News Analysis India

Tag: Gujarat polls

  • 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: Ravindra Jadeja bats for his wife ahead of Jamnagar nomination

    By ANI

    JAMNAGAR: Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja on Monday said that his wife Rivaba Jadeja who has been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Jamnagar (North) seat in the state assembly elections wanted to follow the path of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work for the people.

    Ravindra Jadeja attended an event on Monday where he said that Rivaba would learn a lot from her first-time candidature in the assembly elections.

    “It is her (Rivaba Jadeja) first time as an MLA candidate and she will learn a lot. I hope she will progress in this. She is of helping nature and has always wanted to help people and hence joined politics. She wants to follow the path of PM Modi to work for the people,” the cricketer said.

    Earlier on Sunday, Jadeja urged the people of Jamnagar to vote for his wife Rivaba Jadeja. Jadeja tweeted a video urging the people of Jamnagar and cricket fans to vote for his wife.

    “The Gujarat election is here and it’s like a T20 match. My wife is making her grand debut in politics on a BJP ticket! Tomorrow she will file her nomination. I appeal to the people of Jamnagar and all the cricket lovers to come in large numbers to support her,” Jadeja said in the video in which he was speaking in Gujarati.

    જામનગર ના મારા તમામ મિત્રો ને મારુ દીલ થી આમંત્રણ છે. જય માતાજી pic.twitter.com/olZxvYVr3t
    — Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) November 13, 2022
    Rivaba replaces sitting MLA Dharmendrasinh Jadeja as the BJP face for the Jamnagar (North) seat, who was denied a party ticket in this election, according to sources.

    Earlier on Sunday, the BJP announced one more candidate for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly election. So far the party has released the names of 167 candidates for the Gujarat polls. The party fielded Jagdishbhai Makwana from the Wadhwan Assembly constituency.

    Earlier on Saturday, BJP released the second list of six candidates. In the second list of six candidates, BJP has given tickets to two women. It has fielded Mahendrabhai Padaliya from Dhoraji, Mulubhai Bera from Khambhalia, Dheliben Maldebhai Odedara from Kutiyana, Sejal Rajiv Kumar Pandya from Bhavnagar East, Hitesh Devji Vasava from Dediapada (ST) and Sandeep Desai from Choryasi.

    On Thursday, the BJP announced the first list of candidates for 160 candidates out of the 182 constituencies for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.

    The first list of 160 candidates includes 14 females, 13 from scheduled caste, 24 from the scheduled tribe and there are 69 candidates who have been repeated. The Assembly elections in Gujarat are scheduled for two phases on December 1 and December 5. In the first round, 89 of the total 182 Assembly seats will go to polls and prominent political parties have declared their candidates for almost all these constituencies.

    The BJP has drawn up a list of star campaigners for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. Topping the list is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other prominent names on the list include BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and fellow Cabinet colleagues Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mansukh Mandaviya and Purushottam Rupala.

    Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who is seeking a fresh mandate from the Ghatlodia Assembly segment, also features in the star campaigners list along with BJP state president CR Patil and state Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi.

    The ruling party seeks its seventh straight term in power in the ensuing state polls. The state has been a BJP stronghold for a long and the party has set its sights on returning to power with a handsome majority this time as well. However, it faces a stiff electoral challenge from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has named Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate.

    The Congress is also hoping to put its best electoral foot forward to unseat the BJP government. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 27 years and it is considered a BJP bastion. READ | Gujarat assembly polls: Bridge tragedy effect? Candidates skip Morbi campaigning 

    JAMNAGAR: Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja on Monday said that his wife Rivaba Jadeja who has been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Jamnagar (North) seat in the state assembly elections wanted to follow the path of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work for the people.

    Ravindra Jadeja attended an event on Monday where he said that Rivaba would learn a lot from her first-time candidature in the assembly elections.

    “It is her (Rivaba Jadeja) first time as an MLA candidate and she will learn a lot. I hope she will progress in this. She is of helping nature and has always wanted to help people and hence joined politics. She wants to follow the path of PM Modi to work for the people,” the cricketer said.

    Earlier on Sunday, Jadeja urged the people of Jamnagar to vote for his wife Rivaba Jadeja. Jadeja tweeted a video urging the people of Jamnagar and cricket fans to vote for his wife.

    “The Gujarat election is here and it’s like a T20 match. My wife is making her grand debut in politics on a BJP ticket! Tomorrow she will file her nomination. I appeal to the people of Jamnagar and all the cricket lovers to come in large numbers to support her,” Jadeja said in the video in which he was speaking in Gujarati.

    જામનગર ના મારા તમામ મિત્રો ને મારુ દીલ થી આમંત્રણ છે. જય માતાજી pic.twitter.com/olZxvYVr3t
    — Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) November 13, 2022
    Rivaba replaces sitting MLA Dharmendrasinh Jadeja as the BJP face for the Jamnagar (North) seat, who was denied a party ticket in this election, according to sources.

    Earlier on Sunday, the BJP announced one more candidate for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly election. So far the party has released the names of 167 candidates for the Gujarat polls. The party fielded Jagdishbhai Makwana from the Wadhwan Assembly constituency.

