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Rohit's hand will be on my shoulder through the season: MI captain Hardik Pandya

CHENNAI: In what was his first media interaction since being ruled out of the ODI World Cup last year, Hardik Pandya, the newly appointed Mumbai Indians captain, reaffirmed that his predecessor Rohit Sharma's hand will be on his shoulders through the upcoming IPL season. Sharma, who had been MI captain since 2013, was removed from the position after MI brought back Pandya from Gujarat Titans in an all-cash deal. Pandya was named the captain of the five-time champions shortly after. It also put a cloud over who will lead the country in the shortest format, especially with the World Cup around. Pandya had captained India in T20Is since the 2022 T20 World Cup, but Sharma had made a comeback in the format earlier in January. Ahead of the Rajkot Test against England, BCCI secretary Jay Shah cleared the air and announced that Sharma will lead the country in the upcoming global event scheduled to be played in United States and West Indies immediately after the IPL. This, once again, set off rumors about a rift between the two senior India cricketers. On Monday, in the pre-tournament press conference, Pandya said that he expects the dressing room environment to remain the same. It will not be any different, he will always be there to help me. You mentioned that he is the captain of the Indian team, which helps me because this team, what it has achieved, it has achieved under him, he told the media in Mumbai on Monday. ...from now onwards, it is (about) what he has achieved, I just have to carry forward that. I don't think it will be any awkward or any different. It will be a nice feeling because we have been playing for 10 years. I have played my whole career under him and he is going to have his hand on my shoulder throughout the season, Pandya added. Commandos to counter pitch invasion during IPL 2024 When asked if he has spoken with Sharma, Pandya said, Yes and no. He has been travelling and playing, before adding, We are professionals, by the time the team comes together...we have been playing cricket...it has only been a couple of months that we have not seen each other. Whenever the IPL starts, which is from today since we have the practice game, once he comes, we will definitely have a chat. Sharma joined the camp in the team hotel later in the evening. While the 30-year-old admitted and acknowledged the backlash and reactions from fans after he left the GT captaincy to take over from Sharma in MI, Pandya said he wants to focus on the job at hand. The backlash...To be very honest we respect fans but at the same time, we focus on the sport and what is required. I focus on the controllables and I do not focus on what I cannot control. At the same time, we are very grateful to fans. A lot of fame and love comes from them and they have every right and I respect their opinion, he said. The 30-year-old all-rounder whose fitness and form will be crucial not just for MI, but also for India in the T20 World Cup, said that he is keen to feature in all the games and will look to roll his arm as well. I have no issues with my body, I plan to play all the games. In IPL, I have not missed many games anyway. Technically, I was out for three months. It was a freak injury and it had nothing to do with my earlier injuries. I tried to stop the ball and ended up getting injured, said Pandya, who had injured his ankle during the World Cup game against Bangladesh in Pune.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 8:15 pm

Guj police bust Tiruchy gang of thieves from Delhi, five held

TIRUCHY: Five members of the Tiruchy gang, who were involved in breaking car windows and stealing laptops and valuables, were arrested on Saturday from Delhi by the Gujarat Police. The leader of the gang, Madhusudan, is at large. The police said the gang members, hailing from Ramji Nagar, had gone to Jamnagar to steal at the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani but changed their plan in view of the high security. The gang stole cash and laptop worth Rs 10 lakh from a parked car in Rajkot by breaking the window, the Tiruchy district police said in a statement on Sunday. A similar theft was also reported in Jamnagar. The Gujarat police registered a case and identified the robbers using CCTV footage. When they went to Jamnagar, there was high security. So they abandoned the plan and came to Jamnagar bus stand, broke the window of the car parked there and stole the laptop inside. From there, they went to Rajkot, broke the windows of a Mercedes and stole `10 lakh in cash and a laptop. They went to Delhi after that, Rajkot SI Raju Bhargav said in a press statement.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 9:34 am

Gujarat: BJP faces Congress-AAP combine in Lok Sabha polls

Gujarat: BJP faces Congress-AAP combine in Lok Sabha polls In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat, the BJP looks confident of retaining all 26 Lok Sabha seats, despite a combined opposition from Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, key constituents of the INDIA alliance. Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7. Counting of votes will be held on June 4. The Congress and AAP fought the 2022 state assembly polls separately, and the BJP got a record 156 of the 182 seats in the House. In the ensuing Lok Sabha poll, the Congress will contest 24 seats, while the AAP is fielding candidates from Bharuch and Bhavnagar. The BJP is so confident of making a clean sweep that its state unit chief CR Paatil has routinely said the party's sights are on a victory margin of five lakh votes in each seat. The Congress would dearly hope for a repeat of the 2009 polls when it won 11 of the state's 26 seats, while for the AAP, even a single win coming after its assembly showing, will bolster its status as the opposition party to watch out for. Gujarat is divided into four regions, namely Saurashtra and Kutch, north Gujarat, south Gujarat and central Gujarat. Saurashtra and Kutch: All the eight Lok Sabha seats in the region are with the BJP since a long time. The focus this time will be on Porbandar, where Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya has been fielded, and Rajkot, where his cabinet colleague Parshottam Rupala will try his luck. The two ministers have so far reached Parliament through the Rajya Sabha route. North Gujarat: The seven seats in the region include Gandhinagar, represented by BJP heavyweight Amit Shah, as well as two seats in Ahmedabad, the state's premier city. The party is brimming with confidence, while the only solace for the Congress is that it did well in the region in the 2004 and 2009 polls. Central Gujarat: The six seats here include Vadodara and the tribal dominated Dahod, Panchmahal and Chhota Udaipur seats. The tribal areas of this region will be crucial for the BJP to repeat its clean sweep of 2014 and 2019. South Gujarat: The region has five seats, including diamond polishing hub Surat, Bharuch and Navsari. The focus would be on Bharuch, which is being fought by the AAP in alliance with the Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has fielded Chaitar Vasava, MLA and upcoming tribal leader, against the BJP's Mansukh Vasava, who has been MP from the seat several times. Gujarat BJP chief C R Paatil will contest from Navsari, a seat he has won previously with state record margins.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 11:29 am

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel sanctions Rs 240 crore for implementing Nirmal Gujarat 2.0

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel sanctions Rs 240 crore for implementing Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has sanctioned Rs 240 crore for various initiatives under 'Nirmal Gujarat 2.0' to effectively strengthen the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a broader scale in Gujarat. To enhance public awareness of cleanliness in urban areas and position Gujarat as a leading state in cleanliness nationwide, the Chief Minister has decided to allocate incentive grants to municipalities based on their tax collection performance in sanitation. Under this plan, A and B class municipalities will receive a 100 per cent incentive grant for achieving 71 to 80 per cent annual sanitation tax collection, 100 per cent for 81 to 90 per cent collection, and 200 per cent for 91 to 100 per cent collection. Similarly, for C and D class municipalities, the incentive grant standard is set at 50 per cent for tax collection ranging from 60 to 70 per cent, 100 per cent for 71 to 80 per cent collection, 200 per cent for 81 to 90 per cent collection, and 300 per cent for 91 to 100 per cent collection, Information department of Gujarat said. Each municipality will receive a matching grant of cleaning tax equivalent to the amount collected annually by that municipality. As per the resolution issued by the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of the state for the effective implementation of Nirmal Gujarat 2.0, the Chief Minister has sanctioned assistance for the development of major entry roads to towns and cities, as well as for the enhancement of one road within each town as an iconic road. Municipalities are tasked with intensively cleaning roads up to 5 kilometres from city limits, while municipal corporations must clean roads up to 2 kilometres from city limits. Additionally, approach roads to towns will be cleaned, and one road will be designated as an iconic road. For this purpose, the state government will provide financial assistance to municipalities and municipal corporations. Financial assistance of Rs 2 crores will be provided each to Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot Municipal Corporations; Rs 1.5 crores each to Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, and Gandhinagar Municipal Corporations; and Rs 1 crore each to A class municipalities, Rs 75 lakh each to B class municipalities, and Rs 50 lakh each to C and D class municipalities, totalling Rs 111 crores, the information department further said. Municipalities and municipal corporations across the state will receive one-time assistance of Rs 1 lakh each for beautification efforts, such as installing sculptures, creating gardens, and planting trees, at every Garbage Vulnerable Point. This initiative aims to ensure cleanliness by permanently removing garbage and maintaining cleanliness at these locations. The state government has allocated Rs 16 crore for this purpose. The Information department said that to foster a competitive spirit among local self-government bodies in terms of cleanliness, a quarterly competition titled Maru Shaher, Swachh Shaher (My City, Clean City) will be conducted, with categories based on the population of the towns. Certificates of recognition will be awarded to the best collector, commissioner, regional commissioner, and chief officer based on their sanitation performance, as assessed through quarterly reports submitted by third-party agencies. Additionally, a total of Rs 16 crore will be allocated for awards to the winning cities. Under this award, a municipality with a population of more than 10 lakhs will receive Rs 5 crores, a municipality with a population of less than 10 lakhs will receive Rs 4 crores, a class A municipality will receive a grant of Rs 3 crores, a class B municipality will receive a grant of Rs 2 crore, and a class C and D municipality will receive Rs 1 crore each. Financial incentives will be provided to sanitation workers, who play a vital role in the cleanliness and sanitation operations of the state's cities, by recognizing them as the best sanitation workers. Each ward in Municipal Corporations will select one best sanitation worker monthly, who will be granted Rs 10,000. Similarly, at the municipal level, one of the best sanitation employees per municipality will also receive Rs 10,000 monthly. The state government will provide a total assistance of Rs 4 crores for the best sanitation workers. As part of Nirmal Gujarat 2.0, the administrative departments of the Secretariat and their head offices will implement an annual cleanliness calendar and conduct sanitation cleaning activities. Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) and aims to build on the success of the Nirmal Gujarat Abhiyan from 2007, following the motto Cleanliness is next to Godliness. (ANI)

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 5:05 pm

Not disappointed about missing IPL, happy to get another year to understand T20: Musheer Khan

Not disappointed about missing IPL, happy to get another year to understand T20: Musheer Khan An IPL contract might be on top of cricketers' bucket list, but Mumbai's teenaged Ranji Trophy hero Musheer Khan is happy that he went unsold during last year's player auction because it gives him some more time to ''understand'' the T20 format. The 19-year-old, who became the youngest Mumbai batter to score a hundred in a Ranji final eclipsing the mark of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, was confident of making his mark in the IPL in due course. ''My name is not in the IPL. But I don't feel disappointed. My father tells me to play Test cricket and play for Team India. IPL will eventually happen, if not today then tomorrow,'' Musheer told PTI Video recalling the words of his father and formative coach Naushad. ''It's good that I got another year to prepare for the IPL. I will understand T20 cricket more, and how I should prepare for this format,'' said Musheer, who has so far played just five First-Class matches. Musheer embossed his name on the Ranji final against Vidarbha recently with a 136 in the second innings that helped Mumbai set a massive target of 538. It eventually helped Mumbai land their record-extending 42nd title in the Ranji Trophy. Understandably, Musheer drew inspiration from his elder brother Sarfaraz, who made his India debut in the third Test against England at Rajkot last month. ''I am really inspired by my brother because of his dedication and the way he bats. Our batting style is similar. He told me before the game (Ranji final) to think of it as a normal match and not to take too much pressure.'' ''From outside, it may feel like a normal match but on the field, we feel pressure on the field. He told me to back my skills and follow the process,'' he added. Musheer, who was also the leading run-scorer in the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year including two hundreds, was quite chuffed after Mumbai's Ranji Trophy triumph after a gap of eight years. ''It's a matter of pride that we have amassed 42 titles. Many great players have played here (for Mumbai). I feel very proud that I have played for Mumbai and won a championship. ''I also want to thank the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and congratulate them because they have provided us with a lot of support. I hope they continue to back us in the same way,'' he said. The elegant right-hander lauded veteran pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who retired after the Ranji Trophy final. ''The support he has given to Mumbai cricket, the things he has done for Mumbai, it's incredible. The speech he gave ahead of the final was a real motivation for all of us. ''It was his last match. We were emotional and we wanted to win the trophy as a gift to Dhawal bhai. We wanted him to leave happily. He took the last wicket (of Vidarbha) of the match and everything came out perfectly,'' he noted.

