BJP denies ticket to 43 sitting MLAs including four ministers
Jaipur, Nov 15: Looking to retain power in Rajasthan, the BJP has denied tickets to its 43 sitting MLAs, including four ministers, even as some leaders who have crossed over from other parties have been fielded for the upcoming assembly elections.
The ruling party has released two lists so far of 162 candidates for the elections to be held on December 7 for 200 assembly constituencies. Names of more candidates are expected to be announced soon.
The BJP had released its first list of 131 candidates on November 11, while the second list of 31 candidates was announced on November 14. In the second list itself, the party denied tickets to 14 sitting MLAs and three ministers.
In the two lists, a total of 92 sitting MLAs have been fielded again in the election.
The BJP had won 163 seats in the last 2013 elections, while its arch-rival Congress could get just 21. Traditionally, these two parties have ruled the state one after another.
So far, the saffron party has given tickets to 19 women candidates.
Besides, four leaders who have joined the BJP from some other parties have also got the party ticket for the polls.
These include Abhinesh Mehrishi, who would contest from Ratangarh seat after quitting BSP, Congress leaders Ashok Sharma and Mahesh Pratap Singh (for Rajakhera and Nathdwara seats, respectively) and two-time independent legislator Gurdeep Shahpini (Sangaria seat).
Those having been denied a ticket include Gyandeo Ahuja, a sitting MLA from Ramgarh seat of Alwar. When contacted, Ahuja declined to comment on denial of ticket from his existing constituency.
"I would comment only after meeting the office bearers of the RSS, Ahuja told PTI on Thursday.
He said he has not met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje so far on this issue.
The BJP ministers who have been denied ticket by the party from their existing seats include Babulal Verma, Dhan Singh Rawat, Rajkumar Rinwa and Surendra Goyal. Goyal has resigned from the party and has announced he will contest the election independently.
The denial of ticket to leaders like Gyandev Ahuja and Dhan Singh Rawat has come as a surprise to many, even as they have been known for their hardliner comments that have often triggered controversies.
Sheo constituency MLA Manvendra Singh has joined the Congress while the Nathdwara assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of BJP legislator Kalyan Singh Chouhan.
The saffron party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate so far.
It is also being keenly watched what would be the fate of Chief Minister Raje's close aide Yunus Khan, who was fielded from Didwana Assembly seat in last election. The party has not announced any candidate from that seat so far.
Also, there is no clarity so far on candidature of erstwhile royal family member Diya Kumari from Sawai Madhopur seat.
The counting of votes for December 7 elections would take place on December 11, along with the same for four other state assemblies, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.
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Most Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza consecrated as second Archbishop of Udupi Diocese
Udupi: Most Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza was consecrated as the second Archbishop of the Diocese of Udupi at a ceremony held at the Milagres College Grounds of Milagres Cathedral in Kalianpur on Monday.
The rite of consecration was performed by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, President of the FABC and CCBI, as the principal consecrator. Archbishop Dr. Peter Machado of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Udupi, Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, participated as co-consecrators.
The Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, along with more than 30 bishops, around 300 priests, an equal number of nuns, and thousands of devotees from different parts of the country, attended the ceremony.
The official letter of appointment from the Pope was read out during the ceremony. This was followed by the sacred rites of consecration, during which the Archbishop’s head was anointed with holy oil, the Holy Bible was placed on his head, and prayers were offered. He was then presented with the ring of authority, mitre, and pastoral staff, and formally installed, marking his ordination as Archbishop.
Fr. Steven D’Souza, Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi, read the official letter of the Holy Father. The ceremony also included the exchange of the sign of peace among bishops and representatives.
In his homily, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, said that the blessings of the Father are invaluable. He noted that in today’s society, the presence of a father figure is often lacking in many families and emphasised that bishops serve as representatives of the Most High in the family of God. He said that God has chosen his representative for the Udupi Diocese through Fr. Leslie and stressed that bishops must spread the word of God among devotees with love, adding that preaching the essence of the Gospel is a key responsibility.
