1. Gujarat: CEO Gets 22 Written Poll Code Violation Complaints in 10 Days
In addition to the recent Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation complaint against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for holding its parliamentary board meeting at Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s official residence, there are 21 other written complaints in last 10 days.
Among these 22 MCC violation complaints received by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Murali Krishna since 10 March, three are against Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Adalaj, Gandhinagar on 12 March.
Though all have been disposed of, the highest number of complaints are received from Ahmedabad district where six written complaints were registered. Surat followed with four.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Pradipsinh Jadeja Appears Before Gujarat HC in Ahmed Patel Poll Victory Case
Minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja on Wednesday, 20 March, deposed before the Gujarat High Court as a witness of BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput who has challenged the Rajya Sabha poll victory of Congress leader Ahmed Patel.
He was cross-examined by Patel's lawyers for over 3 hours before the single-judge bench of Justice Bela Trivedi, which is conducting the trial in the case.
The minister submitted to the court in an affidavit that when former Jamnagar (rural) MLA Raghavji Patel was showing his ballot to Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, the latter got up from the chair and tried to snatch it from Raghavji.
Jadeja submitted that Raghavji was stunned with Gohil's behaviour and immediately put his vote in the ballot box. Notably, Raghavji during his deposition before the High Court as a witness of Rajput in the case had made the same submission.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
3. Expedite Journalist Murder Probe, Gujarat Media Club Writes to DGP
As the police has hit a wall in the investigations into the mysterious death of television journalist Chirag Patel, the Gujarat Media Club (GMC), a representative body of media professionals in Gujarat, voiced its concern in a memorandum submitted to Director General of Police Shivanand Jha on Wednesday, 20 March.
The GMC said in its letter that it took a strong stand on such crimes against journalists. “Through this letter, we place before you our collective urge (requesting you) to fast-track the investigations and take the required measures to identify and capture the perpetrators of this heinous act and bring them to justice.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Gujarat High Court Notice to State Govt Over Rules Regulating Acid Sale
The Gujarat High Court sought a reply from the state government after a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking effective implementation of the rules related to the sale and use of acids came up for hearing.
The petitioner – Gujarat Scientific Association – demanded the court's intervention to put an end to acid attacks, on Wednesday, 20 March.
Notably, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav issued a notice to the state government directing it to file its reply in the matter by 16 April.
As per the petitioner-organisation, the Supreme Court had directed the Union government in 2013 to frame rules to regulate the sale of acid in view of the rampant acid attacks across the country.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
5. Unjha BJP Workers Register Protest Against Fielding ‘Outsiders’
In what seems to be an open revolt in the Unjha unit of Mehsana BJP over the selection of the candidate for the bypoll to the high-profile Assembly constituency, a group of local workers have formed their own committee, which has registered a strong written objection against granting ticket to either Ashaben Patel or K C Patel, the party probables.
Though the BJP is yet to formally declare its candidate for the Unjha bypoll, names of Ashaben, who joined the BJP after resigning as Congress MLA in February, and K C Patel, Gujarat BJP general secretary from Patan district, are doing the rounds in the party.
As per sources, a group of around 100 BJP workers had gathered on Tuesday over the issue and formed a committee of nine persons that eventually shortlisted five local candidates for the bypoll.
(Source: The Indian Express)
6. Gujarat Govt Staff on Poll Duty to Get Cashless Health Cover
The health department of Gujarat government has issued a resolution on 7 March that any staff been engaged for election duty will get cashless health cover. The staff, in case of any illness or injury sustained during poll duties, will get all medical facilities for free at government or private hospitals.
The chief electoral officer(CEO) in Gujarat Dr S Murali Krishna said, "The cashless health cover has been provided to staff engaged in poll duties, as per the guidelines by the election commission. This facility will be available to all the government employees from administrative services, police, drivers, cleaners and other."
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
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