devdiscourse 15 Mar 2024 12:28 pm

BJP imports candidate for East Tripura from Chhattisgarh irks party rank and file

Agartala: The ruling BJP and its newly tied partner, the second largest party in Tripura, TIPRA Motha, faced serious resentment after the announcement of the latter partys founder and royal scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarmas elder sister, Kriti Singh Debbarma, from the Rajkot royal family of Chhattisgarh, as a Congress activist and candidate of the []

goachronicle 14 Mar 2024 2:38 pm

'Player can give his life for Rohit': Ashwin's million dollar praise

Ravichandran Ashwin always had respect for Rohit Sharma, the outstanding leader, but what stands out is the Indian skipper's heart of gold and humane qualities, something the spinner witnessed first hand when his mother Chitra was hospitalised during the third Test in Rajkot.

The Times of India 12 Mar 2024 10:19 pm

I have played under many captains but theres something in him, Ashwin lauds Rohit Sharma

New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed the support he got from skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid when he had to fly back home due to a medical emergency in the family during the third Test at Rajkot. Ashwin had to withdraw from the second Test after the []

bhaskarlive 12 Mar 2024 8:12 pm

I was crying: Ashwin reveals Rohit's 'unbelievable' gesture in Rajkot Test

I was crying Ashwin reveals Rohits unbelievable gesture in Rajkot Test

India Today 12 Mar 2024 7:54 pm

Month after Gujarat HC set aside their disqualification, 2 Congress leaders restored as members of Rajkot civic body - The Indian Express

Month after Gujarat HC set aside their disqualification, 2 Congress leaders restored as members of Rajkot civic body The Indian Express

Google News 12 Mar 2024 4:36 pm

Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal on being named ICC Player for February

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the India opener, won the ICC Men's Player of the Month title for February 2024, beating competition from Pathum Nissanka and Kane Williamson. He is also leading the ICC World Test Championship in runs scored. Jaiswal played brilliantly against England in the Test series at home, scoring two double hundreds in back-to-back matches in Vizag and Rajkot.

The Times of India 12 Mar 2024 2:06 pm

Yashasvi Jaiswal crowned ICC Men's Player of the Month for February 2024

Yashasvi Jaiswal crowned ICC Men's Player of the Month for February 2024 India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on Tuesday was named the Men's Player of the Month award for February 2024 by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Jaiswal beat star New Zealand batter Kane Williamson and Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka to claim the title. India's young superstar Yashasvi Jaiswal has been voted the ICC Men's Player of the Month for February 2024, ICC stated. Currently, Jaiswal is the leading run-getter in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) and played two scintillating double hundreds against England in February. In the recently concluded five-match Test series against England, Jaiswal was in top form, slamming 219 in Vizag in the first innings and then going on to make a second innings double century in the next Test in Rajkot to help India take a lead in the series. The young Indian opener created several records in February and equalled the long-standing Test record for most sixes in a Test innings (12) during his Rajkot knock. The back-to-back double hundreds at the age of 22 years and 49 days made him the third youngest batter in the world to record two double centuries in Tests after Sir Donald Bradman and Vinod Kambli. After winning the award, Jaiswal said that he was happy to achieve it. He added that it was an incredible experience for him to take part in the five-match Test series against England. I'm really happy to achieve ICC award and I hope I will be getting more in future. I really enjoyed it, the way I have played and the way it's been and we won the series by 4-1. It's been an incredible experience with all my mates And I really enjoyed it, Jaiswal was quoted by ICC as saying. I think when I celebrated my double century in Rajkot, I think that was something which I really enjoyed and felt it. And I was, I was living, he added. The 22-year-old ended February with astounding numbers in the three Tests he featured in, scoring 560 runs at an average of 112 including 20 sixes. (ANI)

devdiscourse 12 Mar 2024 2:06 pm

Rajkot: BJP leader removed from civic body amid row over housing allocation - The Indian Express

Rajkot: BJP leader removed from civic body amid row over housing allocation The Indian Express

Google News 12 Mar 2024 1:53 am

India reclaim top spot in ICC Test rankings, reign supreme across formats

New Delhi: Indias dominant 4-1 series triumph over England has propelled them to the summit of the ICC Mens Test Team Rankings, taking the side past Australia. Despite a narrow 28-run defeat in the opening Test in Hyderabad, India staged a remarkable comeback, clinching victories in the subsequent matches held in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and [] The post India reclaim top spot in ICC Test rankings, reign supreme across formats appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Pragativadi 10 Mar 2024 5:11 pm

India regain Test top spot, now No.1 in all three formats

India's series victory over England, clinched by a 4-1 margin, reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings, dethroning Australia. The victory followed a narrow defeat in the first Test in Hyderabad. India's dominant performances in subsequent matches in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala further solidified their position.

The Times of India 10 Mar 2024 11:41 am

Know Your City: Rajkot's camel-back bridge to become history soon - The Indian Express

Know Your City: Rajkot's camel-back bridge to become history soon The Indian Express

Google News 10 Mar 2024 9:17 am

Mumbai: Runaways from Rajkot rescued via CCTV feed

The two boys had left after telling their parents that they were going to their tuition classes

Mid Day 10 Mar 2024 7:10 am

Don Bradman said that every ball I face....: Gavaskar on Sarfaraz's dismissal

Don Bradman said that every ball I face....: Gavaskar on Sarfaraz's dismissal Expressing disappointment with the manner of Sarfaraz Khan's dismissal during India's first innings during the fifth Test against England, legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar shared the words of Australia's legendary batter Don Bradman that expressed the importance of patience in Tests. Sarfaraz has had an outstanding debut series so far as he has scored three fifties in the five innings he has played. He scored half-centuries in both of his innings of debut Test at Rajkot. He scored 62 off 66 in the first innings and played an unbeaten knock of 68 from 72 in the second. Sarfaraz played a crucial knock of 56 runs which was laced by eight fours and a six on the second day of the last Test of the five-match series. He will have to convert his promising runs and starts into big scores since with Kohli, KL Rahul, Devdutt, Patidar, Jurel, Iyer, etc around there is a lot of competition for every spot in the middle order. The ball was pitched up; it wasn't short enough for that shot. Goes for it and pays the price. I mean you are playing the first ball after tea. Give yourself a little sighter. Don Bradman said to me 'Every ball that I face, even if I am on 200, I think I am on 0.' And here is [Sarfaraz] is... playing such a shot first ball of the session, Gavaskar said during commentary in JioCinema. The Mumbai-born cricketer has performed exceedingly well in the domestic circuit before making his international debut. The 26-year-old player has scored 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches. He has an outstanding average of 79.65 and has struck 13 hundred. His highest knock is 301* in domestic games. In List A cricket, he has scored 469 runs with an average of 39.08 in 26 matches. He also has two centuries in list cricket. In the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, Sarfaraz scored 556 runs with an impressive average of 92.66. He has also bagged three centuries in 6 matches. The Mumbai batter was the leading run-scorer in the year 2022 where he had struck 982 runs with an average of 122.75 in six test matches. He had four hundred under his belt. In 2019-2020, he was amongst the top five run-getters in the Ranji Trophy. He scored 928 runs at an average of 154.66 in six games. He had hit three centuries with the career-best knock of 301* in first-class cricket. Coming to the day's action, England managed to make a comeback in the third session after skipper Rohit Sharma (103) and Shubman Gill (110) dominated the opening and the second session. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir used the extra bounce and turn that was on offer to reduce India to 428/8. Gill's 110-run knock helped him complete 4000 international runs on Friday. Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah put up an unbeaten 45-run stand to ensure India didn't lose any wickets. (ANI)

devdiscourse 9 Mar 2024 10:04 am

Gujarat CM approves Dwarka-Okha authority to bring about all-round development

Gujarat CM approves Dwarka-Okha authority to bring about all-round development Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday sanctioned the formation of Dwarka-Okha Urban Development Authority to facilitate tourism and comprehensively improve infrastructure in the area. The Dwarka-Okha Urban Development Authority will cover an area of 10,721 hectares and will include municipalities of Okha and Dwarka, surrounding places such as Arambhada, Surajkaradi and Beyt Dwarka, as well as parts of Shivrajpur and Varwala gram panchayats, a state government release said. The authority, which will also develop Beyt Dwarka and Shivrajpur beach area, has been formed to accelerate and supervise infrastructure improvements, guaranteeing delivery of vital civic services and efficient management throughout the region, it said. The formation of the authority comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the area during which he inaugurated 'Sudarshan Setu' bridge connecting Okha and Beyt Dwarka. The PM also scuba dived to see the remains of the submerged old Dwarka city. Adopting a holistic strategy, the objective is to provide pilgrims and tourists visiting these areas with a satisfying experience within a safe and secure environment, the release said. ''The collector of Devbhoomi Dwarka district will be the chairman. Secretary of Pavitra Yatra Dham Vikas Board, chief town planner, Dwarka district development officer, municipal commissioner of Rajkot, additional resident collector of Devbhumi Dwarka district will be members,'' it said. Additionally, four locally elected members and president of the district panchayat will also be incorporated as members of this authority, while the state department of Urban Development and Urban Housing will draft plans under Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act 1976, it added. The aim is to facilitate enhancements in infrastructure such as roads, street lighting, parks, drainage systems and also enable systematic urban planning within the region, it said. Dwarka, an age-old temple located along the Arabian Sea on the banks of the Gomti River, sees millions to tourists arriving annually to offer prayers to Dwarkadhish.

