In a setback to the Narendra Modi government, opposition Congress on Wednesday snatched the Mansa assembly seat from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party by over 8,000 votes. Congress candidate Babuji Thakore defeated BJP's D D Patel in the constituency which has remained loyal to the saffron party since 1995. Though the term of the MLA from this seat will be just eight months, the election was made a prestige issue by both the parties as this was the last important poll.
The incident occurred when the duo and a Congress MLA were in Ahmedabad to campaign for the assembly election.
Non-Gujaratis were targeted and hate messages circulated against them on social media after a native of Bihar was arrested for allegedly raping the toddler on September 28.
The Gujarat Congress has recommended the names of two leaders for the high-profile Gandhinagar seat to take on Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate and sitting Member of Parliament L K Advani in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora suspended Congress MLAs Paresh Dhanani and Baldevji Thakor on the charges of trying to attack BJP MLAs and two ministers -- Vallabh Kakadiya and Nirmala Wadhwani.
Justice D H Vaghela dismissed the petition filed by former BJP MLA Kalu Malivad (one of the 62) stating that no relief could be granted in the case as the SIT was directly working under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Of the three young caste leaders, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has already joined the Congress, while Patidar community leader Hardik Patel recently announced his decision to back the opposition party after accepting its proposed reservation formula.
The SC asked Gujarat Congress 'why is it so late in raising question over the use of NOTA'.
Karnataka energy minister Shivkumar was in-charge of hospitality for all Congress Gujarat MLAs.