News Analysis India

Tag: Gujarat Elections

  • Congress gave you MGNREGA, scholarships; BJP took away your land: Rahul to tribals in Gujarat

    By PTI

    MAHUVA (Gujarat): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he felt the pain of farmers, youth and tribals after meeting them during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and accused the BJP of drawing up plans to displace adivasis by handing over forests to industrialists as he hit the campaign trail in Gujarat 10 days ahead of the first phase of Assembly polls.

    Addressing his first rally in Gujarat after the announcement of the Assembly poll schedule, Gandhi asserted tribals are the first owners of the country, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was working to take away their jungles and keep their children away from modern education.

    The Congress MP took a break from his Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently passing through Maharashtra, and travelled to Gujarat, where he addressed a gathering of tribals at Mahuva in Surat district in support of his party, which is seeking to end its nearly three-decade stint in the opposition in the BJP-ruled state in the next month’s Assembly polls.

    Gandhi said his 3,570-km yatra, which started from Tamil Nadu on September 7, was for the unity of the country and during the cross-country foot-march he felt the pain of farmers, youth and people from the tribal community after listening to their problems.

    Sharing his experience of the yatra so far, the Congress leader said he felt sad while talking to farmers, youth, and tribals.

    Farmers shared their experience of not getting proper rate of their produce, crop insurance money or their loans not getting waived, while youth talked about remaining unemployed and failing to realize their dreams.

    “They (BJP) call you ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers). They do not say you are the first owners of India, but that you live in the jungles. Do you see the difference? It means they do not want you to live in cities, see your children becoming engineers, doctors, learn to fly planes, speak English,” he said at the rally at tribal-dominated Mahuva.

    ALSO READ | Modi govt weakening laws framed by UPA to empower tribals: Rahul Gandhi

    Further attacking the ruling party, the Lok Sabha member from Kerala alleged it wants to keep tribals away from modern health and education facilities.

    “They want you to live in the jungles, but do not stop there. After that, they start taking away the jungles from you. If it continues like this, then in another 5 to 10 years, all the jungles will be in the hands of 2 to 3 industrialists, and you will have no place to live, get no education, health and job,” Gandhi said.

    Recalling a children’s book about a tribal kid that his grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, gave him when he was a child, the Congress leader said she introduced the book as the one about tribals, the real owners of India.

    Gandhi said she told him if you want to understand India, you must understand tribals, their lives, their relations with water, jungle and land (jal, jungle, jameen).

    “She used the word, “adivasi,” for tribals, meaning those who have stayed here for the first time. I am telling you that you are the first owners of the country. The country has been taken away from you,” he said.

    The word “Adivasi” means the country belongs to tribals and they should get their rights in this country — like employment and health to them and their children, Gandhi said.

    “‘Vanvasi,’ on the other hand, means all that belong to you should be given to 2 to 3 industrialists, and you get no education, heath and any other rights,” the former Congress president said.

    Further targeting the BJP, he said laws introduced by the Congress when in power in the past at the Centre for the benefit of the tribal community were never implemented in states ruled by the saffron outfit.

    In fact, they worked to weaken important legislations like the PESA Act (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, the Land Acquisition Act and Forest Rights Act, among others, he claimed.

    “These were revolutionary laws to return water, land and jungle to you. We gave you MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ), jobs, scholarships, rights on land. They (BJP) did not do so. In fact they only took away your land from you,” the Congress MP said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat Assembly polls: ‘Son’ rise in 20 seats as BJP, Cong field dynasts

    He said at a time when people talk about the environment and big conferences are held where delegates from all over the world meet to discuss green issues, tribals know about the subject more than any of these leaders.

    “You can teach them about water, land and jungles, and the work of a leader or a government is to listen to you,” he said, wooing tribals, a key bloc of voters for the opposition party.

    Gandhi said lakhs of people, including farmers, unemployed youths, women, tribals, Dalits, backward community members and minorities walked with him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “If someone is left behind, everyone comes forward to help him. It is a yatra of love and everyone is included. Nobody asks what is your caste, religion, which language you speak, your age, whether you are old, young, woman or man — nobody asks these questions,” he said.

    READ | Some people are doing foot march to get back to power: PM Modi’s dig at Rahul Gandhi

    He said the yatra was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat.

    Gandhi said he felt emotions of happiness as well as sadness during the unity march.

    “Sadness is experienced while talking to farmers, youths, tribals. Farmers do not get proper rate (of agri products), insurance money, their loan is not waived. Youths are unemployed, their dream is breaking. Someone wants to become an engineer, his parents spend money on his education, but he is working as a labourer (after getting degree),” he said.

    LIVE: Public Meeting | Surat | Gujarat#CongressAaveChe https://t.co/ysE6hyPCq6— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 21, 2022 The Congress MP maintained how a youth named Ram joined the yatra on Sunday evening and hugged him and started crying.

    “He said he lost his entire family due to the coronavirus and he was left alone. He said he was unemployed and didn’t see a way out,” Gandhi said.

    “He is not alone, there are lakhs of such youths in the country. When you talk to tribals, they say their land is being snatched away. They are being displaced without being told anything and some industrialists are given our land without any compensation,” the Congress leader said.

    Voting to elect a new 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and ballots will be counted on December 8.

    MAHUVA (Gujarat): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he felt the pain of farmers, youth and tribals after meeting them during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and accused the BJP of drawing up plans to displace adivasis by handing over forests to industrialists as he hit the campaign trail in Gujarat 10 days ahead of the first phase of Assembly polls.

    Addressing his first rally in Gujarat after the announcement of the Assembly poll schedule, Gandhi asserted tribals are the first owners of the country, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was working to take away their jungles and keep their children away from modern education.

