3 senior BJP MLAs in Gujarat protest against own government, say many more with them
Gujarat, June 28: Three senior MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat came out in public late on Wednesday evening expressing their resentment against the BJP government in the state. The three MLAs are from Vadodara district.
They have claimed that more than a dozen other MLAs are with them.
This was hours after Chief Minister Vijay Rupani flew out the country on a six-day tour.
The three MLAs are: Madhu Srivastava from Waghodia constituency, Yogesh Patel from Manjalpur and Ketan Inamdar from Savli.
They have asserted that several state ministers and the bureaucracy were not listening to them and are showing a callous attitude to public representatives.
Incidentally, BJP President Amit Shah was in his home state on Wednesday but the MLAs chose to vent their grievances before the media, also claiming that many more legislators were angry with the working of the government.
Madhu Srivastava, who is a six-time MLA, said that other MLAs who share the same sentiments will come out in future.
"Today, we are three but tomorrow there may be 13 or 23. Today we three, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, have got together. Now let anything happen," Srivastava said.
"Ever since the present government took charge six months ago, the bureaucrats in the state are working at their whims and fancies. And when we go to meet the ministers on the designated days for us, we are unable to see them," Srivastava told reporters, as Patel and Inamdar nodded in agreement.
Concurring with Srivastava, Yogesh Patel said that their only demand was that when they seek resolution to the issues of their electorate, it must be sorted out, but this was not happening.
Asked if they had made a representation to the chief minister about this, Srivastava said, "We are not going to stand in queue (to meet him) if the officials did not allow them."
Ketan Inamdar said their anger was not against the party or the government but with the attitude of the officials.
"The government which is trying to do best for the people should surely have control over the bureaucracy. But it appears that the officials have got thick-skinned," he said.
The BJP swiftly swung into action, asking senior Cabinet minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama to intervene.
"Whatever be the issue, I, Nitin Bhai (Deputy Chief Minister) and Jitubhai Vaghani (state BJP President) will speak to them in person and sort out their issues," Chudasama said.
BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said, "The three have been summoned by the state party chief for a meeting in person. We have touched base with them and asked them to put forth their grievances on the right forum."
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