    Earlier on Saturday, BJP released the second list of six candidates. In the second list of six candidates, BJP has given tickets to two women. It has fielded Mahendrabhai Padaliya from Dhoraji, Mulubhai Bera from Khambhalia, Dheliben Maldebhai Odedara from Kutiyana, Sejal Rajiv Kumar Pandya from Bhavnagar East, Hitesh Devji Vasava from Dediapada (ST) and Sandeep Desai from Choryasi.

    On Thursday, the BJP announced the first list of candidates for 160 candidates out of the 182 constituencies for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.

    The first list of 160 candidates includes 14 females, 13 from scheduled caste, 24 from the scheduled tribe and there are 69 candidates who have been repeated. The Assembly elections in Gujarat are scheduled for two phases on December 1 and December 5. In the first round, 89 of the total 182 Assembly seats will go to polls and prominent political parties have declared their candidates for almost all these constituencies.

    The BJP has drawn up a list of star campaigners for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. Topping the list is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other prominent names on the list include BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and fellow Cabinet colleagues Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mansukh Mandaviya and Purushottam Rupala.

    Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who is seeking a fresh mandate from the Ghatlodia Assembly segment, also features in the star campaigners list along with BJP state president CR Patil and state Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi.

    The ruling party seeks its seventh straight term in power in the ensuing state polls. The state has been a BJP stronghold for a long and the party has set its sights on returning to power with a handsome majority this time as well. However, it faces a stiff electoral challenge from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has named Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate.

    The Congress is also hoping to put its best electoral foot forward to unseat the BJP government. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 27 years and it is considered a BJP bastion. READ | Gujarat assembly polls: Bridge tragedy effect? Candidates skip Morbi campaigning 

  • Gujarat polls: Congress, AAP promise to restore old pension scheme

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The demand for restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS) has emerged as a major poll plank in Gujarat with both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party promising to implement it if voted to power in the state where the Assembly elections are scheduled next month.

    With this promise, the opposition parties aim to garner the support of lakhs of government employees who are up in arms against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the new pension scheme.

    Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.

    The Gujarat government introduced the new contributory pension scheme for employees joining the service on or after April 1, 2005.

    As per its notification, it will make a matching contribution of 10 per cent of the basic pay plus dearness allowance (DA) contributed by the employees in the NPS fund.

    Under the Centre’s scheme, the government will contribute 14 per cent against an employee’s contribution of 10 per cent of his/her salary and DA with effect from April 1, 2019.

    After protests by employees in Gujarat, the state government said the new pension will not be applicable to those employees who had joined duty before April 2005. It also promised to increase its contribution to the fund to 14 per cent from 10 per cent earlier.

    The employees have staged massive agitations against the government in Gujarat while demanding restoration of the OPS because they believe the New Pension Scheme is not in the interest of the retiring employees.READ | States need to rethink on going back to old pension scheme: PFRDA chairman

    With the BJP government not acceding to the demands of the employees, the Congress and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP have assured to bring back the OPS, in one of their most emphatic poll promises.

    Both parties have assured the agitating employees that the new pension scheme (NPS) will be scrapped and the OPS will be restored. They have given the examples of their governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh (where Congress is in power) and Punjab (governed by the AAP) to drive home the point.

    “We launched an agitation with 15 demands, of which those related to restoration of the OPS and fixed salary issue were not accepted. The government formed a committee. It said it will increase its contribution to the NPS fund but no notification was issued,” Digvijaysinh Jadeja, working president of the Akhil Bharatiya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, a body of government primary school teachers, told PTI.

    There are nearly seven lakh government employees who are pressing for the demand for the OPS, including around 70,000 primary school teachers who joined before 2005 on a fixed salary.

    Jadeja had in February 2019 led an agitation where around two lakh primary school teachers proceeded on ‘mass casual leave’ and gathered to protest outside the Gujarat Assembly in the capital Gandhinagar.

    The agitation was revived ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections when thousands of state government employees, including school teachers, joined the mass casual leave protest across the state in September this year.

    The agitation had forced the government to mellow its stand on the issue and it promised to take the decision on the OPS at the right time, saying it was a policy matter.ALSO READ | Gujarat govt employees join ‘mass casual leave’ stir over old pension scheme

    Mahesh Mori, convenor of the Rashtriya Samyukt Morcha, a body of state government employees, told PTI that the government’s promises were only verbal and no notification was issued to make it official.

    “The government is still uncertain over the issue of OPS.

    We demanded that the OPS be implemented for all employees.

    The government said in a meeting with us that the employees who joined before April 1, 2005, and not 2004, will get benefits of the OPS, but did not issue any notification,” Mori said.

    Jadeja said they have held meetings in different parts of the country and are demanding that the OPS be implemented in all the states.

    “The OPS is better because the retiree gets 50 per cent (of salary at that time) as pension. The NPS is based on the share market and the amount of pension reduces,” he claimed.

    Jadeja said the employees in Gujarat are aware that non-BJP-ruled states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and West Bengal have reverted to the OPS for their employees, while the 17 states governed by the saffron party continue with the NPS.

    “They will decide accordingly what to do in the election,” said Jadeja, who is also the president of the Gujarat State Primary Teachers’ Federation.

    The implementation of the OPS is part of the Congress’s election manifesto for Gujarat. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had said those claiming that the OPS will put a burden on the exchequer were not right as it was all about financial management.