    The Congress MP took a break from his Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently passing through Maharashtra, and travelled to Gujarat, where he addressed a gathering of tribals at Mahuva in Surat district in support of his party, which is seeking to end its nearly three-decade stint in the opposition in the BJP-ruled state in the next month’s Assembly polls.

    Gandhi said his 3,570-km yatra, which started from Tamil Nadu on September 7, was for the unity of the country and during the cross-country foot-march he felt the pain of farmers, youth and people from the tribal community after listening to their problems.

    Sharing his experience of the yatra so far, the Congress leader said he felt sad while talking to farmers, youth, and tribals.

    Farmers shared their experience of not getting proper rate of their produce, crop insurance money or their loans not getting waived, while youth talked about remaining unemployed and failing to realize their dreams.

    “They (BJP) call you ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers). They do not say you are the first owners of India, but that you live in the jungles. Do you see the difference? It means they do not want you to live in cities, see your children becoming engineers, doctors, learn to fly planes, speak English,” he said at the rally at tribal-dominated Mahuva.

    ALSO READ | Modi govt weakening laws framed by UPA to empower tribals: Rahul Gandhi

    Further attacking the ruling party, the Lok Sabha member from Kerala alleged it wants to keep tribals away from modern health and education facilities.

    “They want you to live in the jungles, but do not stop there. After that, they start taking away the jungles from you. If it continues like this, then in another 5 to 10 years, all the jungles will be in the hands of 2 to 3 industrialists, and you will have no place to live, get no education, health and job,” Gandhi said.

    Recalling a children’s book about a tribal kid that his grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, gave him when he was a child, the Congress leader said she introduced the book as the one about tribals, the real owners of India.

    Gandhi said she told him if you want to understand India, you must understand tribals, their lives, their relations with water, jungle and land (jal, jungle, jameen).

    “She used the word, “adivasi,” for tribals, meaning those who have stayed here for the first time. I am telling you that you are the first owners of the country. The country has been taken away from you,” he said.

    The word “Adivasi” means the country belongs to tribals and they should get their rights in this country — like employment and health to them and their children, Gandhi said.

    “‘Vanvasi,’ on the other hand, means all that belong to you should be given to 2 to 3 industrialists, and you get no education, heath and any other rights,” the former Congress president said.

    Further targeting the BJP, he said laws introduced by the Congress when in power in the past at the Centre for the benefit of the tribal community were never implemented in states ruled by the saffron outfit.

    In fact, they worked to weaken important legislations like the PESA Act (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, the Land Acquisition Act and Forest Rights Act, among others, he claimed.

    “These were revolutionary laws to return water, land and jungle to you. We gave you MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ), jobs, scholarships, rights on land. They (BJP) did not do so. In fact they only took away your land from you,” the Congress MP said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat Assembly polls: ‘Son’ rise in 20 seats as BJP, Cong field dynasts

    He said at a time when people talk about the environment and big conferences are held where delegates from all over the world meet to discuss green issues, tribals know about the subject more than any of these leaders.

    “You can teach them about water, land and jungles, and the work of a leader or a government is to listen to you,” he said, wooing tribals, a key bloc of voters for the opposition party.

    Gandhi said lakhs of people, including farmers, unemployed youths, women, tribals, Dalits, backward community members and minorities walked with him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “If someone is left behind, everyone comes forward to help him. It is a yatra of love and everyone is included. Nobody asks what is your caste, religion, which language you speak, your age, whether you are old, young, woman or man — nobody asks these questions,” he said.

    READ | Some people are doing foot march to get back to power: PM Modi’s dig at Rahul Gandhi

    He said the yatra was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat.

    Gandhi said he felt emotions of happiness as well as sadness during the unity march.

    “Sadness is experienced while talking to farmers, youths, tribals. Farmers do not get proper rate (of agri products), insurance money, their loan is not waived. Youths are unemployed, their dream is breaking. Someone wants to become an engineer, his parents spend money on his education, but he is working as a labourer (after getting degree),” he said.

    LIVE: Public Meeting | Surat | Gujarat#CongressAaveChe https://t.co/ysE6hyPCq6— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 21, 2022 The Congress MP maintained how a youth named Ram joined the yatra on Sunday evening and hugged him and started crying.

    “He said he lost his entire family due to the coronavirus and he was left alone. He said he was unemployed and didn’t see a way out,” Gandhi said.

    “He is not alone, there are lakhs of such youths in the country. When you talk to tribals, they say their land is being snatched away. They are being displaced without being told anything and some industrialists are given our land without any compensation,” the Congress leader said.

    Voting to elect a new 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and ballots will be counted on December 8.

  • Gujarat polls: BJP suspends 7 leaders for filing nominations as independents after ticket denial

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat on Sunday suspended seven party leaders, including two former MLAs, for filing nominations as independent candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections after they were denied tickets.

    The seven candidates are contesting from the seats that will go to polls in the first phase of the elections scheduled to be held on December 1.

    The party suspended former MLAs Arvind Ladani, who had won from Keshod constituency in 2012, and Harshad Vasava from the Scheduled Tribe-reserved seat of Nandod, after they filed their nominations as independents from these seats.

    The BJP has fielded Dr Darshana Deshmukh from Nandod and Devabhai Malam from Keshod.

    The saffron party also suspended Chhatarsinh Gunjariya, a district panchayat member from Surendranagar, after he filed his nomination as an independent from Dhrangadhra seat.

    Other suspended leaders include Ketan Patel, Bharat Chavda, Uday Shah and Karan Baraiya, who have filed their nominations as independents from Pardi, Rajkot, Veraval and Rajula seats respectively.

    The BJP, in a release, said, “These leaders have filed their nominations as independent candidates against the candidates declared by the party. They are being suspended on the direction of the state BJP president C R Paatil.”

