#Gujarat Rajya Sabha Elections

[phoenixx-news]

Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah (Amit Shah) – A Biography

Early Life and Education

Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah, born on October 22, 1964, in Mumbai to Mrs. Kusum Ben and Mr. Anilchandra Shah, hails from a family with deep roots in Gujarat. His grandfather was a prosperous merchant (Nagar Seth) in Mansa, a small princely state of the Baroda State of Gaikwad. Shah spent his early years in Mansa, where he received his primary education. His upbringing was steeped in the ‘Indian Value Tradition,’ under the guidance of eminent scholars from the Gaikwad State, focusing on Indian scriptures, historical texts, grammar, and epics.

Influences and Early Political Engagement

After completing his primary education, Shah’s family relocated to Ahmedabad. Influenced by his mother, an ardent Gandhian, Shah embraced the simplicity of Khadi. His fascination with the biographies of patriots and the writings of K.M. Munshi deeply influenced his young mind.

At the age of 13, during the 1977 general elections amidst the Emergency period, Shah actively participated in the campaign, supporting Maniben Patel, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s daughter, who contested from the Mehsana Lok Sabha seat as a Jana Sangh candidate.

Early Political Career

Shah’s formal political journey began at 16 when he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a young Swayamsevak in 1980. By 1982, he was the joint secretary of the Gujarat unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and worked as a polling agent for the BJP in 1984. He joined the BJP Yuva Morcha in 1987 and became involved with the Deendayal Research Institute, serving as its treasurer for eight years. This period allowed him to learn from the social reformer Nanaji Deshmukh.

Rise in the BJP

In 1989, Shah became the BJP secretary of Ahmedabad, playing a pivotal role during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Ekta Yatra. He managed election campaigns for senior leaders like L.K. Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Gandhinagar until 2009. Shah’s association with Narendra Modi began in the 1990s when Modi was the BJP’s Organization Secretary in Gujarat. Shah’s business acumen helped him significantly when he became the chairman of the Gujarat Pradesh Finance Corporation in 1995, turning around the corporation’s financial health.

Political Achievements in Gujarat

Shah was appointed the National Treasurer of the BJP’s Yuva Morcha in 1997 and won the Sarkhej assembly by-election by a margin of 25,000 votes. He continuously won assembly elections until 2012, with increasing margins each time. As an MLA, Shah facilitated numerous development projects and became the state secretary of Gujarat BJP in 1998, and state vice-president within a year.

Leadership in Cooperative Sector and Further Political Roles

At 36, Shah became the youngest chairman of the Ahmedabad District Co-operative Bank (ADCB) in 2000, transforming its financial status. He was appointed as the convener of the BJP’s National Cooperative Cell in 2001. He played a crucial role in the 2002 Gujarat assembly elections under Narendra Modi’s leadership and served as a minister in the Gujarat government, holding key portfolios like Home, Traffic, Prohibition, Parliamentary Affairs, Law, and Excise.

National Politics and BJP Presidency

In 2013, Shah became the BJP’s National General Secretary. During the 2014 elections, he was pivotal in the BJP’s success in Uttar Pradesh, securing 73 seats. On July 9, 2014, Shah became the BJP National President. Under his leadership, the BJP expanded its organizational base and achieved significant electoral successes, forming governments in states like Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Haryana, and Maharashtra. He was re-elected as the national president in 2016 and became a trustee of the Somnath Temple Trust the same year.

Ministerial Roles and Legislative Achievements

In 2017, Shah was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat and continued to strengthen the party’s presence across India. He contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Gandhinagar, winning by a significant margin. Appointed as the Home Minister in 2019, Shah played a crucial role in major legislative changes, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Contributions to Security and Disaster Management

Shah has been instrumental in resolving long-standing issues in Kashmir and the northeastern states, implementing a zero-tolerance policy against Left-Wing Extremism, and improving disaster management protocols. His efforts have bolstered internal security and the National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) effectiveness.

Ministry of Cooperation and Personal Life

In 2021, Shah was appointed as the Minister of Cooperation, focusing on revitalizing the cooperative movement. Despite his busy political career, Shah enjoys various cuisines, old films, and chess. He has not traveled abroad since 2006, maintaining a disciplined and spiritual lifestyle.

Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah’s journey from a young activist to one of India’s most influential politicians is marked by strategic acumen, dedication to public service, and a deep commitment to the nation’s security and development.

[werindialive]

Farooq Abdullah responds to PM’s ‘New Kashmir’ statement

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah criticized the remark made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday on Article 370 of the constitution. He said that the move would do nothing but promote dynastic rule in the erstwhile state. "If Article 370 was this bad, how did Jammu and Kashmir ever make progress," he questioned.

PM Modi visited Srinagar first time after scrapping of Article 370, where he called it a "new Jammu and Kashmir" and credited the scrapping for it.

