1. Blast outside DM College in Imphal West, Manipur claims one life and injures two others.
2. The incident occurred close to the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) office in Thangmeiband.
3. Official confirmation is awaited as police investigate the cause and nature of the explosion.
New Delhi, Feb 24: Late Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel’s family members have expressed regret over the allocation of the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of the seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Ahmed Patel’s daughter, Mumtaz Patel, took to social media to convey her disappointment and extend an apology to the party workers for not securing the Bharuch seat within the alliance.
She urged the party workers to come together and strengthen the Indian National Congress (INC), ensuring that her father’s 45-year legacy does not go in vain.
Deeply apologize to Our district cadre for not being able to secure the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in alliance.I share your disappointment.Together, we will regroup to make @INCIndia stronger .We won’t let @ahmedpatel 45 years of Legacy go in vain. #bharuchkibeti
— Mumtaz Patel (@mumtazpatels) February 24, 2024
Similarly, Ahmed Patel’s son, Faisal Patel, emphasized the importance of the INDIA bloc for democracy while asserting that the opposition could win the Bharuch seat only if the Congress contested from there.
He directed his message to Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and AAP chief, highlighting the significance of considering the Congress’ winnability criteria in Bharuch.
Faisal Patel underlined that the Congress has a better chance of winning in Bharuch, given its historical significance and political landscape.
Bharuch Lok Sabha seat holds historical significance for the Patel family, as Ahmed Patel himself won the seat in 1980 and 1984.
However, the seat has been held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 1989, with Mansukhbhai Vasava currently representing the constituency.
The decision to allocate Bharuch to AAP under the seat-sharing arrangement marks a departure from its traditional stronghold.
The announcement of the seat-sharing pact between AAP and Congress in Gujarat revealed that Congress would contest in 24 Lok Sabha seats, while AAP would contest in two seats—Bharuch and Bhavnagar.
Also Read: AAP and Congress Join Forces in Chandigarh and 4 States to Challenge BJP
Despite concerns and resentment from some party leaders, Congress MP Mukul Wasnik affirmed that all factors had been considered in making the decision.
He expressed confidence that the decision would be respected by all Congress and AAP workers, emphasizing the unity and strength of the alliance.
Overall, the Patel family’s message reflects a sense of disappointment over the allocation of Bharuch seat to AAP but also underscores the broader strategic considerations and unity within the opposition alliance as they gear up for the Lok Sabha elections.