devdiscourse 7 Mar 2024 10:12 pm

If you play regularly, you get more confident about your bowling: Kuldeep Yadav

If you play regularly, you get more confident about your bowling: Kuldeep Yadav A regular place in the playing eleven during the ongoing series has done wonders to Kuldeep Yadav's confidence and the left-arm wrist spinner believes that he has got sharper with better game awareness due to consistent opportunities. Having made his debut at this very venue in 2017, Kuldeep in past seven years have only made 12 Test appearances, with four of them on trot in the current series against England. On the opening day of the fifth Test against England, Kuldeep set the ball rolling with five top-order wickets. ''If you play regularly, you get more confident about your bowling. Game awareness also comes with it. It is very important to keep playing regularly as it makes your bowling sharp,'' said the 29-year-old, who now has 17 wickets in the series with hopefully one more innings to increase his tally. Chances In Tests were sporadic in past few years, then there was dip in form and also a knee surgery for the talented spinner, who made technical adjustments to get his mojo back. ''In the beginning, it was very challenging. I had changed my action, it took six to eight months to find that rhythm. Now, things are all set and I am enjoying it. In Ranchi, I tried something with my run-up (faster approach to the crease as it was a slow surface), and I practise that regularly.'' Kuldeep bowled a highly productive 15-over spell on either side of the lunch break on day one, something he says he has been able to do of late purely because of his improved fitness. Following a knee surgery in September 2021, Kuldeep changed his fitness routine, increased his pace and straightened his run-up. After a five-wicket haul that helped India bowl out England for 218 on a flat track, Kuldeep said it is only because his targeted fitness regimen that he has been able to make those changes and bowl long spells. ''Bowling is all about fitness. I have worked a lot on my fitness in the last 18 months. I have been able to make certain changes in my bowling because of improved fitness,'' Kuldeep said at the day-end media conference. ''I am doing specific things on my fitness which is allowing me to bowl long spells. At Rajkot (12 overs in first innings) and Ranchi (14 overs in second innings) also, I bowled log spells. I have gotten used to it.'' Kuldeep has been getting more bite from flat surfaces compared to the other spinners and that was also evident on Thursday when he got the ball to drift and turn back sharply to castle Zak Crawley. The ball turned from imaginary fifth off-stump and ended up shattering the England opener's leg stump. ''I was using the drift well on both sides. I am very happy that we were able to get them out for 218 as it is a good wicket. As a spinner, you focus on the length and try to hit good length. ''At times, you change plans as per conditions. If you are getting drift, then you have to think about the lines as well. The more you play, the easier it becomes to control. ''Speed also matters. If you bowl at a certain speed and change your pace, it gets difficult for the batters,'' said the cricketer from Kanpur. Have become a lot more mature now ====================== Dharamsala is a special venue for Kuldeep as he made his Test debut here back in 2017. Following a successful debut, Kuldeep's career did not follow an upward trajectory though now he seems to have found the best version of himself. ''It was an interesting phase. It has been seven years since (debut). I have become a lot more mature about my bowling. I understand my game a lot better now. I know how to read the wicket.'' On his stellar effort on day one, he said: ''The wicket is good. It is unlikely to break considering the cold weather. It was cold in the first hour. The ball was gripping and was just trying to put revs on the ball.'' Ash bhai told me I have 35 balls, and asked me to keep this one ======================================= Kuldeep and Ashwin shared an emotional moment after England got all out shortly after tea. Considering Ashwin is playing his 100th Test, Kuldeep wanted him to keep the ball and his more experienced wanted the other way round. The premier off-spinner cleaned up with the tail with a four wicket haul. On that exchange, he said: ''Ash bhai told me I have 35 balls, and asked me to keep this one.'' PTI BS KHS KHS AM AM

devdiscourse 7 Mar 2024 8:10 pm

It is built on cricket, to facilitate my career...: Ashwin opens up on role of family in journey towards 100th Test

It is built on cricket, to facilitate my career...: Ashwin opens up on role of family in journey towards 100th Test As he prepares to play his 100th Test match against England at Dharamshala, Indian veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on his family's role in his cricketing journey, saying that the ride towards the century of Tests has been a rollercoaster-like for them, but the entire family is built on cricket and to facilitate his career. India and England will lock horns in the fifth and final Test of the series in Dharamshala from Thursday, which will be Ashwin's 100th Test as well. In 99 Tests so far, Ashwin has taken 507 wickets at an average of 23.91, including 35 five-wicket hauls, with the best bowling figures of 7/59. Combine it with his tally of 3,309 runs in 140 innings at an average of 26.14, with five centuries and 14 fifties and he is one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era. Talking to ESPNCricinfo's The Cricket Monthly magazine, Ashwin said that when he left the third Rajkot Test midway due to his mother's hospitalisation, his mother was slipping in and out of consciousness and on meeting him, she asked him to go back and play the Test match. Ashwin said that his family is built on cricket and they have felicitated his career. He said that the ride has not been an easy one for his parents, his wife, grandparents, aunt etc, who have all helped him in different ways at different stages of his career. When I landed and got to the hospital (After leaving the third Rajkot Test), my mom was slipping in and out of consciousness, and the first thing she asked me was, 'Why did you come?' The next time she was conscious, she said, I think you should go back because the Test match is happening, said Ashwin. The entire family is built on cricket and to facilitate my career. It has not been easy. It has been very hard on them. It has been a big rollercoaster for them - going through the emotions and ups and downs that I myself do. I am sure most parents and families are like that, but my parents' lives are even more intertwined with my cricket. I mean, I am in the second half of my thirties and my dad still watches a game like he would watch my first international game. It means a lot to them. Compared to what it means to them, it definitely means less to me. Anything and everything around what I have to do, or what my cricket is like, it is very seamlessly attached to them. They have eliminated anything that comes in the way of my cricket. That has been the sole purpose of their lives ever since I can remember. Ashwin recalled that how he used to stay in a joint family and how his grandfather used to bring him his cricketing equipment and fulfil his nutritional demands in the absence of his working parents. He also highlighted the role of his caretaker aunt. The all-rounder also opened up on how his father would help him with his academics and arrange all educational sources and stuff for him largely by himself so that his son could focus on his game. Ashwin also opened up on his marriage with Prithi, who he said had no idea about what it was like to live out a life as a cricketer. But she gave him immense support and balance and the all-rounder largely credited his post-COVID-19 career to her. It is very difficult to find a family like me, my dad and mom. I have forgotten to add two other members: my grandfather and my aunt. We used to live in a joint family. For about eight years, my granddad used to bring my cricket kit, my cricket clothes, milk and all and just stand outside the ground or spread a newspaper and sit on the ground, and make sure that everything was going right, because both my parents were working. If I came back home, my aunt would be the caretaker. She would provide what I needed, said Ashwin. It was as if I was living the dream my dad wanted to achieve. Imagine somebody wanted to become a cricketer [but does not]. He gets married, he has a son. And he wants to live the dream through his son, and he does everything from teaching me, to taking notes from my classmates, to taking me to private tuitions to make sure I play the maximum possible amount of cricket while still finishing my education. And this lady coming from some other hamlet says, I support you because you could not become a cricketer. Let us support our son to become a cricketer. Let us work our backsides off. And the father-in-law supports it, and then the sister-in-law supports it. And then I marry someone and she has no clue what this lifestyle is all about. Prithi had no clue what my life was like. She just jumped on the rollercoaster. And I think it hit her really hard for the first three years. She could not understand how this house functioned. Over the last four or five years of cricket, since Covid, I can safely say - before that it was my dad and mum - whatever cricket I have played, it is largely because of Prithi. She has brought a beautiful balance into our lives, he concluded. Ashwin opened up on how his wife and kids tell him stories of them watching him play from same place every time as if it was a superstition. He also talked about some unusual superstitions that his father still believes in, just in order to see his son picking up wickets. He also said that he has very little discussions on cricket with hs family, but he always watches cricket with them whenever he gets to do so. Over the last few years, Prithi and the kids have told me a few stories. How they watch the match from the same place every time. How if, say, I picked up wickets and Dad is talking to someone on the phone, he will make sure he finds the same person to talk to on the phone the next time, said Ashwin. I definitely do believe my exposure to the rest of the world has kind of opened me up a lot more. Every time I come back home, I keep telling them, 'I think you should switch off from me. You should do a lot more other things.' We discuss very little about the game, but we watch the game together. When I'm home and some other match is happening, we watch it together, he added. Ashwin talked about how since his last 50 Tests, he has been following a very strict sleep schedule. Disruption of this schedule makes him feel awful and without energy, he added. The all-rounder also opened up on struggles with his diet as he is lactose-intolerant and gluten-intolerant. The last 50 Test matches, I have gone to sleep at nine o'clock almost every day. My dinner is done by seven, I sleep by nine. If I do not sleep by nine and wake up by six, I feel awful when playing the next day. I just don't have the same amount of energy. And I have had my fair share of injuries and a few niggles here and there. So those require maintenance, said Ashwin. If I am on a Test tour, I have the same food morning, afternoon, evening for over 20 days before I take a break. Because I am lactose-intolerant and gluten-intolerant, I have to literally live on the same food. If I have even a little bit of lactose in the evening or a little bit of gluten, I am unwell through the next day. I do not even think these are sacrifices because this is what I trade for what I love, he added. India and England will lock horns in the fifth and final Test of the series in Dharamshala from Thursday. India has won the series 3-1, handing England their first series loss under the leadership of Stokes and coach McCullum. At this point, England will be playing for their pride. Both sides still have World Test Championship points to gain in Dharamsala, even though the series has been decided. India is on top of the World Test Championship standings while England is eighth on the points table. Winning the match will earn a side 12 crucial points while a draw will earn them four points. (ANI)

devdiscourse 7 Mar 2024 9:03 am

He used to be a batter, I played as a spinner...: Rohit recalls long-term association with Ashwin ahead of 100th Test

He used to be a batter, I played as a spinner...: Rohit recalls long-term association with Ashwin ahead of 100th Test Ahead of the fifth and final Test of the series against England, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma reminisced on his long-term association with veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who is set to play his 100th Test on Thursday. India and England will lock horns in the fifth and final Test of the series in Dharamshala from Thursday, which will be Ashwin's 100th Test as well. In 99 Tests so far, Ashwin has taken 507 wickets at an average of 23.91, including 35 five-wicket hauls, with the best bowling figures of 7/59. Combine it with his tally of 3,309 runs in 140 innings at an average of 26.14, with five centuries and 14 fifties and he is one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era. Talking about Ashwin in the pre-match press conference, Rohit recalled when they used to play the age group cricket together at under 17 and under 19 levels. Rohit remembered that back then, Ashwin used to be a batter and open the innings while he used to be a spinner. It feels good if you get to see the fruits of all the labour you put in. I have been watching him for so many years. We played together in the Under-19s - we played in the Under-17s too - and he used to be a batter then, an opener, and he started bowling later. I used to bowl then, but I became a batsman, so it's all gone upside-down, but it has gone well for Indian cricket, said Rohit. The skipper lauded Ashwin, calling him a eam player. He said that during the third Rajkot Test, when the spinner was forced to leave the Test midway due to his mother's hospitalisation, he later called up Rohit to say that he wanted to come back and complete the game. Rohit pointed out that such things are rarely visible in players. The biggest thing is that he's a team player. We saw it during the Rajkot Test. It was quite a difficult situation for him, but he called me up and said he wanted to come back and do something for the team. You see these things very rarely in players, and when you have players like that in your team, you raise your head even higher, said Rohit. India and England will lock horns in the fifth and final Test of the series in Dharamshala from Thursday. India has won the series 3-1, handing England their first series loss under the leadership of Stokes and coach McCullum. At this point, England will be playing for their pride. Both sides still have World Test Championship points to gain in Dharamsala, even though the series has been decided. India is on top of the World Test Championship standings while England is eighth on the points table. Winning the match will earn a side 12 crucial points while a draw will earn them four points. (ANI)

devdiscourse 7 Mar 2024 8:24 am

Lords Mark Industries & Unnat Bharat Take off E Smart Clinic Project Pan India with Inauguration of AIIMS Rajkot by Honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi

Lords Mark Industries Ltd., a leading manufacturer of IVD products, in collaboration with Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, a National Programme by the Government of India, under the initiation of FITT (Foundation

nationalchronicle 6 Mar 2024 6:29 pm

Ravichandran Ashwin's wife Prithi opens up on family emergency during Rajkot Test - OTV News

Ravichandran Ashwin's wife Prithi opens up on family emergency during Rajkot Test OTV News

Google News 6 Mar 2024 6:14 pm

Mom said from hospital bed 'You should go back as Test match is on': Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin rushed back from a Test match in Rajkot, England to be by his mother's bedside in a hospital in Chennai. He became emotional while talking about how his parents supported his cricketing career. Ashwin's father is an avid cricket-watcher.

