Ahmedabad: As indicated in yesterday’s poll bytes piece, the media reports claiming that ‘Garje Gujarat’ will be a slogan of BJP for upcoming Gujarat polls were not true. Today the Gujarat BJP announced ‘Adikham Gujarat’ slogan for its September 10 event in which party president Amit Shah will hold Yuva Townhall involving 1 lakh youths from 100 places across Gujarat. The event will be held through two-way live video communication. State party president Jitubhai Vaghani specifically told media persons that ‘Adikham Gujarat’ is slogan just for the September 10 event. Meanwhile in today’s press conference at State Congress headquarters when reporters asked State party president Bharatsinh Solanki to give reaction on BJP’s ‘Adikham Gujarat’ slogan, Bharatsinh replied ‘Gaajya Megh Varse Nahin’. Now this ready-made reply was fit to ‘Garje Gujarat’ which was speculated as BJP slogan. Perhaps Bharatsinh didn’t listen to the question properly that BJP slogan was ‘Adikham Gujarat’ and not ‘Garje Gujarat’ which was speculated by media in group and in haste.

– Aam Admi Party(AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal is very well aware that his party is not capable of winning even a single seat in Gujarat assembly polls this year. Kejriwal was therefore of opinion that party should not waste money on Gujarat. The party has therefore decided that all funds to contest Gujarat polls this year must be raised from within Gujarat itself, at assembly seat level. Not a pie will come from Delhi. In fact it is one of conditions made by AAP that one who is able to raise around Rs three million fund will be suitable for consideration for party ticket. AAP had passed hint that it would not contest Gujarat polls after it lost elections locally in Delhi, the only place where it is in power. AAP pulled back from its all activities in Gujarat after that. Now after two-day discussions with AAP cadre in Gujarat, the State incharge Gopal Rai today announced that party will selectively contest several assembly seats. Late last year, AAP was hoping to win some seats in Gujarat by roping in Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel. AAP is still hopeful that if old AAP supporter Hardik Patel comes to their fold, they can do well on some seats and may be can win one or two seats.

– BJP has suspended Karsanbhai Parbatbhai Karmur, a senior Councillor in Jamnagar Municipal Corporation(JMC) for six years for a Facebook post in which he has vehemently criticized the government in a long Gujarati text. Party’s local unit chief has made announcement on Karmur’s expulsion. When contacted Karmur said he enjoys influence over Ahir community voters and party would suffer damage due to this decision in entire Saurashtra region. He said he came to know about party’s decision through TV media. He said party didn’t seek his explanation before taking this decision. He said he has been Councillor of BJP in JMC for last 25 years. He has been Standing Committee Chairman twice, he has been city vice president. He has been leader of party in JMC. He said he will continue to get elected but party will suffer damage due to this decision. He admitted that he only was using his Facebook account, but added that he had not read the post and though it was posted by him, it was not actually created by him. While speaking to Karmur over phone call to take his response today, it was interesting to find that how someone in politics immediately plays caste card. Following is the Facebook post of Karmur.

– Hardik Patel who is in judicial custody(jail) at present in Patan physical assault and loot case is likely to be free soon in this case as the complainant who is also convener of Mehsana wing of Hardik’s outfit, Narendra Patel has filed affidavit in court stating that Hardik is Patidar leader and he is like younger brother and he is not involved in this case. Narendra Patel said he didn’t at all tell Hardik was involved in this case. He said he had only said that Hardik’s men were involved in assault. It is surprising that Narendra Patel has woken up after five days! He has filed affidavit today in High Court. He argues that he was taking legal opinion and therefore was late in filing affidavit. So late that arrests were made, accused were produced in court, three-day remands were granted, further remands were sought, they were rejected and accused were sent to judicial custody!

– In his press conference today State party president Bharatsinh Solanki said Rahul Gandhi will come and interact with invited Congress men from across Gujarat at Sabaramti riverfront in Ahmedabad. He said Congress workers will be deployed at the gates and they will monitor and check those entering inside. Only card-holder Congress men will be allowed to enter, Solanki said adding that interaction with Rahul Gandhi will also be held for doctors, chartered accountants, media persons etc. The name of the event will be ‘Samvad’ he added. Solanki said Rahul will be visiting Saurashtra and North Gujarat for 2 – 2 days during 22nd to 25th of September. He said the yatra will start from Dwarka in Saurashtra region. He said former state unit chief Arjun Modhwadia is heading the arrangements and planning of Saurashtra phase of yatra and the route was being worked out. The name of the yatra is not finalized. How Rahul Gandhi would travel between Saurashtra and North Gujarat is also not finalized he said. He also said that another four-day yatra will be held in Central Gujarat – South Gujarat region for four days. That phase of yatra could start after a gap of three-four day gap after first phase of yatra. Solanki said party’s slogan for the Gujarat elections is ‘Congress Aave Chhe, Navsarjan Laave Chhe’.

DeshGujarat