“For decades, for political gains, Congress and its allies misled people in the name of Article 370. But today there are equal rights and opportunities for all. The people know the truth... they were misled... This is the new Jammu and Kashmir for which we all were waiting,' he had said.

Farooq Abdullah hit back shortly after saying, "If Article 370 was this bad -- I would like the Prime Minister to re-hear the speech made in the Rajya Sabha by then Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, in which he compared two states. He compared Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir in terms of progress when Article 370 was there," Farooq Abdullah said.

"Now, if Article 370 and nepotism are responsible, then how did we make that progress? It is the people's rule, I lost the election as a chief minister. So, where is the dynastic rule?" Mr Abdullah said. "This dynastic rule is a kind of common voice I heard also in parliament. In every speech that PM makes, he makes a particular target on it".

Abdullah also pointed out that scrapping Article 370 also made education costlier in the state.

Education from the level of primary schools to universities was free, he said. "Today, education is only free up to the 14th class. In the universities, you have to pay now. An honest commission has to be put to see what was there before the revoke of Article 370 and what was is thereafter," Mr Abdullah said.

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[college-buz]

7 Union Ministers Not Renominated To Rajya Sabha By BJP: What It Means

Seven union ministers whose Rajya Sabha terms end in April have not been re-nominated by the ruling BJP, prompting speculation Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party may field them in the Lok Sabha election that is expected later the same month.

Among the big names absent are Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (Gujarat), Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Madhya Pradesh), and junior IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar (Karnataka).

Also absent are Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav (Rajasthan), and Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala (Gujarat), as well as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Minister Narayan Rane and junior External Affairs Minister V Muraleedharan, both of whom represented Maharashtra.

Sources have told NDTV all seven could now be fielded from Lok Sabha constituencies in various states.

Sources indicate Mr Pradhan may be fielded from Sambalpur or Dheknal in his home state of Odisha, while Mr Yadav may run from Rajasthan's Alwar or Mahendragarh, and Mr Chandrashekhar could contest one of the four seats in Bengaluru; three of these - Central, North, and South - are held by the BJP.

Similarly, Mr Mandaviya may run from Bhavnagar or Surat in Guajrat, while Mr Rupala may get Rajkot. Mr Muraleedharan, meanwhile, may be fielded from his home state of Kerala; the BJP has no presence there, and may look to high-profile names to revive its fortunes.

The BJP has retained only a few big names, in fact, only two union ministers from the Rajya Sabha have been retained - Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Odisha) and junior Fisheries Minister L Murugan (Madhya Pradesh). No outgoing MP who has served two or more terms has been repeated.

The only exception is party boss JP Nadda. He though, has been shifted - from Himachal Pradesh, which the Congress won in 2022, to Gujarat. It has also found space for new entrants, including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who quit the Congress this week.

Overall, it is all change for the BJP, with only four of 28 outgoing Rajya Sabha MPs renominated. The remaining 24 have reportedly been asked for their preference of Lok Sabha seats.

The party has named 28 candidates to the 56 seats that will fall vacant in April, with the focus on new faces and emphasising - to its leadership structure and the voters - its determination to recognise grassroots workers, even those who not known to the public, while also factoring in social equations.

A notable point is that three of the BJP's new Rajya Sabha MPs - Dharmshila Gupta (Bihar), Medha Kulkarni (Maharashtra), and Maya Naroliya (Madhya Pradesh) - are associated with the women's wing, in keeping with the PM's emphasis on the higher approval the party enjoys among women voters.

The BJP's strategy for the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha elections appears to mirror that for the five Assembly polls in November last year, when the party focused on "collective leadership" and selecting high-profile candidates - including fielding Lok Sabha MPs for state elections - to maximise outreach.

The plan worked well. The BJP swept to power in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, winning the latter two back from the Congress as it dominated its Hindi heartland stronghold.

The BJP is well into its Lok Sabha election prep mode. Party sources said, as early as last month, that National General Secretaries had begun meeting every week (on Tuesdays) to develop strategies, including candidate placement. At one such meet, attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and party boss JP Nadda, the party said it would target first-time voters, beneficiaries of central schemes, and voters from backward classes, as well as young people and women, as it bids for a third consecutive term.

