<p>Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed that BJP candidates -- External Affair Minister S Jaishankar and Jugal Ji Thakor -- have won the Rajya Sabha election held on Friday.</p>

<p>"External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Jugal Ji Thakor of BJP have been elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Official results yet to be declared, but it is clear that we have won," said Rupani at a press conference here.</p>

<p>Though official results are yet to be declared by the Election Commission (EC) for the two seats that fell vacant after Union Ministers Amit Shah and Smriti Irani were elected to Lok Sabha in recent polls.</p>

<p>State BJP president Jitu Vaghani claimed that parties part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) also voted for the two BJP candidates in the polls.</p>

<p>He said, "The results will be officially declared by the EC. We were inside the counting centre and we have won. Not only BJP but parties who were with UPA also voted for our candidates."</p>

<p>Speaking at the press conference, Jaishankar thanked legislators for their support to him.</p>

<p>"I want to thank everyone for the support. Like I said during my nomination, External Affairs Minister and Gujarat have a natural partnership. There is no such country where there is no Gujarati. If the prestige of India has increased internationally, Gujarat has a role in it," he said.</p>

<p>"For taking India from $3 trillion to a $5 trillion economy, Gujarat's contribution is essential.</p>

<p>Also, our partnership will play a big role in bringing investment and technologies that are needed for making India a $5 trillion economy, We have today built a special relation," he added.</p>

<p>Elections for the upper House of Parliament saw a dramatic turn of events on Friday, with Congress MLAs Alpesh Thakor and his aide Dhavalsinh Zala resigning from the membership of the Assembly after casting their votes in favour of BJP candidates.&nbsp;</p>


Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed that BJP candidates -- External Affair Minister S Jaishankar and Jugal Ji Thakor -- have won the Rajya Sabha election held on Friday.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed that BJP candidates -- External Affair Minister S Jaishankar and Jugal Ji Thakor -- have won the Rajya Sabha election held on Friday. "External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Jugal Ji Thakor of BJP have been elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Official results yet to be declared, but it is clear that we have won," said Rupani at a press conference here. Though official results are yet to be declared by the Election Commission (EC) for the two seats that fell vacant after Union Ministers Amit Shah and Smriti Irani were elected to Lok Sabha in recent polls. State BJP president Jitu Vaghani claimed that parties part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) also voted for the two BJP candidates in the polls. He said, "The results will be officially declared by the EC. We were inside the counting centre and we have won. Not only BJP but parties who were with UPA also voted for our candidates." Speaking at the press conference, Jaishankar thanked legislators for their support to him. "I want to thank everyone for the support. Like I said during my nomination, External Affairs Minister and Gujarat have a natural partnership. There is no such country where there is no Gujarati. If the prestige of India has increased internationally, Gujarat has a role in it," he said. "For taking India from $3 trillion to a $5 trillion economy, Gujarat's contribution is essential. Also, our partnership will play a big role in bringing investment and technologies that are needed for making India a $5 trillion economy, We have today built a special relation," he added. Elections for the upper House of Parliament saw a dramatic turn of events on Friday, with Congress MLAs Alpesh Thakor and his aide Dhavalsinh Zala resigning from the membership of the Assembly after casting their votes in favour of BJP candidates.

EAM S Jaishankar, Jugal Ji Thakor win Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat: BJP

<p>The 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs, who were in a hideaway in Bengaluru, returned home on Monday to cast their votes in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.</p>

<p>All the MLAs, who were staying at Bengaluru&#39;s Eagleton Resort, arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in the wee hours of Monday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash">#Gujarat</a>: Gujarat Congress MLAs arrive in Ahmedabad <a href="https://t.co/Cvb1gbJQeX">pic.twitter.com/Cvb1gbJQeX</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/894342705869840384">August 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Congress Member of Parliament (MP) DK Suresh on Sunday said that the Gujarat Congress is united and all the 44 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are ready to vote for Ahmed Patel in the election scheduled for August 8.</p>

<p>&quot;All of them (Gujarat Congress MLAs staying in Bengaluru resort) are happy, tomorrow or day after tomorrow they may leave,&quot; said Suresh, adding, &quot;Gujarat Congress is united, MLAs want to vote Ahmed Patel and will get back seat of Congress.&quot;</p>

<p>In the backdrop of Gujarat Congress MLAs quitting and joining the BJP, as many as 44 of the grand old party MLAs left for Bengaluru.</p>

