India News

Gujarat Polls: A glance at key candidates, constituencies that vote today

On the numerous constituencies that will vote on Thursday morning, a tough contest is anticipated as the BJP seeks to hold onto power and the AAP seeks to make inroads into yet another state.

Published

4 years ago

December 1, 2022

The phase-1 polling has begun in Gujarat on Thursday and after weeks of intense campaigning by all the political parties, Gujarat’s citizens are ready to cast their votes in the first round of the assembly elections.

The fate of political parties will be decided by over 2 crore

With 89 constituencies spread across 19 districts in Kutch, Saurashtra, and South Gujarat up for election today. Political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party have been racing to make election promises.

Voting is being held from 8 am to 5 pm, according to the Indian Election Commission.

There are now 39 political parties running for office, and they have fielded 788 candidates, including 718 men and 70 women.

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is taking a chance by attempting to capitalise on anti-incumbency and concerns like inflation and unemployment in order to gain power, while the state’s current ruling BJP is displaying confidence in maintaining its 27-year reign.

On the numerous constituencies that will vote on Thursday morning, a tough contest is anticipated as the BJP seeks to hold onto power and the AAP seeks to make inroads into yet another state.

Jamnagar North (Jamnagar)

The first on the list is Jamnagar North, where the contest is between Rivaba Jadeja of the BJP, the wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, Bipendrasinh Jadeja of the Congress, and Karsan Karmur of the AAP.

Ahir Jivanbhai Karubhai Kumbharvadiya, a candidate for the Congress, was defeated by incumbent MLA Dharmendrasinh Merubha in the 2017 Assembly elections.

The race for the seat gained attention after a political spat between two members of the same family came to light. Rivaba, who is running for office for the first time, is supporting the BJP, while her sister-in-law and father-in-law are supporting the Congress candidate.

Morbi

The second name on the list is Morbi, which gained attention after the recent tragedy in which a suspension bridge collapsed into the river, killing over 130 people.

Kantilal Amrutiya, a replacement for the outgoing MLA and Cabinet Minister Brijesh Merja, is running against Jayantilal Jerajbhai Patel of the Congress and Pankaj Ransariya of the AAP.

In an effort to pressure the administration over the Morbi tragedy, the opposition parties brought up the matter of “mismanagement” in the incident during the campaign.

Prior to Amrutiya’s loss to Merja, a member of the Congress in 2017, the BJP had previously won the Morbi Assembly seat in 1995, 1998, 2002, 2007, and 2012, according to records.

Merja later joined the BJP and won the Morbi by-elections once more. In 2022, the BJP will have Merja and Amrutiya.

Khambalia (Devbhoomi Dwarka)

The seat gains significance because Isudan Gadhvi, the AAP’s nominee for chief minister, is running from here. Vikram Madam of the Congress and Mulu Ayar Bera of the BJP are his opponents.

The BJP and AAP are anticipated to engage in a close race in the triangular conflict. Ahir Vikrambhai Arjanbhai Madam, a Congress contender, was successful in winning the seat in 2017. Congress has changed who will be running in the 2022 elections.

Rajkot West (Rajkot)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously ran in a by-election for Rajkot West in 2002. Vijay Rupani, a former chief minister, ran from the location in the 2017 Assembly elections.

Darshita Shah, a two-time deputy mayor, will compete against Dinesh Joshi of the AAP and Mansukhbhai of the Congress on the BJP ticket.

The seat, which the BJP has held since 1985, is regarded as one of its strongholds.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, Rupani defeated INC candidate Indranil Rajguru by a margin of 53,755 votes to win the seat.

Devboomi Dwaraka

The BJP’s Pabubha Manek is running against the AAP’s Nakum Lakhmanbhai Boghabhai and the Congress’ Malubhai Kandoria, who hasn’t lost an election in 32 years for the Devbhoomi Dwarka seat.

Manek had won the first three elections (1990, 1995, and 1998) as an independent leader. After joining the Congress, he won the seat in 2002. Later, running for the BJP, he prevailed in the Assembly elections of 2007, 2012, and 2017.

Manek defeated Ahir Meraman Markhi of the Congress in the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections by a margin of 5,739 votes.

Katargam (Surat)

Gopal Italia, the state president of the AAP and a prominent Patidar leader, has been nominated by the constituency and is expected to engage in an exciting fight for the seat. He had been instrumental in the 2015 Patidar quota movement. He will compete against BJP candidate Vinodbhai Amrishbhai Mordiya and Congress candidate Kaplesh Variya, a member of the Prajapati community (OBC).

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PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

5 hours ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

India News

India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

20 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.

India’s metro rail network: Key figures

India currently has 1,170 km of operational metro rail network.
Metro services are operational across 26 cities.
The US has around 1,386 km of metro rail network.
India is currently 216 km behind the US.
China has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines.
India’s operational network stood at 245 km across five cities in 2014.

India News

PM Modi returns to SRCC after 13 years, revisits 2013 glass full speech

PM Narendra Modi returned to SRCC after 13 years for its centenary celebrations, revisiting themes from his landmark 2013 address.

Published

20 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday, 13 years after his previous visit to the institution as Gujarat chief minister.

His latest visit came as SRCC marked its centenary celebrations. Modi’s 2013 address at the college had attracted significant attention as he spoke about India’s youth, governance and the country’s demographic potential.

In 2013, Modi was Gujarat chief minister and had not yet been named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. He returned to the same campus this year as Prime Minister, having completed 12 years as Prime Minister and serving his third consecutive term.

What PM Modi said at SRCC in 2013

The 2013 lecture was titled Emerging Business Models in the Global Scenario. The address also covered governance and India’s young population.

He described India’s youth as a source of national strength rather than simply a group of new-age voters. He also highlighted India’s demographic advantage and argued that the country needed to make better use of its young population.

One of the notable moments from the speech involved a glass of water. Modi contrasted the conventional descriptions of a glass as half full or half empty and said he viewed it as full, with half containing water and the other half air.

The speech also included his remarks on technology and young Indians. Referring to an anecdote from a visit to Taiwan, Modi used the phrase “mouse-charmers” to describe Indians using computers and suggested that young Indians had the ability to influence the world through technology.

‘Minimum government, maximum governance’

Modi’s 2013 address also touched on governance. He spoke about the role of government and the need for better governance.

He also spoke about India’s potential in the 21st century.

Modi returns as PM for SRCC centenary

The September 5 visit coincided with Teachers’ Day and SRCC’s 100th anniversary. The Prime Minister’s Office had announced that Modi would participate in the college’s centenary celebrations and address the gathering. SRCC was established in 1926 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Shri Ram.

Earlier this year, Modi also met the SRCC governing body at his residence in April in connection with the college’s centenary celebrations and released a commemorative postage stamp marking the occasion.

The return to SRCC came 13 years after his 2013 appearance at the college, when he addressed students as Gujarat chief minister.