    The AAP has assured government employees in Gujarat that it will implement the OPS if voted to power in the state. To bolster its point, the AAP government in Punjab reverted to it soon after the cabinet there gave the nod for its restoration.

    AAP national convener and Delhi CM Kejriwal in a statement recently claimed the new pension scheme was “unfair” and said the OPS should be restored and implemented all over the country. He had also tweeted that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab fulfilled the promise.

    “If the people of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat give (us) a chance, we will implement OPS there too,” Kejriwal had said. Polling for the 68 Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh was held on Saturday.

    AHMEDABAD: The demand for restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS) has emerged as a major poll plank in Gujarat with both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party promising to implement it if voted to power in the state where the Assembly elections are scheduled next month.

    With this promise, the opposition parties aim to garner the support of lakhs of government employees who are up in arms against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the new pension scheme.

    Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.

    The Gujarat government introduced the new contributory pension scheme for employees joining the service on or after April 1, 2005.

    As per its notification, it will make a matching contribution of 10 per cent of the basic pay plus dearness allowance (DA) contributed by the employees in the NPS fund.

    Under the Centre’s scheme, the government will contribute 14 per cent against an employee’s contribution of 10 per cent of his/her salary and DA with effect from April 1, 2019.

    After protests by employees in Gujarat, the state government said the new pension will not be applicable to those employees who had joined duty before April 2005. It also promised to increase its contribution to the fund to 14 per cent from 10 per cent earlier.

    The employees have staged massive agitations against the government in Gujarat while demanding restoration of the OPS because they believe the New Pension Scheme is not in the interest of the retiring employees.READ | States need to rethink on going back to old pension scheme: PFRDA chairman

    With the BJP government not acceding to the demands of the employees, the Congress and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP have assured to bring back the OPS, in one of their most emphatic poll promises.

    Both parties have assured the agitating employees that the new pension scheme (NPS) will be scrapped and the OPS will be restored. They have given the examples of their governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh (where Congress is in power) and Punjab (governed by the AAP) to drive home the point.

    “We launched an agitation with 15 demands, of which those related to restoration of the OPS and fixed salary issue were not accepted. The government formed a committee. It said it will increase its contribution to the NPS fund but no notification was issued,” Digvijaysinh Jadeja, working president of the Akhil Bharatiya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, a body of government primary school teachers, told PTI.

    There are nearly seven lakh government employees who are pressing for the demand for the OPS, including around 70,000 primary school teachers who joined before 2005 on a fixed salary.

    Jadeja had in February 2019 led an agitation where around two lakh primary school teachers proceeded on ‘mass casual leave’ and gathered to protest outside the Gujarat Assembly in the capital Gandhinagar.

    The agitation was revived ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections when thousands of state government employees, including school teachers, joined the mass casual leave protest across the state in September this year.

    The agitation had forced the government to mellow its stand on the issue and it promised to take the decision on the OPS at the right time, saying it was a policy matter.ALSO READ | Gujarat govt employees join ‘mass casual leave’ stir over old pension scheme

    Mahesh Mori, convenor of the Rashtriya Samyukt Morcha, a body of state government employees, told PTI that the government’s promises were only verbal and no notification was issued to make it official.

    “The government is still uncertain over the issue of OPS.

    We demanded that the OPS be implemented for all employees.

    The government said in a meeting with us that the employees who joined before April 1, 2005, and not 2004, will get benefits of the OPS, but did not issue any notification,” Mori said.

    Jadeja said they have held meetings in different parts of the country and are demanding that the OPS be implemented in all the states.

    “The OPS is better because the retiree gets 50 per cent (of salary at that time) as pension. The NPS is based on the share market and the amount of pension reduces,” he claimed.

    Jadeja said the employees in Gujarat are aware that non-BJP-ruled states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and West Bengal have reverted to the OPS for their employees, while the 17 states governed by the saffron party continue with the NPS.

    “They will decide accordingly what to do in the election,” said Jadeja, who is also the president of the Gujarat State Primary Teachers’ Federation.

    The implementation of the OPS is part of the Congress’s election manifesto for Gujarat. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had said those claiming that the OPS will put a burden on the exchequer were not right as it was all about financial management.

    The AAP has assured government employees in Gujarat that it will implement the OPS if voted to power in the state. To bolster its point, the AAP government in Punjab reverted to it soon after the cabinet there gave the nod for its restoration.

    AAP national convener and Delhi CM Kejriwal in a statement recently claimed the new pension scheme was “unfair” and said the OPS should be restored and implemented all over the country. He had also tweeted that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab fulfilled the promise.

    “If the people of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat give (us) a chance, we will implement OPS there too,” Kejriwal had said. Polling for the 68 Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh was held on Saturday.

  • Big liquor, cash haul in Himachal & Gujarat ahead of polls

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made record seizures, including cash, liquor, precious metal, and gifts from poll-bound states Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat which were possibly to be used to influence electorates. In the hill state, the value of confiscated articles, including cash, stands at Rs 50.28 crore, which is five times higher than the value of seizures made during the previous elections in 2017. People in Himachal will vote today.   

