Syed Khalique Ahmed

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be launching the party’s campaign in Gujarat on April 15 from Asrana, near Rajula, in the Patidar-dominated Amreli district of the Saurashtra region where the party won most of its seats in the 2017 Assembly election.

The manifesto, which was released by party chief rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, was unveiled here by AICC general secretary and party’s Gujarat in-charge Rajeev Satav along with state unit president Amit Chavda and other leaders.

The Congress, which had given tickets to only four Patidars in 2014, has fielded eight candidates this time and its rival BJP has fielded six Patidar candidates.

Party sources said that the sitting MLAs have been chosen over others owing to their popularity in their areas and thus winnability in the parliamentary elections.

State party vice-president and Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in-charge Gaurav Pandya told The Indian Express, “We have personally requested Ahmedbhai Patel to contest from the constituency.”

Faisal told party workers the importance of poll booth management—from ensuring that voters reach the booths to making sure that they cast their votes—in winning elections.

Speaking at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Ahmedabad, Rahul Gandhi told the party top brass that the BJP was trying to divert attention from issues like the Rafale deal by citing national security.

The contributory scheme, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM), announced in the interim Union Budget in February, assures a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to unorganised workers enrolled for it.

Earlier this month, Priyanka took part in a 30-km-long roadshow in Lucknow along with Rahul Gandhi and colleague AICC general secretary in charge of western UP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

The meeting comes as the party gears up to challenge the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Paresh Dhanani met Asha Patel at her residence in Unjha on Monday.

According to Congress leaders, Patel, a first-time MLA, attended a meeting of the party MLAs at state Congress headquarters on Saturday evening to chalk out the party’s strategy in the forthcoming session of the Assembly.

Welcoming him to the party, Sharad Pawar said that the NCP will use Vaghela’s political experience and mass following in Gujarat as well as for strengthening the party at the national stage.

Vaghela was ousted by the Congress in 2017 on allegations of him engineering a possible defeat for Ahmad Patel during Rajya Sabha election with hopes of benefitting the BJP.

28.2 per cent surveyed households did not buy refills even once, 37.4 per cent families bought refill second time, says study.

The decision was unanimously taken by the office-bearers at a meeting held to review the feedback received from across the state regarding probable candidates for elections.

Hardik Patel cited a decision taken by the Gujarat government to offer 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections among upper castes, which was quashed by the Gujarat High Court.

"Both Amit Chavda and Paresh Dhanani, along with many other senior leaders, have been summoned to Delhi for consultations on the issue of preparing strategy for rural and urban seats for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls," a senior Congress leader told The Sunday Express.

The 11th edition of Garib Kalyan Mela will be held from January 3 to 5 in all the 33 districts of the state. A total of 39 such melas will be held in the state, this year.

In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the Congress had drawn a blank in Gujarat, losing in all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state to the ruling BJP.

The only important party functionaries present were the state Congress president Amit Chavda, Gujarat Pradesh Seva Dal president Rutvij Makwana and three municipal councillors, including Haji Asrar Mirza

At least 15 senior leaders and MLA attend dinner party at Modhwadia’s house.

Stating that the amended law only allows development and giving the properties on rent, they wrote that wakf officials sold out more than two dozen properties even after the enactment of the new laws.

The organisers of the protest — Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) of Gujarat — had earlier announced gherao of the state Assembly but they dropped the plan at the last moment as the Gandhinagar police and the district administration did not give permission.