The Economic Times 6 Mar 2024 3:46 pm

'Heard a sudden scream from....': R Ashwin's wife Prithi opens up on family emergency during Rajkot Test

Although Ashwin has not publicly addressed the situation, his wife Prithi provided insight in a column she wrote ahead of the cricketer's 100th Test.

DNA India 6 Mar 2024 3:12 pm

Thiruvananthapuram among 18 cities chosen for CITIIS 2.0

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Thiruvananthapuram is the only city from Kerala chosen by the Union government for the CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) programme that aims to promote climate-oriented reform and integrated waste management with a major thrust on circular economy. The ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) had launched the CITIIS 2.0 challenge last November for 100 smart cities. As many as 84 smart cities from across the country took part in the challenge and submitted proposals to be a part of the programme being implemented in collaboration with the French Development Agency, European Union, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), and German development bank KfW (KreditanstaltfrWiederaufbau). The state capital is among the 18 cities selected by MoHUA for the initiative. Agartala, Agra, Bareilly, Belagavi, Bilaspur, Guwahati, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Madurai, Muzaffarpur, New Town Kolkata, Panaji, Rajkot, Srinagar, Thanjavur, Udaipur and Ujjain are the other cities chosen. The cities will receive an allocation of Rs 135 crore for the four-year programme, of which 80% will be funded by the Centre. Financial and technical support for projects promoting a circular economy, with a focus on integrated waste management, and support for climate action are the main components of the programme. An official with the Thiruvananthapuram corporation said the city has been chosen for the programme proposed during the competition. There are gaps in the existing waste management projects and we aim to attain 100% coverage. We proposed a zero waste city project, the official said.

The New Indian Express 6 Mar 2024 8:41 am

Gopal Snacks IPO - Investment Rationale, Issue Details, Financials, Strategies, Risks And More: Anand Rathi

NDTV Profits special research section collates quality and in-depth equity and economy research reports from across Indias top brokerages, asset managers and research agencies. These reports offer NDTV Profits subscribers an opportunity to expand their understanding of companies, sectors and the economy. Anand Rathi's IPO Report Gopal Snacks Ltd. will launch its initial public offering today and the offer closes on March 11. The Rs 650 crore IPO is comprised only of offer-for-sale by promoters and other selling shareholders with no fresh issue of shares. Rajkot based snacks company has fixed a price band in the range Rs 381401 per share. The minimum order lot is 37. Object of the issue: To achieve the benefits of listing the equity shares on the stock exchanges. Valuation and outlook Gopal Snacks is one of the largest and prominent fmcg player in India, offering Indian ethnic snacks and other products. The company intends to accelerate expansion in its focus markets, comprising Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Gopal Snacks will be focusing on geographical markets which are proximity to existing manufacturing facilities. Therefore, this move will not only enable them to increase their topline growth but will also rationalise its operating expenses. At the upper price band company is valued at price/equity of 44.5 times with a market cap of Rs 49,966 million post issue of equity shares. We believe that valuations of the company is fairly priced and recommend a Subscribe-Long Term rating to the IPO. Click on the attachment to read the full IPO report: Gopal Snacks Collects Rs 194 Crore From Anchor Investors Ahead Of IPO DISCLAIMER This report is authored by an external party. NDTV Profit does not vouch for the accuracy of its contents nor is responsible for them in any way. The contents of this section do not constitute investment advice. For that you must always consult an expert based on your individual needs. The views expressed in the report are that of the author entity and do not represent the views of NDTV Profit. Users have no license to copy, modify, or distribute the content without permission of the Original Owner. . Read more on Research Reports by NDTV Profit.

Bloomberg Quint 6 Mar 2024 7:34 am

Gopal Snacks collects Rs 194 cr from anchor investors ahead of IPO

Gopal Snacks collects Rs 194 cr from anchor investors ahead of IPO Gopal Snacks Ltd on Tuesday said it has garnered Rs 194 crore from anchor investors, a day ahead of the start of its initial share sale. The Rajkot-based company has allotted 48.36 lakh equity shares to 19 funds at Rs 401 apiece, which is also the upper end of the price band, according to a circular uploaded on BSE's website. Those who participated in the anchor round are -- BofA Securities Europe SA, Bay Capital India Fund, ITI Mutual Fund, DSP Mutual Fund, Quant Mutual Fund, Edelweiss Mutual Fund and HDFC Life Insurance Company. The issue, with a price band of Rs 381 to Rs 401 per share, will open for subscription on March 6 and conclude on March 11. The proposed initial public offering (IPO) is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of equity shares by promoters and other selling shareholders. The OFS comprises the sale of shares by Bipinbhai Vithalbhai Hadvani, Gopal Agriproducts Private Ltd and Harsh Sureshkumar Shah. Founded in 1999, Gopal Snacks is a fast-moving consumer goods company in India, offering namkeen, western snacks, and other products across India and internationally. As of September 2023, the namkeen makers' products were sold in 10 states and 2 Union Territories and has a network of 3 depots and 617 distributors. The company operates three manufacturing facilities-- Rajkot and Modasa in Gujarat, and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Furthermore, it runs three ancillary manufacturing facilities that mostly produce besan, raw snack pellets, seasoning, and spices. These are mainly used internally to make finished products like namkeen, gathiya, and snack pellets. The companies' revenue from operations increased from Rs 1,128.86 crore in fiscal 2021 to Rs 1,394.65 crore in fiscal 2023 and profit grew from Rs 21.12 crore in fiscal 2021 to Rs 112.37 crore in fiscal 2023. Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional investors, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors. Investors can place bids starting from a minimum of 37 equity shares, with the option to bid in increments of 37 equity shares thereafter. Intensive Fiscal Services, Axis Capital and JM Financial are the book-running lead managers to the IPO. The equity shares of the company are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.

devdiscourse 5 Mar 2024 11:06 pm

The Beats of Jay Pei

Artiste Jay Pei, 31, is the master of his world as he shows us around his studio in Vasant Kunj with its expansive glass windows and where modified synthesisers stand in a huddle. After working in a dingy studio for so long, this is a breath of fresh air. The greens, filtering sunlight and the city provide easy inspiration. I spend a lot of time here making music, and training, he says with a smile. Right behind the instruments, a computer screen flashes with multiple sound bars, almost as if in the middle of production. On the right, perched on the window sill is his neatly packed DJ gear that he takes to his gigs. As he unveils the black equipment, one sees lush greenery outside the window screen on one side, even as the other side looks down on a bustling Delhi street. A unique sound The producer and DJ has built his own unique sound over the years, mastering the art of integrating cinematic elements to atmospheric techno beats. His expertise in sound design lets him mix and mould, making his style stand out and leave a mark in his all-original sets. His recent collaboration with Hinano, a Thai indie-pop artiste, is a testament to his craft and his ability to experiment with different sounds. In a three-part documentary released on YouTube, following the two musicians meeting each other, one witnesses the artistes exploring their creative journey, travelling from Delhi to Bangkok where Hinano stays, and vice-versa. A Delhi showcase Hinano is an indie rock musician. Im an electronic musician. We were two different people coming from different worlds. But like I say, if you understand music, you understand who the person is. So, we connected quite well. In merely 25 days, we travelled, shot, composed the music and came up with an R&B track and even played it at the Wonderfruit festival, a music and art event in Thailand, in 2022, he says. Stills from the YouTube video While the documentary depicted the artistes in their element, the cities were showcased with their individual characteristics; the tombs at Lodhi garden and the thronging lanes of Delhi feature prominently in the video. We tried to showcase such iconic places that have a very significant role to play in Delhis identity as a city. We made it in such a way that this is how they will remember Delhi from now on, he says. The beginnings Jay Pei grew up in Rajkot, Gujarat, around music. His father ran a music store in the city and made mixtapes for his friends. I always loved music because my father was a fan. As a kid, I grew up around his music collection, the gears and equipment. So, somehow it was always in me, he says. He, however, studied mechanical engineering, a discipline he maintains he loves. I did enjoy studying mechanical engineering and love machines. Im just a curious and creative person. I may not wake up and play a piano or a guitar, but I do wake up and start tinkering with computer software and, of course, musical instruments, he says. While his love for music grew through his fathers playlists, the DJ considered music as a career option only in 2010 when he was introduced to electronic music. He enrolled in an audio engineering school before taking it up as a career, and interned as a video-game sound designer. I became a lead sound designer and started composing for video games. That was a very good way for me to acquire knowledge regarding sound designing. The video game industry obviously had less to do with the music landscape but what it really taught me was discipline, which helps me a lot in my artistic journey, he says. Dreams of cinema While there is a pool of DJs teeming in the club and techno space, Jay Pei points out that his compositions are what set him aparttheir tonality and textures are distinct. His ability to bring in cinematic elements is probably one of the unique elements of his style, and it comes from his love for cinema. I always find cinema is one of the best mediums to understand art because it includes every individual art form that comes together at once. Theres always a moment, which is so powerful that leaves you thinking about it for days. I get inspired from such elements and try to bring it into my music as well, Jay Pei says. The artiste hopes to foray into this side of the world of music compositions. As he lists some of his favourite compositions from films such as Star Wars and the soundtrack of Requiem for a Dream, he adds he would like to make music for cinema eventually. Maybe when Im around 40-50, Id definitely love to do it, he says. For now, the artiste is working on a 10-track album that he plans to release later this year. With the growing love for indie and techno in India, Jay Pei, with his melodic and raw style, may just be the next artiste to look out for.

The New Indian Express 5 Mar 2024 7:57 am

Nadda vacates RS seat from HP, likely to keep Gujarat one

NEW DELHI: BJP national president JP Nadda has resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership, representing Himachal Pradesh. His resignation was accepted by the Rajya Sabha, effective March 4. Naddas tenure as a Rajya Sabha member for Himachal Pradesh, set to conclude on April 2, has ended early. He was recently elected unopposed to the Upper House of Parliament from Gujarat, securing a six-year term. BJP sources indicated that Naddas resignation was necessary to facilitate his swearing-in as a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, in accordance with parliamentary rules. His resignation was a formal requirement to retain Gujarat seat. According to Rajya Sabha rules, a member cannot simultaneously represent two states in the Upper House. His resignation from Himachal Pradesh seat was obligatory to represent Gujarat, stated a BJP leader. Nadda succeeded Purushottam Rupala as the unopposed RS member from Gujarat. Rupala is now contesting Rajkot LS seat. Serving as the national president of the BJP since 2020, Nadda has recently received an extension at the national convention. Close to PM Modi, Nadda was health minister in Modis first government from 2014 to 2019. He also represented Bilaspur in Himachal as an MLA from 2007 to 2012 and from 1993 to 2003 and was minister of forest environment, science, and technology in the state.

