The stinky politics of Gujarat: Patel agitation, Dalit protests and BJP infighting is pulling party apart

On Tuesday, hundreds of Dalits threatened to gather in Ahmedabad to write postcards to actor Amitabh Bachchan. Their message: 'Kuch din to guzaariya Gujarat mein' to experience 'badboo Gujarat ki.'
Prima facie, the twin taglines of the ongoing Dalit movement appear clever plays on Bachchan's campaign for Gujarat tourism and its tagline 'khushbu Gujarat ki.' But press your ears and nose to the ground and it becomes clear that Gujarat is indeed stinking, both literally and figuratively.

Source:-firstpost
View more:WhatsApp Marketing Mumbai

Apollo Doctor Arrested In Gujarat For Allegedly Raping Dengue Patient In ICU

Gandhinagar:  A doctor at an Apollo hospital in Gujarat's Gandhinagar has been arrested for allegedly raping a dengue patient in the ICU earlier this week.

The 21-year-old woman, who was admitted to hospital on Saturday, was allegedly raped by the doctor and a hospital worker on two days, in a section of the hospital where visitors have restricted entry.

She was allegedly assaulted first on Sunday, when the doctor, Ramesh Chauhan, 28, was on the night shift.

She has alleged that she had been given some drug before being raped, so she could not fight back. The ward boy who allegedly participated in the crime has also been arrested.

A medical examination has confirmed that the young woman was raped.

The police say she was heavily drugged and managed to reveal what had happened only yesterday, in a letter to her uncle.

Source:-ndtv
View more:EMAIL DATABASE

Who’s who in Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani’s govt

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, 66: One of the senior ministers in the previous Anandiben government, Chudasama (a Kshatriya) has been retained by Vijay Rupani in his Cabinet. Having strong RSS roots, Chudasama is elected from Dholka constituency of Ahmedabad district. He is associated with the occupations related to education and law. He has been minister in previous governments also in 1990 and 1995.

Ganpat Vasava, 45: A tribal, Vasava was elected from Mangrol constituency of south Gujarat which is reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. He was Speaker of the Assembly during the Anandiben government. He was the youngest and first Speaker of Gujarat from the tribal community. Earlier, he had worked as a minister of state in the Anandiben government.

Chiman Shapariya, 61: Shapariya is a noted Leuva Patidar leader from Jamnagar who elected from Jamjodhpur constituency. For Shapariya, this is a re-entry into the state cabinet, as earlier he had served in the cabinet of Narendra Modi.

Babu Bokhiria, 63: Bokhiria, a science graduate, has retained his position as cabinet minister. He was rewarded with the cabinet berth in 2012 after he convincingly defeated the then Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia from the Porbandar constituency. In the Anandiben government he was Agriculture minister.

Atmaram Parmar, 64: Parmar, a BJP MLA from reserved Gadhada constituency is the only Dalit minister in Rupani cabinet. A lawyer by profession, Parmar is a resident of Surat. He was deputy speaker in Gujarat Assembly during Anandiben government. Parmar seems to have been rewarded by the party with a cabinet berth for the first time.

Dilip Thakor, 57: Thakor is a powerful OBC leader from Chanasama constituency of North Gujarat, Patan district. In Anandiben government, he was a Minister of State. In Rupani cabinet, he has been elevated to the cabinet rank.

Jayesh Radadiya, 35: Radadiya is a first time MLA from Jetpur constituency of Saurashtra. He is also the youngest minister in the cabinet of Rupani. He was a Minister of State in Anandiben government. Radadiya is son of Patidar heavyweight in Saurashtra and BJP Member of Parliament from Porbandar constituency, Vithhal Radadiya. Rupani has promoted him to the cabinet rank.

Ministers of State

Shankar Chaudhari, 46: Chaudhari, an MLA from Vav constituency of Banaskantha, Chaudhari is a representative from OBC communities and a controversial figure. In the Anandiben government, he was Minister of State (MoS). Political observers say that it won’t be a surprise, if Chaudhari is given Home portfolio.

Pradipsinh Jadeja, 54: Jadeja was an MoS in the Anandiben government and has been retained by Rupani in his cabinet. A strong Amit Shah loyalist, Jadeja is a Kshatriya who got elected from Vatva constituency of Ahmedabad. He is a science graduate.

