Page 16 - Aap

AAP names former TV anchor Isudan Gadhvi as CM candidate for Gujarat

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday named former TV anchor and journalist Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate for next month's Assembly elections in Gujarat. The announcement was made by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who said the 40-year-old Gadhvi got as many as 73 per cent votes in a poll conducted by the party. Gadhvi was pitted against state party unit chief Gopal Italia, who played a key role in the Patidar community agitation. He hails from a farmers' family in Dwarka district's Pipaliya village and belongs to the other backward castes, which account for 48 per cent of the state's population. Kejriwal said the party conducted the poll by asking people to call a phone number and listen to a recorded message which asked them to choose their chief ministerial face.

BJP expresses confidence to win Delhi MCD polls for fourth time in a row

The BJP leaders expressed confidence to win the MCD polls 4th time in a row, as the dates for the elections to 250 municipal wards were announced by the state election commission on Friday. The voting for Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be held on December 4 and votes will be counted on December 7. Inaugurating the BJP's MCD poll office at party's Delhi unit headquarters at Pant Marg, Union minister Piyush Goyal said the Kejriwal government has failed on all fronts including pollution control, reining in corruption or infrastructure development. "Delhi people are fed up with false assurances of Kejriwal government and ready to give a befitting reply to the AAP in the MCD polls and ensure massive victory of the BJP. They have also made up their mind to vote for the BJP in coming Lok Sabha polls and uproot the AAP in next Assembly elections," Goyal said. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta also claimed that the BJP is going to going to return to power at Municipal Corporation

Journalist-turned-politician Gadhvi tasked with 'anchoring' AAP win in Guj

From news reporting to himself becoming news, former television anchor Isudan Gadhvi, who was born in a farming family, has had a swift rise in politics and has become the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat just a year after he joined the fledgling outfit led by Arvind Kejriwal. Gadhvi (40) started his career as a journalist with a local news channel around 17 years ago after acquiring a degree in journalism from the Gujarat Vidyapith, a deemed university in Ahmedabad founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. Just last year he joined the AAP and his big moment came on Friday when Gadhvi was declared the party's chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat, where Assembly polls for the 182-member House will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The declaration was made in Ahmedabad by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, who has been positioning his party as the main challenger of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been ruling Gujarat

Delhi people will choose AAP in municipal elections: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Soon after Delhi State Election Commissioner Vijay Dev announced dates for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the people of Delhi would choose AAP in the Municipal Corporation election once again.Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, "In the last 15 years, BJP has spread garbage all over Delhi and created mountains of garbage. This time on December 4, the people of Delhi will vote for the cleanliness of Delhi. People will vote to make Delhi clean and beautiful. This time people of Delhi will choose AAP in Municipal Corporation election also."https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1588492439077400576?s=20 & t=HaZkgtacvJWgmCnkdzbpYAThe elections for MCD will be held on December 4 while counting of votes will be done on December 7, said Delhi State Election Commissioner Vijay Dev on Friday.Addressing a press conference on Friday, the Delhi State Election Commissioner said that

AAP siphoning money meant for construction workers' welfare: Sambit Patra

The BJP on Friday accused the Delhi government of registering "bogus" construction workers and siphoning off money meant for them for AAP's party-related work. In a joint conference with party MP Manoj Tiwari, BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's intent and integrity was polluted. Patra termed it the biggest corruption case in India as far as construction workers were concerned. He said three NGOs working for construction workers alleged massive corruption in their registration through proxies. The BJP leader accused the Delhi govt of disbursing Rs 3,000 crore among "fake" construction workers. Elaborating on the figures, Patra said between 2006 and 2021, over 13 lakh construction workers were registered under the Delhi government's labour department. Of these, over 9 lakh were registered between 2018 to 2021. Patra said investigations had revealed 2 lakh fake registrations in Delhi. He alleged that 65,000 workers had the same mobile .