The New Indian Express 5 Mar 2024 7:36 am

Jaiswal among ICC Men's Player of the Month nominees for February

Jaiswal among ICC Men's Player of the Month nominees for February Prolific India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, the leading run-scorer in the ongoing Test series against England, has been nominated for ICC Men's Player of the Month Award for February alongside New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka. ''The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the shortlists of nominees for the ICC Mens and Womens Player of the Month awards for February 2024,'' the ICC said in a release on Monday. ''Several high stakes battles took place last month in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), and among the contenders for the ICC Mens Player of the Month prize are two premier run-scorers in the longest format, plus a record-breaking ODI batter from Sri Lanka.'' Jaiswal has been nominated for the first time in the ICC Player of the Month awards following a sensational month in Tests against England. So far, the left-hander has scored 655 runs from four Tests with a match to go. The 22-year-old scored back-to-back double hundreds in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot to help India overturn a 0-1 deficit against England and win three Tests on the bounce. In Rajkot, Jaiswal equalled the record for most sixes in a Test innings slamming 12 maximums. With more runs coming in the fourth Test, he ended February having amassed 560 runs at an average of 112. The back-to-back double hundreds at the age of 22 years and 49 days made him the third youngest batter in the world to record two double centuries in Tests after Sir Donald Bradman and Vinod Kambli. Jaiswal's prolific run ensured that India climb to the top of the ICC World Test Championship table. Williamson, on the other hand, has also been piling runs as New Zealand recorded their first-ever Test series victory over South Africa. The New Zealand veteran slammed two hundreds in the first Test in Mount Maunganui, and then made 133 not out to help his team chase down a tricky fourth-innings target in Hamilton to ensure the series victory. New Zealand thus climbed to the second spot of the WTC table at the end of February with three wins in five Tests. Completing the lineup is Nissanka, who shone across three ODIs and three T20Is against Afghanistan. The opener struck Sri Lankas first-ever ODI double-century in Pallekele (210 not out in 139 balls) to kick the series off in blistering fashion. More runs came in the third ODI, as Nissanka raised the bat once more with 118 in 101 balls to seal another convincing win, before a half-century in the final T20I showdown capped a fine month. In all, Nissanka hit 346 ODI runs and 91 T20I runs to earn his first nomination for the award. The ICC also nominated UAE duo of Kavisha Egodage and Esha Oza and Australia's Annabel Sutherland for the Women's Player of the Month award for February.

devdiscourse 4 Mar 2024 7:08 pm

Enter a world of wonder at this Museologist's curious abode in Rajkot - Architect & Interiors India

Enter a world of wonder at this Museologist's curious abode in Rajkot Architect & Interiors India

Google News 4 Mar 2024 12:35 pm

IPO craze continues: Three firms to raise Rs 1,325 crore next week

IPO craze continues: Three firms to raise Rs 1,325 crore next week The primary market will see a flurry of activity in March, with at least three companies including Gopal Snacks will float their initial public offerings (IPOs) in the upcoming week to raise Rs 1,325 crore collectively. The other two companies which are set to launch their maiden public issues are -- RK Swamy and JG Chemicals. Additionally, Bengaluru-based luxury furniture brand Stanley Lifestyles and Krystal Integrated Services are expected to float their initial share-sales later this month, according to merchant bankers. Market experts attributed the bustling IPO activity to various factors, including impressive post-listing returns from recent public offerings and the robust macroeconomic conditions. So far this year, 16 companies launched their IPOs to mobilise Rs 13,000 crore, while Rs 224-crore initial share-sale of Mukka Proteins is slated to conclude on March 4. This came after 58 maiden public issues initiated in 2023 to garner Rs 52,637 crore. This included the Rs 3,200-crore IPO of Nexus Select Trust REIT. Market experts said that March is anticipated to usher in a wave of IPOs, offering a plethora of opportunities for exploration and investment. Rajkot-based Gopal Snacks' Rs 650-crore public issue is entirely an offer for sale (OFS). The issue, with a price band of Rs 381 to Rs 401 per share, will open for subscription during March 6-11. The OFS comprises the sale of shares by Bipinbhai Vithalbhai Hadvani, Gopal Agriproducts Private Ltd and Harsh Sureshkumar Shah. Founded in 1999, Gopal Snacks is a fast-moving consumer goods company, offering namkeen, western snacks, and other products across India and internationally. As of September 2023, the namkeen makers' products were sold in 10 states and two Union Territories and has a network of 3 depots and 617 distributors. The Rs 423.56-crore IPO of integrated marketing services firm RK Swamy will be open for public subscription during March 4-6. Shares will be available for bidding in the price range of Rs 270-288 apiece. The company's IPO comprises a fresh issue of shares aggregating up to Rs 173 crore and an OFS of up to 87 lakh equity shares by selling shareholders worth Rs 250.56 crore at the upper end of the price band. Those offering shares in the OFS are Srinivasan K Swamy, Narasimhan Krishnaswamy, Evanston Pioneer Fund L.P, and Prem Marketing Ventures LLP. Funds raised through the fresh issue would be used for setting up a digital video content production studio, establishing new customer experience centres and computer-aided telephonic interview centres as well as for general corporate purposes. Also, funds would be utilised for investment in the IT infrastructure development of RK Swamy Ltd and its subsidiaries Hansa Research and Hansa Customer Equity. Zinc oxide manufacturer JG Chemicals' initial share-sale is a combination of fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 165 crore and an OFS of 39 lakh equity shares aggregating to Rs 86.2 crore, at the upper end of the price band, by promoter group. As part of the OFS, Vision Projects & Finvest Pvt Ltd, Suresh Kumar Jhunjhunwala (HUF), Anirudh Jhunjhunwala (HUF) and Jayanti Commercial Ltd will offload equity shares. The company has fixed a price band of Rs 210 to Rs 221 apiece for its Rs 251.2-crore issue, which will open for public subscription on March 5 and conclude on March 7. Proceeds from the fresh issue to the tune of Rs 91 crore will be utilised for investing in JG Chemicals' material subsidiary BDJ Oxides and Rs 35 crore will be used for funding the long-term working capital requirements of the company. Besides, a portion will be used for general corporate purposes.

devdiscourse 3 Mar 2024 10:53 am

Kumble backs Dhruv Jurel to emulate Dhoni's success

Spin legend Anil Kumble believes young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has the potential to achieve legendary skipper MS Dhoni's level in his career. Jurel made his debut in the third Test at Rajkot, delivering a knock of 46 and impressing in subsequent matches. Kumble praised Jurel's exceptional temperament in both defensive and attacking aspects of his game.

The Times of India 3 Mar 2024 10:28 am

NDA's first list is our list, we will all work together: Sanjay Nishad on LS polls

NDA's first list is our list, we will all work together: Sanjay Nishad on LS polls Expressing his confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Minister and founder of Nishad Party, Sanjay Nishad has said that BJP is like a big brother and everyone will work together for the alliance. BJP like a big brother we are not different from them. We work together for NDA. NDA's first list is our list. We will all work together, he said. Nishad Party is an ally of the NDA. Notably, the BJP has fielded party leader Praveen Kumar Nishad (son of Sanjay Nishad) from the Sant Kabir Nagar seat in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, he is also an MP from this seat. BJP on Saturday announced its first list of 195 candidates, which included PM Modi from Varanasi again. This is the third time PM Modi will be contesting from the Varanasi seat. In 2014, he defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and in 2019, won against Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav. Ravi Kishan, a well-known Bhojpuri actor, will run for office again from Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Yogi Adityanath. The current Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath held the seat till 2017. Of 195 candidates, 34 are Ministers from the Centre and States and two are the former Chief Ministers. With Prime Minister Modi urging senior ministers from Rajya Sabha to contest Lok Sabha elections, the party fielded Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar and Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat), Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan from Attingal constituency. Union Ministers who are being fielded from their sitting seats are Gajendra Shekhawat in Jodhpur, Smriti Irani in Amethi, SP Singh Baghel in Agra, Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar, Ajay Mishra Teni in Kheri, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Fatehpur, Subhash Sarkar in Bankura and Nishit Pramanik in Cooch Behar. (ANI)

devdiscourse 3 Mar 2024 10:10 am

Dhruv Jurel has all credentials to get where MS Dhoni reached.: Anil Kumble

NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble said that young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has all the credentials to reach the heights that legendary skipper and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni achieved in his career. Jurel made his Test debut during the third Test at Rajkot, scoring a valuable 46 in 104 balls. India won that match by []

indiapost 3 Mar 2024 9:53 am

LS Polls 2024: BJP drops 33 sitting MPs in first list; four dropped in Delhi for disconnect, inaccessibility

