Page 7 - Gujarat Elections

Gujarat assembly polls: Modi, Kejriwal to address rallies in Surat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal will address campaign rallies on Sunday in Gujarat's 'diamond city' Surat, which sends 12 MLAs to the state's 182-member Assembly. Voting will be held in Surat in the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections on December 1. Modi will address a public meeting at Mota Varachha in Surat after a 25-km road-show from the airport to the rally venue, local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagdish Patel said on Saturday. The PM is also scheduled to address rallies at Netrang in Bharuch district and Mehmedabad in Kheda district. Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal will be on a two-day tour of Surat, which for long has remained a stronghold of the BJP with the support of its textile and diamond industry and lakhs people associated with the sectors. He will hold townhall meetings with textile industry leaders as well as gem artisans, and address a public meeting at Yogi Chowk. Kejriwal will also hold a

Congress chief Kharge to campaign for 4 days in Gujarat ahead of polls

With the Gujarat elections round the corner and the first litmus test of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress president, the grand old party is seeking to boost its poll prospects in the state

2 CRPF jawans on election duty killed in firing by colleague in Gujarat

Two jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and two others were injured after their colleague opened fire over some issue in a village near Porbandar in Gujarat on Saturday evening, officials said. These jawans belong to a CRPF battalion from Manipur. They were sent here by the Election Commission ahead of the next month's Gujarat Assembly elections, said Porbandar Collector and District Election Officer, AM Sharma. Voting in the Porbandar district will be held on December 1 in the first phase. They were staying inside a cyclone centre in Tukda Gosa village, about 25 km from Porbandar. "A jawan opened fire from his assault rifle on his colleagues over some unknown issue on Saturday evening. While two jawans died on the spot, two others were injured. They were shifted to a hospital in Jamnagar. One of them received a bullet injury in his stomach and the other was hit on his leg," Sharma said, adding that further investigation will be carried out by the police.

Gujarat elections: Modi, Kejriwal to address rallies in Surat on Sunday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal will be speaking at campaign rallies on Sunday in Gujarat's 'diamond city' Surat which sends 12 MLAs to the state's 182-member Assembly. Voting will be held in Surat in the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections on December 1. Modi will address a public meeting at Mota Varachha in Surat after a 25-km road-show from the airport to the rally venue, said the local Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagdish Patel. He is also scheduled to address three rallies at Netrang in Bharuch and in Kheda district. Kejriwal will be on a two-day tour of Surat, which for long has remained a stronghold of the BJP with the support of its textile and diamond industry and lakhs people associated with the sectors. He will hold townhall meetings with textile industry leaders as well as gem artisans, and address a public meeting at Yogi Chowk. The Delhi chief minister will also hold a roadshow in Katargam, state AAP general ..

BJP will never implement Uniform Civil Code in Gujarat, alleges AAP

The BJP will never implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Gujarat, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Saturday, dubbing the saffron party's poll promise as "fake". The reaction of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the Gujarat Assembly polls, promising the implementation of a UCC in the state if it retains power. "The BJP has ruled Gujarat for 27 years. After remaining at the helm for more than two decades, it is still making promises," the AAP's co-incharge for Gujarat, Raghav Chadha, told reporters here when asked for his party's view on the BJP's poll promise of implementing a UCC in the state. "If it was indeed their intent, they would have implemented it much ago," Chadha said, asking, "Why didn't they implement it?" "It is a fake promise. The BJP will never implement it (UCC)," he added. On October 29, the Gujarat government announced that it would form a committee for the implementation of a UCC. Other

AAP to record victory in Gujarat polls, become national party: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted on Saturday that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will record a "historic victory" in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls and become a "national" political party. Congratulating the party workers on the 10th anniversary of the AAP's foundation day, Kejriwal said the party has created "many histories" in Indian politics since it came into existence on November 26, 2012 and become "a new hope" for the people of the country. "The Aam Aadmi Party was formed 10 years ago on this day. In these 10 years, the party created many histories in Indian politics with the immense love of the public and the hard work of the workers," Kejriwal, the national convenor of the party, said in a series of tweets. The AAP has offered a new hope to the people of the country and gained their trust, he said. "With yet another historic victory, the AAP is going to become a national party very soon," he said. Riding high on its stupendous victory in the Punjab Assembly p