    From Gujarat, where polling will take place in two phases on December 1 and December 5, total seizure so far is of Rs 71.88 crore. Within a few days of announcement of elections in the state, it had surpassed the seizures recorded duration of enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in Assembly elections 2017, which was Rs 27.21 crore.

    Though these are early days after the polls were announced in Gujarat, yet activity by the police has led to seizure of around 1.10 lakh litre of liquor worth Rs 3.86 crore so far, said the Commission. The Election Watchdog further said that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had also reported massive seizure amounting to Rs 64 crore of toys and accessories, which were being smuggled by way of ‘mis-declaration’ and by resorting to concealment in import cargo at Mundra Port. Two persons including the mastermind in the case have been arrested and further investigation is under progress.  

    The Investigation Wing of Income Tax Department, which is one of the main participating enforcement agencies, conducted raids at stone crushing units in 27 premises in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining states and seized a significant amount of cash. It also conducted search and seizure operations on manufacturers and traders of country liquor, wherein unaccounted cash was seized and discrepancies in stock and account keeping was observed. The comprehensive planning, reviews and follow-ups and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to record seizures in the ongoing Assembly elections in the states, said the Commission.

    Further, if citizens become vigilant and use cVigil App more extensively, it would go a long way in curbing money power in the elections, it added.

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made record seizures, including cash, liquor, precious metal, and gifts from poll-bound states Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat which were possibly to be used to influence electorates. In the hill state, the value of confiscated articles, including cash, stands at Rs 50.28 crore, which is five times higher than the value of seizures made during the previous elections in 2017. People in Himachal will vote today.   

    From Gujarat, where polling will take place in two phases on December 1 and December 5, total seizure so far is of Rs 71.88 crore. Within a few days of announcement of elections in the state, it had surpassed the seizures recorded duration of enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in Assembly elections 2017, which was Rs 27.21 crore.

    Though these are early days after the polls were announced in Gujarat, yet activity by the police has led to seizure of around 1.10 lakh litre of liquor worth Rs 3.86 crore so far, said the Commission. The Election Watchdog further said that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had also reported massive seizure amounting to Rs 64 crore of toys and accessories, which were being smuggled by way of ‘mis-declaration’ and by resorting to concealment in import cargo at Mundra Port. Two persons including the mastermind in the case have been arrested and further investigation is under progress.  

    The Investigation Wing of Income Tax Department, which is one of the main participating enforcement agencies, conducted raids at stone crushing units in 27 premises in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining states and seized a significant amount of cash. It also conducted search and seizure operations on manufacturers and traders of country liquor, wherein unaccounted cash was seized and discrepancies in stock and account keeping was observed. The comprehensive planning, reviews and follow-ups and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to record seizures in the ongoing Assembly elections in the states, said the Commission.

    Further, if citizens become vigilant and use cVigil App more extensively, it would go a long way in curbing money power in the elections, it added.

  • Gujarat Polls: AAP candidates being decided by BJP, alleges Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday alleged that the AAP was working in collusion with the BJP for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls and that the candidates of Arvind Kejriwal’s outfit were being decided by the saffron party.

    Former Gujarat MLA Indranil Rajguru, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party to rejoin the Congress on Friday, said he was asking for tickets for 15 AAP leaders who were in a strong position to win but tickets were being given to candidates “who could help the BJP in the polls.”

    “I took a stand against this because I had joined AAP to defeat the BJP, not the Congress. I was told, ‘don’t be stubborn.’ The list comes from Kamalam (BJP office in Gujarat),” Rajguru claimed on Saturday at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

    Rajguru, who had joined the AAP after quitting the Congress in April this year, returned to the grand old party, citing that it was the best option for defeating the BJP in Gujarat. Rajguru also alleged that on October 1 when both AAP chief ministers — Delhi’s Arvind’s Kejriwal and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann — came to Rajkot together in a chartered plane, they brought bags of cash with them.

    He said when he asked where the cash came from, it was gestured to him that it came by plane. Rajguru, however, did not substantiate his allegation.

    AICC in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma alleged collusion between the BJP and AAP for the assembly polls and asked how it is possible to “bring cash in a chartered plane” without the knowledge of the Centre.

    Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera said Rajguru became disillusioned with AAP and rejoined the Congress within months of leaving it.

    “When we call them (AAP) the B-team of the BJP. Why do they get upset?” he said. These are serious charges and need to be answered by AAP and “their masters”, the BJP, Khera said.

    Rajguru had on Friday joined the Congress in the presence of AICC Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor, Congress legislature party leader Sukhram Rathava and other senior leaders.

    The Congress is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the government in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the saffron party has been in power for more than two decades.

    Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and the votes will be counted on December 8.READ | Gujarat: AAP to make election fight more difficult in seats won by lowest margin in 2017

    NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday alleged that the AAP was working in collusion with the BJP for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls and that the candidates of Arvind Kejriwal’s outfit were being decided by the saffron party.

    Former Gujarat MLA Indranil Rajguru, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party to rejoin the Congress on Friday, said he was asking for tickets for 15 AAP leaders who were in a strong position to win but tickets were being given to candidates “who could help the BJP in the polls.”