NEW DELHI : The BJP replaced as many as 33 sitting MPs with new faces as it released its first list with names of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. In the list, the BJP announced its candidates for 11 Lok Sabha seats in Assam . Of them, six candidates are sitting MPs while the other five are new faces. The party has fielded Parimal Suklabaidhya from Silchar Lok Sabha constituency, won by Rajdeep Roy in the 2019 general elections. From the Autonomous District (ST) seat, currently held by BBJP MP Horen Singh Bey, party nominee Amar Singh Tisso will contest. Bijuli Kalita Medhi will contest from Gauhati Lok Sabha seat which is held by Queen Oja. Ranjit Dutta will contest from Tezpur Lok Sabh seat which was won by Pallab Lochan Das in 2019. The BJP has named Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal as its candidate from Dibrugarh constituency, dropping sitting MP Rameswar Teli. In the list of the BJP candidates for 11 seats in Chhattisgarh , four faces are new. From Janjgir Champa (SC) constituency, party nominee Kamlesh Jangde will contest the election, instead of sitting MP Guharam Ajgalley. From Raipur, senior BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal will enter the fray, not Sunil Kumar Soni who won the seat in 2019. From the state's Mahasamund seat, BJP nominee Roop Kumari Choudhary will contest the Lok Sabha poll, instead of sitting MP Chunni Lal Sahu. Sitting MP Mohan Mandavi was replaced by BJP nominee Bhojraj Nag on Kanker (ST) seat. The BJP named its candidates for 15 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat , dropping five sitting MPs. From Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat, party nominee Rekhaben Hiteshbhai Choudhary will contest, instead of sitting MP Prabhatbhai Savabhai Patel. On Ahmedabad West (SC) seat, Dineshbhai Kidarbhai Makwana replaced three-term MP Kirit Solanki. For Rajkot Lok Sabha seat, the BJP named Union minister Parshottam Rupala as its candidate, dropping sitting MP Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya. The party named Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for the Porbandar seat, currently held by party MP Rameshbhai Lavjibhai Dhaduk. From Panchmahal seat in Gujarat, BJP nominee Rajpalsinh Mahendrasinh Jadhav will join the fray, instead of sitting MP Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod. In Jharkhand , BJP fielded Manish Jaiswal from Hazaribagh seat, which is currently held by Jayant Sinha, son of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha. On Lohardaga (ST) seat, three-time MP Sudarshan Bhagat was replaced by Samir Oraon. In its list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh , the BJP replaced seven sitting MPs with new faces. The party named Bharat Singh Kushwaha for the Gwalior Lok Sabha seat, instead of its sitting MP Vivek Narayan Shejwalker. It dropped sitting MP from Guna, Krishnapal Singh Yadav, to field Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from the seat. BJP nominee Lata Wankhede will join the fray from Sagar Lok Sabha seat, which is currently held by Rajbahadur Singh. Virendra Khatik will contest from Tikamgarh (SC) seat. The BJP has dropped Vidisha MP Ramakant Bhargava to name former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as its candidate from the seat. Alok Sharma will be its candidate from the Bhopal seat, currently held by Sadhvi Pragya Singh. From Ratlam (ST) seat, currently held by BJP MP Guman Singh Damor, party nominee Anita Nagar Singh chauhan will contest. The BJP announced its candidates for 15 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan , replacing five sitting MPs with new faces who will contest from Churu, Bharatpur, Jalore, Udaipur, and Banswara contingency. The party named former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb as its candidate from Tripura West seat, which is currently held by party MP Pratima Bhoumik. The BJP also dropped its Alipurduar MP John Barla in West Bengal to field Manoj Tigga from the constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribe. In Delhi Apparent disconnect with constituents and strong anti-incumbency sentiments emerging in surveys carried out by the party have reportedly worked against four sitting BJP MPs in Delhi. The names of Ramesh Bidhuri (South Delhi), Meenakshi Lekhi (New Delhi), Parvesh Sahib Singh (West Delhi) and Dr Harsh Vardhan (Chandni Chowk) were missing from the first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha election released on Saturday. Party insiders said RSS, too, was unhappy with a couple of MPs, flagging its concerns over their functioning. A senior Delhi BJP leader said not just the Sangh, a section of state leaders and workers too were upset. The decision to deny the ticket has not come as a complete surprise. Resentment against them was noticeable, said a former party officer-bearer. Delhi has seven Lok Sabha seats. Only Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari is retained from Northeast Delhi in the first list. BJP functionaries in Delhi said the age factor also played a role in the case of Harsh Vardhan, adding that Covid mismanagement during the second wave might be another reason. Leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has been fielded in place of Ramesh and former South Delhi mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat has replaced Parvesh. Party leaders said besides negative feedback from the party cadre, hate comments might have cost them their ticket. Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of late Sushma Swaraj, will contest from New Delhi, which is represented by Meenakshi Lekhi. (With inputs from PTI)

The New Indian Express 3 Mar 2024 5:57 am

PM Modi can fulfill aspirations of country: BJP's Tokhan Sahu on his candidature for LS Polls

PM Modi can fulfill aspirations of country: BJP's Tokhan Sahu on his candidature for LS Polls Following the announcement of his candidature from Chhattishgarh's Rajnandgaon for upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Santosh Pandey said on Saturday that he wanted to thank the people of Rajnangaon for this opportunity. Another party leader Tokhan Sahu, who has been fielded fromBilaspur constituency, asserted that only Narendra Modi can take the country forward and BJP can fulfill the aspirations of the country. Pandey has been serving the constituency since 2014. I thank the people of Rajnandgaon for the opportunity that I have got...The people have always supported and appreciated my work, he said while speaking to ANI. Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Santosh Pandey defeated Congress's Bhola Ram Sahu by securing 6,62,387 votes. Meanwhile, BJP leader Saroj Pandey has been fielded from Korba. She said, I thank the party for the opportunity & will live up to the trust of the party... On his candidature from Bilaspur constituency, BJP leader Tokhan Sahu said, I want to thank the central and state leadership... The whole country has faith in PM Modi. Only Narendra Modi can take this country forward. The government has worked in every sector. Only PM Modi government can fulfill the aspirations of the country... The party has announced its candidates on all the 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, which include--Chintamani Maharaj, Radheshyam Rathia, Kamlesh Jangde, Saroj Pandey, Tokhan Sahu, Santosh Pandey, Vijay Baghel, Brijmohan Agarwal, Roop Kumari Choudhary, Mahesh Kashyap and Bhojraj Nag. In the first list of 195 candidates, the BJP included 28 women, 47 youth, 27 Scheduled Castes, 18 Scheduled Tribes and 57 OBCs. The party announced 51 candidates in Uttar Pradesh, 24 in Madhya Pradesh, 15 each in Gujarat and Rajasthan, 20 for West Bengal, 12 in Kerala, 11 each for Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, nine in Telangana, five for Delhi, two for Jammu and Kashmir, two for Arunachal Pradesh, one for Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Daman and Diu also. The first list of 195 candidates released by the BJP on Saturday, however, made some drastic changes in Delhi, it has decided to field only Manoj Tiwari, the sitting Lok Sabha member from northeast Delhi, and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi has been replaced with young face Basuri Swaraj, daughter of late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj, from New Delhi; former Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been chosen to contest from Vidisha constituency in the state; and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota. With Prime Minister Modi urging senior ministers from Rajya Sabha to contest Lok Sabha elections, the party fielded Union ministers Bhupender Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar and Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat), Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan from Attingal constituency. Another Rajya Sabha member and national vice president of the BJP Saroj Pande will contest from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh. Union Minister Rameshwar Teli is replaced by Cabinet minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Dibrugarh (Assam) constituency. Union Ministers who are being fielded from their sitting seats are Gajendra Shekhawat in Jodhpur, Smriti Irani in Amethi, S P Singh Baghel in Agra, Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar, Ajay Mishra Teni in Kheri, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Fatehpur, Subhash Sarkar in Bankura and Nishit Pramanik in Cooch Behar. (ANI)

devdiscourse 2 Mar 2024 11:24 pm

I look forward to...: PM Modi as BJP announces him to contest again from Varanasi

I look forward to...: PM Modi as BJP announces him to contest again from Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is all set to contest for the third consecutive time from the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, on Saturday expressed his gratitude to the party and its workers for showing a 'constant' faith in him. PM Modi, in a post on X, said that he is looking forward to 'serving the people of Varanasi' for the third time. I thank the @BJP4India leadership and bow to the crores of selfless Party Karyakartas for their constant faith in me. I look forward to serving my sisters and brothers of Kashi for the third time. In 2014, I went to Kashi with a commitment to fulfil people's dreams and empower the poorest of the poor, the PM said. He further said that the efforts made by the central government in the last ten years continue with even greater vigour. Over the last ten years, we have made significant progress across various sectors and worked towards a better Kashi. These efforts will continue with even greater vigour. I would also like to convey a special gratitude to the people of Kashi for their blessings, which I cherish greatly, the PM added. PM Modi, in another post on X, said that his party is going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and ensuring the fruits of progress reach the poorest of the poor. Our party has announced candidates for some of the seats and will be announcing the rest in the coming days. I congratulate all those who have been nominated as our party's candidates and wish them the very best. We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and ensuring the fruits of progress reach the poorest of the poor, he said. Further, the PM exuded his confidence in the people of the country to make his party manage another victory. I am sure that the 140 crore people of India will bless us yet again and give us even more strength in fulfilling their aspirations and creating a Viksit Bharat, PM Modi added. The BJP Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, days after a marathon meeting of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the third time PM Modi will be contesting from the Varanasi seat. In 2014, he defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and in 2019, won against Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav. Even before Modi, Varanasi had been a BJP stronghold, with the party retaining it consistently since 1991 except in 2004, when the Congress's Rajesh Kumar Mishra had won. In the first list of 195 candidates, the BJP included 28 women, 47 youth, 27 Scheduled Castes, 18 Scheduled Tribes and 57 OBCs. The party announced 51 candidates in Uttar Pradesh, 24 in Madhya Pradesh, 15 each in Gujarat and Rajasthan, 20 for West Bengal, 12 in Kerala, 11 each for Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, nine in Telangana, five for Delhi, two for Jammu and Kashmir, two for Arunachal Pradesh, one for Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Daman and Diu also. The first list of 195 candidates released by the BJP on Saturday, however, made some drastic changes in Delhi, it has decided to field only Manoj Tiwari, the sitting Lok Sabha member from northeast Delhi, and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi has been replaced with young face Basuri Swaraj, daughter of late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj, from New Delhi; former Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been chosen to contest from Vidisha constituency in the state; and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota. With Prime Minister Modi urging senior ministers from Rajya Sabha to contest Lok Sabha elections, the party fielded Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar and Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat), Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan from Attingal constituency. Another Rajya Sabha member and national vice president of the BJP Saroj Pande will contest from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh. Union Minister Rameshwar Teli is replaced by Cabinet minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Dibrugarh (Assam) constituency. Union Ministers who are being fielded from their sitting seats are Gajendra Shekhawat in Jodhpur, Smriti Irani in Amethi, S P Singh Baghel in Agra, Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar, Ajay Mishra Teni in Kheri, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Fatehpur, Subhash Sarkar in Bankura and Nishit Pramanik in Cooch Behar. (ANI)