    Paatil had earlier told reporters that it is a norm to suspend leaders who seek to contest as independents against party candidates after they fail to withdraw their nominations on the last day of withdrawal.

    Several BJP leaders have come out in the open to express their unhappiness for being denied tickets and have declared to contest as independents.

    Six-time MLA Madhu Shrivastav from Vaghodia, who was denied a ticket, has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has fielded Ashwin Patel from the seat.

    Another former BJP MLA Dinesh Patel aka Dinu Mama of Padra seat in Vadodara district has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has given the ticket to Chaitanyasinh Zala on the seat.

    Both Vaghodia and Padra will go to polls in the second phase of elections on December 5.

    The BJP has not yet suspended the two former MLAs Shrivastav and Patel.

    At least 788 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the elections to 89 seats, which will be held on December 1.

    The second phase of the polls for 93 constituencies will be held on December 5 and the counting of votes for all 182 Assembly seats will take place on December 8.

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat on Sunday suspended seven party leaders, including two former MLAs, for filing nominations as independent candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections after they were denied tickets.

    The seven candidates are contesting from the seats that will go to polls in the first phase of the elections scheduled to be held on December 1.

    The party suspended former MLAs Arvind Ladani, who had won from Keshod constituency in 2012, and Harshad Vasava from the Scheduled Tribe-reserved seat of Nandod, after they filed their nominations as independents from these seats.

    The BJP has fielded Dr Darshana Deshmukh from Nandod and Devabhai Malam from Keshod.

    The saffron party also suspended Chhatarsinh Gunjariya, a district panchayat member from Surendranagar, after he filed his nomination as an independent from Dhrangadhra seat.

    Other suspended leaders include Ketan Patel, Bharat Chavda, Uday Shah and Karan Baraiya, who have filed their nominations as independents from Pardi, Rajkot, Veraval and Rajula seats respectively.

    The BJP, in a release, said, “These leaders have filed their nominations as independent candidates against the candidates declared by the party. They are being suspended on the direction of the state BJP president C R Paatil.”

    Paatil had earlier told reporters that it is a norm to suspend leaders who seek to contest as independents against party candidates after they fail to withdraw their nominations on the last day of withdrawal.

    Several BJP leaders have come out in the open to express their unhappiness for being denied tickets and have declared to contest as independents.

    Six-time MLA Madhu Shrivastav from Vaghodia, who was denied a ticket, has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has fielded Ashwin Patel from the seat.

    Another former BJP MLA Dinesh Patel aka Dinu Mama of Padra seat in Vadodara district has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has given the ticket to Chaitanyasinh Zala on the seat.

    Both Vaghodia and Padra will go to polls in the second phase of elections on December 5.

    The BJP has not yet suspended the two former MLAs Shrivastav and Patel.

    At least 788 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the elections to 89 seats, which will be held on December 1.

    The second phase of the polls for 93 constituencies will be held on December 5 and the counting of votes for all 182 Assembly seats will take place on December 8.

  • PM Modi slams Congress over Medha Patkar joining Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra

    By PTI

    DHORAJI (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked on what moral ground is the Congress seeking votes in Gujarat when its leader was joined in his Bharat Jodo Yatra by a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades.

    Modi was referring to Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar joining the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra on Saturday.

    Addressing a poll rally in Dhoraji town of Gujarat’s Rajkot district, Modi said the ambitious project of building Sardar Sarovar Dam over Narmada river was delayed because many people had tried hard to stall it.

    “The Narmada project was the only solution to quench the thirst of the arid region of Kutch and Kathiyawad (Saurashtra region). You must have seen yesterday how a Congress leader was doing padyatra with a woman, who was an anti-Narmada activist. She and others had stalled the project for three decades by creating legal hurdles” he said.

    “These activists held protests just to make sure that water does not reach here,” Modi said, and accused the activists of defaming Gujarat to such an extent that even the World Bank stopped funds for the project.

    Rahul Gandhi with Medha Patkar during Bharat Jodo Yatra (Photo | INC Twitter)

    “When Congress leaders approach you to seek votes, I want you to ask them to explain on what moral ground the opposition party is seeking votes when their leader was doing padyatra with a woman who was against the Narmada project. I urge you to ask this question to Congress,” he said.

    The BJP government in Gujarat had worked hard for 20 years to resolve the water shortage issue through various schemes, such as building check dams, digging new wells and lakes and providing water through pipelines, Modi said.

    “Today, the entire Kutch-Kathiyawad region is receiving water through this pipeline network. We believe in bringing permanent solutions to problems. We understand that water and electricity are crucial for development. Congress governments were only interested in installing hand pumps,” he said.

    Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5 with the counting of votes on December 8 along with that of Himachal Pradesh.

    Of the total 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, voting for 89 seats will be held on December 1 and the balance 93 seats on December 5.

    Polling in Dhoraji area, held by Congress, will take place on December 1.

    DHORAJI (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked on what moral ground is the Congress seeking votes in Gujarat when its leader was joined in his Bharat Jodo Yatra by a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades.

    Modi was referring to Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar joining the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra on Saturday.

    Addressing a poll rally in Dhoraji town of Gujarat’s Rajkot district, Modi said the ambitious project of building Sardar Sarovar Dam over Narmada river was delayed because many people had tried hard to stall it.

    “The Narmada project was the only solution to quench the thirst of the arid region of Kutch and Kathiyawad (Saurashtra region). You must have seen yesterday how a Congress leader was doing padyatra with a woman, who was an anti-Narmada activist. She and others had stalled the project for three decades by creating legal hurdles” he said.

    “These activists held protests just to make sure that water does not reach here,” Modi said, and accused the activists of defaming Gujarat to such an extent that even the World Bank stopped funds for the project.

