Polls brings to fore differences in BJP Saturday, September 22, 2001
BY RAJIV SHAH, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
GANDHINAGAR: The two Assembly and parliamentary by-polls -- the results of which will be known on Saturday--have thrown up sharp differences within the ruling BJP.
Top sources said here on Friday that at least three BJP heavy-weights -- ex-minister and senior BJP leader Ashok Bhatt, state education minister Anandiben Patel and minister of state for home Haren Pandya -- felt 'sidelined' during the whole campaign.
A top minister said these three apart, there were at least half-a-dozen other senior leaders who gone only to show their face and completed a formality during the party's poll campaign.
Bhatt, despite initial reports of having been given charge of organising electioneering in Sabarmati, did not make his presence felt. A senior BJP minister said, "Bhatt felt he was not being consulted during the poll campaign; he decided to remain aloof for most of the time, except for some fleeting appearances." This has surprised the BJP because Bhatt has always been at the forefront of any BJP campaign.
Anandiben, who lives in the Sabarmati constituency area, was more concerned about ascertaining the voter turnout in various areas, say insiders. The dissident camp was happy to know that few people had gone to vote in BJP strongholds.
As for Pandya, sources revealed, he gave "clear cut instructions to the state police not to take sides". The Sabarmati bypoll, considered crucial from a BJP perspective, was being managed mainly by two BJP general secretaries -- Sanjay Joshi and Gordhan Zadaphia. Those who took "considerable interest" included state energy minister Kaushik Patel and irrigation minister Nitin Patel.
Yet, said a Cabinet colleague of the CM, "mistrust for the local BJP workers was complete". Whether it was Sabarmati or Sabarkantha, even polling agents were brought from as far away as Saurashtra. "Many of the agents present in booths did not even know the local voters," the minister added.
Joshi, an RSS appointee from Nagpur in the state BJP, was particularly keen on analysing the voter sentiment. It is under his guidance that a fortnight before the polls a Gallup poll was carried out in Sabarmati, revealing sharp resentments among middle class voters over the Madhavpura bank scam. The poll revealed that if the bank was not revived, the party would lose heavily.
A mere 15 per cent supported the BJP. Based on the Gallup poll, the CM went into action and ensured that the banks' shutters were opened a couple of days before polling-day, leading to some hope that the party might manage to retain the Sabarmati seat.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Waghela says complainant's credibility doubtful Saturday, September 22, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: State prohibition minister Fakirbhai Waghela has denied the allegations lodged with the Gandhinagar district police against his son, stating that the complainant, Ashok Keshavlal Sharma, was no "poor labourer", but a "gangster and an anti-social element".
Waghela shot back at the allegations saying that Sharma's intention was cheap publicity. The minister alleged that Sharma had been booked for attempt to murder, kidnapping, rape and for possessing illegal arms between 1984 and 1998.
He pointed out that "Sharma is lodging a complaint referring to an incident which occurred five months ago for which he did not bother complaining to the police then". "By sending an application to the police after so long and going straight to the court, he is trying to bring me and my sons into disrepute. Further Waghela added that if his sons were found guilty during investigations, he would not come in the way of any proceedings.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Another tremor felt in Kutch Saturday, September 22, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: An earthquake of a slight intensity was felt in the Kutch area of Gujarat early on Friday, the meteorological department said.
The quake at 8.11 am measured 4 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in the Kutch-Bhuj region. This was the second strong tremor in the region in a space of 12 hours. A tremor had shaken high-rises in the city on Thursday evening. It measured 4.5 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 7.05 pm. It was centred somewhere near Bhachau in Kutch. The tremors were also felt in various other parts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat, including Rajkot city.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Another tremor felt in Kutch Saturday, September 22, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: An earthquake of a slight intensity was felt in the Kutch area of Gujarat early on Friday, the meteorological department said.
The quake at 8.11 am measured 4 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in the Kutch-Bhuj region. This was the second strong tremor in the region in a space of 12 hours. A tremor had shaken high-rises in the city on Thursday evening. It measured 4.5 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 7.05 pm. It was centred somewhere near Bhachau in Kutch. The tremors were also felt in various other parts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat, including Rajkot city.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Another tremor felt in Gujarat Saturday, September 22, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: An earthquake of a slight intensity was felt in the Kutch area of Gujarat early on Friday, the meteorological department said.
The quake at 8.11 am measured 4 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in the Kutch-Bhuj region. This was the second strong tremor in the region in a space of 12 hours. A tremor had shaken high-rises in the city on Thursday evening. It measured 4.5 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 7.05 pm. It was centred somewhere near Bhachau in Kutch. The tremors were also felt in various other parts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat, including Rajkot city.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
