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India.com
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Congress To Rebuild Ground Network From Booth To State, Says New Gujarat Unit Chief
AHMEDABAD: Newly appointed Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda has pledged to lead a proactive, people-centric opposition aimed at ensuring the welfare, peace, prosperity, and security of Gujarat's citizens. Addressing party workers and the press following his return from Delhi, Chavda said the Congress would firmly raise the voice of the common people, especially at a time when the "double-engine BJP government is actively suppressing it". Chavda, a former state Congress president and seasoned MLA, said the party would launch an extensive 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan', strengthening the organisation from booth to state level. "We will ensure that grassroots workers are empowered and their voices reflected in all party decisions," he said, adding that new faces would be given opportunities as part of a renewed organisational structure. Expressing gratitude to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and Gujarat in-charge Mukul Wasnik for entrusting him with the leadership, Chavda also thanked thousands of Congress workers and leaders who welcomed him at Ahmedabad airport upon his arrival. He emphasised that the Congress will intensify its outreach efforts, build direct public engagement, and fight for key issues affecting Gujarat. "We will fight for the rights of youth, farmers, women, the marginalised, and the oppressed. The present government thrives on bureaucratic overreach, commission raj, and corruption. It must be challenged head-on," he said. Chavda criticised the BJP-led state government for its alleged authoritarianism, accusing it of stifling democratic dissent. "Citizens are being harassed for voicing concerns. Journalists and whistleblowers are threatened into silence. This undeclared emergency must end, and Congress workers will be at the forefront to protect democracy," he declared. Referring to growing public anger, he said: "Bridges are collapsing, people are dying, daughters are being pushed to suicide, and cattle farmers are being cane-charged for raising their demands. The people of Gujarat are losing faith in the BJP." Quoting Rahul Gandhi's recent speech in Parliament, Chavda said the Congress is committed to defeating the BJP in Gujarat and restoring true democratic governance. 'We will fight together, as one Congress family from the top leadership to the last worker on the ground and ensure that the people of Gujarat reclaim their rights and dignity,' he concluded.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Congress puts key OBC, ST faces at Gujarat helm, banks on political families for revival
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership on Thursday named Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Amit Chavda as the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president, appointing Khedbrahma MLA and ex-Union minister Tushar Chaudhary as the new CLP leader. Chavda, 49, has returned as the state Congress chief after four years, having served in this position during 2018-21. The former GPCC chief, Shaktisinh Gohil, Rajya Sabha MP, had resigned from his post last month, owning responsibility for the party's debacle in the Assembly bypolls. Chavda, an OBC leader, is a five-time MLA from Anklav in Anand district, whose grandfather Ishwarbhai Chavda was an MP. He is also the cousin of former GPCC chief and Union Minister Bharatsinh Solanki. Chavda, who was unavailable for comment, thanked the Congress leadership in a post on X, saying, 'it is a solemn responsibility to fight for every Gujarati and uphold the values the Congress Party stands for. As a devoted soldier of the party, I will work day and night to strengthen @INCGujarat, fulfil the aspirations of our people, and realise the vision of Rahul Gandhiji' These appointments came a week after the Congress leadership held meetings and deliberations in this regard. Chavda was among a dozen state Congress leaders who were called by the party high command last week to Delhi, where they attended a crucial meeting held by Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with the party's Gujarat in-charge Mukul Wasnik. Some of the other state party leaders in the reckoning for the two top posts, including Lalji Desai, Geniben Thakor and Paresh Dhanani, were also present in this meeting, among others. Following Gohil's resignation, Shailesh Parmar, the party MLA from the reserved Danilimda constituency in Ahmedabad city, was handling the GPCC affairs on an interim basis. The appointments of Chavda and Chaudhary are seen as crucial at this juncture when the Congress is trying hard to reinvent itself and gain ground in Gujarat, where it has been out of power for the last 30 years. Chaudhary, who is the son of late chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhary, told The Indian Express that raising 'public issues' will be his priority while working to strengthen the party. Chaudhary, who is a first-time MLA from Khedbrahma in north Gujarat, a seat once held by his father, also said: 'We have raised MNREGA (irregularities) issue as a party and I have also raised it in my personal capacity. Now, people have come to know about the (alleged scam) in MGNREGA. We have also been raising the issues in the Nal Se Jal Yojana and it has also come out that there are irregularities in it… So, I will continue to raise issues that directly affect people on the floor of the House, and try to strengthen the party.' Currently, in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, the Congress has only 12 MLAs. The party launched the pilot project of its proposed countrywide 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan' from Gujarat, and recently appointed about 40 new District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents through this process. Chavda, who holds a diploma in chemical engineering, has also held various positions in several education trusts and cooperative bodies. He also contested, unsuccessfully, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Anand. A tribal leader, Chaudhary is a former Congress MP from Bardoli, which he retained in 2009, when it was carved from the Mandvi Lok Sabha constituency – a Congress bastion since 1962 that Chaudhary had won in 2004. Bardoli has been held by the BJP since 2014. When asked about the arrest of Congress vice-president Hira Jotva and his son in the alleged MGNREGA scam in Bharuch district, Chaudhary said, 'Let the truth come out… he is not directly involved in the MGNREGA work.. He had been doing business but stopped in the last ten years. He was our Lok Sabha candidate and also contested the Assembly polls. He is a prominent Ahir leader in Saurashtra and a victim of BJP's vindictive politics.' Speaking about the tribal districts of Gujarat, Chaudhary said that unemployment and lack of implementation of the Forest Rights Act have been major issues facing the tribals. 