    Rahul Gandhi with Medha Patkar during Bharat Jodo Yatra (Photo | INC Twitter)

    “When Congress leaders approach you to seek votes, I want you to ask them to explain on what moral ground the opposition party is seeking votes when their leader was doing padyatra with a woman who was against the Narmada project. I urge you to ask this question to Congress,” he said.

    The BJP government in Gujarat had worked hard for 20 years to resolve the water shortage issue through various schemes, such as building check dams, digging new wells and lakes and providing water through pipelines, Modi said.

    “Today, the entire Kutch-Kathiyawad region is receiving water through this pipeline network. We believe in bringing permanent solutions to problems. We understand that water and electricity are crucial for development. Congress governments were only interested in installing hand pumps,” he said.

    Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5 with the counting of votes on December 8 along with that of Himachal Pradesh.

    Of the total 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, voting for 89 seats will be held on December 1 and the balance 93 seats on December 5.

    Polling in Dhoraji area, held by Congress, will take place on December 1.

  • Why waste votes on Congress which doesn’t have development roadmap? PM Modi at Guj poll rally

    By PTI

    AMRELI (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to the people of Amreli district to not waste their votes on Congress as it doesn’t have the roadmap for development and instead choose BJP in the next month’s Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Addressing a rally in Amreli town in Saurashtra region on the second day of his visit to poll-bound Gujarat, the prime minister said the Opposition party can never do anything good for the region.

    Notably, Congress had won all five Assembly segments in Amreli district – Dhari, Amreli, Lathi, Savarkundla and Rajula – in the 2017 elections whereas the BJP drew a blank.

    “The BJP government did several works to strengthen Gujarat. Now, it is time to take a giant leap. And, Congress does not have the capacity to do that. The Opposition party can never do anything good for you,” the prime minister said.

    “You cannot expect a Congress leader to take you on the path of development, ask any Congress leader what is the roadmap for development and they do not have any plan,” he said.

    The prime minister said the people of Amreli had elected Congress candidates in the previous elections with very high hopes from that party.

    “Now tell me what did they do for you (during these five years)? Do you remember at least one work done by them? Then why are you wasting your votes on them? To strengthen Amreli, I urge you to choose lotus (BJP) this time,” said the PM.

    He listed several government schemes which he said benefited all sections of society including farmers.

    “Under the ‘PM Kisan Samman Nidhi’ scheme, Gujarat’s 60 lakh farmers have received Rs 12,000 crore. You can’t expect such things from Congress. Just ask any Congress leader what is the roadmap for development and they will be clueless,” said Modi.

    AMRELI (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to the people of Amreli district to not waste their votes on Congress as it doesn’t have the roadmap for development and instead choose BJP in the next month’s Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Addressing a rally in Amreli town in Saurashtra region on the second day of his visit to poll-bound Gujarat, the prime minister said the Opposition party can never do anything good for the region.

    Notably, Congress had won all five Assembly segments in Amreli district – Dhari, Amreli, Lathi, Savarkundla and Rajula – in the 2017 elections whereas the BJP drew a blank.

    “The BJP government did several works to strengthen Gujarat. Now, it is time to take a giant leap. And, Congress does not have the capacity to do that. The Opposition party can never do anything good for you,” the prime minister said.

    “You cannot expect a Congress leader to take you on the path of development, ask any Congress leader what is the roadmap for development and they do not have any plan,” he said.

    The prime minister said the people of Amreli had elected Congress candidates in the previous elections with very high hopes from that party.

    “Now tell me what did they do for you (during these five years)? Do you remember at least one work done by them? Then why are you wasting your votes on them? To strengthen Amreli, I urge you to choose lotus (BJP) this time,” said the PM.

    He listed several government schemes which he said benefited all sections of society including farmers.

    “Under the ‘PM Kisan Samman Nidhi’ scheme, Gujarat’s 60 lakh farmers have received Rs 12,000 crore. You can’t expect such things from Congress. Just ask any Congress leader what is the roadmap for development and they will be clueless,” said Modi.

  • EWS quota resolved many issues of Patels, community standing with BJP this time: Hardik Patel

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Centre’s decision of 10 per cent EWS reservation without disturbing the existing quota resolved many issues of the Patels in Gujarat and the community will ensure the BJP’s massive victory in the upcoming assembly polls, party leader Hardik Patel said.

    The spearhead of the 2015 Patidar quota stir said the agitation had directly impacted nearly 20 assembly segments in the 2017 Gujarat election.

    He had supported the Congress during the 2017 polls.

    The Centre in January 2019 implemented the 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) from the general category by amending the Constitution.

    It also issued instructions for increasing the total number of seats in academic institutions to provide EWS reservations without adversely affecting the proportionate seats of the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories.

    Earlier this month, the Supreme Court in a 3:2 majority decision upheld the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SCs, STs, and OBCs.

    “Patidars are united and have decided to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the 2017 elections, the issue was different. The 10 per cent EWS quota has extended reservation benefits for the poor and the deprived from other sections while including the Patels of Gujarat. This time, the Patels will ensure that BJP gets a massive majority,” Patel told PTI in an interview.

    He hailed Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and termed his decision on the EWS quota “historic”.

    It will benefit the poor from more than 50 communities, he said.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu parties turn down 10 per cent EWS quota amendment

    “It (EWS reservation) will immensely benefit the BJP. Last time, the Patidar agitation impacted nearly 20 seats directly and had an indirect effect on many other seats. But now, not only Patels but many communities will get reservation benefits,” Patel said.

    About the impact of AAP’s foray into Gujarat assembly polls, Patel did not see the Arvind Kejriwal-led party posing many challenges to the BJP.

    For him, the Congress is the nearest rival though a distant second in the polls.