    “I took a stand against this because I had joined AAP to defeat the BJP, not the Congress. I was told, ‘don’t be stubborn.’ The list comes from Kamalam (BJP office in Gujarat),” Rajguru claimed on Saturday at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

    Rajguru, who had joined the AAP after quitting the Congress in April this year, returned to the grand old party, citing that it was the best option for defeating the BJP in Gujarat. Rajguru also alleged that on October 1 when both AAP chief ministers — Delhi’s Arvind’s Kejriwal and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann — came to Rajkot together in a chartered plane, they brought bags of cash with them.

    He said when he asked where the cash came from, it was gestured to him that it came by plane. Rajguru, however, did not substantiate his allegation.

    AICC in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma alleged collusion between the BJP and AAP for the assembly polls and asked how it is possible to “bring cash in a chartered plane” without the knowledge of the Centre.

    Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera said Rajguru became disillusioned with AAP and rejoined the Congress within months of leaving it.

    “When we call them (AAP) the B-team of the BJP. Why do they get upset?” he said. These are serious charges and need to be answered by AAP and “their masters”, the BJP, Khera said.

    Rajguru had on Friday joined the Congress in the presence of AICC Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor, Congress legislature party leader Sukhram Rathava and other senior leaders.

    The Congress is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the government in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the saffron party has been in power for more than two decades.

    Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and the votes will be counted on December 8.READ | Gujarat: AAP to make election fight more difficult in seats won by lowest margin in 2017

  • Ex-journalist Isudan Gadhvi is AAP’s CM face for Gujarat assembly elections

    By Online Desk

    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared Isudan Gadhvi as their chief ministerial candidate for the Gujarat assembly elections. 

    The announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who said the 40-year-old Gadhvi got as many as 73 per cent votes in a poll conducted by the party. Kejriwal said the party conducted the poll by asking people to call a phone number and listen to a recorded message which asked them to choose their chief ministerial face.

    Gadhvi was pitted against state party unit chief Gopal Italia, who played a key role in the Patidar community agitation.

    Gadhvi is AAP’s National Joint General Secretary and a member of its National Executive team. 

    A well-known TV journalist, Gadhvi was the former editor of VTV News and used to anchor the channel’s popular news show Mahamanthan.

    He hails from a farmers’ family in Dwarka district’s Pipaliya village and belongs to the other backward castes, which account for 48 per cent of the state’s population.

    Elections to the 182-member state assembly will take place over two phases on December 1 and 5, the Election Commission announced on Thursday in the backdrop of the Morbi bridge collapse four days ago.

    All eyes are on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as well as his party leaders who have made a high decibel entry into the field, giving voters a third option in a state that has for decades been bipolar in its politics.

    AAP is stirring interest with its aggressive campaigning and long list of attractive pre-poll “guarantees”.

    The AAP is banking on ‘welfarism’, the fact that it is a new alternative and its stress on day to day people issues to woo voters.

    OPINION | One disruptor and two old foes perk up Gujarat polls

    Kejriwal has anchored his party’s campaign around a slew of sops, including 300 units of free electricity per month, free education in government schools, unemployment dole, Rs 1,000 allowance to women and monthly stipend to new lawyers.

    The party began campaigning much ahead of the BJP and other parties.

    The 10-year-old outfit has also left other parties far behind as far as announcement of candidates are concerned.

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

    The BJP has 111 seats and the Congress 62 in the current assembly. The NCP has one, BTP two, Independent one and five seats are vacant, including three after Congress MLAs resigned.

    The elections are crucial for BJP, which has won six successive terms and aims at retaining power in Modi’s home state, as well as for AAP, hoping desperately that a win in Gujarat will propel it to a pan-India political force, the third state in its bag after Delhi and a victory in Punjab in March this year.

    The Congress, on its part, hopes to end its 27-year stint in the Opposition but has so far been quiet with its national leaders conspicuous by their absence.

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

    (With PTI inputs)

    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared Isudan Gadhvi as their chief ministerial candidate for the Gujarat assembly elections. 

    The announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who said the 40-year-old Gadhvi got as many as 73 per cent votes in a poll conducted by the party. Kejriwal said the party conducted the poll by asking people to call a phone number and listen to a recorded message which asked them to choose their chief ministerial face.

    Gadhvi was pitted against state party unit chief Gopal Italia, who played a key role in the Patidar community agitation.

    Gadhvi is AAP’s National Joint General Secretary and a member of its National Executive team. 

    A well-known TV journalist, Gadhvi was the former editor of VTV News and used to anchor the channel’s popular news show Mahamanthan.

    He hails from a farmers’ family in Dwarka district’s Pipaliya village and belongs to the other backward castes, which account for 48 per cent of the state’s population.

    Elections to the 182-member state assembly will take place over two phases on December 1 and 5, the Election Commission announced on Thursday in the backdrop of the Morbi bridge collapse four days ago.

    All eyes are on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as well as his party leaders who have made a high decibel entry into the field, giving voters a third option in a state that has for decades been bipolar in its politics.

    AAP is stirring interest with its aggressive campaigning and long list of attractive pre-poll “guarantees”.

    The AAP is banking on ‘welfarism’, the fact that it is a new alternative and its stress on day to day people issues to woo voters.

    OPINION | One disruptor and two old foes perk up Gujarat polls

    Kejriwal has anchored his party’s campaign around a slew of sops, including 300 units of free electricity per month, free education in government schools, unemployment dole, Rs 1,000 allowance to women and monthly stipend to new lawyers.