Gujarat Assembly elections: BJP promises 2 mn jobs, implementation of UCC

The party will also develop two corridors, from Porbandar to Dahod and Valsad to Palanpur, two sea food parks - one each in Saurashtra and South Gujarat, as per the manidesto

Guj Assembly polls: EC Cash, jewellery worth Rs 10.5 cr seized since Nov 3

Police and surveillance teams deployed by the Election Commission have so far seized cash and jewellery worth Rs 10.49 crore, while more than 91,000 persons have been placed under preventive detention in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Gujarat, an official said on Friday. The model code of conduct has been in force since November 3 in the state where elections will be held on December 1 and 5. "From November 3 till November 25, local police along with flying and static surveillance teams of the EC have seized Rs 4.01 crore in cash and Rs 6.48 crore worth of jewellery. Various narcotic substances worth Rs 61 crore have also been seized," an official release said. The police have, so far, lodged more than 29,800 cases under Prohibition laws and arrested 24,170 persons with liquor worth Rs 13.51 crore. Liquor sale and consumption are completely banned in Gujarat. In all, 91,154 persons were put under preventive detention so far under various provisions of the Code of Criminal ..

A Gujarat gamble

The cycle of politics is brutal, it doesn't have the concept of a strategic timeout. I'd rather not buy the idea that Rahul's holding his fire until 2024

Instead of cursing Cong, PM should speak on BJP misrule in Guj: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his attack on the party during the campaign in Gujarat, saying that instead of cursing the Congress, he should speak about the BJP's "misrule" in the state. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday had sought to corner the Congress for not supporting a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, in the presidential poll. He had also lashed out at the opposition party, accusing it of engaging in vote bank politics, nepotism, sectarianism and supporting "anti-social elements" during its rule in Gujarat. Hitting back at the PM, Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi, "Narendra Modi ji, instead of cursing the Congress, speak on the misrule of the BJP!" "Why was the future of the children of Gujarat spoiled? Why Gujarat ranks 29th among 30 states in malnourished, underweight children? Why is it at 19th place in infant mortality rate?" he said. Gujarat demands answers on accountability for the last 27 years, the Congress

This election is about deciding Gujarat's fate for next 25 years: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the upcoming Assembly election in Gujarat is all about deciding the state's destiny for the next 25 years. Addressing a poll rally in Palanpur town of Banaskantha district in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates, Modi said though many developmental works have been carried out so far by the ruling BJP in Gujarat and the Centre, time has come to take a "giant leap". Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5 and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 8. Voting in Banaskantha district will be held in the second phase on December 5. "This election is not about who will become an MLA or whose government will come. This election is all about deciding Gujarat's destiny for the next 25 years," Modi said. The PM said he was making efforts to put Gujarat in the league of developed nations. "Time has come to take a giant leap now. And, I need your support to form a strong

Gujarat is Gangotri of culture of developmental politics, says J P Nadda

BJP president Nadda lauded the work done by the Gujarat govt over the years and said that the Gujarat model is not just a model of development but is the source of 'culture of developmental politics'

Gujarat Assembly polls: 7 MLAs who won for 5 times or more again in fray

At least seven legislators who have won the Gujarat Assembly elections for five or more times are seeking a term again in the state polls scheduled next month. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reposed faith in five of the leaders by fielding them for yet another term, while one has sought to contest as an independent. These five candidates fielded by the BJP are Yogesh Patel (Manjalpur seat), Pabubha Manek (Dwarka), Keshu Nakrani (Gariadhar), Purshottam Solanki (Bhavnagar rural) and Pankaj Desai (Nadiad). Apart from them, Bharatiya Tribal Party's (BTP) founder Chhotu Vasava and Madhu Shrivastav, who has been denied ticket by the BJP, are contesting as independent candidates. These leaders have been able to establish a rapport with party workers and supporters over decades. The caste equations also favour them, but more than that, it is their personal leadership qualities that stand them in good stead, political analysts say. Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly

BJP suspends 12 more rebels for contesting as independent candidates in Guj

All of the twelve BJP rebels were seeking tickets in the Assembly election

BJP suspends 12 rebel leaders in Gujarat, six-time MLA among them

Cracking the whip, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat on Tuesday suspended 12 party leaders, including 6-term MLA Madhu Shrivastav and two former legislators, for filing nominations as independent candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections after they were denied tickets. The development came days after seven BJP leaders were suspended for filing nominations as independent candidates for the first phase of Assembly polls to be held on December 1. Now, 12 more leaders, who are contesting against official candidates in Assembly seats that will go to polls in the second phase on December 5, have been suspended by Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil, said a release by the state unit of the party. Notably, November 21 was the last date to withdraw nominations for the 93 seats that will vote in the second phase. None of the BJP rebels opted out of the poll race, inviting disciplinary action from the party. These leaders, who will now fight against BJP candidates on 11 ...

Congress complains against PM for 'misuse' of children in Gujarat campaign

The Congress on Tuesday filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for using children for their political campaign in the run up to the Gujarat assembly polls. The complaint was filed by the Congress' social media department chairperson Supriya Shrinate to the chairman of the NCPCR Priyank Kanoongo, after the prime minister shared a video in which a girl was seen speaking about BJP's governance in Gujarati. "We have lodged a complaint before Priyank Kanoongo of NCPCR against misuse of children for election and political campaigns by PM Modi in Gujarat. Have also marked a copy to the Election Commission for violation of the model code of conduct. Mr Kanoongo, you have been conspicuously quiet. Why?" she asked on Twitter while sharing her complaint. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "This is an open and shut case of violation of child rights and misuse of children for electioneering by

Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to "insult" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections. Even the last rites of the country's first deputy prime minister were performed in "unceremonious" way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat's Anand district. "I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory," Shah said. Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections. Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel's statue which is .

BJP fears defeat in MCD polls, contest in Gujarat quite close: Gopal Rai

Fearing defeat, the BJP ensured that the Delhi municipal elections are held a day before the December 5 phase of the Gujarat assembly polls so that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal keeps shuttling between here and the state, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai alleged on Monday. While the Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, the polls to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are on December 4. "The MCD elections were supposed to be held in March, and when the BJP conducted a survey in Delhi, they knew that they (its candidates) would not be able to even save their deposits. All of their leaders went to (Union home minister) Amit Shah and asked him to do something, otherwise they will be exposed," Rai, who held a jansamvad in his Babarpur assembly constituency, said. Recalling how the Election Commission had called a press conference to announce the date of the MCD elections, he alleged that Shah stalled the polls by saying that all the three corporatio

Gujarat polls: BJP is learnt to have 'threatened' some channels: Sisodia

The BJP is learnt to have "threatened" some news channels that it will not send its panelists to participate in debates on Gujarat if AAP representatives are invited, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged on Monday, amid high-decibel campaigns by the parties for assembly polls in the state. Reacting to Sisodia's tweet, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal took potshots at the BJP and said it was not right on the part of the saffron party to "threaten" TV channels in such a manner. "People from some TV channels have said that BJP has threatened that it will not participate in any of the debate on Gujarat if they invite AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) representatives there. TV channels protested a lot but BJP did not agree," Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi. He, however, did not give any proof to his claim on the micro-blogging site. "BJP guys! Come face to face if you have the courage. You have already run away in fear," the senior AAP leader. On his .

PM used a child for Gujarat campaign: Congress asks agencies to take note

The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using a child for the poll campaign in Gujarat as it asked the Election Commission and NCPCR to take note. The charge came after the prime minister shared a video of a girl seated with him who spoke in Gujrati about the BJP's governance under Modi. The video was shared by many BJP leaders and some union ministers too. "A small child is being used by the prime minister for election campaign. This is a clear violation of the law. Where is the Election Commission? Where is the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)?" asked AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Twitter. "This is blatant, but EC and NCPCR will do nothing," Ramesh also said in response to another Congress leader's charge in a tweet. Congress spokesperson and social media in-charge Suprya Shrinate also shared the video and alleged that this was a clear violation of the law. "This is how children are used in politics -- PM Modi is using a