[blogynews]

"The Shocking Revelation: Intriguing Details Unearthed as Nine Influential Figures of Rajya Sabha Take a Jaw-Dropping Oath"

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with eight other Members of Parliament, took the oath as Rajya Sabha members on August 21. The ceremony was presided over by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha chamber at Parliament House. This is Jaishankar’s second term as a Rajya Sabha MP, having been first elected in 2019. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Gujarat, Prime…

[blogynewz]

"The Shocking Revelation: Intriguing Details Unearthed as Nine Influential Figures of Rajya Sabha Take a Jaw-Dropping Oath"

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with eight other Members of Parliament, took the oath as Rajya Sabha members on August 21. The ceremony was presided over by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha chamber at Parliament House. This is Jaishankar’s second term as a Rajya Sabha MP, having been first elected in 2019. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Gujarat, Prime…

[blogynewsz]

"The Shocking Revelation: Intriguing Details Unearthed as Nine Influential Figures of Rajya Sabha Take a Jaw-Dropping Oath"

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with eight other Members of Parliament, took the oath as Rajya Sabha members on August 21. The ceremony was presided over by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha chamber at Parliament House. This is Jaishankar’s second term as a Rajya Sabha MP, having been first elected in 2019. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Gujarat, Prime…

[razorblogz]

Foreign minister S Jaishankar files Rajya Sabha nomination from Gujarat

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday filed his nomination papers for elections to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and BJP Gujarat unit president C R Paatil accompanied Jaishankar to the state Assembly complex where he submitted the nomination papers to Returning Officer Rita Mehta.

The last date for filing nominations is July 13 and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is July 17. Polling will be held on July 24 if required.

Four years ago, Jaishankar had filed his nomination for the first time from Gujarat for the Rajya Sabha.

Out of the 11 Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat, eight are currently held by the BJP and rest by the Congress.

Of the eight seats held by the BJP, the terms of S Jaishankar, Jugalji Thakor and Dinesh Anavadiya will end on August 18. Polls will be held for these three seats.

The Congress on Friday said it would not field candidates for polls to the three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat as it did not have enough MLAs in the 182-member state Assembly.

The BJP won a record 156 seats in the Gujarat Assembly polls held late last year, while the Congress saw its worst performance since the state was formed by managing to get just 17 seats.

[12blogmk]

Elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats in 3 states to be held on July 24 | India News

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday announced that elections for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Goa, Gujarat, and West Bengal will be held on July 24.The Election Commission stated that 10 members from Goa, Gujarat, and West Bengal are set to retire in July and August.BJP members Vinay D Tendulkar from Goa, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Jugalsinh Lokhandwala and Dinesh…

[astrosblogs]

Ahead Of Rahul Gandhi's Appeal In Court, Congress Alleges "Illegal Arrest"

Senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are accompanying Rahul Gandhi to the court.

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday alleged that "illegal arrests" were being made to prevent party leaders and workers from going to Surat where Rahul Gandhi is set to file an appeal in a court against his conviction in a criminal defamation case.

Senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are accompanying Rahul Gandhi to the court.

The Congress leader will seek suspension of his sentence by the sessions court, sources said.

In a tweet in Hindi, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "There are continuous reports of illegal arrests by the BJP government in Gujarat to prevent Congress leaders and workers from going to Surat." "The undemocratic face of BJP is being exposed again and again," he said.

The Congress condemns all these activities and demands their immediate release, Ramesh added.

Rahul Gandhi will land in Surat at around 2 pm, according to the Congress sources.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress Rajya Sabha member K C Venugopal and other senior party leaders will also be in Surat.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are also likely to be in the city as Gandhi moves court, the sources said.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma here had on March 23 convicted the 52-year-old Gandhi and sentenced him to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks.

The case was filed against Gandhi on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for the Congress leader's alleged remarks "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Mr Gandhi, who had served as an MP from Wayanad in Kerala, made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019 during the Lok Sabha elections campaign.

The sentence of two years invited his disqualification from the membership of Parliament under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

[newswireml]

Communal violence on table for BJP with 2024 polls nearing, alleges Sibal#Communal #violence #table #BJP #polls #nearing #alleges #Sibal

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that communal violence was on the table for the BJP with the 2024 general elections approaching, and recent incidents in West Bengal and Gujarat were a “trailer.” Violence and arson was reported from West Bengal’s Howrah district after clashes broke out between two groups during Ram Navami festivities, with the BJP and the TMC trading barbs over…

[newslobster]

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak Gets Key Role In View Of 2024 Polls

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak Gets Key Role In View Of 2024 Polls

Sandeep Pathak was AAP’s election in-charge during assembly elections in Punjab and Gujarat. (File) New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday appointed its senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak as the National General Secretary Organisation (Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri) in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. According to an official statement, Mr Pathak will also…

[theechudar]

Gujarat landslide to give BJP the upper hand in upper House | Gujarat Election News

Gujarat landslide to give BJP the upper hand in upper House | Gujarat Election News

NEW DELHI: The results of Gujarat and Himachal assemblies will not immediately affect the party-wise composition of the Rajya Sabha, but the historic win for BJP in Gujarat means yet another record for the party in the Upper House when it will eventually have all 11 seats from the state in its kitty by mid-2026. Currently, BJP has eight and Congress has three members in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.…

[znewstech]

Gujarat landslide to give BJP the upper hand in upper House | Gujarat Election News - Times of India