    The party began campaigning much ahead of the BJP and other parties.

    The 10-year-old outfit has also left other parties far behind as far as announcement of candidates are concerned.

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

    The BJP has 111 seats and the Congress 62 in the current assembly. The NCP has one, BTP two, Independent one and five seats are vacant, including three after Congress MLAs resigned.

    The elections are crucial for BJP, which has won six successive terms and aims at retaining power in Modi’s home state, as well as for AAP, hoping desperately that a win in Gujarat will propel it to a pan-India political force, the third state in its bag after Delhi and a victory in Punjab in March this year.

    The Congress, on its part, hopes to end its 27-year stint in the Opposition but has so far been quiet with its national leaders conspicuous by their absence.

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

    (With PTI inputs)

  • SWOT analysis: BJP eyeing seventh straight win in Gujarat

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) will battle anti-incumbency and slug it out with traditional rival Congress and aggressive new player Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in the next month’s high-octane Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    After winning Gujarat for a record six times in a row since 1995, here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

    STRENGTHS:

    *The mass appeal of Prime Minister Modi who remains BJP’s trump card.

    *BJP is banking on its outreach to the Patidars after facing the community’s ire in the 2017 polls over the quota agitation.

    Its decision to make Bhupendra Patel chief minister in September last year and bring the quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel into its fold may work in the party’s favour.

    *The Gujarat unit of the BJP has a formidable organisational setup till the booth level.

    *The ruling party is counting on the plank of Hindutva, development and ‘double engine’ growth.

    Home Minister Shah, considered a master strategist, has been overseeing the preparations.

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

    WEAKNESSES:

    *The BJP lacks a strong local leader who can fill Prime Minister Modi’s shoes.

    Gujarat had three chief ministers including the incumbent Bhupendra Patel since 2014 after Modi became prime minister.

    Modi was chief minister for 13 years.

    *Besides facing allegations of corruption in the state levelled by the AAP and Congress, the party may face heat on issues like inflation, unemployment and economic distress.

    *AAP’s aggressive campaign has sought to pick holes in the state’s education system and health infrastructure.

    OPPORTUNITIES:

    *A weak opposition could present the BJP with a chance to win seven Assembly elections in a row and match the CPI-M-led Left Front’s feat in West Bengal.

    *The main opposition Congress appears to be missing from the campaign with party leaders apparently preoccupied with Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    *If the BJP is able to halt AAP’s march in Gujarat by restricting it to less than five seats in the 182-member Assembly, it has a chance to limit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s ambitions to emerge as the main challenger at the national level.

    THREATS:

    *The recent bridge collapse in Morbi in which 135 people were killed may have an impact on BJP’s electoral fortunes.

    *Infighting within BJP has largely been kept under wraps due to strong central leadership, but a defeat may see the fissures come out in the open.

    *In the event of a hung Assembly, the ruling party may find it difficult to find an ally to cobble a majority.

    *If the AAP manages to win in some places, it could pose a challenge to the BJP.

    The saffron party’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002.

    It won 127 seats in 2002, 117 in 2007, 116 in 2012 and 99 in 2017.

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) will battle anti-incumbency and slug it out with traditional rival Congress and aggressive new player Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in the next month’s high-octane Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    After winning Gujarat for a record six times in a row since 1995, here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

    STRENGTHS:

    *The mass appeal of Prime Minister Modi who remains BJP’s trump card.

    *BJP is banking on its outreach to the Patidars after facing the community’s ire in the 2017 polls over the quota agitation.

    Its decision to make Bhupendra Patel chief minister in September last year and bring the quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel into its fold may work in the party’s favour.

    *The Gujarat unit of the BJP has a formidable organisational setup till the booth level.

    *The ruling party is counting on the plank of Hindutva, development and ‘double engine’ growth.

    Home Minister Shah, considered a master strategist, has been overseeing the preparations.

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

    WEAKNESSES:

    *The BJP lacks a strong local leader who can fill Prime Minister Modi’s shoes.

    Gujarat had three chief ministers including the incumbent Bhupendra Patel since 2014 after Modi became prime minister.

    Modi was chief minister for 13 years.

    *Besides facing allegations of corruption in the state levelled by the AAP and Congress, the party may face heat on issues like inflation, unemployment and economic distress.

    *AAP’s aggressive campaign has sought to pick holes in the state’s education system and health infrastructure.

    OPPORTUNITIES:

    *A weak opposition could present the BJP with a chance to win seven Assembly elections in a row and match the CPI-M-led Left Front’s feat in West Bengal.

    *The main opposition Congress appears to be missing from the campaign with party leaders apparently preoccupied with Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    *If the BJP is able to halt AAP’s march in Gujarat by restricting it to less than five seats in the 182-member Assembly, it has a chance to limit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s ambitions to emerge as the main challenger at the national level.

    THREATS:

    *The recent bridge collapse in Morbi in which 135 people were killed may have an impact on BJP’s electoral fortunes.

    *Infighting within BJP has largely been kept under wraps due to strong central leadership, but a defeat may see the fissures come out in the open.

    *In the event of a hung Assembly, the ruling party may find it difficult to find an ally to cobble a majority.

    *If the AAP manages to win in some places, it could pose a challenge to the BJP.