    “The AAP is free to contest elections. But it has hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Gujarat with its leader’s remarks against Lord Vishnu and Mahesh. It is fighting the Congress for the same space but as of now it appears the Congress will be a distant second in the elections,” he said.

    On his leaving the Congress to join the BJP, Patel said his issues have been resolved and he was always “BJP-minded and ideologically closer to Hindutva and nationalism”.

    The 29-year-old Hardik Patel rose to prominence as the face of the Patidar agitation in Gujarat between 2015 and 2016.

    He joined the Congress in 2020 and served as its Gujarat unit working president.

    Earlier this year, he crossed over to the BJP which fielded him from the Viramgam constituency in Ahmedabad.

    Party leaders have been calling him a “fighter leader”.

    When asked about chief ministers changing in Gujarat, Hardik said BJP is the party of the entire Gujarati society and “it gives representation to every caste at the appropriate time”.

    “The people of Gujarat have full faith in the BJP. They embrace all its decisions and look at Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah while voting for the party,” he said.

    AHMEDABAD: The Centre’s decision of 10 per cent EWS reservation without disturbing the existing quota resolved many issues of the Patels in Gujarat and the community will ensure the BJP’s massive victory in the upcoming assembly polls, party leader Hardik Patel said.

    The spearhead of the 2015 Patidar quota stir said the agitation had directly impacted nearly 20 assembly segments in the 2017 Gujarat election.

    He had supported the Congress during the 2017 polls.

    The Centre in January 2019 implemented the 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) from the general category by amending the Constitution.

    It also issued instructions for increasing the total number of seats in academic institutions to provide EWS reservations without adversely affecting the proportionate seats of the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories.

    Earlier this month, the Supreme Court in a 3:2 majority decision upheld the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SCs, STs, and OBCs.

    “Patidars are united and have decided to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the 2017 elections, the issue was different. The 10 per cent EWS quota has extended reservation benefits for the poor and the deprived from other sections while including the Patels of Gujarat. This time, the Patels will ensure that BJP gets a massive majority,” Patel told PTI in an interview.

    He hailed Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and termed his decision on the EWS quota “historic”.

    It will benefit the poor from more than 50 communities, he said.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu parties turn down 10 per cent EWS quota amendment

    “It (EWS reservation) will immensely benefit the BJP. Last time, the Patidar agitation impacted nearly 20 seats directly and had an indirect effect on many other seats. But now, not only Patels but many communities will get reservation benefits,” Patel said.

    About the impact of AAP’s foray into Gujarat assembly polls, Patel did not see the Arvind Kejriwal-led party posing many challenges to the BJP.

    For him, the Congress is the nearest rival though a distant second in the polls.

    “The AAP is free to contest elections. But it has hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Gujarat with its leader’s remarks against Lord Vishnu and Mahesh. It is fighting the Congress for the same space but as of now it appears the Congress will be a distant second in the elections,” he said.

    On his leaving the Congress to join the BJP, Patel said his issues have been resolved and he was always “BJP-minded and ideologically closer to Hindutva and nationalism”.

    The 29-year-old Hardik Patel rose to prominence as the face of the Patidar agitation in Gujarat between 2015 and 2016.

    He joined the Congress in 2020 and served as its Gujarat unit working president.

    Earlier this year, he crossed over to the BJP which fielded him from the Viramgam constituency in Ahmedabad.

    Party leaders have been calling him a “fighter leader”.

    When asked about chief ministers changing in Gujarat, Hardik said BJP is the party of the entire Gujarati society and “it gives representation to every caste at the appropriate time”.

    “The people of Gujarat have full faith in the BJP. They embrace all its decisions and look at Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah while voting for the party,” he said.

  • Gujarat polls: Rahul Gandhi to address public rallies in Rajkot, Surat on Monday

    By PTI

    RAJKOT: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address two public rallies in Rajkot as well as Mahuva in Surat in poll-bound Gujarat on November 21, a party leader said on Saturday.

    Gandhi is currently leading the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which is traversing Maharashtra and is poised to enter Madhya Pradesh on November 20.

    The former Congress president will be in Rajkot and Mahuva in south Gujarat to address public rallies on November 21, Rajasthan MLA and Congress’s Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma told reporters.

    Speaking on the Yatra, he said the nationwide march has covered 2,000 kilometres so far and has been organised as per the decision taken at the ‘navsankalp shivir’ in Rajasthan’s Udaipur against the “environment of fear, hatred and violence prevailing in the country”.

    Incidentally, Gandhi will be visiting Gujarat after two-and-half months.

    He had addressed a rally of booth-level workers in Ahmedabad on September 5, before moving on to lead the Yatra that commenced from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7.

    Gujarat will see two-phase Assembly polls on December 1 and 5, while votes will be counted on December 8.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is seeking the seventh straight term, is pitted against Congress and Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party that has promised a slew of measures, or “guarantees” if it wins the polls.

    The BJP won the 2017 polls for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly by a narrow margin after winning 99 seats against Congress’ improved tally of 77.ALSO READ | PM Modi to address rallies in poll-bound Gujarat for two days

    RAJKOT: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address two public rallies in Rajkot as well as Mahuva in Surat in poll-bound Gujarat on November 21, a party leader said on Saturday.

    Gandhi is currently leading the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which is traversing Maharashtra and is poised to enter Madhya Pradesh on November 20.

    The former Congress president will be in Rajkot and Mahuva in south Gujarat to address public rallies on November 21, Rajasthan MLA and Congress’s Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma told reporters.

    Speaking on the Yatra, he said the nationwide march has covered 2,000 kilometres so far and has been organised as per the decision taken at the ‘navsankalp shivir’ in Rajasthan’s Udaipur against the “environment of fear, hatred and violence prevailing in the country”.

