,” Rajkot-based political observer Suresh Samani informed PTI, noting the occasion has not received the state Assembly polls since 1995.

    In 2017, the Congress received 77 seats within the 182-member Assembly, and a excessive vote share, largely on account of rural misery, he stated.

    The BJP had received 99 seats within the Assembly within the final election.

    “The farming community was not happy as it was not getting a good price for crop produce. In the last five years, the BJP government in the state purchased every farm produce, including commercial crops like groundnut, by paying a reasonably good return as the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The rural population now has nothing to complain about,” Samani stated.

    Also, the city center class and better center class voters have stood firmly behind the BJP on account of numerous causes, together with Hindutva, regardless of the rising inflation, he stated.

    “So, the Congress’s plan to make inroads into the state’s urban areas is not likely to make much headway,” he stated.

    The Congress strongholds of north Gujarat and a few tribal area have additionally been breached as a lot of its robust leaders have crossed over to the BJP within the final 5 years.

    “The Congress has a problem of depleting party work force and infighting, among others issues,” he stated.

    The different problem earlier than the Congress is contenders just like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Asaduddin Owaisi headed All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), that are additionally “vying for a pie of the traditional Congress vote bank,” he stated.

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra: Hit by cross-voting in Council polls, absenteeism throughout belief vote, Congress orders probe

    AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, throughout his latest marketing campaign rallies in Gujarat, focused the Congress by interesting to voters to not waste their votes on the opposition occasion, claiming it can not defeat the BJP.

    The AAP is eyeing to chop into the Congress’s vote share to problem the BJP, because it had performed in Delhi.

    The Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) of Chotu Vasava has additionally introduced an alliance with the AAP to provide a struggle to the Congress for tribal votes.

    AIMIM chief Owaisi just lately visited some Muslim-dominated constituencies in Ahmedabad, Vadgam in north Gujarat and Kutch with an goal to woo the minority neighborhood.

    His occasion is aiming to open its account within the state Assembly in constituencies the place the Muslim inhabitants is relatively increased than different communities.

    Another political observer Hari Desai stated the Congress may give the BJP a tricky struggle if it sticks to cater to the KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi (tribal) and Muslim) vote financial institution and will get votes of disgruntled Patel neighborhood members.

    The KHAM mixture of castes and communities was devised as a successful components by former Gujarat chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki.

    “Parties like the AAP and the BTP can grab votes of the BJP and harm the ruling party equally, and not just the Congress,” Desai stated.

    He additionally stated that the AIMIM is more likely to minimize the Congress’s votes within the state.

    However, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi claimed the folks of Gujarat had been fed up of the “arrogance and misrule” of the BJP for over 20 years and that it’s going to replicate within the 2022 Assembly elections as they’ll vote out the ruling occasion.

    READ HERE | Gujarat Assembly polls: Congress will not venture CM face throughout campaigning

    “The Congress has formed a strategy, and the party’s central leadership is observing everything minutely and directing us on how to go about the polls. We have decided to make this election a fight against Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and BJP state unit president C R Paatil,” Doshi stated.

    The Congress doesn’t need the state election to be a struggle between PM Narendra Modi and the opposition occasion, he added.

    On the AAP and different events additionally gearing as much as contest the Gujarat polls, Congress nationwide spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil stated a 3rd occasion has by no means succeeded within the state.

    “Since its formation, Gujarat has seen contests only between the Congress and the BJP and it will remain so. The AAP will not be able to cut ice with the people of Gujarat,” he claimed.

  • Former Gujarat Congress MLA Indranil Rajguru joins AAP in Rajkot

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: In a blow to the Gujarat Congress, its former MLA Indranil Rajguru on Thursday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Rajkot, citing that the occasion has emerged as the most suitable choice to serve the individuals and uproot the ruling BJP within the state.

    Rajguru showered praises on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the Delhi chief minister fights for the individuals, not for his occasion.

