Gujarat Assembly polls 2017: Caste, factionalism delay Cong candidate list

Moreover, groupism and dissension in the state Congress unit is also said to be a reason behind the delay in finalising candidates.

Even though only two days are left to file nominations for the first phase of Gujarat polls 2017 ,  the Congress is yet to announce its candidates as the party is trying to strike the delicate caste balance while doing the quota tight rope and grappling internal factionalism.

The list is likely to be announced tonight when a meeting is scheduled between PAAS leaders and the Congress.

“Our list will be declared this evening,” Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said without elaborating.

While Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), which is playing a hardball with the grand old party given its hold on the numerically strong community, has demanded around 20 seats from the Congress quota, Alpesh Thakor-led OBC group has demanded 12 seats, which has delayed the Congress’ list. Thakor had joined the Congress recently.

Moreover, groupism and dissension in the state Congress unit is also said to be a reason behind the delay in finalising candidates.

On the contrary, the ruling BJP has announced 106 candidates out of total 182 seats, by releasing two lists so far.

While polling for 89 constituencies will be held on December 9, remaining 93 seats will go to polls on December 14. The last date for filing nominations for the first phase is November 21.

 Click for Updates → Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls: BJP, Cong slug it out for 68 seats today

Political observers say the contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is neck and neck as there is no clear wave in favour of any party.

Sixty-eight Assembly seats will on Thursday go to the polls in a single phase in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh, where the BJP is determined to take power. Officials said everything was in place for a smooth conduct of the polling in 7,525 booths.

A total of 5.025 million electorate, including 1.9 million women and 14 transgenders, will decide the fate of 338 candidates including 19 women. The vote count will be held on December 18 along with those of Gujarat.

The CPI-M has fielded candidates on 14 seats while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which made its debut in the hill state in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, has preferred to stay away.

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2017

Political observers say the contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is neck and neck as there is no clear wave in favour of any party.

It is literally a do-or-die battle for both the Chief Ministerial faces. Both are struggling for their political survival.

One is veteran Congress leader and incumbent Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, 83, who is pushing hard to get to the helm for the seventh time.

Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

The other is the BJP's Prem Kumar Dhumal, 73, who is making a strong bid to ensure the party's win with a record margin to silence his detractors within the party.

For almost two decades, both the parties in the state have fought almost every Assembly and Lok Sabha polls under their leadership.

"This time, Virbhadra Singh is fighting on two fronts -- one is to establish his son Vikramaditya Singh, who is contesting his maiden Assembly election, and the second is to ensure the party's repeat as he forced the Congress to announce him as the Chief Ministerial candidate despite all odds," a political observer.

Godhra train burning case: Gujarat HC commutes death sentence of 11 to life

The High Court pronounced its verdict on a set of appeals challenging convictions and acquittals by a special SIT court in the 2002 Godhra train coach burning case

 

The Gujarat High Court on Monday commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence given by a trial court to 11 convicts in the 2002 Godhra train carnage case. The court, however, upheld the death sentence of 20 other convicts.

The court also directed the government and the railways to pay Rs 10 lakh each to families of those killed in the Godhra train burning case.

The Gujarat High Court pronounced its verdict on a set of appeals challenging convictions and acquittals by a special SIT court in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.

Coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express, in which 59 people, mostly 'kar sevaks' returning from Ayodhya, were travelling, was burnt on February 27, 2002, at the Godhra station, triggering riots in the state.

The special SIT court had on March 1, 2011, convicted 31 people and acquitted 63 in the case. While 11 people were sentenced to death, 20 were given life in jail.

Later, several appeals were filed in the High Court challenging the conviction, while the state government had questioned the acquittal of 63 people.

The court had convicted 31 people while accepting the prosecution's contention that there was a conspiracy behind the incident.

All the 31 were convicted under IPC sections related to murder, attempt to murder, and criminal conspiracy.

Those acquitted included the prime accused, Maulana Umarji, the then president of the Godhra Municipality, Mohammad Hussain Kalota, Mohammad Ansari, and Nanumiya Chaudhary of Gangapur, Uttar Pradesh.

The Nanavati Commission, appointed by the Gujarat government to probe the carnage, had concluded that the fire in the S-6 coach was not an accident, but it was set ablaze.

In Gujarat polls, Hardik Patel to be Shiv Sena's face

Uddhav Thackeray indicated that Sena might pull out of BJP-led dispensation

 

ELECTIONS 2017 : Seeking to corner BJP on a day he met Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday put the Maharashtra government "on notice" even as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis saw "no danger" to his government and said it would complete its term. BJP is Bharatiya Janata Party.

Just ahead of Mumbai civic polls, Thackeray indicated that Sena might pull out of BJP-led dispensation as the government is on "notice period" as of now.

Thackeray, whose party is locked in a fierce battle with BJP in local body polls in Mumbai and other cities, said Patidar quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel will be Sena's face in neighbouring Gujarat, going to polls towards the end of this year.

Thackeray's statements came after Patel called on him at his residence Mathoshree, a visit being seen as significant since Sena has been trying hard to woo the Gujarati community in its battle to retain hold on Mumbai, the party's home turf since its formation decades ago.

"Our friendship with Hardik Patel will be lasting. Until the other person breaks relations with us, we do not leave their side. If needed, we will fight Gujarat assembly polls as well and Hardik will be our face," the Sena chief said, addressing a joint press meet with Patel. (read more...)

PM Modi to visit Gujarat to launch irrigation scheme SAUNI Yojana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday will visit his home state Gujarat to launch an irrigation scheme, SAUNI Yojana, a project initiated by him in 2012 as Chief Minister.

"Looking forward to being in Gujarat today for the launch of SAUNI Yojana. This scheme will truly benefit the people of Gujarat," Modi tweeted on Tuesday.

Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation - SAUNI was a project launched by Modi in September 2012.

The project aims at diverting the floodwater from Sardar Sarovar Dam to several dams of the water scarce Saurasthra region through a network of canal and pipelines.

This would help with irrigation of 4.13 lakh hectares land in drought prone in read more..