devdiscourse 2 Mar 2024 10:19 pm

PM Modi, Amit Shah in first BJP list of 195 candidates for Lok Sabha polls

PM Modi, Amit Shah in first BJP list of 195 candidates for Lok Sabha polls Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from Varanasi for a third time as the BJP released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, naming 34 Union ministers, including heavyweights like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh from their current Gandhinagar and Lucknow seats respectively. Two former chief ministers -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Kumar Deb -- also figure in the list which did not have many surprise omissions, as there were in the party's lists during previous polls, except in Delhi where four sitting MPs including Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, former Union minister Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Bidhuri have been dropped. Bidhuri was recently in the news for his controversial comments against opposition MP Danish Ali. Besides Lekhi, Union minister John Barla (Alipurduar) and Rameswar Teli (Dibrugarh) have also been dropped. Another noticeable name that did not find a mention in this list is Sadhvi Pragya Thakur from Bhopal. The party has fielded one Muslim candidate: Abdul Salam from Malappuram in Kerala. The list of candidates for the 195 constituencies included nearly 155 seats the party had won in the 2019 polls. In this list, The party has dropped over 20 per cent of its MPs. Seven ministers, who were members of Rajya Sabha and were expected to fight the Lok Sabha elections, have been fielded in the polls. Jyotiraditya Scindia will contest from Guna (Madhya Pradesh), Sarbananda Sonowal from Dibrugarh (Assam), Bhupender Yadav from Alwar (Rajasthan), Rajeev Chandrashekhar from Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), V Muraleedharan from Attingal (Kerala) Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat) and Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar (Gujarat). Announcing the names of candidates, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde said they include 28 women, 47 persons below 50 years of age, 27 from Scheduled Castes, 18 from Scheduled Tribes and 57 from Other Backward Classes. The first list has 51 seats from Uttar Pradesh, 24 from Madhya Pradesh, 20 from West Bengal, 15 each from from Gujarat and Rajasthan, 12 from Kerala, nine from Telangana, 11 each from Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, five from Delhi, three from Uttarakhand, two each from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, and one each from Goa, Tripura, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Daman and Diu. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will fight again from Kota in Rajasthan and Shivraj Singh Chouhan returns to his former parliamentary constituency Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, which he represented for five terms before taking over as the state's chief minister in 2005. Union ministers Smriti Irani, who will fight from Amethi again, Jitendra Singh, Sarbananda Sonowal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, G Kishan Reddy, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Arjun Munda also figure in the list. Modi had contested from Varanasi for first time in 2014 as he led the BJP to its maiden majority in Lok Sabha. Since then, Uttar Pradesh has become a saffron citadel, with the party sweeping Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. Tawde said the party is confident that it would form the government for the third term under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi with a much bigger mandate. He also said that the party has been working on further expanding its footprint across various states and also to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance led by it. Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, whose controversial utterances have drawn flak several times, has been dropped. Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of the late BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj, will make her poll debut from the New Delhi seat, replacing Lekhi. Kamaljeet Sehrawat has replaced incumbent MP Parvesh Verma from West Delhi, MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has come in place of Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi while Praveen Khadelwal, who heads a trading body, will contest from Chandni Chowk, edging out Harsh vardhan. Manoj Tiwari is the only sitting MP from the national capital who has been retained. He will again contest from North East Delhi while the BJP is yet to name candidates for two seats. Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh has been fielded from Asansol in West Bengal, currently represented by TMC leader and actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha. The list for UP is full of sitting MPs with party leaders hinting that next lists may see some new names. The BJP had won 62 seats last time and is expected to contest from nearly 75 of its 80 seats in the coming polls, leaving some to allies. In UP, the party has fielded former BSP MP Ritesh Pandey from Ambedkar Nagar, while Hema Malini, Ravi Kishan, Ajay Mishra Teni, Mahesh Sharma, SPS Baghel and Sakshi Maharaj are among those being repeated from their seats. In Jharkhand, former Congress MP Geeta Kora has been fielded from Singhbhum (ST reserved). Modi has set a target for the BJP to win at least 370 seats on its own in this Lok Sabha election and more than 400 for the NDA. The BJP is looking to bolster its presence in southern states like Kerala, where it currently holds none of its 20 seats, and Telangana, where it had won four of its 17 seats in 2019. It has fielded actor Suresh Gopi from Thrissur in Kerala and is banking on some former BRS leaders to boost its tally in Telangana. The Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule later this month and the elections are likely to be held in April-May. The BJP had won 303 seats in 2019 polls but currently it has 290 members in Lok Sabha, the number decreasing for various reasons including due to some MPs recently resigning after winning assembly polls. The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) had met for more than five hours Thursday night and deliberated on names for their first list. The next CEC meeting is expected to be held next week to discuss further names.

devdiscourse 2 Mar 2024 10:07 pm

Rajkot-based Gopal Snacks to raise 650 crore through IPO

Gopal Snacks Pvt Ltd, led by Bipin Hadvani, plans to repay 650 crore debt through IPO proceeds, opening March 6

The Hindu Businessline 2 Mar 2024 6:52 pm

CAG announces setting up of Supreme Audit Institution iCAL in Rajkot

The CAG said local governments often interacted with multiple stakeholders, and addressing their various challenges required expertise, rigorous methodologies, and effective communication

The Hindu 2 Mar 2024 2:55 am

'BJP's double-engine misgovernance': Cong targets Centre, Gujarat govt over state's suicide data

'BJP's double-engine misgovernance': Cong targets Centre, Gujarat govt over state's suicide data Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday targeted the governments at the Centre and in Gujarat over ''high suicide rate'' in the BJP-ruled state and alleged they have failed to fulfil their promises of creating new job opportunities for youths. He also said the prime minister's ''silence on this grave human tragedy in his home state is deafening''. He urged the Gujarat government to prioritise the wellbeing and safety of citizens and take action to address the problem that has cast a dark shadow over the state. ''It is with grave concern and profound disappointment that I address the distressing revelation brought to light by the Gujarat government regarding the shockingly high suicide rates,'' he said in a statement. The Congress chief said the latest data presented in the state assembly underscores a harrowing reality that under the rule of the BJP government, more than 25,000 lives have been lost to suicide over the past three financial years, with nearly 500 of them being students. He said the statistics paint a grim picture of a populace grappling with despair, hopelessness, and unaddressed grievances. In a state that boasts of progress and prosperity, it is unconscionable that so many citizens have felt compelled to take their own lives, Kharge said. ''This is another example of the BJP's double-engine misgovernance that has already inflicted several anyays (injustice) on the country. Its state and central government have failed to fulfil their promises of releasing and filling job vacancies and creating new job opportunities,'' he said. ''The prime pinister's silence on this grave human tragedy in his home state is deafening,'' the Congress president said. He said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's acknowledgement of this crisis is ''while condemnable, falls short of addressing the fundamental failures of governance'' and the dire need for concrete action to stem the tide of preventable tragedies. ''It is abundantly clear that the current administration has failed in its duty to safeguard the wellbeing of our citizens and address the root causes behind the escalating suicide rates,'' he said. Kharge also said that the fact that the maximum number of cases emanate from cities like Ahmedabad (3,280), Surat (2,862), and Rajkot (1,287) is a ''damning indictment'' of the government's inability to provide adequate support and resources to the vulnerable. ''I call upon the Gujarat government to prioritise the well-being and safety of its citizens above all else, and to take immediate and decisive action to address the escalating suicide rates that have cast a dark shadow over our state,'' the Congress president said. The Gujarat government earlier this week informed the legislative assembly that more than 25,000 people, nearly 500 of them students, have ended their lives due to various reasons in the state during the last three financial years. According to the data shared by the state government on the floor of the House, as many as 25,478 people have committed suicide in different parts of Gujarat during the last three years and of these, 495 were students. In reply to a question by Imran Khedawala (Congress), Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who also hold the home portfolio, said in a written response that 8,307 people ended their lives in financial year 2020-21, 8,614 in FY 2021-22 and 8,557 committed suicide in FY 2022-23. Among these, the maximum number of suicides was reported in the Ahmedabad city (3,280), followed by 2,862 in Surat city and 1,287 in Rajkot city. Some of the reasons for the suicides, as cited by the government, included mental health matters, love issues, serious illness, family problems, financial crisis and a fear of failure in exams.

devdiscourse 1 Mar 2024 5:25 pm

Man crushed to death by speeding car in Gujarat's Rajkot

A man was killed by a speeding car in Gujarat's Rajkot. The driver lost control over steering and hit a two-wheeler and collided with a shop. The rider and a girl also sustained injuries in the incident. The incident was captured on CCTV camera.

The Times of India 1 Mar 2024 3:26 pm

IndiGo announces six new domestic routes; Check details here

IndiGo recently revealed its upcoming domestic flight expansions, starting March 31, 2024. These include direct routes like Ahmedabad-Rajkot, Ahmedabad-Aurangabad, Bhopal-Lucknow, and Indore-Varanasi. Additionally, they announced Kolkata-Srinagar and Kolkata-Jammu flights starting April 10 and April 21, 2024, respectively.

The Economic Times 29 Feb 2024 11:27 am

aheer Khan is someone I used to watch, try to learn from: James Anderson

aheer Khan is someone I used to watch, try to learn from: James Anderson Legendary Indian pacer James Anderson admitted on Wednesday that former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan's bowling inspired him and he keenly observed how he would utilise reverse swing and cover the ball while bowling. The fifth and final Test between India and England will take place from March 7 onwards at Dharamshala. The series is in the hands of India with 3-1. Anderson has been impressive in his three matches played so far, taking eight wickets at an average of 34.37, with the best bowling figures of 3/47. He is also just two wickets away from 700 Test wickets and could become the first pacer to do so in Dharamshala. The top two spots are occupied by spin greats Muttiah Muralitharan and late Shane Warne with 800 and 708 scalps successfully. At 41, there's no stopping England pace-bowling legend James Anderson. The master of swing bowling spoke exclusively to JioCinema before the third Test in Rajkot. Talking about India's pace battery's evolution over the last few years, Anderson said that there are very few bowlers better than Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. He also talked about Zaheer's influence on his bowling. There are not many better bowlers than Bumrah, Shami and Siraj. They are world-class bowlers. You put Ishant Sharma in there as well, and that's a really strong bowling attack. For me, Zaheer Khan was someone I used to watch a lot to try and learn from. How he used the reverse swing, how he covered the ball when he ran into bowl, that is something I tried to sort of develop on the back of playing against him quite a few times here, said Anderson. Zaheer has picked up 311 Test wickets in 92 matches and overall 610 scalps in 309 international matches across all formats. He is considered as one of the greatest left-arm pacers ever produced in world cricket. Discussing his 22-year-long international career and longevity, Anderson said that he still feels he is young and does not feel his age. He also said that he can keep up with all younger players during the training and bowl at speeds he wants to. Yeah, I guess you do look at things like that, but to be honest, I just go with the feel of me and my body. I do not feel like I am 41 years and 200 days old. You know, I still feel young. I can keep up with the young guys in training. I can still bowl the speeds that I want to, I can still deliver the skills that I want to. So, for me, that is the most important thing. The age is just a number and it's pretty irrelevant from my thought process, said Anderson. The veteran pacer opines that the art of swinging the ball is not dying but rather due to the growth of white-ball cricket, the focus has shifted to changing pace and delivering variations. But for me, in Test cricket, we have seen throughout this series already that swing can play a big part. The way Bumrah's bowled, I think, has been amazing to watch. That reverse swing spell in the second Test was one of the best you will see. So for me, I think there is still people out there wanting to learn the skills and it is not easy to do, he added. Talking about passing on his wisdom of playing in Indian conditions, the 41-year-old said, Well, I think it is really important as a senior player that you offer as much advice as possible, especially coming to a place where there is quite a few guys in our team, that have not necessarily played that much out here. So, I think it is important that you do offer advice but at the same time not try to force yourself on them. In 16 games in India, Anderson has taken 42 wickets at an average of 30.28, with the best bowling figures of 6/79. I think it is important that they have got to be asking questions as well, they have got to try and find their own way because it is different for each player. I cannot say to an Ollie Robinson or a Gus Atkinson that this is how you should bowl here. They are very different bowlers to me so they have got to find what works for them and if I can offer any advice to help them along the way then great, he added. Talking about Jasprit Bumrah's performance in the second Test, during which he took nine wickets including a six-wicket haul, Anderson said that Bumrah is a great exponent of reverse swing. With someone of his quality, you expect that standard from him. You know that reverse swing can play a big part in India and he's a great exponent of it. He has got good pace and is very accurate, very consistent. That yorker we saw to Ollie Pope, he has got that up his sleeve as well. It is not a fluke that he has got to number one in the world. He is a world-class bowler and from our point of view we were not surprised that he put up a performance like that, said the veteran. Despite missing a Test, Bumrah is the second-highest wicket-taker in the series with 17 scalps in three games at an average of 13.64 and best figures of 6/45. He is not too far away from young spinner Tom Hartley, who with 20 wickets in four matches including a seven-wicket haul, has been sensational for England. Talking about missing battles with Virat Kohli, India's star batter who missed the series due to the birth of his second child, Anderson quipped that England fans are thankful he is not playing. Yeah, you always want to play against the best players. And it is been a shame that he is not been a part of the series. We have had some great battles over the years. But not just for me, I think as a team you want to play against the best in the world and he certainly is that, said Anderson. I guess English fans will be thankful he is not playing because he is such a quality player. But from our point of view, you want to test yourself, you want to come up against the best and he is been someone who I have found really challenging to bowl at over the years and it is a shame he is not been playing, he added. Talking about memories of touring in India, Anderson said that the biggest memory continues to be the series win in 2012, England's first in India after 28 years. The 2012 series, when we came here, is probably the biggest one. I do not think an English team had won for quite a long time here -- for 20 odd years. So, for us to win here, it was probably one of the best series wins that I have been involved in, in my career. You know, it was just a great team performance. The batters turned up when we needed them. We had good spinners as well on that trip, which helped. So, I think that for me is right up there, he concluded. In that 2-1 series win over India, Anderson was impressive, taking 12 wickets in four matches at an average of 30.25, with the best figures of 4/81. (ANI)

devdiscourse 28 Feb 2024 11:26 pm

Ghazal Maestro Who Touched Hearts Across Generations

Born in Gujarats Jetpur (Rajkot) in May 1951 in a landed family as the youngest of three brothers, Pankaj Udhas was no stranger to musicreports Asian Lite News His career... The post Ghazal Maestro Who Touched Hearts Across Generations first appeared on Asian Lite USA .