Jayanti Kavadiya, 56: Kavadiya is a Patidar elected from Dhrangadhra constituency of Surendranagar district in Saurashtra region. He has retained his position as an MoS in Rupani ministry as well. He was holding independent charge of Panchayat in Anandiben government. Kavadiya had started his political career from Mumbai as a Shiv Sena worker.

Nanu Vanani, 60: He is one of the seven Patidar ministers in Rupani cabinet. Elected from Katargam constituency of Surat, Vanani was an MoS in Anandiben government also. He is associated with diamond industry and had once held position of President, Surat Diamond Association. Although elected from Surat, Vanani is orginally a native of Botad.

Parshottam Solanki, 55: An influential Koli leader, Solanki has retained his position as an MoS in Rupani cabinet as well. In the Anandiben government, he was an MoS for Animal Husbandry. Solanki was elected as a councilor in Mumbai in 1992. He is associated with construction work.

Jasha Barad, 64: An OBC, Barad has been elected from Somnath constituency of Saurashtra. He has worked as an MoS in different governments in the past and was an MoS (Agriculture & Civil Aviation) in the Anandiben government. He is an active co-operative leader in Saurashtra.

Bachubhai Khabad, 61: Khabad an OBC, has been elected from Devgadh Baria constituency of Central Gujarat. He was an MoS (Fisheries and Forests & Environment) in the Anandiben government. He was also an MLA between 2002 and 2007.

Jaydrathsinh Parmar, 52: Parmar, a Kshatriya from Vadodara, is one of the ministers from Anandiben government who have been retained by Vijay Rupani. A three time MLA, Parmar — a commerce graduate — was an MoS for Roads & Buildings Department in the Anandiben Government. He is elected from Halol constituency.

Ishwarsinh Patel, 51: Three-time MLA from Ankleshwar, Patel is an OBC leader from South Gujarat who was also an MoS in the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat for around 10 months in 2012. Patel has roots in Vishwa Hindu Parishad and was also a student leader in Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. He is active in the Sugar co-operative politics of South Gujarat.

Vallabh Kakadiya, 72: Kakadiya, a Patidar, is a second time MLA from Thakkarbapa Nagar constituency of Ahmedabad city. This constituency was one of the worst affected parts of Gujarat during the Patidar reservation stir last year. Kakadiya is associated with diamond & construction industry along with farming. He has studied till Class IV. He is also president of Kakadiya Hospital in Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad.

Rajendra Trivedi, 62: Trivedi is an MLA from Vadodara’s Raopura constituency. He is a law graduate from MS University of Vadodara. He began his career as a lawyer in the Vadodara court. Trivedi was the Vice President of the city unit of the party between 1993 and 1996. Trivedi also served as the Legal Cell convener for the party’s central zone unit. He served as the Chairman of the Primary Education Board of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation from 2000 to 2005, and as an elected Municipal Corporator from 1995 to 2000 and from 2005 to 2010. He is also a third-time member of the MSU Senate. Apart from social work, his subjects of interests include poetry writing.

Keshaji Chauhan, 54: An OBC, Chauhan has been elected from the North Gujarat constituency of Deodar. He is associated with farming and social work and has studied till Class XII.

Rohit Patel, 67: A strong Patidar leader, Rohit Patel is an MLA from Anand constituency of prosperous Charotar region. He is BE (Mechanical) and a law graduate. Patel was elected to Gujarat assembly during the by-election for the constituency in 2014. He had been the treasurer of BJP for Anand district between 1999 and 2010. An industrialist, Patel has also been awarded by Gujarat government for Best MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises).

Vallabh Vaghasia, 61: Vaghasia, a Patidar, has been elected from Savarkundla constituency of Saurashtra. He is an LIC agent and has been
Source:-indianexpress
Viewmore:-Punjab Mobile Number Database

Vijay Rupani is an RSS member since school days

Ahmedabad, Aug 7 () Vijay Rupani, who today became the Gujarat Chief Minister, has been a devoted member of RSS since his school days and has apparently been rewarded for his proximity to BJP chief Amit Shah.