    Incidentally, Gandhi will be visiting Gujarat after two-and-half months.

    He had addressed a rally of booth-level workers in Ahmedabad on September 5, before moving on to lead the Yatra that commenced from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7.

    Gujarat will see two-phase Assembly polls on December 1 and 5, while votes will be counted on December 8.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is seeking the seventh straight term, is pitted against Congress and Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party that has promised a slew of measures, or “guarantees” if it wins the polls.

    The BJP won the 2017 polls for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly by a narrow margin after winning 99 seats against Congress’ improved tally of 77.ALSO READ | PM Modi to address rallies in poll-bound Gujarat for two days

  • Gujarat Assembly polls: AAP candidate withdraws nomination, Sisodia alleges ‘BJP goons’ abducted him

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party’s Surat East Assembly seat candidate in Gujarat withdrew his nomination on Wednesday, with the AAP alleging he was abducted at the behest of the BJP and pressured to do so, a charge denied by the ruling party.

    Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said their Surat seat candidate Kanchan Jariwala had been missing along with his family members since Tuesday.

    “In this election, the BJP is miserably losing in Gujarat and has become so rattled that it has stooped to the level of kidnapping our candidate from Surat East,” Sisodia alleged.

    “Fearing defeat, the BJP goons kidnapped the AAP candidate from Surat, Kanchan Jariwala,” he further charged.

    The BJP has fielded its sitting MLA Arvind Rana from the seat. 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.

    State AAP president Gopal Italia claimed their Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala appeared before the office of the Returning Officer on Wednesday under heavy police protection and surrounded by “BJP goons” to withdraw his candidature under the pressure of the ruling party.

    READ HERE | Gujarat polls: ‘Don’t waste your votes, Congress’ share will go below 13 per cent’, says Kejriwal

    When media persons questioned Jariwala, he was hurriedly whisked away by the persons surrounding him.

    Italia alleged that Jariwala had gone missing and was allegedly taken to an undisclosed location by the BJP goons who put pressure on him to stay away from the election.

    Sisodia said, “This is not just the kidnapping of our candidate, but the kidnapping of democracy. This is a very dangerous situation in Gujarat.”

    He appealed to the Election Commission to take cognisance of it. However, Surat city BJP president Niranjan Zanzmera refuted the allegations and said the AAP should instead “take care of its own house”.

    Italia said the AAP will take the advice from its legal team for further action into the matter.

    “The BJP first wanted to get Jariwala’s nomination invalidated on the last date of the process on Tuesday. When his nomination was accepted, the BJP goons took him to some undisclosed location. We could not find him anywhere until Wednesday morning. His relatives told us that he was put under huge pressure to stay away from the election,” Italia claimed while talking to reporters in Surat.

    Italia further said the way Jariwala appeared to withdraw his nomination suggested that he was under “huge pressure.

    “Why else would he come to the office under heavy police protection and with 50-100 goons if he intended to withdraw his candidature on his own?” Italia asked.

    AAP’s Gujarat co-incharge Raghav Chadha alleged that the “BJP goons” kidnapped Jariwala on Tuesday to put pressure on him to withdraw his candidature.

    “The BJP is so scared in Gujarat that it has started kidnapping the AAP candidates,” the Rajya Sabha member claimed.

    “The BJP goons themselves went to the office of the Returning Officer along with Jariwala and put pressure on him to get his nomination invalidated. The pressure was also put on his proposers to get his nomination invalidated,” he alleged.

    Chadha said the party has informed the Chief Electoral Officer about it, and a written complaint will be submitted. Local police and administration have also been informed about it, he said. Surat Police Commissioner Ajay Tomar told PTI that the issue has come to his notice.

    “I have come to know about it and we are trying to find out. I have put my teams on the job and we will find it out. We have not received any formal complaint yet but since this has come to my notice, I am working on it,” the police official said.

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party’s Surat East Assembly seat candidate in Gujarat withdrew his nomination on Wednesday, with the AAP alleging he was abducted at the behest of the BJP and pressured to do so, a charge denied by the ruling party.

    Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said their Surat seat candidate Kanchan Jariwala had been missing along with his family members since Tuesday.

    “In this election, the BJP is miserably losing in Gujarat and has become so rattled that it has stooped to the level of kidnapping our candidate from Surat East,” Sisodia alleged.

    “Fearing defeat, the BJP goons kidnapped the AAP candidate from Surat, Kanchan Jariwala,” he further charged.

    The BJP has fielded its sitting MLA Arvind Rana from the seat. 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.

    State AAP president Gopal Italia claimed their Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala appeared before the office of the Returning Officer on Wednesday under heavy police protection and surrounded by “BJP goons” to withdraw his candidature under the pressure of the ruling party.

    READ HERE | Gujarat polls: ‘Don’t waste your votes, Congress’ share will go below 13 per cent’, says Kejriwal

    When media persons questioned Jariwala, he was hurriedly whisked away by the persons surrounding him.

    Italia alleged that Jariwala had gone missing and was allegedly taken to an undisclosed location by the BJP goons who put pressure on him to stay away from the election.

    Sisodia said, “This is not just the kidnapping of our candidate, but the kidnapping of democracy. This is a very dangerous situation in Gujarat.”

    He appealed to the Election Commission to take cognisance of it. However, Surat city BJP president Niranjan Zanzmera refuted the allegations and said the AAP should instead “take care of its own house”.

    Italia said the AAP will take the advice from its legal team for further action into the matter.

    “The BJP first wanted to get Jariwala’s nomination invalidated on the last date of the process on Tuesday. When his nomination was accepted, the BJP goons took him to some undisclosed location. We could not find him anywhere until Wednesday morning. His relatives told us that he was put under huge pressure to stay away from the election,” Italia claimed while talking to reporters in Surat.

