In a major organisational rejig ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Saturday appointed Avinash Pande the general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, replacing Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while Sachin Pilot was made the general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh.
Congress workers stormed into the Gujarat party headquarters in Ahmedabad on Monday and burnt posters of senior leader Bharatsinh Solanki to protest against the party's decision to give a ticket to sitting MLA Imran Khedawala from his Jamalpur-Khadia seat in the city.
He had served as External Affairs Minister from June 1991 to March 1992. Solanki was a two term MP of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.
The People's Democratic Party and the National Conference -- the two Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners in Jammu and Kashmir -- will be taking on each other on the three Lok Sabha seats in the valley.
He defeated sitting Congress MLA Kanti Sodha Parmar in Anand, the home of world famous Amul dairy brand.
The Congress had on Saturday shifted its 14 MLAs to Jaipur fearing horse-trading by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.
With the reduced strength at 65, the Congress may find it difficult to win 2 RS seats.
These MLAs are: Shankarsinh Vaghela, his son Mahendrasinh, Raghavji Patel, Bhola Gohil, Dharmendra Jadeja, P K Raulji, Amit Chaudhary, Karan Patel.
Police registered a first information report against the owner and manager of Neelcity Resort in Rajkot under Indian Penal Code Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) for opening the resort for Congress MLAs, in alleged violation of lockdown notification which does not allow hotels and restaurants to open till Monday.
The government on Monday said it is initiating all possible measures to help states facing a water crisis and drought-like situation."Faced with water crisis, states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Kerala have sought assistance from the Centre. Relief is being provided to them based on recommendations of a high-level committee," Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Bharatsinh Solanki said in Rajya Sabha.
The train accident in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh occurred as the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express jumped the signal at Penukonda station, the Rajya Sabha was informed.
After the resignations of three MLAs, the Congress, whose strength has been reduced to 65 in the 182-member House, had earlier shifted its legislators to three resorts in Rajkot, Ambaji in Banaskantha district and Anand in Gujarat to thwart any 'poaching' bid. However, a police complaint was on Sunday filed for alleged violation of lockdown norms against a resort in Rajkot district where the Congress had lodged some of its MLAs.
In a written reply to a question on 'Revenue Generated under Tatkal Scheme', Minister of State for Railways Bharatsinh Solanki told Rajya Sabha on Friday that 'The revenue generated by Railways under Tatkal scheme during 2009-10 was Rs 672 crore (Rs 6.72 billion).
Minutes after take-off, a Delhi-bound Indigo flight with a Union minister on board made an emergency landing at the Harni airport in Vadodara on Wednesday after suffering a bird hit.
Minister of State for Railways Bharatsinh Solanki said during Question Hour that against the demand of about Rs 47,000 crore (Rs 470 billion), the gross budgetary support for 2012-13 is only Rs 24,000 crore (Rs 240 billion).
At present, India has an installed power generation capacity of over 1,51,000 MW, according to the data available on the ministry's website. Of this, hydel-power accounts for over 36,916 MW or nearly 25 per cent.
An OBC leader, Thakor, who has good oratory skills, will have to take along all factions in the state unit while taking on the well-organised BJP which has been in power in the state from 1998.
The Congress and the NCP on Sunday decided to jointly fight the coming assembly elections in Gujarat in December. Leaders of the two parties met in Ahmedabad to finalise the alliance and seat-sharing arrangement.
Nima Acharya is the second MLA to quit the Congress for anti-party activities in the last few days ahead of the assembly polls.
The government on Monday said the coal supply at the thermal power stations is not adequate and the countrywide fuel stock has come down to half of the requirement norm of 22 million tonnes.
The Congress on Thursday declared 12 candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls, including party general secretary K C Venugopal, Deepender Hooda and senior Supreme Court advocate K T S Tulsi.
There was pandemonium over the placing of a VCD depicting the alleged lathicharge on agitating farmers in Valsad.
Brijesh Merja is the third Congress MLA to have resigned since Wednesday and the eight since March.
Two PAAS members were given tickets in the released list, while the Hardik Patel-led organisation had demanded 20 seats.
The Patel community, a decisive vote bank in Gujarat, has two main sects -- Leuva and Kadva. Maa Umiya is the reigning deity of Kadva Patel community.
As per the affidavit, he was booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 147 (rioting) 149 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 436 (arson), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant), 143 (unlawful assembly) and 380 (theft).
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, senior leaders K C Venugopal, P Chidambaram and Salman Khurshid were among the party's top brass taking part in the satyagraha at Rajghat.
The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to break the opposition party to win the Rajya Sabha polls.
Congress on Monday appointed five new PCC chiefs.
With time on his side, that Hardik Patel will one day occupy the top spot in Gujarat is a no-brainer. But the BJP doesn't like rabble-rousers.
Congress Member of Parliament DK Suresh on Sunday said that the Gujarat Congress is united and all the 44 MLAs are ready to vote for Ahmed Patel in the election scheduled for August 8.
Fearing poaching, the party had shifted its legislators to various resorts in Gujarat in the one last week, dividing them in zone-wise groups. While some MLAs gathered in Rajkot in Saurashtra, few others were in Abu Road in Rajasthan.
The announcement put an end to speculation that Sonia Gandhi may not contest in the upcoming polls due to health reasons and the party's newly appointed general secretary in-charge (East UP) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may be fielded from her constituency.
Meira Kumar launches prez campaign from Sabarmati Ashram.
The transformation of the Modi-Shah baiting Hardik Patel into saffron poster boy.
The Congress, desperate to make a comeback in Gujarat, which has been ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party for over 20 years, has tried to reach out to various sections of society in its blueprint unveiled.
The shifting of MLAs to Congress-ruled Rajasthan will allow the party to focus on drawing up its strategy for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections for which it has fielded two candidates, the source said.
The EC received complaints from five places that EVMs were connecting to external devices via bluetooth, but after inquiry, it was found that there was 'no substance' in the complaints.
Apart from these leaders, the Congress also hinted at forging a pre-poll alliance with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and bringing on board Chhotu Vasava, the lone Janata Dal-United MLA from the state.
The party's chances of winning two seats in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state in the March 26 Rajya Sabha polls has been severely dented.
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