<p>Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar earlier said, &quot;To ensure that BJP is not successful in its mission, 44 of us Congress MLAs are leaving from Gujarat for Bengaluru. To hide their failure, the saffron party is trying to make sure our MLAs resign by offering money and through police pressure.&quot;</p>

<p>Earlier, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had accused the BJP in the state of horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for August 8.</p>

<p>The developments came after at least six Congress MLAs in Gujarat resigned from the party to join the BJP.&nbsp;</p>


The 44 MLAs returned home on Monday to cast their votes in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls

The 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs, who were in a hideaway in Bengaluru, returned home on Monday to cast their votes in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. All the MLAs, who were staying at Bengaluru's Eagleton Resort, arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in the wee hours of Monday. #Gujarat: Gujarat Congress MLAs arrive in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/Cvb1gbJQeX — ANI (@ANI_news) August 6, 2017 × Congress Member of Parliament (MP) DK Suresh on Sunday said that the Gujarat Congress is united and all the 44 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are ready to vote for Ahmed Patel in the election scheduled for August 8. "All of them (Gujarat Congress MLAs staying in Bengaluru resort) are happy, tomorrow or day after tomorrow they may leave," said Suresh, adding, "Gujarat Congress is united, MLAs want to vote Ahmed Patel and will get back seat of Congress." In the backdrop of Gujarat Congress MLAs quitting and joining the BJP, as many as 44 of the grand old party MLAs left for Bengaluru. Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar earlier said, "To ensure that BJP is not successful in its mission, 44 of us Congress MLAs are leaving from Gujarat for Bengaluru. To hide their failure, the saffron party is trying to make sure our MLAs resign by offering money and through police pressure." Earlier, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had accused the BJP in the state of horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for August 8. The developments came after at least six Congress MLAs in Gujarat resigned from the party to join the BJP.

Gujarat Congress MLAs camping in Bengaluru resort back home ahead of Rajya Sabha polls

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi&rsquo;s political secretary Ahmed Patel, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that BJP is using money power and central investigative agencies to win one Rajya Sabha election.</p>

<p>&ldquo;It is arrogance of power. BJP cannot digest power and for this reason, it is using everything under the sun to defeat me,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>He also said that his election should not be linked to Sonia Gandhi as he is not contesting the elections as Sonia Gandhi&rsquo;s secretary but as a Congress candidate.</p>

<p>Ahmed Patel told WION that his election has been made a matter of prestige but will only end up boosting the morale of the Congress.</p>

<p>&ldquo;BJP thinks that by creating pressure like this they will win Gujarat. Instead of demoralizing us, it has united the leaders in the state,&rdquo; said Ahmed Patel.</p>

<p>When WION asked that the current political instability could have been avoided by ensuring that Shanker Sinh Vaghela didn&rsquo;t leave the Party, he said, &rdquo;We offered him everything except PCC seat. In fact, a day before filing the nomination, I offered him my seat. He even declined that.&rdquo;</p>

<p>When WION asked why has your election become a matter of honour for the BJP top brass, he said that this can only be answered by BJP president Amit Shah but said that he will not allow BJP to demoralize Congress before the assembly elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are slated for polls in December of 2017. Congress is in power in Himachal Pradesh but Gujarat which once looked ripe for taking by the Congress has completely been overturned by the aggression BJP has shown during Rajya Sabha polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From past 2 years, Hardik Patel has emerged as a new actor in the state because of Patidar agitation and mishandling of it led to removal of then chief minister Anandiben Patel.</p>

<p>Congress has cried foul after Income Tax department conducted raids on the premises of the Congress Karnataka minister Shivkumar on whose property Gujarat MLAs have been staying after they were rushed out of the home state fearing they might get poached.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahmed Patel is a four&nbsp;time Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat and he was nominated record 5th time to contest the elections by Congress which generally doesn&rsquo;t give more than 4 terms of Rajya Sabha to any member.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


He also said that his election should not be linked to Sonia Gandhi as he is not contesting the elections as Sonia Gandhi?s secretary but as a Congress candidate

Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that BJP is using money power and central investigative agencies to win one Rajya Sabha election. “It is arrogance of power. BJP cannot digest power and for this reason, it is using everything under the sun to defeat me,” he said. He also said that his election should not be linked to Sonia Gandhi as he is not contesting the elections as Sonia Gandhi’s secretary but as a Congress candidate. Ahmed Patel told WION that his election has been made a matter of prestige but will only end up boosting the morale of the Congress. “BJP thinks that by creating pressure like this they will win Gujarat. Instead of demoralizing us, it has united the leaders in the state,” said Ahmed Patel. When WION asked that the current political instability could have been avoided by ensuring that Shanker Sinh Vaghela didn’t leave the Party, he said, ”We offered him everything except PCC seat. In fact, a day before filing the nomination, I offered him my seat. He even declined that.” When WION asked why has your election become a matter of honour for the BJP top brass, he said that this can only be answered by BJP president Amit Shah but said that he will not allow BJP to demoralize Congress before the assembly elections. Both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are slated for polls in December of 2017. Congress is in power in Himachal Pradesh but Gujarat which once looked ripe for taking by the Congress has completely been overturned by the aggression BJP has shown during Rajya Sabha polls. From past 2 years, Hardik Patel has emerged as a new actor in the state because of Patidar agitation and mishandling of it led to removal of then chief minister Anandiben Patel. Congress has cried foul after Income Tax department conducted raids on the premises of the Congress Karnataka minister Shivkumar on whose property Gujarat MLAs have been staying after they were rushed out of the home state fearing they might get poached. Ahmed Patel is a four time Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat and he was nominated record 5th time to contest the elections by Congress which generally doesn’t give more than 4 terms of Rajya Sabha to any member.

BJP using central agencies to win one Rajya Sabha seat: Ahmed Patel to WION

<p>The income tax department on Wednesday recovered Rs 7.5 crore in cash from Karnataka energy minister DK Shivakumar&rsquo;s two flats in New Delhi, ANI reported.</p>

<p>The tax department also recovered Rs 2.5 crore from Bengaluru, ANI further reported.</p>

<p>Income tax officials on Wednesday conducted raids on 39 of Shivakumar&#39;s properties in Bengaluru and Delhi.</p>

<p>ANI reported that more raids are underway at various locations connected to Shivakumar.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">IT raids underway at various locations of Karnataka Min DK Shivakumar. Total Rs 10 crore recovered, including Rs 2.5 crore from Bengaluru.</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/892726651632574464">August 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rs. 7.5 crore recovered during IT raids at two flats of Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar in Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/Au81NpKb4N">pic.twitter.com/Au81NpKb4N</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/892719986556272640">August 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Raids were also conducted at the Eagleton Golf Resort in Bengaluru where the Gujarat Congress MLAs are holed up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-t-dept-raids-bengaluru-resort-where-gujarat-cong-mlas-are-holed-up-18478">IT raids on Karnataka minister, Bengaluru resort where Gujarat Congress MLAs are holed up</a></p>

<p>The MLAs are in Bengaluru because the Congress is worried they might defect to the BJP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Six Gujarat Congress MLAs have already resigned from the party, with three of them joining the BJP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shivakumar is responsible for looking after the MLAs while they are in Bengaluru.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress workers protest against the IT Raids; visuals from Karnataka&#39;s Mangaluru and Hubli <a href="https://t.co/akDvn1PA51">pic.twitter.com/akDvn1PA51</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/892738892775936000">August 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Income tax officials on Wednesday conducted raids on 39 of Karnataka energy minister DK Shivakumar's properties in Bengaluru and Delhi

The income tax department on Wednesday recovered Rs 7.5 crore in cash from Karnataka energy minister DK Shivakumar’s two flats in New Delhi, ANI reported. The tax department also recovered Rs 2.5 crore from Bengaluru, ANI further reported. Income tax officials on Wednesday conducted raids on 39 of Shivakumar's properties in Bengaluru and Delhi. ANI reported that more raids are underway at various locations connected to Shivakumar. IT raids underway at various locations of Karnataka Min DK Shivakumar. Total Rs 10 crore recovered, including Rs 2.5 crore from Bengaluru. — ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2017 × Rs. 7.5 crore recovered during IT raids at two flats of Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Au81NpKb4N — ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2017 × Raids were also conducted at the Eagleton Golf Resort in Bengaluru where the Gujarat Congress MLAs are holed up. Also read: IT raids on Karnataka minister, Bengaluru resort where Gujarat Congress MLAs are holed up The MLAs are in Bengaluru because the Congress is worried they might defect to the BJP. Six Gujarat Congress MLAs have already resigned from the party, with three of them joining the BJP. Shivakumar is responsible for looking after the MLAs while they are in Bengaluru. Congress workers protest against the IT Raids; visuals from Karnataka's Mangaluru and Hubli pic.twitter.com/akDvn1PA51 — ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2017 ×

IT raids on Karnataka minister: Rs 10 crore recovered from properties of DK Shivakumar