'They (tribals) are not able to get their lands and it is an issue… Previously, the Congress party's protests ensured that the Gujarat government had to withdraw its decision to eliminate the management quota scholarship for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, so we will continue to raise such issues in the Assembly.' Chaudhary also said that with the state's civic body polls slated for next year, he would 'identify issues' facing specific cities with the help of the local party units. He said he would also take up the issues in the House in the larger interest of the urban population, besides looking to improve the Congress's tally in the civic bodies.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Amit Chavda appointed Gujarat Congress president, Tushar Chaudhary to lead legislature party
Weeks after Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Shaktisinh Gohil stepped down following the party's poor performance in the recent Assembly bypolls, the Congress on Thursday appointed senior leader Amit Chavda as the new state unit president. The party also named former Union Minister Tushar Chaudhary as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the Gujarat Assembly, replacing Mr. Chavda in that role. 'Congress president has appointed Mr. Chavda as the president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect. Congress president has also approved the proposal for the appointment of Dr. Chaudhary as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Gujarat, with immediate effect,' said K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary (organisation), in a statement. 'The party appreciates the contributions of outgoing PCC president Shaktisinh Gohil,' the statement added. Mr. Gohil had resigned after the Congress failed to secure a win in either of the two Assembly constituencies that went to bypolls last month. He was appointed GPCC president in June 2023, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Reacting to his appointment, Mr. Chavda said in a post on X: 'This is not just a post — it is a solemn responsibility to fight for every Gujarati and uphold the values the Congress Party stands for.' He added, 'As a devoted soldier of the party, I will work day and night to strengthen @INCGujarat, fulfill the aspirations of our people, and realise the vision of @RahulGandhi ji in Gujarat.' Eom/ABH
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Short of funds, VNSGU leases out ground without tender
Surat: Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) has leased out its 14.72-acre ground for Rs 62.50 lakh to a private entertainment group to organize garbas for ten days this Navratri. The university said it made this decision owing to a shortfall of funds and aimed to generate revenue from its properties. VNSGU implemented a policy that permits leasing the ground for garbas without tenders. VNSGU vice-chancellor Dr Kishorsinh Chavda told TOI, "We have 600 non-teaching and 120 contracted teaching and temporary staff whom we pay from our own funds. As govt does not pay their salaries, we must look for alternative revenue. We cannot raise fees to meet these expenses. The price of labour has also doubled, and we now pay labourers Rs 500 a day. Water, electricity, security and housekeeping expenses have also increased manyfold. We thought about leasing our properties. We framed a standard operating procedure based on which we gave the contract to the first person who came forward. We may go for tenders to lease out the ground from next year." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Under the agreement, the 14.72-acre ground opposite the VNSGU main building has been leased to Yashwi Entertainment Group for Rs 2.5 lakh per day for 10 days (Rs 25 lakh) for Navratri garbas. Additionally, Rs 37.50 lakh has been charged for the pre-Navratri days for preparation. Chavda added that the govt does not give universities funds for maintenance and other expenses, compelling them to create their own revenue streams to cover these. "We will ensure that our students in hostels are not disturbed through such events," said Chavda.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘We warned them': Congress slams Gujarat govt over Vadodara bridge collapse; says it was a disaster waiting to happen
The Gujarat Congress has criticized the state government for negligence following the collapse of the Gambhira bridge in Vadodara, which resulted in nine fatalities. Despite repeated warnings about the bridge's deteriorating condition, authorities allegedly failed to take action. NEW DELHI: The Gujarat Congress came down heavily on the state government holding it responsible for the bridge collapse incident in Vadodara that claimed nine lives on Wednesday. Party leader Amit Chavda said that the incident occurred due to state government's negligence. "The Gambhira bridge that connects Anand and Vadodara districts collapsed this morning. The traffic from the entire Saurashtra passes through here. We had demanded from the government again and again, and people had written to them a that the bridge was not in good condition and it should be repaired. But the government paid no heed. That is why the incident occurred," Chavda told ANI. He claimed that the crumbling bridge and ignored warnings were a perfect recipe for disaster. The bridge, which connects Padra and Mujpur and serves as a key connector between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra, gave way around 7.30am, sending a truck, a van, and a car into the Mahisagar river below. Locals were the first to respond, followed by police, fire brigade, and disaster response teams. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Vadodara (Rural) SP Rohan Anand confirmed the deaths, while Anand MP Mitesh Patel said three bodies had been recovered and four persons rescued. Rescue operations were still underway till late evening, with ten people pulled out from the river. The bridge, located about 25km from Vadodara city, handles heavy vehicular movement, particularly from Saurashtra-bound transport vehicles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a foreign visit, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the PMNRF for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured. He also spoke to CM Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the situation and reviewed the state's rescue and relief efforts. CM Patel later posted on X that the Prime Minister had expressed condolences and enquired about treatment arrangements for the injured.