Gujarat landslide to give BJP the upper hand in upper House | Gujarat Election News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The results of Gujarat and Himachal assemblies will not immediately affect the party-wise composition of the Rajya Sabha, but the historic win for BJP in Gujarat means yet another record for the party in the Upper House when it will eventually have all 11 seats from the state in its kitty by mid-2026. Currently, BJP has eight and Congress has three members in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.…

[squarwell-breakingnews]

Gujarat landslide to give BJP the upper hand in upper House | Gujarat Election News - Times of India

Gujarat landslide to give BJP the upper hand in upper House | Gujarat Election News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The results of Gujarat and Himachal assemblies will not immediately affect the party-wise composition of the Rajya Sabha, but the historic win for BJP in Gujarat means yet another record for the party in the Upper House when it will eventually have all 11 seats from the state in its kitty by mid-2026. Currently, BJP has eight and Congress has three members in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.…

[internationalnewz]

L K Advani's 95th Birthday: A look at his biography, Political career and more

Lal Krishna Advani is one of the prominent figures in Indian politics over the last few decades and remained the Leader of Opposition in the 10th and 14th Lok Sabha. L K Advani served as Home Minister and then Deputy Prime Minister from 1998 to 2004 while Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. He was born to Shri Kishinchand Advani and Gyanidevi on November 8, 1927, in Karachi. Let’s read more about him as he turns 95.

Family Brief: L.K. Advani’s father was Mr. Kishinchand, his mother was Gyanidevi. His younger sister is Sheela. He is married to Kamla Advani since 1965 and has two children, son Jayant and daughter Pratibha Advani.

Career: Lal Krishna Advani attended St. Patrick’s High School in Karachi for his formal education. From 1936 until 1942, he spent six years there as a student. When L.K. Advani was appointed the Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Karachi, in 1947, his career as a social worker officially began.

Political Strides: In 1947, L. K. Advani was appointed the RSS’s Karachi wing’s Secretary. He joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951. Shri Shyama Prasad Mookerjee created the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He served as the Bharatiya Jan Sangh’s leader from 1966 to 1967.

L.K. Advani represented Delhi in the Rajya Sabha from the years 1970 to 1976. He was selected to lead the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in the year 1973. He represented Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha from 1976 to 1982. . After the Jana Sangh was disbanded in 1977, L.K. Advani and respected leader Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee joined the Janata Party.

The Janata Party won the Lok Sabha elections in 1977, and Morarji Desai was appointed the country’s new prime minister. L.K. Advani served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from January 1980 to April 1980. He was selected to serve as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s general secretary in the year 1980 and did so until the year 1986. He was re-elected to serve in the Rajya Sabha for a third time in 1982. He was elected president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1986 and served in that capacity until 1991. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha for a fourth term in the year 1988. L. K. Advani was appointed to serve in the 9th Lok Sabha in the year 1989. He served as the leader of the BJP’s Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991.

The Indian Parliamentary Group presented Lal Krishna Advani with the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 1999.

In accordance with the Recruitment and Conditions Rules of 1955, L.K. Advani served as the Chairman of Review at the Lok Sabha Secretariat Committee from 1990 to 1991. He was elected to the tenth Lok Sabha for a second term in 1991. He served as the leader of the opposition from 1991 to 1993.

L.K. Advani once more became leadership of the BJP from the years 1993 to 1998. He was elected to serve a third term as a member of the 12th Lok Sabha in the year 1998. He served as the Union Cabinet’s Minister of Home Affairs from 1998 to 1999.He was re-elected to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999, this time for a fourth term. He served as the Union Cabinet’s Minister of Home Affairs from October 1999 to May 2004.

L.K. Advani served as deputy prime minister from June 29, 2002, until May 4, 2004. He served as the Union Cabinet Minister of Personnel, Pensions & Public Grievances from July 1, 2002, to August 25, 2002. He was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 and was chosen as the Leader of the Opposition.

L.K. Advani was a member of the Committee on Home Affairs from August 5, 2006, to May 2009. He i was re-elected to the fifteenth Lok Sabha in 2009 for a sixth term. He served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha from May 2009 until December 2009.

On August 4, 2009, L.K. Advani was selected to join the Parliament House Complex’s Committee on Installation of Statues/Portraits of National Leaders and Parliamentarians. He joined the Committee on Home Affairs on August 31, 2009. He joined the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Maintenance of Heritage Character & Development of Parliament House Complex on December 15, 2009, becoming a member on that day.

L.K. Advani resigned from every position he held on June 10, 2013. He expressed his worries, claiming that the BJP was founded by Nanaji Deshmukh, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Deendayal Upadhyaya and is no longer the innocent party. However, L.K.Advani withdrew his resignation after an intervention and a promise from senior leader Rajnath Singh that the party would address and investigate his concerns.