    “This attitude impressed me a lot. I was in the Congress from the beginning because I wanted to serve the people. The BJP has acquired power by fooling people, while the Congress has lost its ability to become an alternative. My only problem with the Congress is that it lacks the will to defeat the BJP,” he mentioned.

    Rajguru gained as Congress MLA from Rajkot-East seat in 2012. In 2017, he determined to give up his protected seat to battle the Assembly polls towards the then Chief Minister Vijay Rupani from Rajkot-West seat. But he ultimately misplaced to Rupani.

    In 2018, Rajguru resigned from the Congress, claiming that he was sad with the functioning of the occasion organisation. He had additionally alleged that occasion staff concerned in anti-party actions through the polls have been promoted as a substitute of being punished.

    Rajguru rejoined the Congress in 2019 and likewise campaigned for the occasion candidates through the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “I am joining the AAP because it has emerged as the best option to serve the people in a better way. Moreover, I feel that only the AAP has the strength to uproot the BJP in Gujarat,” Rajguru mentioned, including that he was not eager on contesting the upcoming Assembly polls, anticipated to be held in December.

    Local Congress chief Vashram Sagathiya, who had served because the Leader of Opposition within the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, additionally joined the AAP.

  • Morva Hadaf Assembly bypolls on April 17 amid Covid shadow; three candidates in fray

    Amid a deteriorating Covid-19 state of affairs throughout Gujarat, the reserved Morva Hadaf Assembly seat is about for a by-election on April 17 with three candidates within the fray. While the State Election Commission in Gujarat, a physique that conducts native physique polls, had cancelled the April 18 elections to the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation as a consequence of a surge in circumstances, the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is conducting the bypolls, had burdened the Assembly constituency has a decrease price of infections.
    S MuraliKrishna, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Gujarat, mentioned, “As of now, we are going ahead with the preparations for the Morva Hadaf Assembly bypolls. Very few cases are being reported in that area. We are following all the Covid-19 protocols given by the commission and the government. We have taken all precautions. We had conducted eight by-elections with the same precautions.”
    The bypolls for eight Assembly seats have been held on November 3, 2020. On the identical day, 19 circumstances have been reported within the Panchmahal district. On April 1 this 12 months, the variety of new circumstances reported every day within the district rose to 25, and on April 14, it had nearly tripled to 73 new circumstances.
    Congress leaders mentioned two days in the past that they had despatched a letter to the ECI urging the bypolls to Morva Hadaf meeting be deferred. “We have made representations to the Chief Election Commissioner and asked him to postpone the bypolls. If elections to Gandhinagar civic corporation can be cancelled due to Covid-19, the same problem exists in Morva Hadaf, too. In fact, if anyone in Gandhinagar gets infected, they have access to health facilities in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. But in tribal areas, like Morva Hadaf, the health infrastructure is poor, and people do not have access to good hospitals,” Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi mentioned.

    So far, each the Congress and the BJP have shunned organising any giant public conferences within the constituency as a result of present Covid-19 protocols, which ban giant gatherings. “We are not holding any public gathering. We are holding meetings in groups consisting of 10-15 persons. Multiple such meetings are held in one village before we move on to the next,” Doshi added.
    According to BJP sources, a call had already been made to not maintain public conferences for the bypolls. “It is largely a door-to-door campaign and meetings are held in small groups,” a celebration official mentioned.
    The BJP has submitted a listing of 30 star campaigners, together with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and state BJP president CR Paatil. The Congress submitted a listing of 24 star campaigners, which incorporates GPCC president Amit Chavda, Paresh Dhanani and Hardik Patel.

    Asked why the polls for Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation polls have been cancelled whereas the Morva Hadaf bypolls was not, Paatil had just lately mentioned: “Municipal corporation areas are congested and the number of (Covid) cases are more and so all parties requested for postponement.”
    For the Morva Hadaf bypolls, the BJP has nominated Nimishaben Suthar and the Congress has fielded Sureshbhai Katara. The third contestant is an impartial.