    Italia further said the way Jariwala appeared to withdraw his nomination suggested that he was under “huge pressure.

    “Why else would he come to the office under heavy police protection and with 50-100 goons if he intended to withdraw his candidature on his own?” Italia asked.

    AAP’s Gujarat co-incharge Raghav Chadha alleged that the “BJP goons” kidnapped Jariwala on Tuesday to put pressure on him to withdraw his candidature.

    “The BJP is so scared in Gujarat that it has started kidnapping the AAP candidates,” the Rajya Sabha member claimed.

    “The BJP goons themselves went to the office of the Returning Officer along with Jariwala and put pressure on him to get his nomination invalidated. The pressure was also put on his proposers to get his nomination invalidated,” he alleged.

    Chadha said the party has informed the Chief Electoral Officer about it, and a written complaint will be submitted. Local police and administration have also been informed about it, he said. Surat Police Commissioner Ajay Tomar told PTI that the issue has come to his notice.

    “I have come to know about it and we are trying to find out. I have put my teams on the job and we will find it out. We have not received any formal complaint yet but since this has come to my notice, I am working on it,” the police official said.

  • Gujarat polls: ‘Don’t waste your votes, Congress’ share will go below 13 per cent’, says Kejriwal

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: On the last day of filing the nomination form for the first phase election, the National Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP ) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Gujarat on Monday. 

    Addressing the media at the Ahmedabad airport, Arvind Kejriwal said, “As the Gujarat elections are approaching, we have seen that the Congress has collapsed.”

    Kejriwal said that they were only two types of others. One hated Congress and voted for BJP and the other hated BJP and voted for Congress.

    “But today all who elected Congress are opting for AAP and those who have been agitated by 27 years of misgovernance by the BJP are also ready to vote for AAP,” said Kejriwal

    ALSO READ | Gujarat polls: Ravindra Jadeja bats for his wife ahead of Jamnagar nomination

    Kejriwal said, “I guess this time in the Gujarat assembly elections, the vote share of Congress will go below 13 per cent and they will get four or five seats. I want to request the people of Gujarat that in this election, there is a direct contest between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP. Even now if someone is a hardcore voter of Congress, then they should not waste his vote by giving his vote to Congress.”

    ALSO READ | Gujarat polls: BJP campaigns vigorously in Saurashtra after setback over Morbi bridge collapse

    Earlier in the afternoon, AAP’s Legal Cell filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of the State regarding the display of photographs of the Prime Minister in the Central and State Government offices in Gujarat. The complaint stated that the Model Code of Conduct for elections is being violated.

    The complaint stated that the photographs of a star campaigner of a political party in government offices may have an impact on the elections and therefore in the interest of free and fair elections in the state. 

    AHMEDABAD: On the last day of filing the nomination form for the first phase election, the National Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP ) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Gujarat on Monday. 

    Addressing the media at the Ahmedabad airport, Arvind Kejriwal said, “As the Gujarat elections are approaching, we have seen that the Congress has collapsed.”

    Kejriwal said that they were only two types of others. One hated Congress and voted for BJP and the other hated BJP and voted for Congress.

    “But today all who elected Congress are opting for AAP and those who have been agitated by 27 years of misgovernance by the BJP are also ready to vote for AAP,” said Kejriwal

    ALSO READ | Gujarat polls: Ravindra Jadeja bats for his wife ahead of Jamnagar nomination

    Kejriwal said, “I guess this time in the Gujarat assembly elections, the vote share of Congress will go below 13 per cent and they will get four or five seats. I want to request the people of Gujarat that in this election, there is a direct contest between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP. Even now if someone is a hardcore voter of Congress, then they should not waste his vote by giving his vote to Congress.”

    ALSO READ | Gujarat polls: BJP campaigns vigorously in Saurashtra after setback over Morbi bridge collapse

    Earlier in the afternoon, AAP’s Legal Cell filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of the State regarding the display of photographs of the Prime Minister in the Central and State Government offices in Gujarat. The complaint stated that the Model Code of Conduct for elections is being violated.

    The complaint stated that the photographs of a star campaigner of a political party in government offices may have an impact on the elections and therefore in the interest of free and fair elections in the state. 

  • Gujarat polls: Tribal leader Chhotu Vasava not to contest from his seat Jhagadia, his son steps in

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) founder Chhotu Vasava will not contest from his traditional Assembly seat Jhagadia in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, from where he has won seven times in a row, and instead his son will be in the fray from the constituency in the next month’s elections.

    As per the second list of six candidates released by the tribal party for the December 1 and 5 elections, Chhotu Vasava’s son Mahesh Vasava has been fielded from Jhagadia.

    Mahesh Vasava had won from Dediapada in Narmada district in the 2017 Assembly elections.

    Before that, he had emerged victorious from the same seat in 2002 (when the BTP was not in existence).

    The BTP, which has pockets of influence in adivasi-dominated areas of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat, won two Assembly seats in 2017 when it fought elections in an alliance with the Congress.

    However, the regional outfit later severed ties with the main opposition party.

    Early this year, it entered into a short-lived alliance with Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    Party sources said the senior Vasava (75), who was earlier with the Janata Dal (United), is not likely to contest polls this time due to his poor health.

    From Dediapada, the party has fielded BTP member Bahadursinh Vasava.

    The other candidates are Ravjibhai Pandor (Khedbrahma), Narendra Rathva (Pavijetpur), Nitin Vasava (Nakleshwar) and Subhash Vasava (Mangrol).

    Except for Ankleshwar, all the other five Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.

    The party had announced the first list of 12 candidates on Sunday, of which nine were fielded from ST-reserved seats.

    Apart from Bhiloda, Jhalod, Dahod, Sankheda, Nandod, Vyara, Nizar, Dang and Dharampur, all reserved for tribal candidates, the party had announced candidates on non-reserved seats of Karjan, Jambusar and Olpad.