The 60-year-old first time MLA is known for his hard work and keeps a low profile. His elevation to the top post is also seen as recognition of his Jain community, which was recently accorded minority status by the state government.

Rupani, who wields considerable influence in Saurashtra, a politically significant part of Gujarat, celebrated his birthday on August 2 with his wife and son at their house in Rajkot, his native town.

He was born in Rangoon, now Yangon, in Myanmar in 1956 and grew up in Rajkot where he joined RSS as a school boy. He pursued BA and then LLB.

As the chairman of the state tourism corporation, he headed "Khushbu Gujarat Ki" campaign to popularise the state as a tourist destination.

As a Rajya Sabha member from 2006-12, he was part of various parliamentary committees on water resources, food, public distribution, public undertaking, among others.

He was appointed the chairman of the Gujarat Municipal Finance Board in 2013. In October 2014, he won the Assembly bypolls from Rajkot West with a good margin after sitting MLA Vajubhai Vala resigned on becoming the Governor of Karnataka.

He had on February 19 become the state BJP chief, replacing R C Faldu, which was seen as a victory for the Amit Shah faction in the party's state unit.

Rupani, who served as the Transport Minister in Anandiben Patel's Cabinet cut his teeth into politics in his college days when he joined ABVP, and got involved the Navnirman student's agitation against corruption in public life in the 1970s.

He was among the first to join the agitation on the call given by Jayprakash Narayan and had also spent nearly one year in Bhuj and Bhavnagar jails during the Emergency.

Rupani was elected as Rajkot civic body corporator for the first time in 1987, and was later appointed as the president of the city's BJP unit.

Between 1988 and 1996, he served as the chairman of the Standing Committee of Rajkot Corporation and in 1996-97, he became the Mayor.

His is also recognised for his efforts to develop Rajkot as an industrial hub in the Saurashtra region.
Rupani has the distinction of serving as the state BJP's general secretary four times on the trot. He was also the party spokesperson at the state level. KA PD GK GVS SC GVS SMJ
Source;-indiatimes
Viewmore:-Punjab Mobile Number Database

Gujarat’s newly formed Cabinet will ensure it remains progressive: BJP

Following the appointment of state unit chief Vijay Rupani as the next Chief Minister of Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted that the newly formed cabinet will continue the developmental work in the state and ensure that Gujarat remains one of the high-progressive states in the country.

Speaking to ANI here, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said the new Gujarat cabinet’s strategy will be nothing but to continue the already good work in the state by the previous government.

“This is a decision of the legislative party. The Central party had already authorised our senior leaders and they were there also as observers. Now the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Cabinet that will be formed, they will start working towards Gujarat and continue the work happening there and ensure that Gujarat remain one of the high progressed state in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for reposing faith in him, Rupani asserted that his team is fully committed to harnessing aspirations of the poor, marginalised, farmers and youngsters.

“Humbled and honoured at the opportunity to serve the state of Gujarat and work for the welfare & all round development of the state. I thank PM Narendra Modi & BJP president Amit Shah for reposing faith in a humble karyakarta like me & giving me this opportunity,” Rupani said in a series of tweets.

He also thanked the leadership of his predecessor Anandiben Patel saying that she had led Gujarat and enriched the development journey of the state.

“Team Gujarat is fully committed to harnessing aspirations of the poor, marginalised, farmers & youngsters in the efforts for #TransformingIndia,” he added.

Yesterday, in a crucial meeting attended by Amit Shah and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at the party headquarters in the state, the decision to make Rupani as the next Chief Minister was announced.

Gujarat’s health minister Nitin Patel was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister.

The decision comes as a major twist as Patel was the frontrunner for the post after Rupani had bowed out from the race, saying he would like to work for the party.

The BJP central leadership had already made it clear that a state MLA would be assigned the job.

Anandiben Patel had tendered her resignation to the Governor on Wednesday.

Governor OP Kohli has asked her to continue as the care taker chief minster till the alternate arrangement.

Patel, who took charge as Gujarat’s first woman chief minister after Narendra Modi took charge as the Prime Minister, citing age issues had in her Facebook post earlier urged the BJP to relieve her from the coveted post.

Patel said that she had two months earlier sought to resign from the party to give “enough time to the new incumbent to prepare for important events like the upcoming ‘Vibrant Gujarat Summit’.