Gujarat Assembly elections to be held in 2 phases, results on Dec 8

EC rubbishes Opposition parties' charge that it delayed announcing dates

Farm fires' share in Delhi's pollution 38%, highest this season: Experts

The share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution jumped to 38 per cent on Thursday, which, experts said was the reason behind the thick layer of pungent smog over the national capital. The increase in stubble burning has kicked off a political slugfest, with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday saying that there had been a 19 per cent rise in farm fires over 2021 in Punjab and that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had turned the national capital into a gas chamber. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in turn, blamed the central government for rising incidents of stubble burning in Punjab and said it should "resign" if it cannot control air pollution. Gufran Beig, founder project director, SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said, "The share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution has increased to around 38 per cent which is quite significant." The air pollution situation is the worst in Noida which falls into the path of emissions

AAP 'maha thug' party, extorted money from Sukesh Chandrashekhar: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday dubbed the AAP a "maha thug" party after jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar claimed its leader Satyendar Jain "extorted" Rs 10 crore from him to ensure his safety in prison. Addressing a press conference here, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did a thuggery with a thug. The AAP is a "maha thug" party, he alleged. "It is learned from news that there has been a thuggery in the house of the thug. And the name of the thug is Sukesh Chandrashekhar. And the person who cheated the thug is Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendra Jain," Patra said. He further alleged the AAP had extorted money from the conman and it showed that the party was "hardcore corrupt". Chandrashekhar has written to Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena alleging that Jain "extorted" Rs 10 crore from him in 2019 to ensure his safety in prison, his lawyer said on Tuesday. The letter written by Chandrashekhar, who is lodged in Mandoli jail here, on October 7 was ...

Gujarat CM has no right to continue: Kejriwal on Morbi bridge collapse

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that Bhupendra Patel has no right to continue as Gujarat Chief Minister after the Morbi bridge collapse

Will win Gujarat polls, AAP only in air, nothing on ground: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday exuded confidence that his party will win the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections, contending that there is "massive" anti-incumbency against the BJP while the Aam Aadmi Party has created a buzz in the state purely based on advertisements and has no support on the ground. Addressing a press conference here during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said the march is ''not a magic wand'' but a good first step to connect with people. He ruled out any alliance with the TRS, saying it is "diametrically opposite" to what the Congress stands for. Gandhi dismissed the challenge posed by AAP in Gujarat and said the Congress has a solid base in the state. "Congress is fighting the Gujarat elections effectively and the Congress will win the polls. AAP is only in the air. It has nothing on the ground," he told reporters here to questions on his party's prospects in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. "There is massive anti-incumbency. The media has cre

AAP's Arvind Kejriwal to hold roadshow in Haryana's Adampur on Monday

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will take out a roadshow in Haryana's Adampur on October 31, a day before the campaigning ends for the November 3 Assembly bypolls there. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will also hold a rally for the BJP on November 1. "Arvindji will take out a roadshow in the afternoon, which will cover several villages, including Balsamand," a party leader said on Sunday. On Sunday, Punjab Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer also campaigned in Adampur and took out a roadshow. The bypolls were necessitated after Kuldeep Bishnoi, the younger son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, resigned as MLA from the seat and switched sides from the Congress to the BJP in August. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had also campaigned in Adampur for AAP on Wednesday. Kejriwal had launched the party's nationwide Make India No. 1 campaign from Hisar last month. On the other hand, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Co

Delhi sets up 586 teams for inspection as GRAP Stage III kicks in

Latest stage imposed when air quality touched 'severe' levels with the overall AQI reaching 400 at 12:10 a.m. on Saturday

Kejriwal, a symbol of anarchy: Anurag Thakur on AAP's call for god on notes

Union Minister Anurag Thakur here on Saturday lashed out Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling him "a symbol of anarchy". The Union minister of information and broadcasting was responding to a query during his press conference regarding Kejriwal's appeal to incorporate images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on currency notes. "Arvind Kejriwal who used to oppose (construction of a grand) Ram temple is a symbol of anarchy. He does fake talking. He does new propaganda to divert attention of the people from his fakeness," Thakur said. The Union minister further asked AAP supremo Kejriwal that will his government also provide Rs 18,000 to temple priests, gurudwara granthis and church priests on the pattern of maulvis in Delhi. Regarding "chargesheet" of Congress against Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said "Those whose national leadership is on bail have no moral right to issue "chargesheet" against others. He further said that the .

AAP to declare CM face for Guj polls on Nov 4, seeks public opinion

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will announce on November 4 the name of its chief ministerial face for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections on the basis of opinion given by the people of the state. Addressing a press conference, the AAP's national convener urged people to contact the party through SMS, WhatsApp, voice mail and e-mail to give their views about who should be the CM candidate from the party. He said there is an atmosphere of change in Gujarat and people believe that AAP is going to form a government in the state. "Today, I would like to ask the people of Gujarat as to who they want to see as the next CM of Gujarat. To know the opinion of the public, we are releasing a number - 6357000 360. You can send SMS, WhatsApp messages, and leave voice messages. We are also releasing e-mail - aapnocm@gmail.com," Kejriwal said. He said people can give their choice in four ways - SMS, WhatsApp, voice mail or e-mail till 5 pm