    The saffron party’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002.

    It won 127 seats in 2002, 117 in 2007, 116 in 2012 and 99 in 2017.

  • SWOT analysis: Will AAP’s aggressive entry in Gujarat change Assembly poll equations?

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Will the aggressive entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat change the Assembly poll equations in the state? This question has dominated the political discourse in recent weeks after the Arvind Kejriwal-led party created a buzz.

    The AAP’s presence has made next month’s elections a three-cornered contest in a state where politics has remained essentially bipolar. The AAP, which is contesting all 182 seats, is in power in Delhi and Punjab.

    Here is a SWOT(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the AAP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

    STRENGTHS:*Appeal among the lower middle-class voters and AAP’s pitch that it is a party with a difference.*The voter outreach through many “welfare guarantees” including free electricity up to 300 units per month, Rs 3,000 per month to the jobless, and Rs 1,000 per month to women above 18 years.*The promises to take up issues that affect voters could make AAP an attractive option.

    WEAKNESSES:*AAP lacks a local leader with mass appeal, and its grassroots-level organization is no match for that of the rival parties.*Does not have enough experience in Gujarat politics.*AAP has no vote bank and local body seats won in 2021 cannot be an indicator of its showing in an Assembly election.

    OPPORTUNITIES:*AAP has a chance to make itself heard in Gujarat and create a new political narrative.*Winning even a few seats in a state dominated by the BJP and the Congress will help the AAP establish a base and see its stock soaring ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    THREATS:*’The Modi factor’ which can again give BJP an edge.*BJP’s well-entrenched Hindutva politics.

    AHMEDABAD: Will the aggressive entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat change the Assembly poll equations in the state? This question has dominated the political discourse in recent weeks after the Arvind Kejriwal-led party created a buzz.

    The AAP’s presence has made next month’s elections a three-cornered contest in a state where politics has remained essentially bipolar. The AAP, which is contesting all 182 seats, is in power in Delhi and Punjab.

    Here is a SWOT(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the AAP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

    STRENGTHS:
    *Appeal among the lower middle-class voters and AAP’s pitch that it is a party with a difference.
    *The voter outreach through many “welfare guarantees” including free electricity up to 300 units per month, Rs 3,000 per month to the jobless, and Rs 1,000 per month to women above 18 years.
    *The promises to take up issues that affect voters could make AAP an attractive option.

    WEAKNESSES:
    *AAP lacks a local leader with mass appeal, and its grassroots-level organization is no match for that of the rival parties.
    *Does not have enough experience in Gujarat politics.
    *AAP has no vote bank and local body seats won in 2021 cannot be an indicator of its showing in an Assembly election.

    OPPORTUNITIES:
    *AAP has a chance to make itself heard in Gujarat and create a new political narrative.
    *Winning even a few seats in a state dominated by the BJP and the Congress will help the AAP establish a base and see its stock soaring ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    THREATS:
    *’The Modi factor’ which can again give BJP an edge.
    *BJP’s well-entrenched Hindutva politics.

  • Multiple reasons for delay in Gujarat assembly polls including Morbi tragedy: CEC

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday said that there were “multiple factors” leading to the delay in the announcement of the Gujarat Assembly polls, adding that the recent Morbi bridge collapse tragedy was one of them.

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are all set to take place in two phases on December 1 and 5, the results of which will be declared on December 8, which will coincide with that of the Himachal Pradesh polling outcome.

    Addressing a press conference to make the announcement of the polling dates, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, “There were multiple factors behind this. Recently a very tragic incident occurred there (Morbi bridge collapse)- one of the reasons why we delayed. Also, there was state mourning in the state yesterday; so multiple factors.”

    When asked about the recent tweet by the Congress party stating “The Election Commission of India is an autonomous institution. It conducts fair elections”, Kumar said that the people who are critical also got surprising results.

    “Action and outcome actually speak louder than words. No matter how much I try to make you understand, what’s important are the actions and our correct results. Results have shown that those who are critical got surprising results. People question EVM but when results are in their favour, they become silent,” Kumar said.

    The voting for the Gujarat Assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5 while the counting of votes will be done on December 8, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Thursday. The CEC informed that as many as 3,24,422 people would be first-time voters in the state.

    “I am happy to inform you that 3,24,422 new voters will vote for the first time this time in the Gujarat Assembly elections. The total number of polling stations is 51,782. At least 50 per cent of the polling stations set up in the state will have webcasting arrangements,” Kumar said.

    “For a better voting experience, 1274 polling stations will be managed entirely by women and security staff. Public Works Department will welcome voters at 182 polling stations. For the first time, 33 polling stations will be set up and managed by the youngest polling staff,” he added. 

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday said that there were “multiple factors” leading to the delay in the announcement of the Gujarat Assembly polls, adding that the recent Morbi bridge collapse tragedy was one of them.

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are all set to take place in two phases on December 1 and 5, the results of which will be declared on December 8, which will coincide with that of the Himachal Pradesh polling outcome.

    Addressing a press conference to make the announcement of the polling dates, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, “There were multiple factors behind this. Recently a very tragic incident occurred there (Morbi bridge collapse)- one of the reasons why we delayed. Also, there was state mourning in the state yesterday; so multiple factors.”