Her government was criticised for its handling of the outrage created by the public flogging of four Dalit men by self-styled cow protection groups.
Source:-indianexpress
Viewmore:-Punjab Mobile Number Database

Anandiben Patel's resignation: Is the Bharatiya Janata Party in trouble in Gujarat?

The question is being asked because its chief minister, handpicked by Narendra Modi, is stepping down. The short answer is: no, and I'll explain why in a moment. But first, let's speculate on the reasons why Anandiben Patel is going.

First: The all-must-retire-at-75 rule is not applicable to Kalraj Mishra. It is true that he may be asked to go after the Uttar Pradesh elections, but till then he is important. So it should be accepted that Patel is not seen as an asset in the same way.

Second: Any leader would have suffered being a follow up act to Modi. The most charismatic and popular Gujarati leader since Vallabhbhai, Modi has left a leadership void hard to fill. Anandiben Patel was seen by many as unable to fill it, but it's not easy to see who might have been able to.

Third: Gujarat was synonymous, rightly or wrongly, with competent and clean governance. It was a state that was consistently delivering double digit growth, focussed on industries and manufacturing, unlike other successful hubs focused on services, like Bengaluru, Gurgaon and Hyderabad. Now it is seen, rightly and wrongly, as any other Indian state, with a chief minister accused of favouring family, mismanaging of social violence and possibly Hindutva fatigue. The perception had to be corrected, and changing the leadership is the best way.

Fourth: The Gujarat model is rubbish, according to Gujaratis themselves. The Patidars, the most politically powerful, wealthy and globally connected peasant caste in India, have rejected Modi's claim that Gujarat is a model state for economic growth.

If this privileged community is not just unhappy but angry, the rest are not buying the dream either. This is a serious problem and if not managed properly, will lead to questions that will not be limited to Gujarat. Someone needs to step in and bring the joy back. That means recreating the perception of an energetic state with a world-beating economic model. That person, very sorry, is not old Anandiben Patel.

These then are the reasons she is leaving. Let's return to the original question. If all of the above is true, why is the BJP not in trouble?

The answer is that it has been here many times before. Patidars angry? The Keshubhai Patel rebellion against Modi was a flop. Social unrest? Well, 2002 did not affect the BJP. Intra-party squabbling? Happens all the time. The fact is that an opposition is needed to exploit unrest in ruling parties.

The thing stopping the BJP from falling when it stumbles is the inadvertent support of an incompetent Congress.

It is an astonishing and possibly unique fact that in a two-party state, the Congress has not won an election, either Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha, for more than two-and-a-half decades. This despite the fact that it regularly clocks above 35 percent of the vote. This vote is comprised of those communities, like Muslims and Dalits, who suffer under Hindutva, and it includes those communities, like Kshatriyas, which are traditional rivals of the Patels. This vote is permanently locked in against the BJP, and one could legitimately call it a base.

In any other state, a base of 35 percent would mean an easy win. Not in Gujarat, where the BJP holds on to its 40 percent plus, helped by the incompetence of the Congress.

The Gandhis do not have the talent, energy and imagination to push that 35 percent up by three or four points. If they had done it in one election, the invincibility of the BJP would have vanished. And it is not as if the Gandhis have had no opportunity. Just take a look at all the times the BJP has stumbled. Given the circumstances, Mamata, Jayalalithaa, Mulayam or Nitish might have made kheema out of the BJP. Modi was lucky to go up against the most lazy and uninterested opposition in history. For a decade he was given the political freedom to shape his image in the way he liked. And, to his credit, he did.

The Gandhis, on the other hand, have failed because they haven't really tried.

They have put an RSS man, Shankarsinh Vaghela, in charge of the party and despite losing every election since taking over, he is persisted with. Why? Nobody knows.

The Gandhis seem happy with permanently coming second in Gujarat (though Arvind Kejriwal might have a thing or two to say about that soon). If they remain second and pick up an extra seat here or there because of the BJP's current woes, their chamchas will declare victory on the channels.

This is why, despite accepting that Anandiben Patel has failed, the BJP is not in trouble in Gujarat.
Source:-firstpost
Viewmore:-Punjab Mobile Number Database