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Journalism of Courage
Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency covers Gandhinagar North, Kalol, Sanand, Ghatlodia, Vejalpur, Naranpura and Sabarmati Assembly constituencies. It has 21.5 lakh voters – 11.04 lakh male and 10.45 lakh female. It is considered to be a high-profile seat for the BJP and party stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee have been elected from here. It has been a BJP bastion for long.
Amit Shah was nominated from Gandhinagar for the first time in 2019 and defeated Congress’ C J Chavda, who has now joined the BJP. Before the 2019 elections, Shah was a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat.
Besides Vajpayee, party veteran L K Advani and Shah, Gandhinagar has seen other high-profile candidates such as former chief election commissioner T N Seshan (1999), late political scientist Purushottam Mavalankar (1977) and Vithhal Pandya (2004), father of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya. Before Advani, former chief minister and Union minister Shankersinh Vaghela also represented the seat.
Constituency development
With some iconic projects like Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro, parts of Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet train falling within it, Gandhinagar constituency is among the key focus areas for the BJP.
After the election office of the constituency was inaugurated, senior Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel had said in March that in the last five years, Shah had either inaugurated or laid foundation stone of developmental works worth around Rs 23,000 crore. Patel had added that the works were related to roads, stormwater disposal, drainage, gardens, parks, schools, anganwadis, drinking water and medical facilities.
An official at Shah’s constituency office said an important focus area has also been to make Gandhinagar green, and a significant amount has been spent on tree plantation and deepening and interlinking lakes. Also, special attention is being paid to develop sports infrastructure in the constituency apart from starting libraries, gyms and swimming pools.
Bills moved in Parliament: 45
Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023, will replace Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 that reserves one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, state Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Assembly of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The Government Of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which granted sole discretion in several matters to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2010, which provides that certain groups of illegal migrants – as per the Citizenship Act, 1955 – can now become eligible to apply for Indian Citizenship.
Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Debates participated in: 85
Construction of Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Ramlalla in Ayodhya; Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill; reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir; women’s reservation Bill; motion of no confidence; problem of drug abuse; attack on convoy of AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi; killing of civilians in Nagaland and motion for election of Speaker.