    When asked about the recent tweet by the Congress party stating “The Election Commission of India is an autonomous institution. It conducts fair elections”, Kumar said that the people who are critical also got surprising results.

    “Action and outcome actually speak louder than words. No matter how much I try to make you understand, what’s important are the actions and our correct results. Results have shown that those who are critical got surprising results. People question EVM but when results are in their favour, they become silent,” Kumar said.

    The voting for the Gujarat Assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5 while the counting of votes will be done on December 8, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Thursday. The CEC informed that as many as 3,24,422 people would be first-time voters in the state.

    “I am happy to inform you that 3,24,422 new voters will vote for the first time this time in the Gujarat Assembly elections. The total number of polling stations is 51,782. At least 50 per cent of the polling stations set up in the state will have webcasting arrangements,” Kumar said.

    “For a better voting experience, 1274 polling stations will be managed entirely by women and security staff. Public Works Department will welcome voters at 182 polling stations. For the first time, 33 polling stations will be set up and managed by the youngest polling staff,” he added. 

  • Three to four lakh first-time voters expected to be added to electoral roll in Gujarat

    By PTI

    GANDHINAGAR: An estimated 3 to 4 lakh first-time voters are expected to qualify to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections with the change in the qualifying date to October 1 from the earlier January 1, officials said Monday.

    The state will go to polls in December 2022.

    “The Election Commission (EC) has given four qualifying dates for enrolment of electoral rolls. This provides everyone who turns 18 on October 1 to enroll in the voters’ list and exercise their franchise,” Gujarat chief electoral officer P Bharathi said.

    All those who attain the age of 18 by October 1 should get themselves registered to cast their vote, she said.

    “We expect maximum number of new voters to register themselves. We expect approximately 3-4 lakh more new voters to be added,” Bharathi said.

    The EC will launch a special campaign on social media and on college campuses to include voters who complete 18 years on October 1 and prepare an up-to-date electoral roll, she said.

    As per official data, there are 6.

    18 lakh first-time voters in the electoral roll prepared on the basis of the previous eligibility date of January 1.

    The draft electoral roll will be published on August 12, after which claims and objection applications can be submitted till September 11 regarding names registered in the voters’ list or the name of a new voter, the official said.

    The EC will publish the final voter list on October 10, she said.

    There are a total of 4.83 lakh registered voters in Gujarat, of which 2.50 lakh are men and 2.33 lakh women.

    Apart from this, a total of 51,782 polling stations have been identified after reorganisation, it was stated.

    A campaign for special summary revision of the electoral roll will be conducted across the state on four consecutive Sundays starting August 21, in which right-claims and objection applications will be accepted, she said.

    The EC has also made provisions to link Aadhaar number with electoral roll data in the modified registration forms.

    A new Form-6B has also been introduced for collecting Aadhaar number of existing electors, the official said.

    The EC has recently announced amendments to the laws and regulations related to the electoral roll, whereby any citizen attaining the age of 18 years by April 1, July 1 and October 1 of 2023 can submit an advance application for registration as a voter from the date of draft publication of electoral roll.

    Earlier, those attaining the age of 18 on January 1 were considered eligible to enroll themselves in the voters’ list.

    GANDHINAGAR: An estimated 3 to 4 lakh first-time voters are expected to qualify to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections with the change in the qualifying date to October 1 from the earlier January 1, officials said Monday.

    The state will go to polls in December 2022.

    “The Election Commission (EC) has given four qualifying dates for enrolment of electoral rolls. This provides everyone who turns 18 on October 1 to enroll in the voters’ list and exercise their franchise,” Gujarat chief electoral officer P Bharathi said.

    All those who attain the age of 18 by October 1 should get themselves registered to cast their vote, she said.

    “We expect maximum number of new voters to register themselves. We expect approximately 3-4 lakh more new voters to be added,” Bharathi said.

    The EC will launch a special campaign on social media and on college campuses to include voters who complete 18 years on October 1 and prepare an up-to-date electoral roll, she said.

    As per official data, there are 6.

    18 lakh first-time voters in the electoral roll prepared on the basis of the previous eligibility date of January 1.

    The draft electoral roll will be published on August 12, after which claims and objection applications can be submitted till September 11 regarding names registered in the voters’ list or the name of a new voter, the official said.

    The EC will publish the final voter list on October 10, she said.

    There are a total of 4.83 lakh registered voters in Gujarat, of which 2.50 lakh are men and 2.33 lakh women.

    Apart from this, a total of 51,782 polling stations have been identified after reorganisation, it was stated.

    A campaign for special summary revision of the electoral roll will be conducted across the state on four consecutive Sundays starting August 21, in which right-claims and objection applications will be accepted, she said.

    The EC has also made provisions to link Aadhaar number with electoral roll data in the modified registration forms.

    A new Form-6B has also been introduced for collecting Aadhaar number of existing electors, the official said.

    The EC has recently announced amendments to the laws and regulations related to the electoral roll, whereby any citizen attaining the age of 18 years by April 1, July 1 and October 1 of 2023 can submit an advance application for registration as a voter from the date of draft publication of electoral roll.

    Earlier, those attaining the age of 18 on January 1 were considered eligible to enroll themselves in the voters’ list.