    BTP president Mahesh Vasava said his party will field candidates on all the 27 Assembly seats reserved for ST candidates and also contest constituencies which have a sizeable tribal population.

    Gujarat has a 182-member Assembly.

    AHMEDABAD: Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) founder Chhotu Vasava will not contest from his traditional Assembly seat Jhagadia in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, from where he has won seven times in a row, and instead his son will be in the fray from the constituency in the next month’s elections.

    As per the second list of six candidates released by the tribal party for the December 1 and 5 elections, Chhotu Vasava’s son Mahesh Vasava has been fielded from Jhagadia.

    Mahesh Vasava had won from Dediapada in Narmada district in the 2017 Assembly elections.

    Before that, he had emerged victorious from the same seat in 2002 (when the BTP was not in existence).

    The BTP, which has pockets of influence in adivasi-dominated areas of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat, won two Assembly seats in 2017 when it fought elections in an alliance with the Congress.

    However, the regional outfit later severed ties with the main opposition party.

    Early this year, it entered into a short-lived alliance with Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    Party sources said the senior Vasava (75), who was earlier with the Janata Dal (United), is not likely to contest polls this time due to his poor health.

    From Dediapada, the party has fielded BTP member Bahadursinh Vasava.

    The other candidates are Ravjibhai Pandor (Khedbrahma), Narendra Rathva (Pavijetpur), Nitin Vasava (Nakleshwar) and Subhash Vasava (Mangrol).

    Except for Ankleshwar, all the other five Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.

    The party had announced the first list of 12 candidates on Sunday, of which nine were fielded from ST-reserved seats.

    Apart from Bhiloda, Jhalod, Dahod, Sankheda, Nandod, Vyara, Nizar, Dang and Dharampur, all reserved for tribal candidates, the party had announced candidates on non-reserved seats of Karjan, Jambusar and Olpad.

    BTP president Mahesh Vasava said his party will field candidates on all the 27 Assembly seats reserved for ST candidates and also contest constituencies which have a sizeable tribal population.

    Gujarat has a 182-member Assembly.

  • Gujarat Congress leader Mohansinh Rathva quits, joins BJP

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: In a jolt to the opposition Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat, senior MLA Mohansinh Rathva on Tuesday resigned as a party member and legislator and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Rathva, 78, sent his resignation letter to state Congress chief Jagdish Thakor.

    A prominent tribal leader, Rathva is a ten-time Member of the Legislative Assembly and currently represents the Chhota Udaipur (ST) constituency in central Gujarat.

    Before 2012, he had represented Pavi-Jetpur (ST) constituency in the Chhota Udepur district.

    Recently, Rathva had announced that he would not seek a ticket for the next month’s Assembly elections but wanted the party to field his son Rajendrasinh Rathva from his seat instead.

    Congress Rajya Sabha MP Naran Rathva has also reportedly sought a ticket for his son from the same seat.

    Gujarat will vote in two phases on December 1 and 5.

    The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    After sending his resignation letter, Rathva reached the Gujarat BJP office in Ahmedabad where he was inducted into the party by state general secretaries Bhargav Bhatt and Pradeepsinh Vaghela.

    Rathva’s sons Rajendrasinh and Ranjitsinh also joined the BJP at the function.

    When asked if the BJP will give him a ticket for the Assembly polls, Rathva claimed he is “100 per cent” sure.

    “However, I have not sought a ticket. I am getting old now. My son Rajendrasinh is an engineer. He is BE civil. He was having a feeling that we should join BJP,” Rathva told reporters at the BJP headquarters.

    When asked if he left Congress because the party denied a ticket for his son, Rathva replied he had decided to join BJP before Congress takes a call.

    “The Congress never said that they will not give me a ticket (for my son). I decided before Congress said anything about it. I was impressed by the work done by the BJP government and PM Narendra Modi in our tribal areas. That is the reason why I have decided to join BJP,” he added.

    AHMEDABAD: In a jolt to the opposition Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat, senior MLA Mohansinh Rathva on Tuesday resigned as a party member and legislator and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Rathva, 78, sent his resignation letter to state Congress chief Jagdish Thakor.

    A prominent tribal leader, Rathva is a ten-time Member of the Legislative Assembly and currently represents the Chhota Udaipur (ST) constituency in central Gujarat.

    Before 2012, he had represented Pavi-Jetpur (ST) constituency in the Chhota Udepur district.

    Recently, Rathva had announced that he would not seek a ticket for the next month’s Assembly elections but wanted the party to field his son Rajendrasinh Rathva from his seat instead.

    Congress Rajya Sabha MP Naran Rathva has also reportedly sought a ticket for his son from the same seat.

    Gujarat will vote in two phases on December 1 and 5.

    The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    After sending his resignation letter, Rathva reached the Gujarat BJP office in Ahmedabad where he was inducted into the party by state general secretaries Bhargav Bhatt and Pradeepsinh Vaghela.

    Rathva’s sons Rajendrasinh and Ranjitsinh also joined the BJP at the function.

    When asked if the BJP will give him a ticket for the Assembly polls, Rathva claimed he is “100 per cent” sure.

    “However, I have not sought a ticket. I am getting old now. My son Rajendrasinh is an engineer. He is BE civil. He was having a feeling that we should join BJP,” Rathva told reporters at the BJP headquarters.

    When asked if he left Congress because the party denied a ticket for his son, Rathva replied he had decided to join BJP before Congress takes a call.

    “The Congress never said that they will not give me a ticket (for my son). I decided before Congress said anything about it. I was impressed by the work done by the BJP government and PM Narendra Modi in our tribal areas. That is the reason why I have decided to join BJP,” he added.