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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.

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Gujarat Election

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.

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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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IMD predicts very heavy rainfall across Uttar Pradesh over next 24 hours, issues thunderstorm alert

The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and heavy to very heavy showers across Uttar Pradesh over the next 24 hours, while the Hindon river in Noida has crossed the danger mark.

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Rain

Large parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to witness widespread rainfall over the next 24 hours, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting rain or thundershowers across most parts of the state. The weather department has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several regions along with thunderstorms and lightning.

IMD issues heavy rain warning for West and East Uttar Pradesh

According to the IMD, isolated places in West Uttar Pradesh are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. In East Uttar Pradesh, heavy rainfall is expected at a few places, while isolated locations may experience very heavy rainfall.

The department has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at a few places across the state during this period.

Lucknow likely to witness rain and thunderstorms

For Lucknow and nearby areas, the IMD has predicted an overcast sky with intermittent rain and thundershowers on Sunday.

The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to be 26 degrees Celsius. The weather office has also warned of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall at isolated locations in and around the city.

Hindon river flows above danger mark in Noida

The ongoing wet spell has also affected river levels in western Uttar Pradesh.

In Gautam Buddh Nagar district, the Central Water Commission (CWC) issued a warning after the Hindon river in Noida crossed the danger mark. According to the commission’s bulletin issued at 6:52 pm, the river level stood at 196.16 metres at 6 pm, which is 0.16 metres above the danger level of 196.0 metres.

The water level was rising at a rate of 40.01 mm per hour and remained 1.12 metres below the highest flood level of 197.28 metres, recorded on July 26, 2023. The commission said the river was flowing between the danger mark and the highest flood level.

Rainfall recorded across several districts

Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 31.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which was 2.5 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 27.9 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees above normal. The city received only a trace of rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

Among the major weather stations, Banda recorded the highest rainfall at 70.8 mm, followed by Hamirpur (45 mm), Ghazipur (41.6 mm) and Churk in Sonbhadra (29.4 mm).

Other rainfall figures included Jhansi (9.8 mm), Barabanki (9 mm), Ballia (6.1 mm), Bareilly (5.4 mm), Orai (4.2 mm), Shahjahanpur (2 mm), Prayagraj (1.6 mm), Fursatganj (0.8 mm), Gorakhpur and Moradabad (0.4 mm each) and Bahraich (0.2 mm).

Meanwhile, stations including Kanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Ayodhya, Sultanpur and Basti did not record any rainfall during the observation period.

Monsoon keeps temperatures below normal

The prevailing monsoon conditions kept daytime temperatures below normal in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. However, parts of the Bundelkhand region continued to record maximum temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius despite the ongoing rainy spell.

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Sonam Wangchuk’s wife seeks urgent High Court hearing to shift him to private hospital

Gitanjali J Angmo has moved the Delhi High Court seeking Sonam Wangchuk’s transfer to a private hospital, alleging his continued stay at Safdarjung Hospital amounts to illegal detention.

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Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing to allow his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility. The plea comes amid concerns over Wangchuk’s health after he spent weeks on a hunger strike demanding reforms in the education system.

According to Angmo, the government-run hospital has refused to discharge Wangchuk despite repeated requests from the family. She has also alleged that heavy police deployment inside the hospital has severely restricted their movement.

Wife alleges ‘illegal detention’ inside hospital

In a social media post, Gitanjali J Angmo claimed that hospital authorities have not permitted the family to shift Wangchuk to a private hospital of their choice.

She alleged that around 30 police personnel were stationed on their hospital floor, with more than 100 deployed across the premises, describing the situation as “illegal detention” rather than medical care.

Angmo said the restrictions have limited the family’s movement within the hospital and urged the court to intervene.

Shifted to hospital after hunger strike entered 21st day

Police shifted Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital after his hunger strike entered its 21st day.

The activist has been on an indefinite fast since June 28 as part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s protest against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. His family says his health has deteriorated significantly during the protest.

The Delhi High Court is expected to consider the plea seeking his transfer to a private hospital.

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Abhishek Banerjee’s office demolished in Bengal, Trinamool alleges political vendetta

The South 24 Parganas administration demolished Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala over alleged building plan violations. The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of carrying out politically motivated action.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Lok Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala, located in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, was demolished by the district administration on Saturday, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the ruling BJP government in the state and the opposition Trinamool Congress.

Administration cites alleged building violations

According to officials, the office was demolished because it was allegedly constructed without an approved building plan. Authorities said notices seeking explanations and relevant documents regarding the construction were issued on June 30 and July 7.

The administration also directed the Diamond Harbour MP to appear before district officials on July 15 and submit his response.

Officials claimed that no reply was received to either notice and that Banerjee did not appear before the administration as instructed. Following this, authorities decided to proceed with demolition.

A bulldozer was brought to the site on Saturday morning, and a heavy police presence was deployed after security arrangements were put in place around the premises before the demolition began.

Trinamool Congress alleges political revenge

Reacting to the action, the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of targeting its leaders through what it described as “vengeful, violent politics.”

The party said the matter is already pending before a court and alleged that a “bulldozer culture” has emerged in West Bengal since the BJP came to power. It described the demolition as an act of political vengeance and alleged “goonda raj” during the operation.

Political backdrop

The demolition comes months after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured 208 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. The Trinamool was reduced to 80 seats, while former party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state’s Chief Minister.

Since its electoral defeat, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has witnessed internal turmoil. A faction of MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Several Lok Sabha MPs also left the party to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, while former Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned and later joined the BJP.

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