Ahead of polls, AAP sets up 2 bodies of Kashmiri-displaced people in Jammu

In a bid to increase the footprints of the party in the region, the AAP on Friday announced formation of two bodies of Kashmiri-displaced people in Jammu., The party, as it made the announcement, also claimed that it will form next government in Jammu and Kashmir as people have made up their mind give them a chance. "People in Jammu and Kashmir are watching the model of governance of Arvind Kejriwal ji in Delhi and Punjab. They have made up their mind to elect AAP government in J&K. We will form government here," MLA Delhi and In-charge of J&K unit of AAP, Durgesh Pathak told reporters here. "People have tested National Conference, PDP, Congress. BJP is currently ruling here through backdoor. They tested them, and now they have made up their mind to vote AAP to power here," he said. Earlier, Patahak administered oath to the newly-appointed office bearers of the party. The party announced two panel for Kashmiri-displaced people -- a 16-member provincial level panel headed by M .

AAP faces flak on removal of Mahatma Gandhi's pictures from offices

Amid a row over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's appeal for printing images of Hindu deities on currency notes, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in Gujarat on Friday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party for removing Mahatma Gandhi's photos from government offices in Punjab, where the AAP is in power. Attacking Kejriwal over his demand, Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil said people should remain cautious and make sure the AAP does not remove Mahatma Gandhi's photograph from currency notes like it did in government offices. "The AAP has removed Gandhiji's photos from the Punjab Chief Minister's Office as well as from all government offices in the northern state after coming to power. People need to remain cautious to make sure the AAP does not remove Gandhiji's photos from currency notes too," Paatil told reporters at Patan town of Gujarat. Notably, Kejriwal, the AAP convener, and his party colleague, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, were in Panchmahal district of Gujarat on Friday to

AAP releases seventh list of 13 candidates for Gujarat Assembly polls

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday released its seventh list of 13 candidates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, taking the number of nominees whose names the party has declared so far to 86. The list was released by the party's state unit president Gopal Italia. Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Legislative Assembly are due by the end of this year. However, the poll schedule is yet to be announced. Ten out of these 13 seats are currently held by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the opposition Congress holds three others. Two seats - Kadi and Kalavad - are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, while three - Sankheda, Mandvi and Mahuva are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, he said. The candidates include a retired government officer, doctor, lawyer and industrialist, Italia told reporters. The seats on which the names of candidates were announced on Friday are Kadi (SC), Gandhinagar (North), Wadhwan, Morbi, Jasdan,

AAP accuses Delhi L-G of not approving 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday accused the lieutenant governor of making excuses for not giving timely approval for the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign and questioned his seriousness about the level of pollution in the national capital. Setting the stage for a fresh confrontation with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, the AAP government on Thursday had said it was postponing the launch of the campaign as the LG's office was yet to approve it. However, sources in the LG office alleged that Rai did not speak the truth about the date of the roll-out of the campaign and claimed that the AAP dispensation did so to coerce the LG into taking a decision. "LG is either not aware of seriousness of pollution or making excuses for not giving timely nod to 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' drive. I appeal to him to give the approval as soon as possible," Rai said at a press conference on Friday. Talking about the difference in dates of the permission sought from the LG and the launch o

Puja stuck amid politics of 2 parties, says Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti Prez

Ahead of the Nahai Khai of the Chhath, Delhi BJP President Aadesh Gupta visited the oldest Yamuna Chhath Ghat of Delhi called the ITO Yamuna Ghat for assessment of the arrangement on Thursday."This is the oldest Chhath Ghat of Delhi and there is no arrangement so far. It is the total accountability of the Delhi Government. Due to Covid pandemic, there were no Chhath celebrations on the bank of the Yamuna rive in the last two years and this year too, no arrangement has been made so far. So, due to mismangement, no Chhath celebrations be made this year too, "said Aadesh Gupta during the inspection.He further accused the Aam Aadmi Party of lying and said that their leaders are expert at spreading propaganda. During elections, their leaders become Hindu and before that, they make fun of the Hindu Gods and goddess."Meanwhile, Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti President Shiva Ram Pandey said that they have been working for Chhath Ghat for more than a month but are still unaware of the location."We ..

Arvind Kejriwal's radical transformation

Kejriwal may have shrewdly given up his secular positions, but he is no Hindutva hero. He has simply been able to sense which way the wind is blowing