asianlite 28 Feb 2024 5:00 pm

Rahul still feeling sore while batting in nets, unlikely for Dharamsala Test

Rahul still feeling sore while batting in nets, unlikely for Dharamsala Test Senior India batter K L Rahul is unlikely to feature in the fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala as he continues to feel sore in his right quadriceps. Rahul became unavailable after the series-opener in Hyderabad in January but as per BCCI, he was 90 per cent fit before the third Test in Rajkot earlier this month. Rahul has now travelled to London to get an expert opinion on his injury and with the series in the bag, the Indian team management will not take the risk of playing him in the Dharamsala Test beginning March 7. He needs to be fully fit before the IPL where he will lead Lucknow Super Giants and is expected to bat in the middle order to bolster his chances of making the India squad for the T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean. ''It is more to get an expert opinion (travel to London). He experiences a bit of pain (right quadriceps) while batting. It is to ensure that he recovers fully as he is a player that team needs long-term. ''There is so much competition coming his way -- IPL, he could also be in the T20 World Cup mix. Then we have some important Test series against New Zealand, and Australia later in the year. So, it is better to give him time to recover properly than rushing him,'' an IPL source told PTI. It is the same quadriceps injury that had sidelined Rahul for almost four months last year. Having got injured during the IPL, Rahul returned to action with the Asia Cup in September and made instant impact. In the more recent Test tour of South Africa, Rahul was the only century maker from India in the drawn series. His absence from the final Test means Rajat Patidar will remain with the squad but the MP batter can't be sure of his place in the playing eleven, having aggregated only 63 runs in six innings. There is a possibility that Patidar will make away for Devdutt Padikkal in Dharamsala. Bumrah set to return ============ India's premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the Ranchi Test, is expected to lead the attack at the HPCA Stadium. The series is sealed but every Test match offers crucial World Test Championship points and Bumrah can play a big part in the cooler climes of Dharamsala. India are second in the standings with five wins, two losses and a draw. New Zealand lead the table with a winning percentage of 75 but they have only played four Tests.

devdiscourse 28 Feb 2024 1:05 pm

McCullum opens up on giving opportunities to Hartley, Bashir at county level after their success against India

McCullum opens up on giving opportunities to Hartley, Bashir at county level after their success against India Ahead of the fifth and final Test at Dharamsala, England's head coach, Brendon McCullum, opined that it would be slightly mad if the spin duo of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir didn't get the opportunities to play in the County Championship. Hartley and Bashir have been outstanding with the ball in the ongoing Test series against India. Prior to this tour, the duo had no international experience and had played minimal domestic cricket. There were many speculation about how Ben Stokes would deal with such inexperienced spinners. However, both bowlers have proven many others wrong. Everyone will remember how well they bowled. Despite their lack of experience, both bowled incredibly well and caused significant problems for Indian batsmen. Hartley is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Test series, with 20 wickets in the four matches he has played so far in the series; on the other hand, Bashir has 12 wickets in the two matches at Rajkot and Ranchi. McCullum asserted that it would be slightly frustrating if Hartley and Bashir didn't get opportunities in County Cricket. It will be a slight frustration of ours if they weren't given opportunities at county level. There's a very real possibility that might be the case, but without wanting to dictate to counties because they have their own agendas as well, when you see performances like we have out of those two bowlers throughout the series, I think you'd be slightly mad if you didn't give them more opportunities in county cricket, McCullum said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. The former New Zealand skipper further stated that England will give the opportunities to both players as they are good enough for international cricket. It would be nice to think they'd get plenty of opportunities so that they can improve at a quicker rate. Whether those opportunities are with counties or with England, I think we've just got to keep trying to get cricket into them. Whatever opportunity we can, we'll try and give it to them because there's two guys there more than good enough for international cricket. They're also tough characters, the head coach added. In the end, McCullum said that they have stood up to the challenge and performed so the management will give more chances to them. What you can't tell from the outside of a man's body is the size of their heart - and we've seen both of them have big hearts and they're up for international cricket. It doesn't get any harder than it is right now, and they've both stood up and performed, so we've just to keep giving both of them chances, the 42-year-old concluded. (ANI)

devdiscourse 27 Feb 2024 11:31 pm

Cricket-India unearth a 'gem' in Jurel to fill keeping void

Cricket-India unearth a 'gem' in Jurel to fill keeping void A player-of-the-match award in only his second test, plaudits from the pundits and even a man crush from his England counterpart -- India wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel could not have dreamt of a better start to his international career. Rishabh Pant's horrific car accident in December 2022 left India searching for someone who could match the 26-year-old's neat glovework and clean hitting. Part-timer KL Rahul kept wicket in South Africa, while Srikar Bharat was tasked with the job in the first two tests against England but neither looked a long-term solution. Jurel made his test debut in the third test in Rajkot, where India steamrolled England by 434 runs, their biggest test victory by runs. The 23-year-old has honed his six-hitting skills in the Indian Premier League and he smashed three of them in his maiden test knock of 46. His keeping was impressive too and commentators gushed how Jurel ran in from behind the stumps to collect Mohammed Siraj's full-blooded throw on the bounce before breaking stumps while collapsing to run out England opener Ben Duckett. Jurel furnished further proof of his maturity in the fourth test in Ranchi where India clinched the series with a match to spare on Monday. Replying to England's first innings 353, India were 177-7 but Jurel's stellar 90 steered them to 307 denying their rivals a bigger and potentially decisive lead. Jurel fell short of a hundred but the way he batted with the tailenders and paced his knock particularly stood out. With India slipping to 120-5 chasing a modest 192 on a spiteful track on Monday, Jurel combined with Shubman Gill in a defensive masterclass to put India 3-1 up in the five-match series. Dhruv Jurel is some player, India have found a gem, former Australia player Tom Moody wrote on X. Batting great Sachin Tendulkar praised Jurel's footwork, while former West Indies player Ian Bishop said emergence of such players augured well for test cricket. Around the cricketing landscape we are witnessing some really talented young players popping up. Future of the game is in good hands, Bishop wrote on X. Rival captain Ben Stokes also doffed his hat at the Indian. Both innings he's played very well. His keeping was something to watch I think Ben Foakes has a little man crush on him there, Stokes said referring to the England wicketkeeper.

devdiscourse 27 Feb 2024 11:21 am

PM Modi Addresses Rally In Gujarat's Rajkot

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NDTV 25 Feb 2024 6:03 pm

Dhruv Jurel Hopes To Meet MS Dhoni Again During Ranchi Test

Ranchi, Feb 21 (PTI) Young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel wants to relive his fanboy moment by meeting the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the fourth Test against England here, starting Friday. Jurel, who made an impressive debut in the third Test at Rajkot scoring 46 in Indias first innings, has met Dhoni only once during his []

thehillstimes 22 Feb 2024 2:05 am

PM Modi to inaugurate six AIIMS hospitals in next six days: AIIMS Vijaypur in Jammu to be launched today; details here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate six new AIIMS in Samba, Rae Bareli, Rajkot, Mangalagiri, Bathinda, Kalyani as part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. He will also inaugurate medical and nursing colleges, health facilities, ICMR labs, National Health Mission projects, and advanced food safety infrastructure projects.

The Times of India 20 Feb 2024 8:28 am

Jasprit Bumrah Likely To Be Rested, Fit-Again KL Rahul Set To Be Back For Ranchi Test

Rajkot, Feb 19 (PTI) Lead India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested, while batter K L Rahul is expected to come back after recovering from a quadriceps injury, in the fourth Test against England beginning February 23 in Ranchi. Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in the five-match series with 17 scalps and singlehandedly []

thehillstimes 20 Feb 2024 2:25 am

In India, when you grow up, you work really hard for everything: Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rajkot: The leading run-getter in the current ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to establish himself as one of Indias rising superstars. The 22-year-old has already broken and created new records in his seven Test matches. After his back-to-back double hundreds helped him overtake Usman Khwaja (855 runs) to become the most []

goachronicle 19 Feb 2024 3:36 pm

Ashwin, Jadejas Unfair Play Lands India In Trouble As Umpire Signals Five Penalty Runs; England To Begin At 5/0

Ashwin, Jadeja's actions leads to penalty runs for India in Rajkot Test

mashable 16 Feb 2024 2:36 pm

Ravindra Jadeja Takes To Instagram To Apologise For Run-Out Drama In Rajkot Test: Feeling Bad For Sarfaraz Khan..

Ravindra Jadeja apologises to Sarfaraz Khan for run-out drama in 3rd Test

mashable 16 Feb 2024 11:32 am

Rohit Sharma to lead India in T20I World Cup: Jay Shah

Rajkot: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah put an end to speculation on who would skipper Team India in the upcoming T20I World Cup by saying that he is confident of India lifting the title under Rohit Sharmas captaincy. We may have lost the final of the 2023 ODI []

goachronicle 15 Feb 2024 1:05 pm

Over 2,000 Congress-aap Workers Join BJP In Gujarat

In a huge political development, over 2,000 workers and office-bearers of the opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joined the ruling party BJP in Gujarat on Tuesday, said the saffron outfit. Those who joined the BJP from the Congress included former Leader of Opposition in Rajkot district panchayat Arjun Khatariya, Rajkot district Continue reading Over 2,000 Congress-aap Workers Join BJP In Gujarat The post Over 2,000 Congress-aap Workers Join BJP In Gujarat appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .

Our Voice WeRIndia 17 Jan 2024 2:24 pm

PM Modi unveils Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg

Kolhapur / Sindhudurg: On occasion of Navy Day being celebrated at Sindhudurg on Monday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 45 feet statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot fort. Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate and honour the remarkable contributions of the Indian Navy, particularly its role in []

goachronicle 4 Dec 2023 8:29 pm