Veteran BJP MLA Vyas dropped because of her praise for me: CM

Jodhpur: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot asserted on Monday that the veteran BJP MLA Suryakanta Vyas was not given ticket as she had praised Gehlot. Refusing to believe that old age was the reason behind the BJP striking down her name, Gehlot said that many others who are old are being fielded.Gehlot, who is on a two-day visit to campaign in his constituency said, “What was Jiji’s fault? She commented in my favour twice about my good work. Should she be punished for this? She is old but others who are of the same age are getting tickets.”“Does not any MLA from any party have the right to give opinion on a CM, if his government is doing good work? We have an amicable relationship. So why punish them?” he asked.He also slammed the BJP for unrest in the party over ticket distribution and said that the Gujarat model has failed miserably here.“There is a scuffle in BJP. Incidents of damaging properties in office, taking out death processions etc. are taking place. I have seen this for the first time. The entire state is seeing it for the first time,” he said.Commenting on BJP’s policy, he said that seven MPs were given tickets. “Are party workers not capable?” he said.Talking about his party, Gehlot said that decisions of ticket distribution are done at party-level but still some shortcomings remain.“We have decided this time to track the our workers’ efforts and their performance in elections,” Gehlot said.Firing a fresh salvo at Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the CM termed him a coward who rushed to court for bail in the Sanjeevani scam case.

Congress rewards 6 Independents backing Ashok Gehlot with tickets

The Congress party in Rajasthan has nominated six Independent MLAs who have supported the government for the past five years to contest in the upcoming assembly elections. The second list of candidates includes a total of 43 candidates, with 15 ministers and 10 cabinet ministers. Notable candidates include Niranjan Arya and Sanyam Lodha. However, Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi, who were involved in a 2022 MLA rebellion, have not been included in the list.

In Madhya Pradesh, BJP veteran denied party ticket suffers heart attack

Umashankar Gupta, a veteran BJP leader in Bhopal, suffered a heart attack after being denied a ticket in the upcoming assembly election. He was hospitalized and underwent an angioplasty procedure. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh visited him in the hospital. Gupta's supporters have been protesting against the decision to give the ticket to another candidate. Gupta, who has previously won the Bhopal South West constituency three times, lost in 2018 and was not given another chance by the BJP.

'Why is he being a coward?': Ashok Gehlot on Shekhawat approaching court over Sanjivani 'scam'

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticized Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, calling him a coward for moving court against his arrest in the alleged Sanjivani scam. Gehlot also accused Shekhawat of failing to declare the East Rajasthan Canal Project as a national project. Shekhawat has filed a defamation case against Gehlot, who accused him and his family of being involved in the scam. Gehlot also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not addressing the violence in Manipur and accused him of harassing state governments. He expressed confidence that the Congress party would come back to power in the state.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.