1. BJP, Cong Win Three Seats Each in Guj Bypolls, Alpesh Loses
The Opposition Congress and ruling BJP won three seats each in the bypolls to six Assembly constituencies in Gujarat, the results of which were declared on Thursday, 24 October.
The Congress managed to wrest one seat away from the BJP. Congress turncoat MLAs Alpesh Thakor and Dhavalsinh Zala, who contested on BJP tickets, lost. The results take the Congress' tally in the 182-member House to 72, and that of the BJP to 103.
Congress' Jashu Patel defeated Zala from Bayad seat in Arvalli district by a margin of over 700 votes. Before the results were declared, Zala had accepted his defeat and left the counting centre.
(Source: Business Standard)
2. RTOs to Be Closed from 27 to 30 October
The Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in all districts of Gujarat will remain closed from 27 to 30 October, in the wake of Diwali and other festivals, even as the newly amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act is set to be fully implemented in the state from 31 October.
Earlier, it was decided that all RTOs will remain open even on Saturdays and Sundays due to the abnormal rush at the centres in the wake of newly amended MV Act being introduced in the state.
According to an official of the Port and Transport Department, the newly amended MV Act will be fully implemented on 31 October as the state government had relaxed the deadline for compliance with the rules till 30 October.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Gujarat Bypolls: No Setback for BJP, Says Jitu Vaghani Amid Celebrations at Shree Kamalam
Even as Gujarat BJP lost three seats while winning three others in the by-elections to six Assembly seats, the mood at the party’s state headquarter – Shree Kamalam – was not quite glum on Tuesday, 22 October even though the celebrations were delayed till the final results were out.
In the morning, as the trends started coming in, the party headquarter wore an intriguing silence even as the top leaders remained closeted in a room. The leaders present included Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani, vice-president Gordhan Zadaphia, former minister Shankar Chaudhary, party general secretary KC Patel, state spokesperson Bharat Pandya and convener of the media cell Prashant Vala.
At the entrance, the courtyard was silent as the folk artistes, who were called in to play musical instruments and dance to celebrate the party’s anticipated “victory” in all six seats, were waiting for the leaders to come and give a green signal.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Cong Upbeat over ‘People Rejecting Politics of Turncoats’
As counting of votes for the six constituencies that went to bypolls on 21 October was progressing, there was no activity at the state Congress camp and the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan wore a deserted look till around afternoon.
Since morning, the Congress camp huddled inside the office of state president Amit Chavda, glued to the TV set, attending phone calls from party workers posted at counting centres. There were instances when few Congress leaders would step out and interact with media personnel, just to compare the early trends which showed the party leading in four seats out of six.
Sweets and firecrackers also arrived at the party’s state headquarters but taking a lesson out of the recent drubbing in Lok Sabha elections where they lost all 26 seats to BJP, the Congress leaders this time decided not to count their chickens before they hatched.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. Two Arrested in Vadodara for Impersonating Cops, Extortion
Two persons were arrested Thursday, 24 October for allegedly extorting Rs 7,500 from a two-wheeler rider by impersonating policemen in Karelibaug area of the city.
Dilip Shah (38) in his complaint lodged at Karelibaug police station claimed that he was on his way home from work on Wednesday when two unidentified persons in civil dress, who identified themselves as policemen, stopped him and accused him of carrying fake documents and demanded Rs 7,500 as penalty. When the man tried to reason out with them, they snatched his money and fled the spot, Shah alleged.
The accused were later identified as Aftab Ahmed Hussain Sheikh (22) and Shahrukh Ullakhan Pathan (22).
(Source: Indian Express)
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